Some U.S. financial and pension consulting firms have recently proposed alternatives to terminating a defined benefit (DB) pension plan and contracting with an insur. co. to pay promised benefits. In their proposals, a plan sponsor would transfer the assets and liabilities of a hard-frozen DB plan along with additional money to a financial entity, which would become the new sponsor. This report addresses the following questions: (1) What is the basic model of proposed sales of frozen DB plans to third-party financial firms and how does it compare with a standard plan termination? (2) What are the potential risks and benefits of plan buyouts for participants, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC), plan sponsors, and other stakeholders?

The Sixth Edition of Defined Benefit Answer Book provides expert guidance on the complex rules governing defined benefit pension plans. In this comprehensive resource, you are guided, step by step, through the maze of factors that must be considered when designing and administering these plans. Among the crucial questions answered are: Does a company's financial stability affect plan design? Can plans be designed to provide enhanced benefits to key employees? Are there ways of establishing hours of service without counting actual hours? Can a defined benefit plan be designed so that there is no discrimination testing each year? Can a defined benefit plan be designed to primarily benefit the key employees? Are there any advantages to having a defined contribution plan and a defined benefit plan together, and how are they administered? What must an employer do to satisfy minimum funding requirements after PPA? What restrictions are imposed if a plan is considered underfunded after PPA? What distribution election forms must be provided to a participant? How can a QDRO be prepared for a defined benefit plan? How are maximum benefit limitations determined under a plan? How are benefits calculated and converted to alternate forms of payment? How does the funding of a plan affect benefit distributions? What administrative issues must be considered for a plan that is covered by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation? How are cash balance plans similar and different from traditional defined benefit plans? And much more!