Description: A summary from the Trustees report: SMI Trust Fund: Estimates under Alternative II Assumption for Aged and Disabled Excluding End-Stage Renal Disease Enrollees

Description: This article explores the findings of a survey which indicates that employers who offer both a pension and a savings plan have plans that are more generous, use more channels for employee communication, and are more attentive to plan management activities. From Pension Section News, February 2002, Issue No. 48.

Description: This articles lists the 2003 updated annual amounts for federal agencies and programs that affect pension programs.

Description: Defined contribution plans need to do more than simply offer participants a menu of investment choices--the average worker is not building a secure retirement. Because both employers and employees face constraints, the solution is not as straightforward as delaying retirement or boosting contributions. Features like automatic enrollment can help somewhat, but are not enough. Truly innovative solutions are needed. There are numerous different proposals for improved retirement plans, both in the US and internationally. Individual proposals often contain an evaluation section dealing with benefits and risks, but what is lacking is a full quantitative evaluation framework that can be uniformly applied to a number of different proposals. This essay lays the groundwork for a potential research project to build such a quantitative assessment framework.

Description: This excerpt from the 2001 Annual Report of the PBGC provides greater detail concerning the valuation of future benefits than is presented in the PBGC's annual report.

Description: An excerpt from the 2003 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance and Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds which describes the basic methodology and assumptions used in the estimates for Medicare Part B under the intermediate assumptions.

Description: This article summarizes the approach taken by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries to develop mortality tables and mortality improvement scales for use in Canadian pension plans based on Canadian population data. It also summarizes the additional factors pension actuaries have to consider in using the new tables and scales.

Description: The article outlines the pros and cons of providing lump sums in defined benefit plans both for the participant and the employer. Retirement assets need to be used effectively and actuaries can make a difference assisting employers, the public and policymakers to focus more on post employment risks.

Description: This articles focuses on real economics versus GAAP accounting and concludes that equities are an inferior investment for corporate pension funds.

Description: An excerpt from the 2003 Annual report of the Board of Trustees of the federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds which describes the assumptions and methods underlying the actuarial estimates.