Fiduciary Essentials for Defined Benefit Plans

Introduction and Part 1: The History of Pensions
25 Topics
Learning Objectives
History of Pensions
According to the U.S. Census Bureau
Case Example – Lee Gets Covered By A Pension Plan At Work
Case Example – Lee Gets Covered By A Pension Plan At Work, continued
Case Example – Lee Gets Covered By A Pension Plan At Work, continued
Case Example – Lee Gets Covered By A Pension Plan At Work, continued
Case Example – Lee Gets Covered By A Pension Plan At Work, continued
Case Example – Lee Gets Covered By A Pension Plan At Work, continued
Section 802.106 Information provided to a member
Fiduciary Matters – Broadly Speaking
FI–DU–CI–AR-Y
Who is a fiduciary?
The Core Fiduciary Duties
ERISA Exclusive Benefit Rule
Universe of Plan Fiduciaries
The Investment Steward
The Investment Advisor
The Investment Manager
Attaining Fiduciary Status
1 of 2
Part 2: Benefits Administration
28 Topics
Session Learning Objectives
Legal duty of the Board
Duties and Responsibilities of Staff
Principles of Retirement Plan Design
Principles of Retirement Plan Design, continued
Qualified Plans
Common Qualified Plan Requirements
Defined Contribution Plans
Defined Benefit Plans
Who contributes to the plan
Assets in Trust
Custody and Use of Funds
Funding Policy
Funding Guidelines
Benefits
Retirement Eligibility
Vesting
Final Average Salary
Benefit Formula
Cost of Living Adjustments
1 of 2
Part 3: Governance
45 Topics
Learning Objectives
Fiduciary Roles in a Retirement System
Non-Fiduciary Roles in a Retirement System
Stewards – Three Functional Areas of Responsibility
The Ability to Delegate Responsibility is Limited
Define Service Requirements
Board Responsibilities
Composition of Retirement System Boards
Governance Manual
Board Practices
Board Policies
Risk Oversight
Strategic Planning
Reporting: Key Performance and Risk Measures
Stakeholder Communications
Important Sources of Fiduciary Principles
Texas Government Code
DOL Fiduciary Obligations
DOL Assessment of Plan Fiduciaries
National Institute on Retirement Security Report
1 of 3
Part 4: The Investment Policy
22 Topics
Learning Objectives
Texas IPS Requirement
Investment of Surplus
Investment Policy
The Investment Policy Statement
Benefits of an IPS
Texas Pension Review Board Guidance
IPS Outline
Executive Summary
Statement of Objectives
Duties and Responsibilities
Investment Policy Test
Investment Policy Philosophy
Time Horizon, Risk, and Return Parameters
Risk Stress Test
“Large Loss” Scenario
Examples of Investment Assets
Typical Policy Portfolio
Rebalancing
Due Diligence
1 of 2
Part 5: All About Investments
36 Topics
Mutual Fund Expense Structure
Revenue Sharing
Fiduciary Red Flags
Evaluation of Investment Services
Scope of Monitoring
Quantitative Reviews
Qualitative Reviews
Monitoring Criteria
Frequency of Monitoring
The Process of Monitoring
Portfolio Monitoring
Apply Same Criteria Used to Select Investments
Retain or Replace Decision Making
Investment Performance Review
Performance Attribution
Performance Appraisal
2 of 2
Part 6: Risk Management
37 Topics
Learning Objectives
Risk Management
Risk Is Defined Within A Context, For Example:
Internal Control
Why Is An Internal Controls Framework Important?
Benefits of Internal Controls
Whose Job Is It? Everyone Plays a Role!
Weak Internal Controls Increase Risk
Internal Control Starts At The Top
Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment Concepts & Tools
Risk Assessment using Policies And Procedures
Control for Risk: Separation of Duties
Control for Risk: Reconciliation and Review
Control for Risk: Security of Assets
Control for Risk: Contracting
Risk Assessment: Document Communication
Control for Risk: Monitoring
Level of Investment Risk
Systematic & Non-Systematic Risk
1 of 2
Part 7: More on Fiduciary Matters
22 Topics
Global Fiduciary Precepts
Precept 1
The Texas Constitution
Texas Government Code
Texas Government Code
An Offense
Other Relevant Texas Laws
Fiduciary Requirements U.S. IRS Code
Potential Liability
Precept 2
Precept 3
Precept 4
Precept 5
Precept 6
Precept 7
Precept 8
The Fiduciary Quality Management System (FQMS)
Step 1 – Organize
Step 2 – Formalize
Step 3 – Implement
1 of 2
Part 8: More on Actuarial Matters
19 Topics
Learning Objectives
The Present Value (“PV”) concept illustrated
An Actuary considers time and probabilities…
Independent Actuarial Review Considerations
Reasonableness of Actuarial Cost Method
Reasonableness of Asset Valuation Method
Actuarial Valuation Report Compliance
An Actuary Considers Cash Flows
Other Actuarial Issues
State Law Requirements – Texas
Funding Policy
Elements of Funding Policy
Consider Advance Funding
From the Texas Pension Review Board (PRB)
Funded Ratio
When to increase Benefits?
Best Practice Recommendation
Texas PRB Key Metrics
Three Key Levers
Part 9: Challenges We Will Face
14 Topics
The Past is Prologue
The Importance of Making Contributions
Public Pension Sources of Revenue
Average Asset Allocations as of June 2019
Sponsor-Reported Funding Interest Rate
Public Pension Mortality
Pension Funding Policies Going Forward
The Certainty of Uncertainty
The Challenge of Pension Soundness
Fiduciary Obligations
Fiduciary Excellence
Process, Not Performance
Fiduciary Armor
Prudent Process Benefits
Previous Topic
Next Topic

National Institute on Retirement Security Report

Fiduciary Essentials for Defined Benefit Plans Part 3: Governance National Institute on Retirement Security Report

“…large, publicly managed pension funds create all manner of opportunities for political mischief.”

Headline on WSJ Editorial 10/3/07 Use editorial to promote replacement of DB Plans with DC Plans.

National Institute on Retirement Security (August 2008) report finds that a defined benefit (DB) pension plan can deliver the same level of retirement income to a group of employees at 46% lower cost than an individual defined contribution (DC) account.  Built-in features of DB plans enable the systems to be the most fiscally efficient way to provide retirement income. 

Previous Topic
Back to Lesson
Next Topic
Scroll to Top