Description: Social security systems around the world have suffered from inadequate funding, leading to current or potential deficits and ultimate insolvency. This article discusses that this problem is a direct actuarial consequence of the inadequate funding that created the problem in the first place. It is simply an open group valuation problem.

Description: A company considering the acquisition of, or merger with, another company or the divestiture of an operation may find that issues related to employee benefit programs have a profound effect on the viability ofthe transaction. This paper lists literature for the actuary to broaden his/her knowledge on the subject: both on mergers and acquisitions and on handling of employee benefits.