More Focus on Pension Risk Management or Not Enough?
According to an October 2009 study entitled "Reactions to an EDHEC Study on the Impact of Regulatory Constraints on the ALM of Pension Funds" by researcher Samuel Sender, regulations discourage European retirement plan managers from focusing on long-term risk management objectives. The study further suggests that risk management is far superior to risk measurement if a focus on funding ratios steals resources better spent on ensuring the long-term viability of the plan. The 142 respondents cite a fear of tighter accounting rules and concern that regulators need to "provide incentives" to build internal models. Nearly eighty percent of survey-takers "report that dynamic strategies are difficult to implement because management agreement is needed to rebalance a portfolio." Click here to access the study.
In contrast, a new poll conducted by SEI suggests that pension risk management is a top priority for executives in Canada, Netherlands, UK and the United States. According to the November 18, 2009 press release released by SEI, "the percentage of pensions employing a Liability Driven Investing strategy has nearly triped over the past three years from 20 percents in 2007 to 54 percent in 2009. Queries about pension benchmarks sugges that decision-makers are veering away from absolute return in favor of "improved funded status." Click to read "SEI Global Poll: 3rd Annual Liability Driven Investing Poll Finds A Significant Increase in Adoption" (November 18, 2009).
A 2008 survey created by Pension Governance, Incorporated (now rebranded as Investment Governance, Inc.) supports the notion that more work remains to be done, by far. Click to read "Pension Risk Management: Derivatives, Fiduciary Duty and Process."
Each survey-taker was asked to self-identify as a USER if he/she works for a plan that trades derivatives in its own name. A NON-USER works for a plan that does not trade derivatives directly but may nevertheless be exposed indirectly if any of the plan's asset managers trade derivatives.
- Plan size seems to be one factor that distinguishes USERS from NON-USERS, with 39% of USERS managing plans in excess of $5 billion versus 14% of NON-USERS associated with plans larger than $5 billion.
- Pension decision-making appears to vary considerably by job function, with 48% (37%) of USERS (NON-USERS) choosing "Other" rather than selecting from given titles such as Actuary, Benefits Committee Member, CFO or Human Resources Officer.
- Time allocation varies considerably with 64% (40%) of USERS (NON-USERS) saying they devote 75 to 100 percent of their work week on pension issues. In contrast, 37% of NON-USERS say they spend 0 to 24% of their work week on pension issues.
- A majority of USERS (64%) and NON-USERS (48%) have had discussions about the concept of a fiduciary duty to hedge asset-related risks. A smaller number say they have discussed the concept of a fiduciary duty to hedge liability-related risks.
- Few plans currently embrace an enterprise risk management approach with 59% (57%) of USERS (NON-USERS) responding that their organization does not use a risk budget. When asked if their organization has or is planning to hire a Chief Risk Officer, 57% (64%) of USERS (NON-USERS) answered "No."
- NON-USERS cite numerous reasons for not using derivatives directly, including, but not limited to, "Lack of Fiduciary Understanding" (25%), "Perception of Excess Risk" (31%), "Considered Too Complex" (23%), "Prohibition Against Possible Leverage" (19%) and/or "Defined Benefit Plan Risk Not Considered Significant" (28%).
- A query about whether survey-takers review external money managers' risk management policies results in 70% (58%) of USERS (NON-USERS) responding "Yes." Fifty-two percent (57%) of USERS (NON-USERS) say they review external money managers' valuation policies. This survey did not drill down with respect to the rigor of questions being asked.
- Survey respondents seem to rely mainly on elementary tools to measure risk. Eighty-three percent (64%) of USERS (NON-USERS) rank Standard Deviation first in importance. Seventy-nine percent (63%) of USERS (NON-USERS) rank Correlation second. Only one-third (38%) of NON-USERS cite Stress Testing (Simulation). Four out of 10 USERS cite Value at Risk in contrast to 23% of NON-USERS who do the same.
- Survey respondents worry about the future with 58% (60%) of USERS (NON-USERS) ranking "Accounting Impact" as a concern. Other concerns were also noted to include "Regulation," "Longevity of Plan Participants" and "Fiduciary Pressure."
