The statement below was issued on Monday, March 30, 2020, by the Office of the Chief Investment Officer.
Across the University of California system, members of our community — especially the dedicated professionals at UC Health — are working tirelessly to stop the spread of the coronavirus and limit its impact to our health, welfare, and financial security. During this time of uncertainty and upheaval, it is important to know that your UC retirement benefits will be there when you need them.
They will be.
UC Investments is a long-term investor guided by what we call our 10 pillars, the guideposts that have served the University of California well. We have been investing the retirement assets of our community members for nearly 60 years, through financial highs and lows, including the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. We have planned for bumps in the road. We are effectively navigating this crisis, too.
UC has a legal obligation to provide funding for the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP), with provisions in place that require UC to make contributions that are sufficient to ensure the financial health of the plan over the long-term.
UC Investments takes a conservative investments approach in anticipation of inevitable downturns. “Risk Rules” is one of our guiding pillars. “Centennial Performance” — which encapsulates our strategy of investing for the next 100 years — is another. Our investments are sound and diversified, including significant holdings of cash, Treasuries and high-quality corporate bonds to provide a buffer against market volatility. As of March 24, 2020, the UC pension had assets of more than $61 billion.
Your pension assets are safe, secure, and stable. We are keeping them that way.