Description: The objective of this paper, prepared by the Society of Actuaries Committee on Pension Principles and Related Research, is to examine the advantages and disadvantages of using select and ultimate interest and salary scale assumptions in the valuation of defined benefit pension plans. The technical issues involved and the effect of such assumptions on the incidence of plan cost are also studied. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1985, Vol. 37.

Description: This panel discussion, which occurred at the May 1982 Society of Actuaries meeting in Colorado Springs, presented a discussion on retirement age issues, trends, and assumptions related to pension plans. Also a discussion of factors that affect early retirement elections. Includes discussion of: I. Trends in experience, especially as they may be influenced by: a. Changes in Social Security b. Government regulation, such as Age Discrimination in Employment Act c. Early retirement incentives, such as bonuses or subsidized early retirement factors and d. Cost-of-living supplements to retirees. 2. Plan design for early and postponed retirement. 3. Effects of deferred retirement on actuarial costs. 4. Trends in actuarial assumptions Detailed historical data on UAW, teachers, and Bell company employees' retirement trends is presented.

Description: Since the Internal Revenue Service updated its rules for integration of qualified pension plans [Revenue Ruling 71-446] nearly ten years ago, major changes have taken place in the structure of Social Security benefits. The lack of a consensus as to what constitutes a good set of rules for integration is a reflection of the many existing social and political viewpoints on this subject. This paper proposes a single theoretical basis for the integration of qualified pension benefits with Social Security retirement benefits and examines the implications of that proposal. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1982, Vol. 34.