Growth-focused pension scheme funding rises to 94.1% in July – Broadstone

Funding levels for a growth-focused pension scheme strategy improved by one percentage point in July, according to the latest Broadstone Sirius Index.

The index, which monitors how different pension scheme investment strategies are performing on their journeys towards low dependency, found that the growth-focused scheme’s funding level increased from 93.1% at the end of June to 94.1% at the end of July.

Both model schemes began 2026 with funding levels of 90%.

It continues to outperform the funding level of the ‘matching focused’ scheme so far in 2026.

Despite some small movements through the month, the ‘matching focused’ scheme ended July on the same funding level that it ended June on – 89.9%

The ‘growth focused’ scheme has generally outperformed the ‘matching focused’ scheme since April, with its underhedged position benefiting in a rising yield environment and greater exposure to return-seeking assets which performed well over the period.

Chris Rice, head of trustee services at Broadstone, said: “July provided another positive month for our ‘growth focused’ scheme, which benefitted from its underhedged position and moved 4.1 percentage points above its starting funding level for the year.

“However, the contrasting performance of the two strategies should not be interpreted as evidence that taking greater investment risk will always deliver a better outcome.