Financial Intel Monthly

The Markets (as of market close October 15, 2021)

Interest rates are tending upward, if this trend continues it will decrease the value of ExxonMobil employees' pension lump-sums. The IRS has recently released the Segment rates for the month of August, recorded at: 0.66% / 2.50% / 3.12%. Over the course of 2021, interest rates at ExxonMobil increased significantly, which greatly reduced many lump sum payments. With record low rates culminating in the first quarter of 2021, ExxonMobil employees have since seen a significant increase in interest rates. We saw an increase in rates for the second & third quarters of 2021 in the second segment, and now fourth quarter rates have risen slightly higher. Rates rose roughly 0.04% in the second segment, in the last quarter. The short term rates have experienced a slight increase, while the long term rates saw a slight decrease. Even though blended rates for the first quarter of 2022 will not be known until the end of September, this recent trend upward might be an early indicator of bad news for ExxonMobil employees opting for a lump-sum.

Interest rates are trending in the wrong direction for ConocoPhillips employees, considering the lump sum option on their pension payment, moving into Q1 2022. Interest rates had dropped for individuals who wish to commence their benefits in Q4 2021. Over the course of 2020, interest rates dropped dramatically, which greatly increased many lump sum payments. However, interest rates have been on the rise since Q1 2021. A segment rate increase in Q4 indicates an upward trajectory of interest rates. If this continues, lump-sums will rise again in Q1 2022. Should you desire to take your pension as a lump sum, ConocoPhillips will use interest rates and your age to calculate your lump sum payment. When interest rates move up or down, your pension lump sum amount will move in an inverse relationship (except for Cash Balance Pension Lump Sum payouts). Even though it is too early to know blended interest rate figures for the first quarter of 2022, August figures were just released, and they show a slight increase, which is bad news for ConocoPhillips employees electing a pension lump-sum. August segment rates were recorded at: 0.66% / 2.50% / 3.12%.

Chevron interest rates decreased 0.11% in the most influential segment for those who commence their benefit in November 2021. This correlates to this month's overall decrease in rates, and the result will be slightly higher lump-sums for those retiring in November. When Chevron employees elect the month they would like to begin their pension, Chevron looks back to the third, fourth, and fifth month's rates to calculate the rates used for the pension disbursement. When interest rates move up or down, your pension lump sum amount will move in an inverse relationship. Through the pandemic, interest rates dropped dramatically which has greatly increased many lump sum payments. This trend culminated in record lows for individuals who commenced their benefits in December of 2020. However, since December, rates have increased, causing a reduction in pension lump-sums.

Chevron interest rates decreased 0.19% in the second segment for those who commence their benefit in October 2021. This is the first time in several months that interest rates have dropped this much, and the result will be slightly larger lump-sums for those retiring in October. When Chevron employees elect the month they would like to begin their pension, Chevron looks back to the third, fourth, and fifth month's rates to calculate the rates used for the pension disbursement. When interest rates move up or down, your pension lump sum amount will move in an inverse relationship. Through the pandemic, interest rates have dropped dramatically which has greatly increased many lump sum payments. This trend culminated in record lows for individuals who commenced their benefits in December of 2020. However, since December, rates have increased, causing a reduction in pension lump-sums.

Interest rates are tending downward, if this trend continues it will increase the value of ExxonMobil employees' pension lump-sums. The IRS has recently released the Segment rates for the month of July, recorded at: 0.63% / 2.51% / 3.10%. Over the course of 2020, interest rates at ExxonMobil dropped dramatically, which greatly increased many lump sum payments. This culminated in record low rates for individuals that commence their benefits in the first quarter of 2021. However, we saw an increase in rates for the second & third quarters of 2021 and now fourth quarter rates have risen slightly higher. Rates rose roughly 0.04% in the most significant segment, in the last quarter. The short, medium and long term rates released by the IRS have displayed a slight decrease. Even though blended rates for the first quarter of 2022 will not be known until mid October, this recent trend downward might be an early indicator of good news for ExxonMobil employees opting for a lump-sum.

Interest rates are trending in the right direction for ConocoPhillips employees, considering the lump sum option on their pension payment. Interest rates dropped for individuals that commence their benefits in Q4 2021. Over the course of 2020, interest rates dropped dramatically, which greatly increased many lump sum payments. However, interest rates have been on the rise since Q1 2021. A drop in Q4 indicates a shift in the trajectory of interest rates. If this continues, lump-sums will rise again in Q1 2022. Should you desire to take your pension as a lump sum, ConocoPhillips will use interest rates and your age to calculate your lump sum payment. When interest rates move up or down, your pension lump sum amount will move in an inverse relationship (except for Cash Balance Pension Lump Sum payouts). Even though it is too early to know blended interest rate figures for next quarter, July figures were just released, and they are lower than the previous month, which may be good news for ConocoPhillips employees electing a pension lump-sum. July segment rates were recorded at: 0.63% / 2.51% / 3.10%.

Chevron interest rates decreased 0.07% in the second segment for those who commence their benefit in September 2021. This is the first time in several months that interest rates have dropped, and the result will be slightly larger lump-sums for those retiring in September.  When Chevron employees elect the month they would like to begin their pension, Chevron looks back to the third, fourth, and fifth month's rates to calculate the rates used for the pension disbursement. When interest rates move up or down, your pension lump sum amount will move in an inverse relationship. Over the last year, interest rates have dropped dramatically which has greatly increased many lump sum payments. This trend culminated in record lows for individuals who commenced their benefits in December of 2020. However, since December, rates have to increased, causing a reduction in lump-sums.

Interest rates increased, which will minimally reduce the value of ExxonMobil employees' pension lump-sums. Over the course of 2020, interest rates at ExxonMobil dropped dramatically, which greatly increased many lump sum payments. This culminated in record low rates for individuals that commence their benefits in the first quarter of 2021. However, we saw an increase in rates for the second & third quarters of 2021 and now fourth quarter rates have risen slightly higher. Rates rose roughly 0.04% in the most significant segment, in the last quarter.  

Interest rates are trending in the right direction for ConocoPhillips employees, considering the lump sum option on their pension payment. Interest rates dropped for individuals that commence their benefits in Q4 2021. Over the course of 2020, interest rates dropped dramatically, which greatly increased many lump sum payments. However, interest rates have been on the rise since Q1 2021. A drop in Q4 indicates a shift in the trajectory of interest rates. If this continues lump-sums will rise again in Q1 2022. Should you desire to take your pension as a lump sum, ConocoPhillips will use interest rates and your age to calculate your lump sum payment. When interest rates move up or down, your pension lump sum amount will move in an inverse relationship (except for Cash Balance Pension Lump Sum payouts).