Description: The Actuary Vol. 22, No. 1. This article discusses the impact of a change in procedure in the financing of the US Military Retirement System. The change requires amortizing the past service liability. The impact will depend upon whether the amortization is achieved by increasing current taxes and decreasing the current deficit, or by merely increasing the national debt and leaving the current deficit unchanged. The author asserts that the new financing method will not weaken the financial condition of the military retirement system, and that it has the potential to strengthen its financial condition if the funding of the past service liability is handled appropriately.

Description: The panel presents the technical details of calculating the deficit reduction contribution as changed by the Retirement Protection Act RPA of 1994. Additionally addressed is the new solvency maintenance requirement and changes to the full-funding limitation. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 3b.

Description: Discussed are some of the major effects of the Retirement Protection Act of 1994 in areas other than funding. Topics included are calculation of lump sums, 415 limits, creation of the missing participants program, elimination of the excise tax for some non deductible contributions, and changes in the variable rate program. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 4a.

Description: This article discusses adjusting IRC 415 limits for prior distributions. The proposed IRC 415 regulations issued last May contained guidance regarding how to adjust the benefit limits for prior distributions. This is commendable on the part of the IRS. How to adjust the IRC 415 limits for prior distributions has long been a source of confusion even for experienced pension actuaries. The best methodology is not immediately clear, and some methods have become common practice even if they can lead to inconsistent or unreasonable results. From Pension Section News, January 2006, No. 60.

Description: This article provides a basic introduction to the taxation of qualified annuities held in qualified retirement plans and IRAs. The article has been updated for the SECURE Act and the SECURE 2.0 Act. The article describes the basic types of employer-based plans, provides of overview of the taxation of contributions and benefits when annuities are held in connection with plans and IRAs, explains the required minimum distribution rules, and offers a brief introduction to recent legislation impacting qualified annuities.

Description: This article provides information on the valuation of liabilities, in particular, lump sums, under the Pension protection Act. From the Pension Section News, September 2008, Issue No. 68.

Description: The author reflects on the development and evolution of pension law since ERISA became effective in 1974. From: The Actuary, September 1999 – volume 33 - Issue 7.

Description: The panel presents the technical details of calculating the deficit reduction contribution as changed by the Retirement Protection Act of 1994. Also covered are the new solvency maintenance requirements and changes to the full-funding limitation. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 4a.

Description: The military retirement system is a funded, noncontributory, defined-benefit plan that includes nondisability retired pay, disability retired pay, and survivor annuity programs. This article discusses the additional benefits created by the Military Retirement Reform Act of 1986.

Description: This article on pensions and tax expenditures discusses the problems in the development of the numbers provided by the Office of Management and Budget. Tax reform proposals that quantify increases in tax revenue that would result from elimination of tax advantages of qualified pension plans are flawed in the author's opinion.