It's safe to say, it's been a particularly turbulent year for UK markets. Increased political uncertainty through 2019 has seen the aggregate DB scheme funding level plummet by 3.5% over the course of August as gilt yields collapsed, according to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF).
This drop in gilt yields has seen 10- to 20-year government-issued fixed interest bonds falling by between 20 and 30 basis points (bps) and the 5-to-15 -year index-linked gilts, yields falling by 22bps. A similar downturn was experienced in the equity markets with indexes dropping by as much as 3.6% which has only compounded the deterioration of funding levels. These decreases appear to be mirroring the tumultuous political landscape, and with the EU-exit date once again being called into question, how can schemes prepare for the future?
The Scheme Funding Summit aims to help trustees and senior pension decision-makers navigate these potentially choppy waters, with a thoughtfully curated programme looking at ways to rethink funding strategies, hit long term funding targets and integrate risk management and contingency planning.
The Scheme Funding Summit is specifically researched and developed for in-house pension and benefit scheme representatives. It will be of particular benefit to professionals with the following job functions: