April 15 deadline looms: Sponsors struggle over contribution size; Corporations put up about $10 billion so far; ultimate amount rests with Congress.(News)

Pensions & Investments, April, 2004 by Crawford, Gregory

Byline: Gregory Crawford Corporate pension fund contributions this year could surpass last year's nearly $50 billion. But that figure would be much lower if Congress allows a higher discount rate than currently allowed. (see story on Page 2) Such is the uncertainty under which companies are operating as they struggle to determine how much they need to add to their pension plans to overcome increasing liabilities - despite better investment returns.

"Plan sponsors don't know what to do on April 15,'' which is when the first quarterly contribution for many plans is due, said Alan Glickstein, a senior consultant in the retirement practice of Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Boston. "Rate relief in one form or another would lower or eliminate some of those...

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