Perspectives

Cardano's study in Professional Pensions (https://www.professionalpensions.com/4140481)reveals that 70% of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) advocate for increased influence over their DB pension schemes' funding strategies. This increased level of interest could signal a growing uncertainty regarding the ultimate objectives of these schemes now that they are in much better financial health.

The upswing in pension scheme funding has 72% of CFOs affirming their DB pension scheme is financially robust, with 56% even exceeding their long-term funding targets. Now that pension deficits are less of a concern for many, is the answer still to buy the pension scheme out? Or are there opportunities to leverage this financial uptick to the benefit of members and potentially the Sponsor as well?

As CFOs take more of an interest in how their DB schemes can be a corporate asset and not just a problem to be shod of, is the sun potentially setting on the Age of the Actuary and rising on the dawn of the Age of the Sponsor?