In the eight years to the end of 2019, we have undertaken strategic investment reviews for 83 of our clients with an average asset size of £17.7m.
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On average, we reduced the risk they were taking by 32% whilst increasing their expected long-term returns by an average of 0.3% p.a.
Reduced Risk
It’s a small number of schemes, and the number of people affected is tiny: only 16,895 members across the 83 schemes. Yet the impact we made was profound for those members.
On average, we reduced the risk they were taking by 32% whilst increasing their expected long-term returns by an average of 0.3% p.a.
0.3% per annum
0.3% p.a. doesn’t sound impressive, but if the scheme actuary is happy to give credit for the additional expected returns in advance it can turn, for example, an 80% funded scheme into an 86% funded scheme overnight; which is great when about a third of the risk has been removed at the same time.
Variety of clients
However, there was great variety in the form that the clients took the improvement. Some took the improvement predominantly in the form of higher expected long-term returns; some in the form of risk reduction; others opted for a combination of the two.
Improving
The common factor across our clients has been the outcome. Unlike most UK pension schemes, our clients’ funding positions have been steadily improving over the last seven years. This is despite falling long-term interest rates which have caused the value of pension schemes’ liabilities to skyrocket.
Unlike most UK pension schemes, our clients’ funding positions have been steadily improving over the last seven years
Copyright by Barker Tatham 2022. All rights reserved. Regulated by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in respect of a range of investment business activities.
Copyright by Barker Tatham 2022. All rights reserved. Regulated by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in respect of a range of investment business activities.