Description: This paper shows an approach whereby future asset returns and liabilities are modeled taking into account the probability of various returns. It develops an asset-smoothing approach that uses an expected return on the asset mix and averages both historical and projected asset values. From Current Pension Actuarial Practice in Light of Financial Economics Symposium, M-RS04-1.

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.

Description: Interview with Karen Lockridge, FSA, FCIA and Francisca Quinn regarding fiduciary concerns with and future outlook for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing.

Description: The intent of this paper is to examine the sources of risk in defined benefit pension plans to determine the extent to which the principles of financial economics can be applied to provide new methods for measuring the cost and value of such plans. From Current Pension Actuarial Practice in Light of Financial Economics Symposium, M-RS04-1.

Description: Abstract: 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.

Description: Panel discussion on inflation's impact on business procedures, contingency plans, long-term benefit levels, and determination of financial reporting items such as future reserves, surplus levels, operating expenses, and net gains. Presented at the Spring 1975 Meeting in Los Angeles.

Description: A mathematical framework for benefits and choices must be created to model benefit selection. This paper creates such a framework by defining benefit plans as reimbursement functions. These are then used with a defined choice function to calculate the cost deviation due to selection. Finally, utility functions can be applied to this framework to predict choice.

Description: The abstract for the paper Rationalizing the Security and Ultimate Delivery of Promised Private Retirement Plan Benefits: The Missing Asset