Description: This section contains multiple book reviews and notices concerning the actuarial profession. Reviews: 'Medical Risks: Patterns of Mortality and Survival' by Singer and Levinson, 'The Theory and Practice of Pension Funding' by Trowbridge and Farr, 'Two Stochastic Processes' by Beekman, 'Disability Income Insurance - Cost Differentials between Men and Women' by New York Insurance Department, 'Social Security and Private Pension Plans: Competitive or Complementary' by McGill, 'A New Look at Accounting for Pension Costs' by Hall and Landsittel, '1977 Annual Reports of the Board of Trustees of the Federal OASDI Trust Funds...,' 'Investigation of Sickness Statistics - Individual Policies, 1971 and 1973' by the Institute of Actuaries and the Faculty of Actuaries, 'The Graduation of Pensioners and of Annuitants Mortality Experience 1967-70' by the Institute of Actuaries and the Faculty of Actuaries, 'Pensions and Survival - the Coming Crisis of Money and Retirement' by Calvert, 'Group Benefits in a Changing Society' by Spencer, 'Experience of Disabled Work Benefits under OASDI 1965-74' by Bayo and Wilkin. Digests also included.

Description: The Funding Standard Account was introduced by ERISA to determine a defined benefit plan's compliance with the minimum funding standards of the law. In this article, the author discusses the following aspects of the Funding Standard Account: 1. Combining and offsetting Funding Standard Account amortization charges and credits, 2. The Full Funding Limitation Credit, 3. The Alternative Minimum Funding Standard Account, and 4. The minimum contribution required to assure avoidance of an Accumulated Funding Deficiency.

Description: 1993 SOA Annual Meeting, New York. This session debated the merits of the PBGC concept. Topics discussed: 1. The administration's proposal to reform the PBGC and how the PBGC plans to go about it. 2. Is the PBGC in trouble?

Description: Discussion on problems encountered in filling out the Schedule B and how to solve them. The session will cover reconciliation account, current liability calculations and suggestions for improvement. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries 1992, Vol.18, No. 1A.

Description: 1994 SOA Meeting, San Antonio. This session covered the SEC letter on FAS 87, discount rates analyzing the current yield curve, matching bond portfolios to benefit payments, selection of salary scale, selection of return on assets, update on ASB proposed standards, and the relationship, if any, of funding assumptions to accounting assumptions.

Description: This 1978 session focused on valuation techniques for pension plans. Topics covered: 1. Asset Valuation Methods 2. Use of projections and forecasts 3. Has application of forecasts allowed the actuary to determine short range best estimate of future costs different from traditional methods? 4. Treatment of salary scales, turnover assumptions, retirement decrements

Description: The purpose of this paper is to outline some of the points to be considered in arriving at a method of making cost estimates and funding calculations and their practical application.

Description: 1993 SOA Spring Meeting, San Diego. This session was about the effectiveness of the 1987 minimum funding changes and the tools that PBGC used in the legislative development process.

Description: Chairperson's corner for January 2020 In the Public Interest.

Description: This panel discussion which was presented at the 1976 SOA Spring Meeting in Houston focused on pension funding vehicles. Topics included: choice of vehicle, investment mix, fund management by insurance companies vs. corporate trustee and outside investment advisers, plan terminations.