Milliman analysis: Pension funded status drops by $6 billion in March

SEATTLE, April 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today released the results of its latest Pension Funding Index, which analyzes the 100 largest U.S. corporate pension plans. In March, these pension plans experienced a $6 billion decrease in funded status based on decreases in asset values and increases in pension liabilities. This month's analysis reflects the results of the 2015 Pension Funding Study, published on April 2^nd.

"Last month these pensions continued to languish in the low-interest-rate doldrums," said John Ehrhardt, co-author of the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index. "Whether or not rates climb between now and the end of the year will likely determine whether or not these pensions can meaningfully reduce the funded status deficit before year end."

Looking forward, under an optimistic forecast with rising interest rates (reaching 4.10% by the end of 2015 and 4.70% by the end of 2016) and asset gains (11.3% annual returns), the funded ratio would climb to 90% by the end of 2015 and 104% by the end of 2016.  Under a pessimistic forecast with similar interest rate and asset movements (3.20% discount rate at the end of 2015 and 2.6% by the end of 2016 and 3.3% annual returns), the funded ratio would decline to 75% by the end of 2015 and 68% by the end of 2016.

To view the complete Pension Funding Index, go to http://us.milliman.com/PFI. To see the 2015 Milliman Pension Funding Study, go to http://us.milliman.com/PFS/. To receive regular updates of Milliman's pension funding analysis, contact us at [email protected].

About Milliman
Milliman is among the world's largest providers of actuarial and related products and services. The firm has consulting practices in healthcare, property & casualty insurance, life insurance and financial services, and employee benefits. Founded in 1947, Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities around the globe.  For further information, visit milliman.com.

About the Milliman Pension Funding Study
For the past 15 years, Milliman has conducted an annual study of the 100 largest defined benefit pension plans sponsored by U.S. public companies. The results of the Milliman 2015 Pension Funding Study are based on the pension plan accounting information disclosed in the footnotes to the companies' annual reports for the 2014 fiscal year and for previous fiscal years. These figures represent the GAAP accounting information that public companies are required to report under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Subtopics 715-20, 715-30, and 715-60. In addition to providing the financial information on the funded status of their U.S. qualified pension plans, the footnotes may also include figures for the companies' nonqualified and foreign plans, both of which are often unfunded or subject to different funding standards from those for U.S. qualified pension plans. The information, data, and footnotes do not represent the funded status of the companies' U.S. qualified pension plans under ERISA.

SOURCE Milliman, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.milliman.com

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