Description: This paper examines the so called 1/n investment puzzle which has been observed in defined contribution plans whereby some participants divide their contributions equally among the available asset classes. It has been argued that this is a very naive strategy since it contradicts the fundamental tenets of modern portfolio theory. We use simple arguments to show that this behavior is perhaps less naive than it at first appears. We show that when we account for estimation error the 1/n rule has some advantages in terms of robustness and we demonstrate this with numerical experiments. From The Actuarial Research Council, Volume 38, No. 1.

Description: This article discusses index separate accounts and their use by insurance companies for group pension clients, including product design and regulatory developments.

Description: Diminished equity returns and historically low levels of interest rates are compelling plan sponsors to look at new ways of fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities. In response, new frontiers in asset/liability management have arisen. This article will discuss strategies aimed at reducing the volatility of pension expense and decreasing the likelihood of significant funding deficits, all without increasing pension contribution rates. From Risks and Rewards Newsletter, August 2005, Issue No. 47.

Description: Proposes a benchmark consisting of TIPs and deferred income annuities for retirement asset allocation decisions.

Description: This panel from the 1977 SOA Meeting focuses on pension services to clients including pension plan investments, funding methods, plan administration, and new services that may be provided in the future.

Description: This article discusses that over the past five years, an increasing number of actuaries have become concerned with the asset side of the balance sheet.

Description: This session covers the current interest rate environment, the outlook for interest rates and fixed-income return, the outlook for domestic and foreign equity returns, and the financial strategies based on a plan's funded status. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 20, No. 3A.

Description: This paper advocates asset/liability management for pension plans. It identifies the economic factors that influence the economic value of liabilities and discusses the typical asset portfolio that results.

Description: This paper, originally published in March 1983 as a study note for exam part 10E, and in 1984 in the Transactions of Society of Actuaries Vol. 34, is designed to be a single reference source for actuaries who want to increase their understanding of a GIC. This educational paper provides knowledge on all aspects of GICs, including their history, and has received significant recognition, including the 1984-85 Annual Prize, and the L. Ronald Hill Memorial Prize in 1985.

Description: June 2012 issue of (RL) Bond Market Watch