This Muni Lowdown podcast features Managing Editor Paul Greaves discussing public pensions with Jean-Pierre Aubry, associate director of research at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College and Curation Editor Stephanie Fagnani.

Jean-Pierre kicks off the podcast explaining the center’s Public Plans Database that is leveraged to analyze plans.

The conversation shifts to discussing the key takeaways from the research brief that Jean-Pierre served as the lead author for entitled The Funded Status of Public Plans Keeps Improving – Albeit Modestly.

Jean-Pierre segues into why any improvements to funded ratios going forward will be at best, modest.

Jean-Pierre transitions into discussing why the increasing share of new hires are important in understanding the cost side of the equation for public pension plans.

Jean-Pierre concludes with thoughts on the challenges to developing and/or maintaining a fiscally sound pension plan.