Moneyzine
Contents
/Investment Guides /Pension Service Cost

Pension Service Cost

Moneyzine Editor
Author: 
Moneyzine Editor
1 mins
September 20th, 2023
Advertiser Disclosure

Definition

The term pension service cost refers to the present value of the projected retirement benefits earned by plan participants in the current period. Generally, a company's pension service cost is the amount it must set aside in the current period to match the retirement benefits accrued by plan participants.

Explanation

Companies provide employees with a pension plan as part of a larger array of employment benefits. The FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87 requires firms to measure and disclose pension obligations as well as the performance and financial condition of their plans at the end of each accounting period.

Also known as "normal" pension costs, service costs are the actuarially-determined present value of retirement benefits earned by plan participants in the current period, based on the company's existing pension benefit formula. Factors influencing this cost include increases or decreases to staffing levels (plan participants), forecasted versus actual retirements, as well as above-plan increases to compensation.

Service cost is typically the largest component of a company's pension expense each year. The overall level of funding will also depend on variables such as the return on the fund's assets, prior service costs, interest expense, changes to the plan's formula, and the plan's gains and losses.

Related Terms

pension plan, defined benefits plan, defined contributions plan, pension obligation, accumulated benefit obligation, vested benefit obligation, projected benefit obligation, pension interest cost, return on plan assets, amortization of prior service cost

Explore Investing Further

Related Content

  • Biden Or Trump: Who Is Better For The Economy And Stocks?
    Yup. This is one of those articles. It's an election year, and here in the U.S., we get to decide which old dude who’s been alive long enough to remember when there were only 48 states in the U.S. will be the leader of the free world.
    March 19th, 2024
  • When it comes to strategic business planning, accounting is front and center, shaping the course of action. At least it should be.
    March 14th, 2024
  • DRIP Brokers: Best Brokers for Dividend Investing for April 2024
    Reinvesting dividends could mean compound growth for your portfolio. But reinvesting them manually can be a hassle. This is why you could benefit from a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP).
    March 12th, 2024
  • How To Invest in Real Estate Without Becoming a Landlord
    We all know that in order to build wealth and prepare for retirement, investing is the key. However, it can be hard to figure out what to invest in and how to put your money to good use. One of the most talked about ways to build wealth is owning property and being a landlord to bring in passive income. But what if you don’t want to do that? You can still invest in real estate!
    March 6th, 2024
  • Investing In Nature: The Closest You'll Get To Your Money Growing On Trees
    ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) has become a polluted word for many traders and investors - but that doesn't mean it's going completely away. Nor does that mean you can't profit from nature or sustainable practices. But there are some opportunities in the regenerative ag, conservation, and green real estate spaces.
    February 29th, 2024

Contributors

Moneyzine 2024. All Rights Reserved.