The correct answer is D. All of the above.
Companies reduce pension fund risk by relying on fixed income strategies. This is because fixed income investments, such as bonds, are less volatile than other asset classes, such as stocks. This means that the value of fixed income investments is less likely to fluctuate significantly over time, which can help to protect pension funds from losses.
The real returns for pension funds are often lower than projections. This is because pension funds are typically invested in a mix of asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and real estate. These asset classes have different risk and return profiles, and the overall return of a pension fund will depend on the mix of assets that it holds. Over the long term, stocks have historically outperformed bonds and real estate, but stocks are also more volatile. This means that the returns of pension funds can be volatile, and they may not always meet the projections that are made when they are first established.
Corporations try to balance pension costs with staying competitive. This is because pension costs can be a significant expense for corporations. In order to stay competitive, corporations need to control their costs, and pension costs are one area where they can do this. However, corporations also need to make sure that their employees have a secure retirement, and they need to make sure that their pension funds are adequately funded. This can be a difficult balancing act, and it is one that corporations need to carefully manage.