Description: This presentation is an open forum, session 11OF, from the 2004 Spring Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held May 19-21 in Anaheim, CA. The panelists note that defined benefit [DB] pension actuaries are finding themselves working in new and expanded roles in the new millennium, and discuss the answers to challenging questions raised by working in this environment, such as what additional training is recommended, and what the unique challenges and rewards are. The panelists look at the future with respect to the DB actuary, with respect to less traditional roles in that area as well as opportunities in the area of defined contribution plans. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 30, No. 1.

Description: In defined-benefit plans, a portability problem arises, especially in an inflationary economy. Final salary plans were designed to cope with inflation. However, transfer of employment during a career can result in long service at a prior employer with outdated final compensation and short service at a current employer with appropriate final compensation. Thus the problem. This presentation discusses possible solutions. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 17, No. 3A.

Description: At this presentation, the Executive Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation talks about some recent pension plan terminations what can be done to protect pensions without upsetting the delicate balance of some companies with underfunded pension plans. The answer is not to allow the underfunding to go unchecked. Nor is the answer to let the PBGC absorb all the losses. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 18, No. 2.

Description: This panel discussion session focuses on the problems associated with small defined benefit pension plans.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA Vancouver Meeting discusses assumptions for pension valuation including rates of termination, retirement, disability and mortality. Also addressed is the SOA Pension Section Council's research on rates of termination and the new mortality tables. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 3b.

Description: When a pension plan surplus reaches a high level, distributing some of it may be desirable. This article proposes a percentile-based criterion for how much to give. From Actuarial Research Clearing House, Volume 2000,Vol.1.

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: Appendix A presents, in table form, basic DROP design features in 24 different public-sector locations. From Design and Actuarial Aspects of Deferred Retirement Option Programs, M-RS03-2.

Description: This paper was the results of an invitation by the SOA’s Pension Section Research Team to explore the current state of defined benefit plans in Canada and future visions of them.

Description: This panel discussion session focuses on the financial security of retirees including examining the role of personal savings in meeting the financial security needs of retirees. From Record of Society of Actuaries 1980, Vol. 6, No. 4.