Description: An interview with actuary Lee Gold reveals preliminary results of a recent SOA research project which surveyed employees on what retirement plan features they prefer.

Description: Article from Pension Section News, May 2007, No. 64, discusses the Pension Protection Act PPA and the related misconceptions. The PPA has removed significant legislative uncertainty around pension funding rules. But there are lots of details. This article discusses the many unresolved issues related to near-term funding decisions.

Description: Updated metrics for measuring financial stress among multiemployer pension plans in the United States.

Description: This is a study of Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) mortality experience. The study consists of data furnished by the PBGC for the time period of September 30, 2009 through September 30, 2014. All of the data come from single-employer pension plans taken over by the PBGC in a distress termination. This is the SOA’s first study of PBGC experience and provides another comparison point of retirement plans mortality experience for work performed by pension actuaries.

Description: The traditional defined-benefit (DB) plan is a type of plan structured to provide the greatest degree of retirement income security, designed to pay out a guaranteed retirement income for the life of the retiree (and, when applicable, a beneficiary). However, over the last several decades, the number of private-sector employees covered under these traditional plans has decreased dramatically and been replaced by defined contribution (DC) plans. In contrast, public-sector retirement plans, which are exempt from ERISA, have seen a much smaller decline in DB plans. There are many differences in the private and public sector that likely contributed to this phenomenon, but ERISA and the many amendments to it has been a major factor.

Description: In this video Steve Siegel, a Senior Practice Research Actuary at the Society of Actuaries Research Institute, discusses a study focusing on the retirement planning of 35 to 45 year olds. The study explores how income, family dynamics, and other factors influence retirement decisions. Despite the importance of retirement, many participants hadn’t deeply considered it, and obstacles such as financial stress and uncertainty hindered their saving efforts. The report offers recommendations for future research and tools to help individuals better envision their retirement lifestyles. Contributors: Steve Siegel, ASA, MAAA; Rose Northon; Jon Forster ASA, MAAA

Description: Overview of the prevalence of employer withdrawals from multiemployer pension plans in the United States and their impact on the multiemployer pension plan system.

Description: In this video, Steve Siegel, a Senior Practice Research Actuary at the Society of Actuaries Research Institute, introduces a report titled “What Retirement Plan Features Do Employees Really Want?” He discusses the methodology behind the research, which involved a survey and around 25,000 adults in the US using Conjoint Analysis. Siegel highlights key findings from the report, including preferences relating to retirement planning, availability of retirement plans, accessing benefits, risk tolerance, and leaving a legacy. He also mentions the Choice Simulator Tool, an Excel dashboard developed to explore benefit preferences further, and available for download. Contributors: Steve Siegel, ASA, MAAA; Rose Northon; Jon Forster ASA, MAAA

Description: In this video, Steve Siegel, introduces a report titled “Megatrends Impacting the Future of Retirement Plans.” He explains how to access the report on the SOA website and discusses its initiation during the COVID pandemic, aiming to inspire creative thinking about retirement. Siegel outlines key concepts from the reporting, including “Templosion” and “Non-Linear Life Trajectories”, which signify rapid changes and evolving life stages impacting retirement planning. He also discusses trends like “Diamonding” and “Gerontopogy” highlighting their implications for retirement and business opportunities. Finally, Steven emphasizes the ongoing nature of the conversation around retirement planning and invites viewers to explore the report for deeper insights. Contributors: Steve Siegel, ASA, MAAA; Rose Northon; Jon Forster ASA, MAAA