Description: This paper is a follow-up to the papers in the January and April 2005 editions of the Pension Forum, which focused on the interest assumptions to be used in pension funding. This paper focuses on the other assumptions used to calculate pension liabilities—mortality, early retirement and expense. From Pension Section News, April 2006, No. 61.

Description: In this article, the Chairperson talks about the activities of the Pension Section.

Description: This essay explores the role that the emerging defined contribution retirement system may be playing in the growth of wealth inequality in the United States. The current system leaves many Americans with little or no retirement savings. Those with higher accumulation levels appear to invest proportionally more in equities, which may have an exponential effect of balances over long time periods. The author hypothesizes that willingness to take investment risk involves the relationship between the amount an investor has accumulated and what she/he needs in order to cover basic costs of living. This is one reason that investors with greater accumulation levels may be able to earn higher rates of return. The essay concludes by suggesting that the U.S. defined contribution system should include all workers and provide additional fiduciary guidance. Examples reforms, both in the U.S. and other countries, are provided.

Description: This article presents an overview of the PBGC Actuarial Valuation Report from 2004. From Pension Section News, April 2005, Issue No. 58.

Description: This editorial highlights the current debates regarding public sector plans, the activities of the Pension Section Council to support the debate, and encourages actuaries to participate in the resolution for an optimal outcome. From the Pension Section News, September 2008, Issue No. 68.

Description: Marcus highlights the council’s activities during the 2009-2010 council year, and gives a well deserved thanks to the SOA staff and the members of the council and its teams for their support and hard work toward a very productive year.

Description: Details on the contest for naming the Pension Section newsletter. From the Pension Section News, September 2008, Issue No. 68.

Description: In her final Chairperson’s Corner, Cindy Levering provides readers an update on some of the initiatives that the SOA and Pension Section Council are engaged in and some recent changes to the Pension Section News.

Description: GAR-94: Tracking The 50 States by Zenaida Samaniego from Pension Section News, October 1999, Issue No. 41.

Description: Column highlighting the upcoming release for RP2014/MP-2014, rationale for new scales including two-dimensional mortality projection techniques and upcoming SOA educational opportunities on these topics.