Description: Historically low interest rates, historically high equity market volatility and ever increasing life spans have made pension funding a hot topic. Financing the lifestyles of the superannuated through steadily improving investment performance is no longer a given. Market realities and stricter regulatory funding requirements are forcing plan sponsors to reduce overly optimistic assumptions about how well their investments will perform and increase assumptions about how long they will have to last. A growing number of well-known corporations are looking for help in trying to make the math work. This article discusses the opportunities for all who want to take on longevity risk.

Description: This 2007 article from U.S. News & World Report by Paul J. Lim and Emily Brandon is about households retiring with less assets saved than was planned. It references an Employee Benefit Research Institute study and includes quotes from Anna Rappaport, FSA.

Description: The traditional defined-benefit (DB) plan is a type of plan structured to provide the greatest degree of retirement income security, designed to pay out a guaranteed retirement income for the life of the retiree (and, when applicable, a beneficiary). However, over the last several decades, the number of private-sector employees covered under these traditional plans has decreased dramatically and been replaced by defined contribution (DC) plans. In contrast, public-sector retirement plans, which are exempt from ERISA, have seen a much smaller decline in DB plans. There are many differences in the private and public sector that likely contributed to this phenomenon, but ERISA and the many amendments to it has been a major factor.

Description: The article summarizes the work of three past Retirement Section Chairs, what they did and what they are currently doing for the 100th Anniversary Edition.

Description: Indexed variable annuities (IVAs)—also known as “structured” or “buffer” annuities—are a relatively new product that have drawn interest both among insurers and investors.

Description: This table is an analysis of engagement among adults age 55 and older. Engagement is defined as time spent in paid work, formal volunteering informal volunteering and caregiving activities.

Description: This article describes the opportunities for providing financial services for the near- and post-retirement market, particulary for the insurance industry if willing to retool product, market and or distribution. The article gives an example of retooling a life contingent annuity.

Description: The article discusses the investment models of The Mutual Pension Insurance Company Ilmarinen, one of the companies managing the statutory employment pension in Finland. The parts are: financial time series data management, time series analysis programs, investment simulation models and portfolio optimization models.

Description: This article provides an overview of the relationship to COVID-19 to issues related to caregiving, family and long-term care, and related SOA research. The SOA has addressed these topics in several research reports not related to COVID-19 and in recent reports related to COVID-19. It is currently working on new projects to help people better address some of the issues. The article also includes some highlights of efforts by ASEC, the ERISA Advisory Council 2020 projects, and an educational program focused on these issues. It then focuses on a number of things that employers might do to be supportive in addressing these issues. The employer issues focus on employees, retirees and caregiving employers. In thinking about this, employers can focus on financial wellness programs, employee assistance programs, and prepaid legal programs. A list of topics to considered for educational offers is included.

Description: Article from the chairperson of the Retirement Section of the SOA regarding section activities.