Description: This brief article notes that in a recent decision the U.S. Supreme Court touched on a fundamental issue of employee benefits philosophy, in holding that defined benefit pension plans must grant benefit accrual credit for periods of military service. The author argues that this seems contrary to current attitudes.

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 U.S. Internal Revenue Code prohibits qualified pension and profit sharing plans from discriminating in favor of highly compensated employees. It states that a plan is not discriminatory merely because contributions or benefits are a uniform percentage of pay. In addition, the code allows some disparity between highly compensated employees and other employees with respect to their contributions or benefits as a percentage of pay.

Description: This is an Excel spreadsheet, provided by the Society of Actuaries Pension Section, containing PBGC Annuity Valuation Rates.

Description: This session provides attendees with an in-depth description of the process of terminating a defined benefit pension plan in the U.S. Discussion topics include required filings, selection of annuity provider and asset immunization prior to annuity purchase. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 28, No. 2, Session 7pd.

Description: This 1977 panel discussion focused on the implications of proposed revisions of the standard valuation and nonforfeiture laws. Areas discussed included: 1. A regulator's perspective 2. Applications to Life and Annuities 3. applications to Pensions

Description: This meeting session covered proposed amendments to valuation and nonforfeiture laws, which included a new mortality table and the dynamic interest rate concept, and the SEC's scrutiny of annuities and Guaranteed Investment Contracts.

Description: The presenters will provide an update on recent developments impacting U.S. retirement plans, such as regulatory guidance, new legislative proposals, recent court cases and recent trends. Experienced pension actuaries will share their perspectives on these issues and discuss how plan sponsors are being impacted.

Description: The panelists discuss recent developments, especially governmental laws and rules affecting the pension plans in the U.S. that are not being covered at other sessions. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 23, No. 1.

Description: Presenters discuss recent developments, especially in the U.S., that are not being covered at other pension sessions. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 24, No. 2.