Description: Hear from the chairperson on themes in the September 2016 issue of Pension Section News published by the The Pension Section.

Description: The recent release of the RP-2014 Mortality Table and Scale MP-2014 exposure drafts represent the SOA’s first comprehensive reexamination of U.S. pension-related mortality assumptions in over a decade. This paper summarizes the key conclusions reached in those exposure drafts and the estimated financial impact of adopting the new mortality assumptions.

Description: This essay advocates that the transition from DB to DC plans won't be complete until plan sponsors offer programs of retirement income in their DC plans. The essay discusses the relevant actuarial and behavioral issues.

Description: Living beyond ones life expectancy poses many challenges. Among them are financial issues. Though there are products and strategies available that retirees could use to mitigate this financial risk they are seldom used. Reasons range from high cost, lack of awareness of the available options, and general underestimation of longevity risk. This paper poses the question as to whether the federal government can provide a solution to this potential problem in a fair and cost efficient manner. Ideas are presented as well as a discussion of the pros and cons of such a program concept.

Description: A Discussion of why female mortality is higher than male mortality at higher ages.