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decades, the number of private-sector employees covered under these traditional plans has decreased dramatically and been replaced by defined contribution (DC) plans.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: Response to David Kausch’s comments on the paper.

Description: Summary of the annual cost-of-living adjustment and changes in other wage-indexed programs parameters for Social Security in 2024.

Description: An article presenting updated results as of 12/2021 by using analgorithm that formed part of a paper presented at the AFIR-ERMColloquium which took place in Panama, in 2017. This article starts by proving that the conditions that have to be met in order for the formula to apply that were present in 12/2015 still hold.

Description: A discussion of where insurance companies and their products fit in the retirement asset market and trends over the past few decades. Some historical data on the insurance companies' share of retirement assets is included.

Description: Panelists will debate the issues involved, the conflicts, and the driving factors behind the replacement of defined benefit plans with defined contribution plans. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 3a.

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: Provides an overview of issues with regard to the defined benefit plan lump sum choice and introduces the Society of Actuaries Decision Brief on that topic

Description: Column describing shifting paradigm for retirement plan design in North America that highlights recent SOA research project on Target Benefit Plans.