Milliman sees big improvements in DB plan funding

The report indicates that higher than expected investment returns contributed to the funded status improvement, as monthly returns were greater than expected in nine out of 12 months during 2013. The funded ratio was 95.2 percent as of Dec. 31, 2013, an “astounding” 18 percentage points greater than the 77.2 percent funded ratio at the beginning of 2013.

“More than five years have elapsed since the PFI [Pension Funding Index] funded ratio last exceeded 95 percent, when it settled at 99.4 percent in September 2008,” the report states. “Many plan sponsors will now have their sights set on attained fully funded status for their plans in 2014.”

The report observes that the $318 billion funding improvement in 2013 resulted in a year-end funded status deficit of $72.9 billion, the smallest deficit since year-end 2007, when the deficit was $68 billion. The gain in funded status during 2013 resulted in a credit to corporate balance sheets at the end of the 2013 fiscal year and is expected to produce an estimated decrease of $33.5 billion in pension expense for 2014.