Revving UK Pension Schemes’ Funding Engines

A number of UK defined benefit pension schemes have experienced significant funding level gains in recent years, driven by sponsor contributions, liability management exercises, and strong equity market returns. However, due to increased volatility in global equity markets, relatively high valuations in many market segments, and the late stages of the economic and credit cycles, optimising the scheme’s growth engine is more challenging than ever. This paper provides a framework for how to achieve that goal.

August 2019

Four Key Strategies for Managing Pension Risk

While overseeing pension plans is increasingly complex and there’s no silver bullet solution, employing these four strategies can do much to reduce risk. CFOs at companies that offer defined benefits might be forgiven for feeling frustrated that, in addition to oversight responsibility for company financial performance, shareholder relations, accounting, tax, and myriad other functions, they […]

July 2019

Revving Pension Plans’ Funding Engines

Many corporate defined benefit plans experienced significant funded status gains in recent years. Recent capital markets volatility, however, has set many plans a few steps back, re-focusing plan sponsors on both protecting long-term funded status gains and closing the asset-liability deficit. Given increased volatility in global equity markets, relatively high valuations in many market segments, and the late stages of the economic and credit cycles, optimizing the plan’s growth engine is more critical, and challenging, than ever.

April 2019

Mission Critical: Maximizing the Impact of Healthcare System Investments

While robust cash flows have strengthened healthcare system balance sheets in recent years, mounting industry pressures will likely threaten those flows in the future. We explore strategies to manage complexity, maximize the benefits of the Endowment Model, and prudently manage risk.

November 2018

Protecting Pension Plans' Hard-Won Gains: Could Hedge Funds Play a Role?

In the November 2018 issue of Benefits Magazine, covering pension plan issues affecting multiemployer, single employer and public plan representatives, Investment Managing Director in Cambridge Associates’ Pension Practice, Joe Marenda, contributed an article discussing how hedge funds may play a role in protecting pension plans’ funded status in the event of a recession or stock […]

November 2018

Alternative Risk Premia Funds: An Attractive Diversifier? (Sterling Edition)

Elevated equity market valuations and potentially rising bond yields suggest the return environment for traditional risk assets could be difficult. Faced with this challenge, institutional investors are seeking alternative sources of return. Alternative risk premia (ARP) strategies – which harvest well-established risk premia and market anomalies across asset classes – may fit the bill. ARP […]

October 2018

Time for a Reset? Rethinking Contributions Policy

It is well known that corporate plan sponsors have until mid-September to make deductible contributions under the more favorable 35% corporate tax rate. This is an attractive proposition and one that many corporations are looking to leverage, if they haven’t already. But, with the boost in funded status from these voluntary contributions, perhaps less obvious […]

August 2018

Should Fixed Income Derivatives Play a Role in Liability Hedging for Pension Plans?

Yes. Since fixed income derivatives are more capital efficient and flexible than physical bonds, they can play a key role in liability hedging for many corporate and other single-employer pension plans.

May 2018