Description: This is a discussion of the paper, 'Life Agents' Retirement Plans under New York State Expense Limitations' by Peter M. Tompa. This discussion amplifies the paper with regards to comparison of funding retirement with single premium deferred annuities as opposed to the money purchase method and critiques the table used for valuation of benefits.

Description: Feature article discussing the impact of the crisis that started in 2008 on pension plans and pension policies in a variety of countries.

Description: The abstract for the paper Never Again

Description: From the Future of Pension Plan Funding and Disclosure Monograph, held July 14-15, 2005 in Washington, DC.

Description: The purpose of this note is to investigate whether, for a given level annual contribution rate, the introduction of a lump-sum benefit in lieu of a part of the pension otherwise payable, can result in a reduction of the mathematical risk due to chance deviations from expectation. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1953, Vol. 5, No. 12.

Description: Abstract of Managing Volatility in a Mark-to-Market World: The Stochastic Funding Method presented at The Future of Pension Plan Funding and Disclosure Symposium held July 14-15, 2005 in Washington, DC.

Description: In a world where pensions for new hires are predominantly provided with defined contribution plans, defined benefit plans have moved in many cases from being a strategic human resource management tool to being a source of volatile historic liabilities and costs that need to be managed downward. While the approaches for dealing with these liabilities broadly consist of risk transfer, settlement or funding, the precise options available will vary by country depending on the local pension framework and legal requirements. Any company with material global pension liabilities would be well advised to monitor these closely, in order to be able to take advantage of opportunities to de-risk, and to ensure that a global pension de-risking budget is allocated to the activities which are expected to yield the best returns for the group.

Description: Recently, we have seen renewed interest in the international (or “offshore”) pension plan. An international plan typically provides benefits for internationally mobile workers of a multinational employer, but can also be used for certain other workers. The plan is usually located in a respected international finance centre.

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 presentation session at the SOA's 1976 Houston Spring Meeting covered pension funding vehicles. The discussion included choice of vehicle Individual Policy, Deposit Administration, IPG, Self-Funding and Split-Funding, Investment Mix, Insurance Company versus Corporate Trustees and Outside Investment Advisers, Approaches to Plan Termination, and Small Plan considerations.