Managing Your Agency’s CalPERS Pension Liabilities

Managing Your Agency’s CalPERS Pension Liabilities

By Jeff Chang Municipal and special district employers, particularly their elected council and board members, continue to express concerns over the size of their agencies’ CalPERS “liabilities” and what can be done to mitigate them. Although there are several...

Money Purchase Pension Plans with an “Opt-in” Feature

Money Purchase Pension Plans with an “Opt-in” Feature

By Jeff Chang Almost 4 years ago, we discussed an IRS private letter ruling that raised serious concerns about public agency money purchase pension plans. The ruling allowed employees to "opt-in" to, or elect, their own rate of employee contribution. It was expected...

How Is Liability-driven Investing Different?

How Is Liability-driven Investing Different?

By Jeff Chang The more you read about what has been going on in the private sector (in the U.S.) and in the public sector (in Europe) with respect to pension plan investing, the more you come across the concept of “liability-driven investment strategy.” Although there...

Using a Section 115 Trust to Help Manage Pension Obligations

Using a Section 115 Trust to Help Manage Pension Obligations

An increasing number of cities, public agencies and special districts are investigating the use of an Internal Revenue Code section 115 trust to help them better manage the short-term costs and long-term liabilities associated with pensions. What is a 115 trust and how does it work?

Chapter 28: Why Cashing Out PTO Next Year Doesn’t Work

Chapter 28: Why Cashing Out PTO Next Year Doesn’t Work

By: Jeff Chang Our efforts to educate employers about the dangers and surprises associated with PTO cash‑outs (see, Chapter 13 and "When Having Your Cake and Eating It May Be a Bad Thing: Cautions About Cash-Outs of Unused Leave Or PTO") are having an effect....

Chapter 20: Opting Into A Pick-Up Plan

Chapter 20: Opting Into A Pick-Up Plan

By: Jeff Chang A recently issued IRS private letter ruling (PLR) puts the kibosh on the fairly common practice of allowing public agency employees to elect whether and at what level to participate in the agency's mandatory contribution pension plan. This plan design...

Chapter 17: Bankruptcy Ruling Cuts CalPERS Down To Size

Chapter 17: Bankruptcy Ruling Cuts CalPERS Down To Size

By: Jeff Chang On February 4, 2015, the Judge overseeing the City of Stockton bankruptcy issued an opinion, overruling Franklin Templeton's lone objections to the City's plan of reorganization and, very pointedly, clarifying the true role of CalPERS – at least in a...

Chapter 4: A Lesson From The “Show Me” State

Chapter 4: A Lesson From The “Show Me” State

By: Jeff Chang Although governmental plans are not subject to ERISA, all are subject to a combination of State and common law fiduciary rules – many of which (including California's) contain language identical to the standards of ERISA. Most fiduciaries of public...