Description: The failure of a few large life insurers in the early 1990's led to public concern about the safety of annuities purchased by qualified retirement plans. As a result, the Department of Labor issued guidelines, known as the 'Safest Annuity Rule,' for selecting annuity providers. This study examines whether the Safest Annuity Rule is significantly changing the market for insured annuities issued to tax-qualified pension plans, particularly upon the termination of defined benefit plans. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1997-98 Reports.

Description: This article addresses the matter of adequacy in funding from first principles, without regard to the layers of regulation now existing.

Description: Presented at June 1996 Spring Meeting. Discusses pension funding adequacy and targets.

Description: This session from the 1983 SOA Hollwood, Florida Meeting discusses early retirement incetive programs otherwise known as open windows or golden parachutes. It reviews the purpose of these programs, the window period, the benefits, advantages and disadvantages, the accounting issues and the implementation of an actual program.

Description: This article discusses how a new tax law in 1997 helps promote defined benefit [DB] plans as compared to defined contribution plans and offers additional ideas to encourage DB plans.