Listing of AFP News Articleshttp://www.afponline.org/ArticleRss.ashxSat, 25 May 2013 04:53:24 -0400Sat, 25 May 2013 04:53:24 -0400The last few years have not been kind to corporate defined benefit pension plans. With no immediate relief in sight, chief financial officers are bracing for the worst. http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Defined_Benefit_Pension_Risk,_Governance_and_CFO_Liability.htmlTue, 17 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Defined_Benefit_Pension_Risk,_Governance_and_CFO_Liability.htmlCongress has passed a massive appropriations bill that includes an interest-rate stabilization provision supported by pensions and benefits trade groups, including the Committee on Investment of Employee Benefit Assets, or CIEBA. The stabilization provision, however, contains several modifications, including additional required information in the annual funding notice.  http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Pension_and_Benefits_Interest-Rate_Stabilization_Approved.htmlWed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Pension_and_Benefits_Interest-Rate_Stabilization_Approved.htmlThe last few years have not been kind to corporate defined benefit (DB) pension plans. With no immediate relief in sight, CFOs are bracing themselves for the worst. Unless sponsors take control by properly identifying, measuring and mitigating risks, underfunding and poor governance spell trouble for participants, shareholders and creditors. Big money is at stake, so getting it wrong will be expensive.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Pension_Risk,_Governance_and_CFO_Liability.htmlThu, 28 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Pension_Risk,_Governance_and_CFO_Liability.htmlThe rapid adoption of QDIA’s by plan sponsors and lessons learned from the 2008 financial crisis have prompted many changes to these ever-evolving investment vehicles and strategies. Many investment managers have sought to add asset classes to their allocations in an effort to reduce correlation between assets and combat volatility.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Design_Trends_in_QDIAs.htmlThu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Design_Trends_in_QDIAs.htmlThe Association for Financial Professionals is readying a Request for Proposal (RFP) template to help treasury and finance professionals evaluate 401(k) plan service providers.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/New_RFP_Evaluates_401(K)_Plan_Service_Providers.htmlTue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/New_RFP_Evaluates_401(K)_Plan_Service_Providers.htmlCFOs increasingly are being asked to make pension-related funding decisions that have the potential to materially and adversely affect plan participants, shareholders and creditors. As a result, CFOs are exposed to fiduciary liability, career risk and the economic consequences of an outcome with enterprise impact.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/CFO_Liability_Alert__Pension_Plans_and_Risk_Management.htmlTue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/CFO_Liability_Alert__Pension_Plans_and_Risk_Management.htmlAt its January 11 meeting, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission voted 4 to 1 to approve new protections for customer collateral provided to a swaps dealer. Although it adopted the legally separate but operationally commingled (LSOC) model, the CFTC incorporated permitting full physical segregation for swaps collateral as recommended by the Committee on Investment of Employee Benefit Assets, or CIEBA, which represents more than 100 of the nation’s largest pension funds. http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/CFTC_Adopts_CIEBA_Recommendation_to_Better_Protect_Pension_Assets.htmlWed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/CFTC_Adopts_CIEBA_Recommendation_to_Better_Protect_Pension_Assets.html“We commend the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for its decision to permit futures commission merchants to continue to provide critical protections for customers’ swap collateral,” Deborah Forbes, Executive Director of the Committee on Investment of Employee Benefit Assets (CIEBA) said last week.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/CIEBA_Commends_CFTC_For_Taking_Important_Initial_Step_in_Protecting_Customer_Cleared_Swap_Collateral.htmlTue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/CIEBA_Commends_CFTC_For_Taking_Important_Initial_Step_in_Protecting_Customer_Cleared_Swap_Collateral.htmlAt November’s Annual Conference in Boston, AFP caught up with Jeff Johnson, CTP, CPA, treasurer and vice president, Investor Relations at Deluxe Corp. and a member of AFP’s Board of Directors, to get his thoughts on investor relations in corporate treasury.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Presenting_the_Big_Picture_to_Investors.htmlThu, 29 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Presenting_the_Big_Picture_to_Investors.htmlA combination of economic factors—the recession, the volatile equity market, and continued low interest rates—are putting stress on the defined benefit (DB) pension system. The question is, are DB plans headed for extinction?http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/DB_Pension_Plans__2011_Review_and_2012_Outlook.htmlFri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/DB_Pension_Plans__2011_Review_and_2012_Outlook.htmlAccording to a new report, Canada's budgetary deficit for the first half of the 2011–12 fiscal year was $13.2 billion, compared to $17.4 billion for same period in the previous year. Meanwhile, revenues increased $4.3 billion, or 3.9 percent.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Revenues_Increase,_Deficit_Decreases_in_First_Half_of_Canadian_Fiscal_Year.htmlMon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Revenues_Increase,_Deficit_Decreases_in_First_Half_of_Canadian_Fiscal_Year.htmlThree state pension funds have turned to legal means to address what they believe to be fraudulent FX pricing practices by banks...http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/State_Pension_Funds_Sue_Banks_for_Fraudulent_FX_Pricing_Practices.htmlThu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/State_Pension_Funds_Sue_Banks_for_Fraudulent_FX_Pricing_Practices.htmlWith the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Law ("Dodd-Frank") the financial markets have entered a new era of transparency and accountability.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Standard_Response__How_Two_Provisions_in_Dodd-Frank_May_Affect_Credit_Rating_Agencies.htmlThu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Standard_Response__How_Two_Provisions_in_Dodd-Frank_May_Affect_Credit_Rating_Agencies.htmlA bill winding its way through the Canadian parliament would bestow preferred creditor status on plan deficits. The idea is to give the plan members a priority position in the event of a bankruptcy.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/DB_Dilemma__Preferred_Creditor_Status.htmlMon, 27 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/DB_Dilemma__Preferred_Creditor_Status.htmlThe C$875 billion defined benefit (DB) pension market in Canada may be in for a seismic change.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/DB_Dilemma__Reforming_the_Canadian_Pension_Market.htmlMon, 27 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/DB_Dilemma__Reforming_the_Canadian_Pension_Market.htmlIn a split vote, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued its final rules on allowing shareholders to have access to a company's proxy materials. The new rules allow 'long-term significant shareholders' to nominate candidates for boards of directors and have those nominees appear on the proxy materials distributed to all shareholders by companies.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/SEC_Issues_Final_Rules_on_Proxy%C2%A0Access.htmlThu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/SEC_Issues_Final_Rules_on_Proxy%C2%A0Access.htmlOn June 25, 2010, the Preservation of Access for Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010 was signed into law. The new law allows plans to delay amortization of losses from any two years from 2008 to 2011.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/IRS_Preliminary_Guidance_on_Pension_Funding_Relief_Issued.htmlThu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/IRS_Preliminary_Guidance_on_Pension_Funding_Relief_Issued.htmlThe Department of Labor (DOL) has issued interim final rules on disclosure of fee information and conflicts of interests by service providers to defined benefit and defined contribution plans.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/DOL_Issues_Rules_on_Disclosure_by_Plan%C2%A0_Service_Providers.htmlThu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/DOL_Issues_Rules_on_Disclosure_by_Plan%C2%A0_Service_Providers.htmlPresident Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act on July 21, 2010. CIEBA, the voice of the AFP on employee benefit plan asset management and investment issues, was active in the effort to preserve the ability of retirement plans to invest in swaps and derivatives.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Impact_of_Dodd-Frank_on_Retirement_Plans.htmlThu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Impact_of_Dodd-Frank_on_Retirement_Plans.htmlLate yesterday, the U. S. House of Representatives approved landmark regulatory reform legislation that would overhaul U.S. financial services regulation with new controls on large and interconnected financial firms, tougher capital and operating standards for banks, and a new regime for the regulation of derivatives.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/U_S__House_Passes_Financial_Regulatory_Reform;_Measure_Now_Heads_to_the_Senate_after_July_4_Recess.htmlThu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/U_S__House_Passes_Financial_Regulatory_Reform;_Measure_Now_Heads_to_the_Senate_after_July_4_Recess.htmlIt isn't easy to advance from corporate treasury to chief executive officer. Here's one treasurer who made the leap and did so during the most turbulent financial period in decadeshttp://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/How_One_Treasurer_Rose_to_CEO_During_the_Financial_Crisis_-_Yes,_CEO.htmlFri, 11 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/How_One_Treasurer_Rose_to_CEO_During_the_Financial_Crisis_-_Yes,_CEO.htmlCanada's legal and investment environment generally feels familiar to U.S. pension and endowment funds, but there are some important differences in the detailshttp://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Primer_-_How_U_S__Pension_and_Endowment_Funds_Can_Invest_in_Canada.htmlTue, 08 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Primer_-_How_U_S__Pension_and_Endowment_Funds_Can_Invest_in_Canada.htmlOn April 30, 2010, the Committee on Employee Benefit Assets (CIEBA), AFP's voice on employer sponsored retirement plans, submitted its response to a joint Request for Information (ROI) from the Departments of Labor and Treasury on Lifetime Income Options in Retirement Plans. View Documenthttp://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/CIEBA_Submits_Comments_to_Request_for_Information_on_Lifetime_Income_in_Retirement_Plans.htmlFri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/CIEBA_Submits_Comments_to_Request_for_Information_on_Lifetime_Income_in_Retirement_Plans.htmlThe Departments of Labor and Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have issued a Request for Information Regarding Lifetime Income Options for Participants and Beneficiaries in Retirement Plans.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/RFI_on_Lifetime_Income_Options_Issued.htmlWed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/RFI_on_Lifetime_Income_Options_Issued.htmlSenators Bingaman (D-NM), Isakson (R-GA) and Kohl (D-WI) have introduced the Lifetime Income Disclosure Act (S. 2832). The bill would require plan sponsors to inform participants in 401(k) plans of the projected monthly benefit they can expect at retirement based on their current account balance.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Lifetime_Income_Disclosure_Bill_Introduced.htmlFri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Lifetime_Income_Disclosure_Bill_Introduced.htmlOn December 8, 2009, CIEBA members testified before the PBGC Advisory Board on the state of defined benefit plan investments and the challenges they face in the current funding environment.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/CIEBA_Presentation_Before_the_PBGC_Advisory_Board.htmlFri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/CIEBA_Presentation_Before_the_PBGC_Advisory_Board.htmlFASB's guidance requiring more disclosures for pension plan assets will become effective for Dec. 31 filings. FASB's final course of action was contrary to many of CIEBA's proposed recommendations made to the FASB in their exposure draft document on the topic.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Are_You_Ready_for_More_Required_Pension_Disclosures_on_Dec__31_.htmlTue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Are_You_Ready_for_More_Required_Pension_Disclosures_on_Dec__31_.htmlJust when you thought it was safe in the water, more information has surfaced on pools of liquidity that are equity based. From The Bottom Line column in Exchange magazinehttp://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Creature_from_the_Dark_Lagoon__Regulators_Seek_More_Light_for_Dark_Pools.htmlSun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Creature_from_the_Dark_Lagoon__Regulators_Seek_More_Light_for_Dark_Pools.htmlThe International Accounting Standards Board issued an exposure draft on whether it should remove the requirement to use market yields on government bonds to determine the discount rate used to discount employee benefit obligations currently found in the International Accounting Standard on Employee Benefits.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/The_IASB_Votes_Down_Proposed_Changes_to_Defined_Benefit_Pension_Rules.htmlTue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/The_IASB_Votes_Down_Proposed_Changes_to_Defined_Benefit_Pension_Rules.htmlA recent Mercer survey shows that formal funding policies aren't as common as one might thinkhttp://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Managing_Pension_Risk_in_Turbulent_Times.htmlThu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/res/mbr_news/Managing_Pension_Risk_in_Turbulent_Times.html