GRS Contributes Article to SOA on Variable Benefit Plans

Events​

November 6, 2019

GRS Contributes Article to SOA on Variable Benefit Plans

Brian Murphy, FSA, EA, FCA, MAAA, PhD has authored the article “A Variable Benefit Plan for the Public Sector” in the SOA publication, “In the Public Interest.” The publication is sponsored by the Social Insurance and Public Finance section of the Society of Actuaries (SOA). In this article, Brian discusses how a variable benefit plan helps balance inflation protection and employer contribution rate stability.  He illustrates these plan objectives using a case study based on the experience of the Wisconsin Retirement System. 

The article is available here.

To learn more about variable benefit plans, please contact Brian at brian.murphy@grsconsulting.com or your GRS consultant.

GRS Employees Support Denim Day Fundraiser

Events​

October 12, 2019

GRS Employees Support Denim Day Fundraiser

During the week of October 7th through October 11th, GRS employees joined individuals across the country for the American Cancer Society’s Denim Day fundraiser to help in the fight against breast cancer.  Denim Day is an annual fundraising effort at GRS, with 2019 marking our 12th year of support.

National Denim Day has raised millions for breast cancer research and patient education and support since 1996. 

Paul Wood to Serve on Actuarial Audit Panel

Events​

October 12-15, 2019

Paul Wood to Serve on Actuarial Audit Panel

Paul Wood, ASA, FCA, MAAA will serve as a panel speaker at the National Council on Teacher Retirement (NCTR) Annual Conference for the session on Actuarial Audits. The NCTR Conference is being held October 12-15, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Joseph Newton Appointed to the NASRA Associate Advisory Committee

Events​

October 2, 2019

Joseph Newton Appointed to the NASRA Associate Advisory Committee

GRS congratulates Joseph Newton, FSA, EA, FCA, MAAA, Pension Market Leader on his appointment to the NASRA Associate Advisory Committee. Joe will serve a three-year term expiring in 2022. This well-deserved appointment reflects Joe’s career-long commitment to the success of public employee retirement systems throughout the U.S.

The National Association of State Retirement Administrators (NASRA) is a non-profit association whose members are the directors of the nation’s state, territorial, and largest statewide public retirement systems.

James Rizzo to Present at the FPPTA 2019 Fall Trustees School

Events​

October 6-9, 2019

James Rizzo to Present at the FPPTA 2019 Fall Trustees School

James Rizzo will present the topic “Actuarial Return Assumptions: What I Learned from the National Hurricane Center” at the Florida Public Pension Trustees Association (FPPTA) 2019 Fall Trustees School. The presentation is a look at how statistical, dynamic, and consensus models can help public employee retirement system trustees set the investment return assumption.

The FPPTA 2019 Fall Trustees School is being held on October 6-9, 2019 in Ponte Verde, Florida.

Meet Our Church Plan Experts at DFMC

Events​

September 29-October 2, 2019

Meet Our Church Plan Experts at DFMC

Come visit GRS’ exhibit booth #210 during the 2019 Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference. Robert Nordin and Bonnie Wurst will be hosting the booth and available to discuss GRS’ church pension plan expertise. DFMC is being held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, IL from September 29-October 2, 2019.

Judith Kermans and Brian Murphy to Speak at MAPERS

Events​

September 21-24, 2019

Judith Kermans and Brian Murphy to Speak at MAPERS

Judith Kermans and Brian Murphy will serve as education session presenters during the Michigan Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (MAPERS) 2019 Fall Conference. Judith’s session, Managing the Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL), will cover methods to pay off the UAL, discuss the value of pre-funding, and the economic risks of deferring contributions. Brian will present the topic Mortality Rates in the Public Sector. He will discuss the Society of Actuaries’ (SOA) study on differences between private and public sector mortality rates and the implications of the new mortality tables published by the SOA for General, Public Safety, and Teacher plans.

The MAPERS conference will be held September 21-24, 2019 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

James Rizzo Participates in Panel on Setting the Pension Investment Assumption

Events​

August 29, 2019

James Rizzo Participates in Panel on Setting the Pension Investment Assumption

On August 29, 2019, James Rizzo, ASA, EA, FCA, MAAA provided expert commentary during a webinar sponsored by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) titled “Pension Investment Return Assumptions: It’s All About Process.” The session focused on the importance of following a robust assumption setting process that considers economic forecasts, time horizons, asset allocation, cash flow, and reasonable ranges and frequency of changes in the investment return assumption.

GRS To Present at MPELRA Fall 2019 Conference

Events​

September 18-20, 2019

GRS To Present at MPELRA Fall 2019 Conference

Jim Anderson and Rich Koch will present the topic “Public Sector Retirement Benefit Issues and Their Impact on Negotiations” during the Fall 2019 Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations Association (MPELRA) training conference. Jim and Rich will discuss how Michigan collective bargaining negotiations continue to evolve as the economic, legal, and regulatory environment associated with public sector benefit plans changes.

GRS will also have an exhibit booth at MPELRA where you can meet our associates, Mark Buis, Jim Anderson, and Rich Koch, to learn more about this topic and GRS’ services.

The MPELRA Conference is being held from September 18-20, 2019 in Bellaire, Michigan.

Joseph Newton to Speak at 2019 NASRA Conference

Events​

August 3-7, 2019

Joseph Newton to Speak at 2019 NASRA Conference

Joseph Newton, FSA, EA, FCA, MAAA, will serve as a speaker for the Actuaries and Risk Assessment Panel at the 2019 National Association of State Retirement Administrators (NASRA) Conference.

The NASRA Conference is being held from August 3-7, 2019 in Williamsburg, Virgina.