As anyone knows who regularly follows this blog, Ryan ALM and I are huge fans of defined benefit pension plans (DB), and we work tirelessly trying to preserve and protect them. This doesn't mean that we don't appreciate defined contribution...

The passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) earlier this year was wonderful news for struggling multiemployer pension systems. For those Tier one plans eligible to file for Special Financial Assistance (SFA) immediately (July 2021) it was the life...

Christmas came early for participants in the Idaho Signatory plan. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) announced on Thursday, December 23rd that it had approved the plan application for the Idaho Signatory Employers-Laborers Pension Plan (Idaho Signatory) in Portland, Ore....

In yesterday's post , we speculated that we might hear something by the end of the day regarding the acceptance or rejection of Local 138's ARPA application for Special Financial Assistance (SFA). I'm thrilled to report that the PBGC sent...

As we recently reported, Local 138's ARPA application reaches its 120th day under review at the PBGC today (December 21st). No news is good news with regard to this Special Financial Assistance (SFA) application, as the PBGC is required to...

The ARPA legislation states the following: DETERMINATIONS ON APPLICATIONS.— A plan’s application for special financial assistance under this section that is timely filed in accordance with the regulations or guidance issued under subsection (c) shall be deemed approved unless the...

March 2021 was an exciting time for many multiemployer pension plans and their participants with news that the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) had been signed into law and a "rescue" of some roughly 130 struggling multiemployer pension systems was...

The market action over the last week or so has been so crazy that many participants are likely suffering from seasickness. It has given me the feeling that I've been on a monstrous roller coaster of just ups and downs...

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 59% of Americans have access to a 401(k) plan through their employer, but only 32% actually invest in one. Some people would find that shocking, but I don't. We have a significant percentage of...

Private pension plans operate under different accounting standards than those in the public sector (FASB versus GASB). As a consequence, private plans are "forced" to use market discount rates (ASC 715 = AA corporate yield curve), as opposed to a...