In the run-up to the new pension plan, the pension fund surveyed how you feel about investment risks. Board member Paul van Bree explains how the fund used the outcomes.

What did you examine?

'An important part of your pension is accrued thanks to the returns on investments. We wanted to know how members feel about taking investment risks, and what risks they can bear. This risk preference survey was mandatory because of the introduction of the new pension plan. The results weighed in the choice of the plan and in shaping our future investment policy.’

What happened to the outcomes?

'We ultimately opted for the solidarity premium plan, also as that is what members prefer. That means, among other things, that there will soon be a buffer that helps absorb downward fluctuations in pension benefits.

The survey shows that our members want to and are able take slightly more risk, compared to the average in the Netherlands. We will use these outcomes to design the new investment policy, as we need to follow those preferences of members. 

In that respect, the outcomes are well in line with our original investment policy. I should add that we have been somewhat more cautious in the run-up to the transition to the new pension plan, in order to be more certain that later on you can make a very good transition to the new pension system with a good policy ratio. After that, we actually return to the level of investment risk from before that interim period. So we're not going to do something completely different.'

How will investment risks be handled in the future? 

'With the new plan, we will soon have one collective portfolio with different types of investments. Within this portfolio, we will distinguish between different age groups. You could say: more investment risk for younger participants, and less for older participants. Because if you are young, you lose relatively little if things go wrong, because you have not yet built up much. And if you are older, you have fewer years to make up for any setbacks. 

In the new pension plan, everyone will have their own personal pension capital, which the pension fund invests as a total. Even if you are already retired. As a result, your pension can be increased slightly faster than now. By continuing to invest together for all participants, we share windfalls and absorb setbacks together.'

Good to know

Investing plays an important role in the new pension system. That is why we conducted research last year into what you think about investing and the risks that come with it. We will take the results of this survey into account in our preparations for the new pension plan.

More information?

At ‘Investing your pension’ you can find more information about the investments by the pension fund, your own options and the investment fund that Mars Pension Fund invests in.

Do you have a question about investing? Or would you like to know more about something? Let us know! A board member might answer your question next time.