Description: This paper considers a defined contribution DC plan, a cash balance plan, and traditional defined benefit DB plan with equal expected value at the assumed retirement age. Using utility as a measure of risk and participant preferences, the designs are particularly well suited to minimize participant risk, particularly while employees are accumulating retirement assets. From Cash Balance Symposium Monograph, M-RS02-3.

Description: This paper examines the history, reasons, and impact of the shift from traditional defined benefit plans to hybrid plans. Also discussed are the need for good communication, and for further regulation. From Cash Balance Symposium Monograph, M-RS02-3.

Description: This paper examines some of the issues threatening the current health of the Social Security System, and how all or part of the system could be replaced by a cash balance plan. From Cash Balance Symposium Monograph, M-RS02-3.

Description: This paper demonstrates that cash balance plans should invest all of their assets in taxable fixed-income securities and credit employee account balances with the total return on an equity index. From Cash Balance Symposium Monograph, M-RS02-3.

Description: This paper concentrates on who carries what risks if the national stocks-for-retirement cycle is fundamentally flawed and can fail a millions of baby-boomers grow older. From Cash Balance Symposium Monograph, M-RS02-3.

Description: This paper examines some specific issues where cash balance plans don't fit the traditional mold, and what regulatory changes would provide the best fit for cash balance plans. From Cash Balance Symposium Monograph, M-RS02-3.

Description: Investment volatility can lead to unacceptable levels of contribution volatility and wide swings in a retirement plan’s perceived funded status. This paper approaches the volatility problem from a plan design perspective.

Description: This paper examines how the cash balance plan design is related to the normal cost and accrued liability in the various actuarial cost methods, as well as the interaction of the economic assumptions in the valuation. The analysis will show that the traditional cost methods may understate the actual liability. The paper also presents an alternative cost method, along with its advantages and disadvantages. From Cash Balance Symposium Monograph, M-RS02-3.

Description: This paper offers ideas on new retirement plan designs that share investment risk or longevity risk, or both, between employers and employees.

Description: This paper examines the Retirement Shares Plan which allows participants to allocate their benefits to the classes of shares available. Thus risk-averse retirees can be assured of relatively stable benefits, while the less risk-averse can have their benefits backed by a diversified of equity portfolio.