Question

Pension plan assets were $1,200 million at the beginning of the year and $1,252 million at the end of the year. At the end of the year, retiree benefits paid by the trustee were $28 million and cash invested in the pension fund was $32 million. What was the percentage rate of return on plan assets

Answer 1

Answer: 4%

Explanation:

From the question, we are informed that Pension plan assets were $1,200 million at the beginning of the year and $1,252 million at the end of the year and that at the end of the year, retiree benefits paid by the trustee were $28 million and cash invested in the pension fund was $32 million.

Based on the above scenario, the percentage rate of return on plan assets goes thus:

Opening balance of plan assets 1200

Add:- Actual return = 48

Add:- contributions = 32

Less :- retiree benefits = -28

Closing balance of plan assets = 1252

It should be noted that the actual return is the balancing figure which is calculated as:

= 1252 + 28 - 1200 - 32

= 48

The percentage rate of return on plan assets will now be:

= 48/1200

=0.04

= 4%