Dispersion of Funding Ratios for Public Pension Plans

April 20, 2011 | Greg Leonberger, FSA, EA, MAAA, FCA, Director of Research, Managing Partner

For all the bad press about the state of public pension plans, the chart above shows that not every state’s pension system is poorly funded. In aggregate, public pensions are approximately 75% funded (down from a high of 103% in 2000), but there is a great degree of dispersion of funding ratios on a state by state basis. Certainly, there are problem states, as shown by the bar on the left, with 11% (as a percentage of total public plan assets) funded at less than 60%. On the other hand, an almost equal percentage is fully funded, thus showing that not every state’s pension system is in need of massive contributions.

Greg Leonberger, FSA, EA, MAAA, FCA
Director of Research, Managing Partner

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The opinions expressed herein are those of Marquette Associates, Inc. (“Marquette”), and are subject to change without notice. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. Marquette reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs.

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