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decades, the number of private-sector employees covered under these traditional plans has decreased dramatically and been replaced by defined contribution (DC) plans.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: Discusses the recent changes to U.K. pensions legislation.

Description: This article summarizes 2005 cost-of-living adjustments related to employee benefit plans, including: 1. IRS limits applicable to retirement plans, transportation fringe benefits, adoption assistance programs, medical savings accounts, health savings accounts, high-deductible health plans and long-term care plans, 2. PBGC guaranteed benefits, 3. federal income tax factors, 4. Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, 5. Medicare, and 6. covered compensation. From Pension Section News, January 2005, Issue No. 57.

Description: This article discusses adjusting IRC 415 limits for prior distributions. The proposed IRC 415 regulations issued last May contained guidance regarding how to adjust the benefit limits for prior distributions. This is commendable on the part of the IRS. How to adjust the IRC 415 limits for prior distributions has long been a source of confusion even for experienced pension actuaries. The best methodology is not immediately clear, and some methods have become common practice even if they can lead to inconsistent or unreasonable results. From Pension Section News, January 2006, No. 60.

Description: The current 50% reversion tax on the recovery of excess assets from a terminated defined benefit pension plan results in an asymmetric risk borne by pension plan sponsors. They are responsible for funding shortfalls but any surplus remaining at the termination of the plan is subject to punitive taxes. Pension reform will increase minimum funding levels to reduce the number of underfunded plans, which will increase the likelihood of surpluses that would be subject to punitive taxes. The Society of Actuaries’ Pension Section Research Team commissioned this study to quantify the impact of reversion taxes on pension plan funding.

Description: A new occupational, or corporate, pension law the, Employee Retirement Security Act or “ERSA”, was passed by the Republic of Korea National Assembly on Dec. 29, 2004. It will allow for private sector defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans for the first time in the world’s 10th largest economy.

Description: In this article the author identifies and delimit 's the public's interest in defined benefit plan funding as a practical response to the chaotic deluge of of overlapping measurements and restrictions designed to regulate the funding of pensions plans in the US.

Description: This is an Excel spreadsheet, provided by the Society of Actuaries Pension Section, containing OBRA 87 Midterm Applicable Federal Interest Rates.

Description: This paper models the extent of the tax dollars being lost by the government today because of Qualified Pension Plans and IRAs, and then goes on to project the extra revenue that will accrue to the government from these same pension plans when the baby boomers retire.

Description: Comments on Robert North’s paper, a real case study of disclosing MVL in a public employee retirement system.