Description: This article encourages pension actuaries to read a 16-page paper, available on the Internet from the National Commission on Retirement Policy, regarding the challenges of the next decade on how to put federal programs for senior citizens on a sound financial footing.

Description: Article from Pension Section News, May 2007, No. 64, highlights a book by John Turner on international perspectives of individual accounts. In clear and concise language, Turner, a senior policy advisor at the AARP Public Policy Institute, explores the first-hand experience of other countries that have implemented, either partially or in full, aspects of social security reform that have been proposed for the U.S. system.

Description: The 1999 Technical Panel on Assumptions and Methods by Edward W. Frees from Pension Section News, March 2000, Issue No. 42.

Description: Andrew Peterson gives an excellent synopsis and editorial comments on the high points of the National Academy of Social Insurance’s 23rd annual Conference, held this January at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Description: Longevity insurance benefits are deferred annuities that begin payment at advanced older ages, such as at age 82. With a longevity insurance benefit, the problem of asset decumulation with uncertain life expectancy is simplified. Instead of planning for an uncertain period, retirees can plan for the fixed period from the date of their retirement to the date at which they start receiving the longevity insurance benefit. Originally, Social Security was structured as a longevity insurance benefit program, with roughly 50 percent of those entering the workforce surviving to receive the benefits. Over time, however, as life expectancy has improved, Social Security benefits have slowly transformed into benefits that most people entering the work force ultimately receive. While adding longevity insurance as a new benefit when Social Security is already facing a financing deficit would be problematic, reintroduction of a longevity insurance benefit a s part of Social Security reform package that involved benefit cuts could be an important policy innovation.

Description: This article is an excerpt taken from, Status of the Social Security and Medicare Programs: A Summary of the 2004 Annual Reports - A Message to the Public. From the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees. From Pension Section News, September 2004, Issue No. 56.

Description: This articles features three study notes for used for the Retirement Benefits course 8 exam: Current Issues in Social Security by Steven McKay Mortality Tables for Pension Plans by D. Grubbs and M. Oliver and Valuation of Pension Benefits for Disabled participants by Edward Sypher

Description: A Paper to Note The Vital Connection, an ERIC Publication by Joseph Applebaum from Pension Section News, February 1999, Issue No. 39.

Description: The article describes an interactive game related to Social Security and how the user can play the game.