Can We Afford Public Pensions?

Retirement Issues 2013 National Press Foundation Washington, D.C.

April 8, 2013 Diane Oakley Executive Director National Institute on Retirement Security

www.nirsonline.org

Overview
State of U.S. Retirement Economics of Pensions Close Up on Public Pensions

The Quiet Crisis: Retirement Deficit

Massive wave of Baby Boomers retiring and majority ill-prepared, especially late boomers. Insufficient 401(k) savings, private pensions disappearing, Social Security cuts, plus increase healthcare costs. Half workforce has no workplace retirement plan women and minorities particularly vulnerable. What are costs of broken system? Financial strains on families to support parents, pressure on public assistance, reverting to elder poverty.
3

Shifting Retirement Infrastructure Shifts Risk to Individuals

Private Sector Workers Participating in Employer Based Retirement Plan
by Plan Type, 1979-2008 (all workers)

National Retirement Risk Index ( 1983 2010) Working Households at Risk of Falling Short of PreRetirement Living Standard

Source: DOL, PBGC and EBRI

Source:, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, 20129

23 Million Americans 60+ Received DB Income, but Boomers Trend Downward

Percent of Older Americans (60+) with DB Pension Income, 1998, 2003, 2006 and 2010 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1998 2003
Own DB Pension
34% 34% 32% 52% 52% 48% 43%

28%

2006
Own or Spouse's DB Pension

2010

Source: The Pension Factor, Table 1.

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What Do Americans Think About Retirement?

Anxiety Not Dissipating

How concerned are you about current economic conditions affecting your ability to achieve a secure retirement?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

Its Only Getting Harder to Prepare for Retirement

Do you feel that compared to today it will be easier or harder for Americans to prepare for retirement in the future, or will there be no difference?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

High Support for Pensions

How would you describe your overall view of a pension?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

Disappearance of Pensions an Impediment to American Dream

To what extent do you agree/disagree that the disappearance of pensions has made it harder for workers to achieve the American Dream?

10

Pension Bigger Employer Draw Than 401(k) Accounts

Lets say youre taking a new job and considering two employers one offered a pension and the other a 401(k). How likely would you be to choose the employer with the pension or 401(k)?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

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Economics of Pensions
Pensions are unique in that they: Avoid the problem of over-saving by pooling the longevity risks of large numbers of individuals resulting in a 15% cost savings. Are ageless and therefore can perpetually maintain an optimally balanced investment portfolio rather than the typical individual strategy of down-shifting over time to a lower risk/return asset allocation resulting in a 5% cost savings. Achieve higher investment returns as compared to individual investors because of professional asset management and lower fees resulting in a 26% cost savings.

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Economics of Pensions
Economies of scale enable group pensions to provide same retirement benefit at half the cost of individual 401(k)-type account.

DB pensions cost 46% less than DC accounts for the same benefit. Conversely, DC system costs 83% more than DB system.
Source: NIRS, Better Bang for the Buck, 2008 13

What About Public Pensions?

Strong Position Going Into Financial Crisis Aggregate State and Local Pension Funding Levels Assets as a Share of Trust Fund Liabilities (percent)

Source: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College (data not provided for 1995, 1997, 1999)

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NIRS On The Right Track? Recent Reforms

Closing a DB pension can incur unfunded liability growth and large transition costs. Substituting DB pensions with DC accounts is inefficient. Most states have pursued changes to DB plans to make them more sustainable.

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Aggressive Reforms In Virtually All States to Ensure Sustainability of Public Pensions

Types of Changes Enacted

Reduced benefits for new hires

39

Employee contribution increase

29

Reduced COLA for current members Employer contribution increase (statutory)

0

16

9
10 20 30 Number of States 40 50

Source: Authors analysis of NCSL data. Changes affect some or all members of state -run plans in each state.

16

States Adjusted DB Plans Rather Than Wholesale Switch to DC Plans

Types of Changes to New Hire Benefits

Adjust existing DB plan

33

DB + DC hybrid

Mandatory CB (DB closed)

0

3
10 20 Number of States 30 40

Source: Authors analysis of NCSL data. Changes affect some or all members of state -run plans in each state. 17

Example 1: Minnesota Statewide Retirement Systems

Medium term cost decrease; dramatic short term cost increase.
Long term: DC plan less efficient than existing DB in cost-benefit terms $2.8B transition cost, mostly from accelerated amortization of unfunded liabilities

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Example 2: Texas Teachers Retirement System Study

$11.7 billion/49% increase in closed DB plan liability due to a more liquid asset allocation

Cost comparison of multiple plan design options

DC most expensive DB least expensive

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Example 2 (continued): Texas Teachers Retirement System Study

Simulations to realistically measure probable outcomes for workers in DC system:
lower returns higher fees market volatility

Workers would have only a 50% chance of reaching 60% of the benefit provided by the DB plan, at the same cost.
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Recent Reforms Projected to Work

Boston College Center for Retirement Research:
For most plans, reforms fully offset or more than offset the impact of the financial crisis on the sponsors costs. Normal cost for employer will be halved, from 8.2% to 4.5% of payroll. Pension costs as a share of state-local budgets will fall below pre-crisis levels over long run.

Munnell et al., Feb 2013.

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Strong Support for Public Pensions Because Employees Pay

To what extent do you agree/disagree that state/local employees deserve benefits because they finance cost by contributing from every paycheck?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

22

American Believe Public Pension Benefits Levels Just Right

The average retirement benefit for public workers is $2150/month. Some may be more or less. Is that too high, low, about right?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

23

Police/Fire Deserve Pensions to Compensate for Risk

To what extent do you agree/disagree that police/fire have agreed to take jobs that involve risk and therefore deserve pensions that will afford a secure retirement?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

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Teachers Deserve Pensions to Compensate for Pay

To what extent do you agree/disagree that public school teachers deserve pension to compensate for lower pay?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

25

Americans Want Pensions for All

To what extent do you agree/disagree that all workers, not just those employed by state/local governments, should have a pension?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

26

Retirement Needs Reform (89%)

To what extent do you agree/disagree that the retirement system in this country is under stress and needs reform?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

27

What do Americans think about at new pension system for all?

Suppose Congress were considering a bill that would provide all workers access to a new type of privately-run pension plan. All Americans could participate and make contributions along with their employer. Like a traditional pension, the money would be professionally managed. At retirement, those who participate would get a check every month for as long as they live. But unlike a traditional pension, the benefits would be portable so that people can take their money with them as they change jobs. This retirement plan would also be easy for employers, because they wouldnt be responsible for administering the funds or managing the money. Those tasks would all be handled by an independent board of trustees. Employers would just have to enroll their employees and make sure that their contributions go into the plan. Is this a good idea?
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Strong Support for New Pension System for all Americans

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

29

High Appeal: Portable, Monthly Income, Available to All

How appealing are each of the following aspects of this plan?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

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Economic Imperative for Retirement Security

To what degree do you agree/disagree that increasing numbers of Baby Boomers retiring without pensions & inadequate savings is putting stress on families and the economy?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

31

Pensions Ensure Self-Reliance

To what extent do you agree/disagree that all workers should have a pension to be self-reliant, independent in retirement?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

32

Washington Must Give Retirement Higher Priority

To what extent do you agree/disagree that leaders in Washington need to give a higher priority to ensuring more Americans can have a secure retirement?

Source: NIRS Pensions & Retirement Security 2013

33

Key Take-Aways
Quiet Crisis most Americans not prepared to be self-sufficient in retirement retirement. High cost for retirement insecurity for individuals, families, public assistance, broader economy. Americans see pensions as solution to relieve high retirement anxiety. Public pensions recovering from impacts of financial crisis, continuing pensions.

Questions?
Diane Oakley NIRS Executive Director 202.256.1445 doakley@nirsonline.org www.nirsonline.org