1. (7 points) NOC's cash requirements have increased considerably in 2001.
The CFO proposed to make, on June 30, 2001 a surplus withdrawal from the pension
fund of the National Oil Full-Time Salaried Pension Plan equal to the expected growth of
the surplus during 2001.
? Expected Liability @1/1/2002 = [Liability @1/1/2001] * [1 + discount rate used to
? The liability to be used is the projected benefit obligation determined under the
The investment managers provided the CFO with an expected return on the fund of
8.83%.
expense, and year-end balance sheet liability. Treat the surplus withdrawal as a
negative contribution. Show all work.
(b) Critique the model proposed by the CFO.
2. (11 points) NOC wants to introduce post-retirement indexing for participants in the
National Oil Full-Time Salaried Pension Plan. NOC is looking for a provision that is
relatively easy to administer and allows NOC to control cost in periods of high inflation.
The service cost increases by 7% for each 1% per year indexing after retirement.
(a) Evaluate alternative approaches for indexing the National Oil Full-Time Salaried
Pension Plan.
(b) Describe how the plan’s asset allocation should change if NOC adopts automatic
indexation.
automatic indexation.
automatic indexation equal to 100% of CPI. Use the current actuarial
assumptions.
Show all work.
Morning Session
3. (14 points) Belair has introduced a mandatory social insurance program called
"BelairCare". It provides a monthly retirement benefit payable at age 70 equal to $20 per
month times years of full-time employment over the worker's entire career. The $20 is
indexed annually by the percentage increase in the national average wage. It also
provides all citizens age 70 or over with benefits equal to 50% of all covered medical
expenses.
BelairCare is funded by a 6% employer plus a 6% employee payroll tax.
(a) Describe the actuarial assumptions you would need to do a cash-flow
projection for BelairCare.
(b) Evaluate the BelairCare design from the perspective of the covered workers.
(c) Given that NOC’s Full-Time Salaried and Union Retiree Health Benefit Program
provides benefits equal to 75% of all covered medical expenses, after a $100
deductible, *uate alternative approaches for integrating these benefits with
BelairCare.
COURSE 8: November 2001 - 4 - GO ON TO NEXT PAGE
Retirement Benefits
Comprehensive Segment
Morning Session
Questions 1 – 6 pertain to the Case Study
4. (11 points) The Board of Directors of NOC has decided to force the current CEO
to take early retirement on January 1, 2001. The Board will provide an enhanced pension
benefit to the departing CEO.
Information on the current CEO as of January 1, 2001:
Age: 57
Service: 20 years
Average future working lifetime: 4.1 years
SRP Service Cost: $ 70,000
SRP PBO before departure: $1,225,000
SRP PBO after departure (before enhancement): $ 970,000
SRP PBO after departure (after enhancement): $1,235,000
The Board has decided to bring in a new CEO from the outside. The prospective CEO,
age 45, has been participating for the last 20 years in retirement plans which are similar
to those at NOC.
(a) Determine the effect of the CEO's retirement on NOC’s balance sheet and
expense.
(b) Describe the issues that NOC should consider in designing the new CEO's
retirement package.
(c) Describe ways to fund these benefits and their tax implications.
COURSE 8: November 2001 - 5 - GO ON TO NEXT PAGE
Retirement Benefits
Comprehensive Segment
Morning Session
Questions 1 – 6 pertain to the Case Study
5. (10 points) NOC's salaried employees are requesting a DC ERP in addition to the
existing DB ERP.
NOC’s CFO is considering the following for a new salaried employees' DC ERP:
? employer contribution rate of 3% of salary,
? all other design features are the same as NOC's Part-Time DC Pension Plan, and
? the plan will supplement the existing Full-Time Salaried Pension plan.
(a) Explain the issues associated with supplementing an existing DB ERP with
a DC ERP. Propose alternatives where appropriate.
(b) Critique the design features in the proposed DC ERP. Recommend any changes.
Justify your recommendations.
(c) Identify the differences in fiduciary responsibilities in selecting
investments for a DC ERP versus a DB ERP.
COURSE 8: November 2001 - 6 - STOP
Retirement Benefits
Comprehensive Segment
Morning Session
Questions 1 – 6 pertain to the Case Study
6. (7 points) NOC's union employees hired an actuary to review the funded status of the
National Oil Full-Time Hourly Union Pension Plan. In the actuary's opinion, the funding
recommendation should be determined on a termination basis. On this basis, the plan is
underfunded by $150 million.
Assume that actuarial standards in Belair are consistent with those in the U.S. and
Canada.
(a) Explain the differences between the deficit on a termination basis and that shown
in the January 1, 2001 funding valuation.
(b) Describe the long-term consequences of funding the National Oil Full-Time
Hourly Union Pension Plan on a termination basis.
**END OF EXAMINATION**
Morning Session
COURSE 8: November 2001 - 7 - GO ON TO NEXT PAGE
Retirement Benefits
Comprehensive Segment
Afternoon Session
**BEGINNING OF EXAMINATION**
AFTERNOON SESSION
Beginning with Question 7
7. (7 points) After a recent economic decline, NOC’s CFO has stated that he would like a
95% assurance that the National Oil Full-Time Salaried Pension Plan will maintain a
surplus on an expense basis in the short term.
You are given:
? The expense discount rate will be increased to 7.5% on December 31, 2001
? Benefit payments will remain level from 2000
? Active employees' service cost has a duration of 14
? The duration for the total Pension Benefit Obligation (PBO) is 10
? No contributions are to be made during 2001
Using the PBO as your liability measure:
(a) (1 point) Calculate the Plan's Funding Ratio Return (FRR) for 2000.
(b) (2 points) Estimate the expected funded status of the Plan at the end of 2001
assuming the return on assets is zero.
(c) (4 points) Given the CFO's objective, *uate the following asset allocations
using the concept of FRR:
? 100% bond and 0% equity
? 50% bond and 50% equity
? 0% bond and 100% equity
COURSE 8: November 2001 - 8 - GO ON TO NEXT PAGE
Retirement Benefits
Comprehensive Segment
Afternoon Session
Questions 7 –10 pertain to the Case Study
8. (7 points) The government of Belair intends to change the tax status of ERPs and
PPAs in order to increase tax revenue, without discouraging retirement savings in
general.
Comment on the government's objectives and propose ways in which Belair's rules could
be changed or clarified to meet these objectives.
9. (10 points) NOC's union is proposing to freeze the NOC Full-Time Hourly Union
Pension Plan and start participation in the multiemployer plan maintained for the
members of the Oil Workers Union (OWU). The OWU Plan has a surplus on a going
concern basis but a deficit on a termination basis.
(a) (7 points) Analyze the risks and benefits for NOC if they accept the Union's
proposal. Include both financial and operational considerations.
(b) (3 points) Describe the additional considerations if the existing NOC Hourly
Union Pension Plan were merged into the OWU plan.
COURSE 8: November 2001 - 9 - GO ON TO NEXT PAGE
Retirement Benefits
Comprehensive Segment
Afternoon Session
Questions 7 –10 pertain to the Case Study
10. (6 points) On January 1, 2001, National Oil acquired World Oil, a large
refinery in Belair. National Oil will retain all of the salaried employees of World Oil.
World Oil has a number of salaried employees that are sent abroad for temporary
assignments. Some, but not all of these employees are from Belair.
World Oil's current salaried employees’retirement programs and workforce are described
below.
Retirement Income Benefit
? Defined Contribution
? Eligibility: Immediate
? Vesting: Immediate
? Employer contribution: 3% of pay
? Investment option: Balanced fund
? Loans: None permitted
? Account balance paid on retirement, termination, death or disability
Reconciliation of Plan Assets from 1/1/2000 to 1/1/2001
Assets as of January 1, 2000: $18,789,300
Employer contributions: 2,801,200
Benefit payments: (1,550,100)
Expenses paid by the plan: 0
Investment return: 601,200
Assets as of January 1, 2001: $20,641,600
Retiree Healthcare
? Self-insured defined benefit plan
? Retiree contributions: None
? Eligibility: Retirement at or after age 55 with at least 10 years of service
? Hospital and major medical benefits: all fees paid by plan
? Dental: Plan pays 100% of preventive care and 50% of restorative care
Retiree Life Insurance
? Fully-insured benefit
? Eligibility: Retirement at or after age 55 with at least 10 years of service
? Employer-paid benefit: $25,000
? Optional retiree-paid benefit: $25,000 or $50,000
COURSE 8: November 2001 - 10 - STOP
Retirement Benefits
Comprehensive Segment
Afternoon Session
10. (CONTINUED)
Census Data
In Belair Abroad
Number of salaried employees: 2,250 150
Average age: 36 43
Average service: 11 years 7 years
Average earnings $41,500 $85,000
Retired participants in the life and health plans: 750 with family coverage, 150 with
single coverage
Average age: 72
National Oil has asked you to integrate the NOC and World Oil retirement programs such
that all salaried employees are receiving consistent benefits.
(a) Describe the issues in integrating these programs.
(b) Describe the additional issues for the salaried employees working abroad.
**END OF EXAMINATION**