Description: Sponsors of DB plans are being forced to focus on their plans as never before. A confluence of events—market downturn, aging workforce and changing legislation/regulation—has meant the status quo no longer applies to companies’ DB plans.

Description: This presentation is an open forum, session 11OF, from the 2004 Spring Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held May 19-21 in Anaheim, CA. The panelists note that defined benefit [DB] pension actuaries are finding themselves working in new and expanded roles in the new millennium, and discuss the answers to challenging questions raised by working in this environment, such as what additional training is recommended, and what the unique challenges and rewards are. The panelists look at the future with respect to the DB actuary, with respect to less traditional roles in that area as well as opportunities in the area of defined contribution plans. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 30, No. 1.

Description: Canadian employers who sponsor retirement plans have mostly adopted arrangements that qualify for deferral of taxes. It is no longer clear that this is the best choice. Low interest rates and the emergence of Tax-Free Savings Accounts mean that there could be better alternatives for future generations of employees. This research paper re-examines the effectiveness of tax deferral and other fundamental choices.

Description: Updated metrics for measuring financial stress among multiemployer pension plans in the United States.

Description: Chapter 5 raises a number of tax issues that require legal advice, while recognizing that not all experts will agree on the correct tax treatment. From Design and Actuarial Aspects of Deferred Retirement Option Programs, M-RS03-2.

Description: This abstract describes a talk that presents a framework simulating the experience of a Canadian defined benefit final average pay contributory pension plan.

Description: From the 41st ARC: a presentation focusing on risk management of a pension plan whose benefit is the greater of a defined benefit DB and a defined contribution DC plan. Hedging strategies are derived and illustrated, recognizing that the DB guarantee is like an option.

Description: This report, Phase 2 of a project on communicating pension risk, includes interviews with several individuals representing various aspects of plan administration: plan fiduciaries, finance professionals, consultants, and providers. The report provides a summary of each interview, concluding with common themes.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA Vancouver Meeting discusses minimum funding and the problems related to establishing and amortizing change-in-method amortization bases. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 3a.

Description: Provides an overview of issues with regard to the defined benefit plan lump sum choice and introduces the Society of Actuaries Decision Brief on that topic