Description: Abstract: A common approach to estimating the total amount of savings required to fund retirement is to first apply a generic “replacement rate” to pre-retirement income, such as 80%, to get the desired retirement income need. That need is then assumed to increase annually at the rate of inflation for the duration of retirement, which is generally assumed to be some fixed period, such as 30 years. Using government data along with a fairly simple market and mortality model, we explore these assumptions to more accurately estimate the true cost of retirement.

Description: A common approach to estimating the total amount of savings required to fund retirement is to first apply a generic “replacement rate” to pre-retirement income, such as 80%, to get the desired retirement income need. That need is then assumed to increase annually at the rate of inflation for the duration of retirement, which is generally assumed to be some fixed period, such as 30 years. Using government data along with a fairly simple market and mortality model, we explore these assumptions to more accurately estimate the true cost of retirement

Description: Part 2 proposes solutions to the second of three flaws of the current financial model to obtaining the fair value of the public sector employer’s pension benefit liability.

Description: Exploration of sources of volatility in retiree health valuations, noting how volatility arises and might be mitigated, with discussion of valuation parameters more problematic for retiree health benefits than for pensions. Three significant influences on retiree health valuation volatility are covered-- changes in benefit level, fluctuations in cost level, and alterations in eligibility for, or duration of, benefit – and attention focused on the last two. Specific conclusions result in recommendations, which are supported by practical examples contrasting volatile measurement results with those likely from the recommended practices. Theoretical discussion includes health claim variation, health trend usage, financial economics, option pricing, discount rates, and deterministic vs. stochastic modeling.

Description: Six appendices are presented: Study Methodology and Response, Column Names and Data Codes, Listing of Respondents and Reports Received, Experience Study Data, Valuation Report Data, and Investment Data. From A Study of Public Employees Retirement Systems, M-RS96-1.

Description: Introduction gives a general overview the contents of the monograph. From A Study of Public Employees Retirement Systems, M-RS96-1.

Description: Chapter 2 describes the general categories of results that the study gleaned from the vast amount of data gathered: active mortality rates, disablement rates, termination rates, retirement rates, retiree morality, disabled mortality, interest rates, and salary scales. From A Study of Public Employees Retirement Systems, M-RS96-1.

Description: Chapter 5 reviews the investment plans of four Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, and California public employee systems concentrating on three main topics: general summary of fund and portfolio characteristics, comparisons of target asset allocations policies, and reviews of investment policies. From A Study of Public Employees Retirement Systems, M-RS96-1.

Description: Chapter 6 summarizes the findings for key actuarial assumptions in each of the following categories: active mortality, disablement rates, withdrawal rates, retirement rates, retiree mortality, disabled mortality, interest rates, salary scales, actuarial cost methods, ans asset valuation methods. From A Study of Public Employees Retirement Systems, M-RS96-1.

Description: Chapter 3 presents a very general overview of the data from public employee retirement systems in California, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, and Texaseach in respect to demographic and economic assumptions. From A Study of Public Employees Retirement Systems, M-RS96-1.