Description: The current 50% reversion tax on the recovery of excess assets from a terminated defined benefit pension plan results in an asymmetric risk borne by pension plan sponsors. They are responsible for funding shortfalls but any surplus remaining at the termination of the plan is subject to punitive taxes. Pension reform will increase minimum funding levels to reduce the number of underfunded plans, which will increase the likelihood of surpluses that would be subject to punitive taxes. The Society of Actuaries’ Pension Section Research Team commissioned this study to quantify the impact of reversion taxes on pension plan funding.

Description: There is no silver bullet to improving retirement income outcomes for retirees. However, a combination of changes can be of significant value in addressing this overlooked issue. Although QLACs on the surface have potential value, they are not nearly as efficient as they could be. So far, employer plans have provided limited options for retirement income solutions. IRAs may not cost effectively serve the best interest of retirees. Employer plans should be encouraged to become retirement income providers and alternative approaches should be considered. The current prohibition on allowing plans to modify benefit payouts based on mortality experience should be reconsidered to allow for innovative plan income designs. Improvements to the deaccumulation stage of the retiree nest egg are challenging yet necessary.

Description: This article reviews the responsibilities undertaken by Enrolled Actuary and highlights compliance concerns. From Pension Section News, April 1998, Issue No. 36.

Description: Defined benefit plans have been disappearing from the private sector retirement program landscape. 401k Plans that have taken their place are not designed to provide retiree lifetime income. Individuals seldom work for a single employer and thus have many retirement accounts spread about. This commentary discusses an alternative approach to providing retirement income a voluntary basis in a vehicle that is decoupled from employers.

Description: The military retirement system is a funded, noncontributory, defined-benefit plan that includes nondisability retired pay, disability retired pay, and survivor annuity programs. This article discusses the additional benefits created by the Military Retirement Reform Act of 1986.

Description: This session reviews current trends in patterns of retirement and provides an update on legislation to facilitate phased retirement. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 27, No. 3, Session 62PD.

Description: Interview with Andrea Sellers and Julie Curtis who share their knowledge and experiences related to serving on the ERSIA Advisory Council.

Description: The Actuary Vol. 22, No. 1. This article discusses the impact of a change in procedure in the financing of the US Military Retirement System. The change requires amortizing the past service liability. The impact will depend upon whether the amortization is achieved by increasing current taxes and decreasing the current deficit, or by merely increasing the national debt and leaving the current deficit unchanged. The author asserts that the new financing method will not weaken the financial condition of the military retirement system, and that it has the potential to strengthen its financial condition if the funding of the past service liability is handled appropriately.

Description: This is a panel discussion session on the effect of legislation on employee benefit structure. From Record of Society of Actuaries 1980, Vol. 6, No. 4.

Description: This is a group of reports on a future outlook study, mortality investigation on individual lives, and legislative matters of interest to actuaries.