Higher pensions and less risk: Innovation at Denmark’s ATP pension plan

Date: Fall, 2010

Authors: Lars Rohde (ATP) & Chresten Dengsøe (ATP)

Abstract: 

While coming to grips with the challenges of market turbulence, repeated financial crises, and the 2001 introduction of a fair value disclosure regime, Denmark’s Labour Market Supplementary Pension Plan (ATP) concluded that its approach to pension management needed to change. As a result, the organization began to look for a new business model. The goal was to reconcile a return-seeking investment strategy with safeguards to pensions and pension promises through sustainable guarantees and effective risk management. This article describes the resulting series of innovations at ATP designed to provide better pensions for its membership at no additional cost.