Here is the short version and more below if you want to watch hours of the committee debate
But this is another reason it is crucial that hedge funds are held to account as they make up a significant percentage of assets invested by pension funds. That is where we come in…
Published on Dec 21, 2016
Board member Richard Costigan, comments on CalPERS decision to lower the assumed rate of return on pension fund investments to 7.00 percent in a phased reduction over three years.
More below
And below is the press release
SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Board of Administration today voted to lower the discount rate from 7.5 percent to 7.0 percent over the next three years. This incremental lowering of the discount rate will give employers more time to prepare for the changes in contribution costs.
“This was a very difficult decision to make, but it is an important step to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Fund,” said Rob Feckner, president of the CalPERS Board of Administration. “We know this will have an impact on the state, schools, and public agencies that partner with us, and we’re committed to making sure the changes are implemented in a phased approach so our employers and affected members have time to plan their budgets responsibly.”
The discount rate changes approved by the Board for the next three Fiscal Years (FY) are as follows:
FY 2017-2018: 7.375%
FY 2018-2019: 7.25%
FY 2019-2020: 7.00%
In addition, the Board approved separate timelines for implementing the new rate for state, school, and public agencies. The new discount rate for the state would go into effect July 1, 2017. The new discount rate for the school districts and public agencies would take effect July 1, 2018. The difference allows schools and public agencies additional time to plan for rate increases.
Lowering the discount rate, also known as the assumed rate of return, means employers that contract with CalPERS to administer their pension plans will see increases in their normal costs and unfunded actuarial liabilities. Active members hired after January 1, 2013, under the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act will also see their contribution rates rise. Normal cost is the cost of pension benefits for one year.
“Employers have made commitments to their public servants to pay pensions and CalPERS is committed to fulfilling those commitments for generations to come,” said Marcie Frost, CalPERS chief executive officer. “Today’s action was a necessary step to ensure this happens.”
The three-year reduction of the discount rate will result in average employer rate increases of about 1 percent to 3 percent of normal cost as a percent of payroll for most miscellaneous retirement plans, and a 2 percent to 5 percent increase for most safety plans.
Additionally, many CalPERS employers will see a 30 to 40 percent increase in their current unfunded accrued liability payments. These payments are made to amortize unfunded liabilities over 20 years to bring the Fund to a fully funded status over the long-term.
Beginning in 2017, the Board will start reviewing the Fund’s asset allocation mix during the next Asset Liability Management process. The process, which includes a review of the discount rate, will conclude in February 2018.
Today’s decision was made after an extensive review by the Board on the current funding status of the Fund, projected investment return rates over the next decade, an overview of CalPERS assets and liabilities, and discussions with stakeholders. The CalPERS Board last lowered the discount rate, from 7.75 percent to 7.5 percent, in 2012.
Over the past several years, the CalPERS Board of Administration has taken several important steps to reduce risks to the Fund and ensure long-term stability:
2013: Changing amortization and smoothing policies that spread rate increases or decreases over a five-year period
2014: Adopting new demographic assumptions that show retirees are living longer
2015: Approving a new funding risk mitigation policy to incrementally lower the discount rate during good economic times
In making its decision, the Board reviewed recommendations from CalPERS staff, external pension and investment consultants, and input from employer and employee stakeholder groups.
For more than eight decades, CalPERS has built retirement and health security for state, school, and public agency members who invest their lifework in public service. Our pension fund serves more than 1.8 million members in the CalPERS retirement system and administers benefits for 1.4 million members and their families in our health program, making us the largest defined-benefit public pension in the U.S. CalPERS’ total fund market value currently stands at approximately $303 billion.
