Description: Panelists discuss the need for pension fund managers to continually reexamine their allocation of funds across broad asset classes, and determine the most prudent mix of investments. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 24, No. 2.

Description: This paper establishes a framework to analyze the volatility of corporate profits as a result of variability in accounting for pension plans. It models a Canadian corporation that maintains a defined-benefit pension plan and that has adequate cash flow to fully fund the pension plan, should it wish. Volatility of corporate profits is important because many senior executives have some component of their compensation directly related to corporate profitability and consequently do not want any surprises with respect to actual profits compared to expected profits. The volatility management techniques considered are investment policies for the pension plan, funding the pension plan, and an alternative plan design. The analysis is timely since changes are proposed to the accounting standards to eliminate most smoothing techniques. The results suggest that, depending on the investment environment, reduced volatility may be accompanied by by enhanced return, which is a result that few would expect.

Description: An increased focus on pension plan cost and risk management has led plan sponsors to pursue innovative plan designs. This, in turn, is driving the need for actuaries to utilize new approaches to modeling the underlying market risks of such plan designs. The presenters will discuss advanced techniques to pension plan cash flow modeling that will ensure that the risks embedded in complex plan design features are fully captured. Specifically, a new dimension to cash flow modeling, benefit commencement year (in addition to payment year), will be introduced as well as the concept of 'collapsible' cash flow. Case studies will illustrate how techniques can be used in practice for cash balance plans, pension equity plans and other lump sum paying plans. Other risks such as form of payment and longevity will also be covered. This session is intended to meet the needs of actuaries and investment consultants focused on providing advice on risk management and investment strategy to sponsors of pension plans with complex design features.

Description: 2015 accomplishments of the Investment Section of the Society of Actuaries.

Description: Risks inherent in employee choices of distribution options in terminating plans - A Canadian perspective.

Description: This session discussion is about the existing practices, what input is used, how are assumptions selected, what time horizons are used, and how are asset and liability projections merged. From Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 12, No. 1.

Description: Pension Forecasts, Part One: Some Questions by Lawrence N. Bader from Risks and Rewards Newsletter, February 2001, Issue No. 36.

Description: Resource for Pension Section members

Description: The paper demonstrates that the most popular rationalization for evolving glide paths is flawed and should be discarded. The paper also demonstrates that glide paths should generally evolve for investors that endeavor to optimize outcomes and reevaluate their portfolios regularly.

Description: This session explores the potential cash-flow and financial accounting implications of the equity market decline. The discussion focuses on ways to present these results to clients and asset/liability matching techniques that can be used to dampen the significance of this change. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 28, No. 2, Session 61pd.