Description: This paper investigates salary functions as they are used in the valuation of pension plans. Pension actuaries may find many of the ideas in this article useful. Moreover, the paper may be interesting to researchers in actuarial science. The main conclusion of this paper is that salary functions, as derived from the parametric models, yield gains and losses that can be quite small and, in some cases, less variable than non-parametric methods. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1998, Vol. 1.

Description: This is a discussion of 'The Generalized Family of Aggregate Actuarial Cost Methods for Pension Funding' by John R. Taylor. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1967, Vol. 19, Pt. 1, No. 54.

Description: This paper describes the actuarial valuation method for pension plans, the formulas and assumptions used, and the way these assumptions might be chosen. A case study is presented. Followed by several discussion papers submitted

Description: Financing a defined benefit pension plan can be accomplished in various ways. With the help of a one-life example, this paper gives an elementary actuarial perspective of the problems that arise when a new defined benefit pension plan is initiated, and of the various actuarial concepts and methods developed to ascertain the cost of these pension benefits. The paper shows the range of the cost alternatives conceptually available upon creation of the pension plan. Actuarial formulas are provided in footnotes. The paper is intended as an introduction to defined benefit pension cost determination as well as an elementary example which may be of value in explaining cost alternatives to an actuary's client. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1975, Vol. 27.

Description: Among many purposes, this paper will outline the theory of gain and loss analysis for pension fund valuations, indicate practical problems met in applying the theory to two model plans and show the Fackler accumulation formulas. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1959, Vol. 11, No. 31.

Description: This paper develops a family of accrued benefit actuarial cost methods which permits the purchase of retirement income at either an accelerating or decelerating rate. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1967, Vol. 19, Pt. 1, No. 54.

Description: A new approach to computing annual pension costs, based on an open-group projection of the participant population for a number of years, was described in detail in a paper published in the 1975 Transactions, entitled 'The Forecast Valuation Method for Pension Plans.' That paper described the operation of such a cost method at the initial valuation date. This paper discusses several alternative approaches to projection valuation methods and also describes how costs should be computed at valuation dates after the first one. In addition, the author illustrates projected contributions and asset buildups under both traditional [closed-group] cost methods and projected [open-group] cost methods, for a number of years under a variety of assumptions as to the growth rate of the participant group. Projection valuation methods have not been described heretofore in sufficient detail to make it possible for actuaries to use them on a recurring basis or for the Internal Revenue Service to make a determination as to the acceptability of such approaches for computing tax-deductible pension plan contributions. It is the hope of the author that this paper will fill both of those gaps. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1977, Vol. 29.

Description: Traditional pension cost methods are based on the actuarial present value of future benefits [which is a mean value]. As a consequence, these cost methods are deficient because they cannot provide plan sponsors with certain valuable information such as the probability that the accumulation of a particular sequence of contributions will ultimately provide sufficient funds to pay benefits, or the size of fund needed to ensure that retirees' lifetime benefits are paid with a specified probability. In response to these deficiencies, a new family of cost methods, called a-percentile cost methods, is developed. These cost methods are based on the probability of adequately covering all participants' benefits. Expressions for the normal cost, the accrued liability and the gain are provided. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1993, Vol. 45.

Description: The purpose of this study is to provide quantitative information illustrating the impact of reflecting mortality improvement using a “Generational Approach” in the actuarial valuations of defined benefit pension plans versus reflecting mortality improvement by more traditional methods.

Description: Survey of Asset Valuation Methods for Defined Benefit Pension Plans. From The Pension Forum, August 2001, Volume 13, Issue No. 1