Description: This paper discusses the level of reserve funds that a pension plan should maintain to protect itself from a downturn in the financial markets. From Current Pension Actuarial Practice in Light of Financial Economics Symposium, M-RS04-1.

Description: Panelists discuss a new actuarial textbook. Addressed are the rationale for the book, layout, and some practical applications of financial economics in an insurance or annuities context. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 23, No. 2.

Description: Article from The Actuary October 1992 – Volume 26, No. 08 is a book review of Social Security: What Every Taxpayer Should Know

Description: The objective of this study is to measure the amount of surplus which would be needed by a pension plan to account for the risk of insufficient return on assets. From Current Pension Actuarial Practice In Light of Financial Economics Symposium, M-RS04-1.

Description: A discussion of regulatory considerations for pension plans considering the use of longevity risk hedging contracts in Canada.

Description: Abstract for a paper that attempts to identify defined benefit plan design principles that provide valuable employee benefits at reasonable costs. From The Future of Pension Plan Funding and Disclosure Monograph, M-RS05-1. Presented at The Future of Pension Plan Funding and Disclosure Symposium held July 14-15, 2005 in Washington, DC. This monograph is a case study.

Description: Jill Hoffman’s report on 2010 actuarial activities in Singapore and Cathy Lyn’s report on the 2009 activities in the Jamaica .

Description: View the complete issue for the August 2014 Reinsurance News newsletter.

Description: Excel spreadsheet illustrating a specific proposal outlined in the paper, with detailed explanations.

Description: Interest rate changes and volatile equity returns have contributed to significant funding and expense volatility for defined benefit plans in recent years. This paper will describe the design of an option contract with payouts that are tied to the combined impact of interest rates and investment returns on the funding level of a defined benefit pension plan. Current derivatives used by plan sponsors can limit exposure to one of these risks; however, a derivative that combines these risks may provide more targeted protection to a plan sponsor at lower cost. This paper discusses several considerations in designing such a derivative. It will also briefly discuss pricing of the option. Finally, the difference in potential outcomes between plan funding with and without option ownership will be demonstrated. As an outcome of the design work, a new way to visualize pension risk that may be useful in sponsor accounting disclosures will be shown.