Description: Paper examines the asset allocation behavior of state and local pension plans.

Description: Author response to Eric Friedman’s comments on ‘The Case for Stochastic Present Values,” by Dimitry Mindlin

Description: Eric Friedman’s comments on ‘The Case for Stochastic Present Values,” by Dimitry Mindlin

Description: The current financial model put forth as the market value of public sector pension benefit liabilities is simply the expected cash flows of the accumulated benefit obligation, as defined for current private sector financial reporting, discounted using a risk-free yield curve. This model is in serious need of an overhaul. This monograph addresses this issue.

Description: Chapter 4 discusses a range of actuarial issues associated with DROPs. From Design and Actuarial Aspects of Deferred Retirement Option Programs, M-RS03-2.

Description: The SOA hosted the 2009 Public Pension Finance Symposium in Chicago, May 18–19 2009. Tom Lowman provides us with a short and insightful summary of each session from the symposium.

Description: Discussion of competing theories for valuing public pension liabilities. Emphasis on revised Actuarial Standards of Practice that focus on the purpose of the measurement.

Description: This paper presents a methodology that represents the common ground between the major camps in the debate over the defined benefits DB system.

Description: The purpose of this paper is to explore a methodology for choosing among techniques for managing contribution volatility in defined- benefit pension plans. A frequently used – and as often criticized – method for managing contribution volatility is to base actuarial cost on smoothed assets. Our goal in this paper is to develop a methodology for measuring and evaluating the quantitative impact of competing asset smoothing policies. We proceed by investigating a series of basic pension metrics, evaluating the characteristics of each using a simulated pension plan. We then use normalized and weighted combinations of these metrics to determine an optimal smoothing policy.

Description: This article provides a summary of the Actuarial Standards Board work and hearing evaluating whether a new ASOP is needed for public sector pension plans.