There are two approaches, labelled “MtM” and “Off”, respectively corresponding to “mark to market” and “off market” (formerly called smoothing).

MtM Assumption  The initial discount rate is the yield on either long-term conventional gilts (nominal payments) or the yield on long index-linked gilts (indexed payments). While simplistic, it is not only simple but also not that far away from what broadly tends to be assumed. This is then modified by “MV_margin”.

Off Assumption  For whichever assets portfolio is being used, the expected return is estimated as a multiple of the initial yield. Using random numbers and past experience, the multiples have been arbitrarily set at 1.13 for conventional gilts and 2.81 for equities. Such a simple multiple approach just doesn't work for ILGs and I have chosen “yield + expected long-term inflation + 1%” (taken from ukrpi.com).

Although these are based upon past actual experience means, we don’t actually need to use scalars (but I have done so).