We would love to hear from you. Click on the ‘Contact Us’ link to the right and choose your favorite way to reach-out!

wscdsdc

media/speaking contact

Jamie Johnson

business contact

Victoria Peterson

Contact Us

855.ask.wink

Close [x]
pattern

Industry News

Categories

  • Industry Articles (21,155)
  • Industry Conferences (2)
  • Industry Job Openings (35)
  • Moore on the Market (414)
  • Negative Media (144)
  • Positive Media (73)
  • Sheryl's Articles (800)
  • Wink's Articles (353)
  • Wink's Inside Story (274)
  • Wink's Press Releases (123)
  • Blog Archives

  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • August 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • November 2008
  • September 2008
  • May 2008
  • February 2008
  • August 2006
  • Survey: More Employers To Offer Lump-Sum Payouts In 2013

    February 14, 2013 by N/A

    LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., Feb. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ –Last year marked a watershed moment in retirement benefits as numerous companies decreased their pension risk exposure by offering participants a one-time lump-sum pension payout. A new survey by Aon Hewitt, the global human resources solutions business of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), reveals more employers plan to follow suit in 2013.

    Aon Hewitt surveyed 230 U.S. employers with defined benefit plans, representing nearly five million employees, to determine their current and future retirement benefits strategies. According to the findings, more than one-third (39 percent) of defined benefit (DB) plan sponsors are somewhat or very likely to offer terminated vested participants and/or retirees a lump-sum payout during a specified period, also known as a window approach, in 2013. By contrast, just 7 percent of DB plan sponsors added a lump-sum window for terminated vested participants and/or retirees in 2012.

    “There is no question, employers are looking for new ways to aggressively manage their pension volatility,” explainedRob Austin, senior retirement consultant atAon Hewitt. “In 2012, many DB plan sponsors were exploring options and planning their strategies—we think 2013 will be the year when many more actually implement large-scale actions such as offering lump-sum windows.Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) premiums will begin to increase in 2013 and 2014, which will increase the carrying cost of pension liabilities and give plan sponsors an economic incentive to transfer those liabilities off their balance sheet.”

    Aon Hewitt’s survey also found that most employers (84 percent) will not make any change to the benefit accruals they offer workers. Of those that are planning changes, fewer than one-in-five (16 percent) employers are somewhat or very likely to reduce DB pension benefits, while 17 percent are somewhat or very likely to close plans to new entrants in 2013. Just 10 percent are somewhat or very likely to freeze benefit accruals for all or some participants.

    “Over the past few years, we’ve seen fewer pension plan sponsors closing their plans to new entrants or freezing the benefits for current participants,” said Austin. “However, employers remain under increasing pressure to manage plan volatility and are planning both smaller actions and bolder moves to manage that risk.”

    As a first step in their broader de-risking efforts,Aon Hewitt’s survey showed employers are contemplating what different economic scenarios would mean to their plan. Half are likely or somewhat likely to conduct an asset-liability study in 2013, and 60 percent are somewhat or very likely to have their investments better match the characteristics of the plan’s liability through approaches such as liability-driven investing.

    “While the economic environment makes it imperative for DB plan sponsors to manage pension risk in some way, it’s critical that they approach it in a thoughtful manner,” stressed Austin. “The right de-risking strategy for one plan may not be an appropriate approach for another—most importantly, employers need to consider the funded status of their plans. For example, plans that are over funded will likely take measures to lock in this position and erase future volatility through actions such as offering lump-sum windows. An underfunded plan will need to take an approach that attentively addresses volatility such as implementing a glide path investment strategy that will de-risk the plan as the funded position improves.”

    Aon Hewitt’s survey found that while just 18 percent use this glide path strategy today, the percentage is expected to nearly double to more than 30 percent by the end of 2013. This shift comes as more plan sponsors abandon the traditional approach of investing a majority of plan assets in equities.Aon Hewitt’s survey found that while 52 percent of plan sponsors favor this majority equity strategy today, just 31 percent will use this approach by the end of the year.

    “Plan sponsors are taking a more holistic view of their pension plan by looking at the overall funded status of the plan and not focusing on the liabilities or assets individually,” explained Austin. “A glide path approach provides an easy link between the two. Additionally, this approach allows plan sponsors to have a long-term strategy in place that will systematically eliminate risk over time.”

     

     

    Originally Posted at InsuranceNewsNet on February 13, 2013 by N/A.

    Categories: Industry Articles
    currency