Wednesday, August 23, 2006
PBGC Data Book Paints Grim Picture
In its newly released "Pension Insurance Data Book", the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) continues to show about a $23 billion deficit, adding that "typically, the plans trusteed by the PBGC are only about 50 percent funded on a termination basis. Very few of the claims against the agency (only 1.5 percent) come from plans that are at least 75 percent funded."By way of background, the "PBGC is a federal corporation created by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to guarantee payment of basic pension benefits earned by workers. Its two insurance programs cover 44 million American workers and retirees participating in over 30,000 private-sector defined benefit pension plans, including some 1,600 multiemployer plans. The agency receives no funds from general tax revenues. Operations are financed largely by insurance premiums paid by companies that sponsor pension plans and by investment returns."
Could it get any worse? posted by Susan Mangiero at 8/23/2006 12:52:00 AM

PENSION RISK MATTERSSM focuses on pension financial risk issues from a governance and fiduciary perspective. The goal is to identify important topics, ask thought-provoking questions, examine best practices and encourage meaningful debate about the $10 trillion global pension industry upon which millions of individuals depend. Author and consultant Susan M. Mangiero, Ph.D. is a CFA charter-holder, Accredited Valuation Analyst, Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst and certified Financial Risk Manager. Dr. Mangiero combines many years of experience in finance with a keen interest in solving problems and simplifying the complex (
