Pension: return requirement understand, discount, required, return

Muddahudda

When the plan is fully funded, I understand that the required return = the rate used to discount PBO + inflation.

When plan is underfunded, is it still true?

What about if it's over-funded?

Thanks.

jmh530

Do we need to add the inflation rate to the discount rate for pension funds?

nannan66

Can somebody answer Vegas' question please?

Iginla2011

Depends on workforce characteristics

If the liab (benefit payment) is fixed, 100% inactive participants (retirees/ deferred) => no need to pay for inflation

If the liab is vary with inflation, composed of active participants with future wage growth => need inflation risk premium

wake2000

use the discount rate used to calculate the PV of liabilities.

mp3bu

When it is underfunded, sponsor ability to take risk fall, you definitely cannot increase your required return. You should increase your contribution in this case.

mar350

Then for an underfunded pension plan, how do you formulate the return requirement (for the sake of the exam), holding everything constant?

ohai

In the real world, the more risk an underfunded plan would take, the higher the probability that the parent company would NOT have to fund it further because they'll just pass the pension to the US taxpayer..err... PBCG.

infinitybenzo

Exactly cpierce...If they are currently underfunded, they will have below average ability to take risk. You definitely wouldn't increase your return requirements and start investing in equity, PE, etc...

Analyze_This

willispierre Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Exactly cpierce...If they are currently
> underfunded, they will have below average ability
> to take risk. You definitely wouldn't increase
> your return requirements and start investing in
> equity, PE, etc...


The CFAI text said something to the effect of: When underfunded -

"They will need to supress their willingess to seek higher returns because they cannot accomodate extra risk"

not a direct quote... but that was the jist