Both the U.S. Solicitor and the Pension Rights Center argue that current funded status of a defined benefit (DB) plan is not a proper measure for whether the participants have a right to sue for breaches of fiduciary duties and prohibited transactions under ERISA.
The IRS still anticipates issuing final regulations on closed DB plan nondiscrimination rules.
The company believes the new tool will reduce wait time for advisers, who will usually contact actuaries to estimate defined benefit (DB) plan contribution requests when clients explore the possibility of setting up a plan for their business.
An aggregate enhanced data set will be used by Mercer's consulting teams to provide more powerful insights to help with client decision making.
Long-duration private debt can be used for hedging liabilities, and other alternative investments may be used for enhancing risk-adjusted returns, a report from Cerulli Associates explains.
The SOA says most plan sponsors that update their mortality assumption from the RP-2006 tables to the new tables will experience only a small change in their pension liabilities, usually within plus or minus 1%.
U.S. equities were the driver of rebounds from the 4th quarter of 2018, according to the Northern Trust Universe and the Wilshire Trust Universe Comparison Service.
The agency explains that, in limited situations, employers will be able to use the soon-to-be issued coverage forms to request an opinion letter about whether a plan being developed is likely to receive PBGC coverage.
During 2018, the $20 billion club shifted asset allocations significantly away from risky assets and into fixed income, Russell Investments found.
Steidle Pension Solutions, LLC (SPS) announced that plan sponsors using SPS administration and actuarial services will pay only $1,200 for full-service administration, and its plan document restatement fee is only $325.
The list identifies matters that may involve either mandatory or discretionary plan amendments depending on the particular plan, and may reference other significant guidance that affects daily plan operations.
The IRS has issued Notice 2019-26, which specifies updated mortality improvement rates and static mortality tables, as well as a modified unisex version of the mortality tables, to be used for defined benefit (DB) plans.
Pension plans’ funding rose a mere 70 basis points last year, according to Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
Actions taken by defined benefit (DB) plan sponsors helped them reduce Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) premiums, according to a J.P. Morgan analysis.
The agency previously announced it would amend required minimum distribution regulations in a way that would prohibit the offering of lump-sum windows to defined benefit (DB) plan participants already retired and in pay status.
They also believe that pensions do a better job than 401(k)s in terms of ensuring retirement security.
According to a study from the National Institute on Retirement Security, in 2016, each dollar paid out in pension benefits supported $2.13 in total economic output nationally.
“Looking forward to 2019, we think many plan sponsors will continue to explore risk transfer activities as well as review their investment policies to ensure they are aligned with an evolving market environment,” says Scott Jarboe, a partner in Mercer’s Wealth business.
According to Mercer, developing a “journey plan” that outlines the strategic policy choices to move a plan to its ultimate destination is a step many plan sponsors have undertaken.