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: This paper demonstrates how, under the projected benefit cost methods whereby the gains are reflected in the normal cost rate, gains determined at a given valuation date are amortized over the future working lifetime of the active employees included in the valuation as of that date.

Description: In this article, the authors introduce a new policy-making model for pension plan funding which openly represents the uncertainty. The word 'policy' is used here to indicate a strategy which is intended to be followed most [but not necessarily all] of the time. In unusual circumstances, the policy will have to be modified at the end of the year to retain qualification. However, the frequency with which this remedial action is needed is controllable by the actuary [unlike the method of using expected values]. The simple substitution of expected values of random quantities produces an unknown frequency of last minute remedial actions at possibly disastrous investment costs to the pension plan. However, with this paper's techniques, once the actuary acknowledges the uncertainty associated with the various aspects of the pension plan, he/she can explicitly trade off the costs associated with remedial actions, tax penalties, etc. with the investment returns in order to meet the pension plan goals. The method that this paper introduces is a new Chance-Constrained Programming approach to selecting annual contribution levels and asset allocation [holding other factors fixed] that the authors believe will better fit the employer's goals while recognizing the many risks and constraints associated with defined benefit plans. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993, Vol. 3.

Description: This paper surveys the actuarial techniques connected with salary scale mathematics for the valuation of defined benefit pension plans. Followed by several discussion papers submitted

Description: This study summarizes the results of the the Society of Actuaries' Non-Mortality Decrement Task Force data collection effort of plan turnover data for years 1994-2000. Service, by itself, seems not to be a good predictor of retirement. Service and age are each good predictors for termination it is found. The report is designed to offer actuaries information about turnover as it pertains to defined benefit plans.

Description: This Excel workbook contains the complete set of tables developed from the Society of Actuaries 2003 Pension Plan Termination and Retirement Study. Separate tabs are included for the Basic Age Table, Basic Service Table, Select & Ultimate Table, Small Plan Age Table, and Small Plan Service Table.

Description: This report compares the CIA pricing method for estimating group annuity closeout pricing to methods used in the US.

Description: The purpose of this note is to demonstrate the derivation of unisex single life and joint life annuity values, and early retirement and joint and survivor option factors based on certain assumptions. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1976, Vol. 28.

Description: This paper addresses how to explain yearly fluctuations and computed pension cost in terms of deviations of actual from expected experience. It presents a method for deriving gain-an-loss analysis formulas directly from the valuation formulas and shows that the analysis is implicitly defined by the valuation formulas, rather than something which can be considered apart from them. This method can be used to attack both individual and aggregate cost methods and the development of exact analysis formulas provides not only the basis for computation but also valuable insight into the mechanisms by which cost methods adjust computed costs to reflect actual experience.

Description: The purpose of this paper is to describe an actuarially acceptable and mathematically definitive method for allocating gains by source. Followed by a discussion paper submitted