Pension Transition Cost Myths

PensionDialog welcomes the following article from Gary Findlay

In a recent post on The American titled “Public-Sector Pensions: The Transition Costs Myth,” Andrew Biggs noted that public pension administrators and other subject matter experts have “an obligation to provide the public with solid facts.” I could not agree more.

Are Pensions Worth Fighting For?

Just ask the staff at The New York Times. 

Third Quarter Assets Decline—A Snapshot in Time

Driven largely by the decreases in corporate stocks and interna­tional securities, the U.S. Census reports that the value of investments held by 100 of the largest U.S. public-employee retirement systems fell in the third quarter of 2011. Total holdings and investments quarter-to-quarter decreased $236.6 billion, or 8.5 percent, to $2.5 trillion.

This news is no surprise to anyone who has even half-listened to the daily, or weekly, gyrations of the stock market. However, performance in one quarter—especially following a trend of increases for five consecutive quarters—is not as worrisome as some may think.

Can the Three-Legged Stool be Saved?

Institutional Investor writer Frances Denmark’s “New Rules for Retirement” (November 2011) is a thoughtful, thorough piece focusing on the challenges of retirement security and looks particularly at the role of asset managers. 

U.S. Senator Harkin Speaks Out for Pensions