Mars Pensioenfonds is looking for a new candidate on behalf of the employees for the Accountability Council (VO/Accountability Council). One of the current members of the VO, Paul van Bree, is making the switch to the board of  MPF. As a result, there is a vacancy in the VO, for which there is already a potential candidate (Judith Vermeulen). You can register yourself as a candidate for the vacancy.

At the end of 2017, the policy funding ratio was above the required equity of 131.9%. As a result, Mars Pensioenfonds was finally out of recovery. As of 1 January 2018, we were able to increase the pensions in payment with a partial supplement. If the policy funding ratio remains above the required level, we can grant a full supplement as of 1 January 2019.

If you participate in the MUP/MSP scheme, you opt for a fixed or a variable pension on your retirement date. A new feature is that you can make a provisional choice for the capital in the MSP scheme from the age of 55. You then choose whether you want to align your investments with a fixed or variable pension. In January 2018 there will be a Fixed Life Cycle and a Variable Life Cycle.

The UPO shows how much pension you have accrued so far. The Pension Dashboard shows what you can accrue if you continue to work at Mars. How certain is it that you will actually receive these amounts?

The UPS has changed a lot compared to last year. The new UPS is much shorter, clearer and easier to read. And it contains recognizable icons.

The new UPO states how much pension you have accrued at the moment. Of course you also want to know how much pension you can expect later. And whether that is enough. You can find these answers in the Pension Dashboard.

Ad van Gestel has been on the Accountability Body of Mars Pensioenfonds (representing the pensioners) since 2014. He now makes himself available for another term of three years.

With the Pension Dashboard from MPF you can map out your financial situation on your retirement date. It shows how much pension or capital you have currently built up at MPF and what your pension could be by the time you retire. This allows you to determine now whether or not your income for later will be sufficient. And which pension choices you want to make. From now on, your data in the pension dashboard will be updated more frequently.

Pension funds in the Netherlands are in somewhat better shape again, but are far from out of the woods. The investment results were ultimately better than expected in 2016, but we are dealing with a low market interest rate, which means that the coverage ratios still remain on the low side. The financial situation of Mars Pension Fund (MPF) has also improved. I would like to take you through the current developments and their financial impact on our pension fund.

If you take vacation days, you will get paid. And you will also build up a pension. If you take unpaid leave, however, it may affect your pension. For example, if you take parental leave or a sabbatical.