Fri, Jan 30, 2026
A A A
Welcome Guest
Free Trial RSS pod
Get FREE trial access to our award winning publications
Alternative Market Briefing

The 100 largest U.S. public pension public plans' liabilities outpace asset growth

Monday, December 07, 2020

Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia:

The 100 largest U.S. public pension funds' aggregate liabilities climbed and asset growth struggled to keep up the pace in the 12 months ended June 30, said a study.

According to an annual study from Milliman, the study estimates that the aggregate funding ratio of the plans as of June 30 of this year was 70.7%, down from 73.4% as of June 30, 2019.

The aggregate Total Pension Liability reported at the last fiscal year-ends (for most plans, this is June 30, 2019) was $5.27 trillion, growing from $5.07 trillion as of the prior fiscal year-ends, said a press release from the provider of actuarial and related products and services.

And between the 2019 and 2020 Public Pension Funding Study (PPFS), over one-quarter of the plans (28) lowered their interest rate assumptions, with 90 of the plans now reporting assumptions of 7.50% or below.

While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public pensions' financials is not fully clear, plans in this year's PPFS experienced a huge swing in the estimated combined investment return, from -10.81% in Q1 2020 to 10.72% in Q2.

More concrete evidence of the pandemic's impact will be available once next year's financial statements are published pointed out 2020 PPFS.

"Beyond market volatility, which has affected plan assets, we expect that furloughs and shutdowns as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will impact pay levels and employee contribution amounts, while pressure on gov......................

To view our full article Click here

Previous Opalesque Exclusives                                  
Previous Other Voices                                               
Access Alternative Market Briefing

 



  • Top Forwarded
  • Top Tracked
  • Top Searched
  1. Other Voices: Nvidia extraordinary growth and the challenge of sustaining demanding valuations over time[more]

    Antonio Di Giacomo, Senior Market Analyst at XS.com, writes: Nvidia has established itself as one of the most extraordinary growth companies in the global technology sector. Over the past two fiscal years, its revenues have risen from levels close to $60 billion annually to well above $120 billi

  2. Secondaries take center stage: What the 2026 PE landscape means for GPs and investors[more]

    Matthias Knab, Opalesque for New Managers: The 2026 edition of Dechert's Global Private Equity Outlook - "Signs of a Gradual Thaw" - marks a notable shift in industry sentiment. After years of compr

  3. Opalesque Exclusive: Hedge funds outperform mutual funds in managing extreme risk contagion - key insights for investors[more]

    Matthias Knab, Opalesque for New Managers: Hedge funds and mutual funds are among the most prominent vehicles for investors seeking growth and diversification. However, a critical question persists: which fund ty

  4. Other Voices: Life settlements hedge funds are gaining acceptance among institutional investors[more]

    By Donald A. Steinbrugge, CFA - Founder and CEO of Agecroft Partners, a global hedge fund consulting and marketing firm. Over the past decade, life settlements hedge funds have steadily gained acceptance among institutional investors. Their appeal lies in the potential to deliver

  5. And, finally: Time to share it with the people[more]

    From Newsoftheweird: Leavenworth, Washington, has become a tourist destination because of the Bavarian theme businesses have adopted there, NPR reported. One shop, the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, houses the world's largest nutcracker collection, thanks to 101-year-old Arlene Wagner. Wagner sta