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Check out our latest Mercer resources – including articles, white papers, podcasts, survey reports, web briefings and more – to help your organization fully understand and address the challenges of the current economic turmoil.
Understanding risk leads to more DB appreciation
Ethan Kra, Mercer’s chief actuary for US retirement, describes for HRadio listeners the devolution of employees’ DC infatuation, and explains how employers can help their workers better understand the perils of the markets and the necessity of tempering longevity risk with the stability of a defined benefit plan. (Podcast, 8 Oct 2009)
Duration (10:42)
HRadio: Address longevity risk in Australia through products, government actions
What is the impact of longevity risk on super funds? In a conversation with HRadio’s Richard Klein, David Knox of Mercer Australia explains the need for a variety of retirement products that meet three basic criteria, why educating members and developing good tools for them is essential and steps the government should consider taking to improve the annuity market. (Podcast, 2 Oct 2009)
Duration (2:45)
Are DB plans making a comeback?
Ethan Kra, Mercer’s chief actuary for US retirement, talks with HRadio’s Richard Klein about which industries are likely to adopt or continue DB plans as a tool to attract employees with the skills and experience needed to operate their businesses. (Podcast, 1 Oct 2009)
Duration (6:12)
HRadio: Funded status still problematic for pension plans of S&P 1500 companies
Pension plan funded status has taken a hit during the current economic downturn. Are conditions getting better, or are credit spreads eclipsing improvements in equity? Adrian Hartshorn of Mercer's Financial Strategy Group talks with HRadio about the funded status of pension plans sponsored by S&P 1500 companies, including changes in market indicators that affect plans' funded status, and implications and opportunities caused by distortions in the bond markets in the last 12 months. (Podcast, 19 Aug 2009)
Duration (8:16)
HRadio: Congress takes steps toward additional funding relief
Pension reform hasn't received the kind of attention that health care initiatives are getting on Capitol Hill or in the press, but several measures of importance to employers are wending their way through Congress. In this excerpt from a recent web briefing, Geoff Manville of Mercer's Washington Resource Group provides an overview of funding relief measures in the House and other factors affecting prospects for reform. (Podcast, 28 Jul 2009 )
Duration (4:20)
HRadio: Annual benchmarking survey shows effect of economic downturn on retirement plans
The recent economic downturn has caused unprecedented damage to pension plans in the US, with funded status plunging to levels below those seen in the 2002 recession. Mercer's Steve Alpert joins Richard Klein to preview findings on the general health of the retirement system, and important benchmarks from Mercer's comprehensive annual survey of plans sponsored by S&P 500 companies. (Podcast, 15 Jun 2009)
Duration (4:06)
HRadio: Liability-driven investing gains supporters in today's tough economy
In today's troubled economy, many pension sponsors are taking another look at liability-driven investing (LDI). Mercer thought leader Chris Ray talks with Richard Klein about how LDI works, ways plan sponsors can take advantage of the strategy and steps they must take to determine the right LDI solutions for their plans and properly monitor them. (Podcast, 28 May 2009)
Duration (11:11)
HRadio: Market turmoil plays havoc with valuation of pension costs and liabilities in mergers
The difficult economic climate has reduced the number of multinational mergers, but deals are still happening where they make strategic sense -- particularly in the corporate area. Stuart Benson of Mercer UK talks with Richard Klein about issues and challenges the present credit environment poses for dealmakers attempting to value pension costs and liabilities in corporate transactions in the UK and elsewhere, and alternative approaches being used in some deals. (Podcast, 1 May 2009)
Duration (8:02)
HRadio: Sustainable investment practices evolving in emerging markets
Phenomenal growth in the past five years spurred depletion of natural resources in emerging markets around the world, but now sustainable investment practices -- processes that integrate environmental, social and corporate factors -- are evolving in these markets. Mercer's Danyelle Guyatt joins Richard Klein to discuss a new report from Mercer and the World Bank's International Finance Corporation that identifies leading investment managers pursuing sustainable investment in the emerging market region, their assets under management and their capacity for integrating ESG into investment processes. (Podcast, 17 Apr 2009)
Duration (12:01)
HRadio feature: Challenges, risks and opportunities for pension plan sponsors
In the past, employers could trim pension costs by moving away from defined benefit plans to defined contribution plans, but today's economic climate makes that switch difficult. Fergal McGuinness joins Richard Klein for a discussion of opportunities and risks for employers today, and factors influencing the future of plan design. (Podcast, 24 Feb 2009)
Duration (7:08)
HRadio feature: UK de-risking market in transition
In today's volatile economy, UK plan sponsors need to step back from the de-risking market, both to assess constraints their own companies are operating under and to weigh plan objectives. Gordon Fletcher helps Richard Klein understand the risks plan sponsors face today, how different solutions address different types of risks, which investors are willing to take on pension plan risks and how innovations have changed the buyout market. (Podcast, 4 Feb 2009)
Duration (6:53)
Strategic funding policies for pensions
Listen to our podcast with Betsy Dill (New York), Senior consulting actuary, Retirement, risk and finance consulting or download it to listen to on your computer.
Duration (5:06)
Volatility affects pension funding status
Listen to our podcast with Adrian Hartshorn (New York), Principal in International retirement consulting or download it to listen to on your computer.
Duration (7:10)
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