Description: The Actuary Vol. 22, No. 1. This article discusses the impact of a change in procedure in the financing of the US Military Retirement System. The change requires amortizing the past service liability. The impact will depend upon whether the amortization is achieved by increasing current taxes and decreasing the current deficit, or by merely increasing the national debt and leaving the current deficit unchanged. The author asserts that the new financing method will not weaken the financial condition of the military retirement system, and that it has the potential to strengthen its financial condition if the funding of the past service liability is handled appropriately.

Description: In recent months, many significant developments in Canada have affected employee benefits, particularly pensions. Other Canadian issues discussed in this article are unemployment insurance and taxation of pensions.

Description: This paper presents a methodology that represents the common ground between the major camps in the debate over the defined benefits DB system.

Description: The Federal Employees' Retirement System 'FERS', enacted into law on June 6, 1986, covers civilian employees of the U.S. Government who were hired after 1983. FERS supplements Social Security with a basic annuity plan and a thrift-savings plan. The Civil Service Retirement System 'CSRS' remains in effect for employees hired before 1984 who do not elect to transfer to FERS. Besides discussing the benefit changes, this paper covers the following related subjects of broader interest: 1. The federal legislative process, including the roles of interest groups, the Congress and the Administration, and the actuaries assisting them, 2. Investments in stocks and bonds by the new thrift plan, and why these use index funds, and 3. How FERS serves as a model for other large public retirement systems, using a defined contribution plan to help meet its retirement objectives and giving the private sector opportunities to provide benefit services. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1988, Vol. 40, Pt. 1.

Description: This panel discussion is about public pension plans including nondiscrimination issues, plan design issues, funding, political considerations, public plans as a source of budget revenue and other current topics. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 18, No. 1A.

Description: This discussion reviews benefit design, differences in funding methods and actuarial assumptions, political considerations and current studies and possible future legislation. From Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 1, No. 3.

Description: This presentation from Session 73 of the SOA June 2005 New Orleans Health/Pension Spring Meeting discusses the emerging risks faced by Social Security, Medicare, and other public sector retirement plans. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 31, No. 2.

Description: Summary: Deferred Retirement Option Plans DROPs are one of the hot topics for the public sector's retirement. DROPs allow for the accumulation of large lump sums for participants who work beyond their normal retirement age. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 27, No. 1, Session 42PD

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: The author presents an overview of the Conference and highlights the controversy and discussion about the appropriate ways to measure assets and Liabilities for public sector pension plans. From the Pension Section News, September 2008, Issue No. 68.