What's your background?

[Lori Friedman]

I'm a relative newbie to this message board, and I'm always impressed by everyone's knowledge and the very advanced level of discussion.

What's your background? Are you a TPA or actuary? Or, do you work in some other field that crosses over with the issues discussed here?

[Guest ritchie]

Hi Lori:

Just found this thread. I didn't want to leave you all alone out there with no responses!

I'm a colorful and buoyant entertaining singer and dancer and exercise guru.

I particularly like cross testing discussions and discussions with colorful mammals and aquatic life.

I don't like cage fighters.

[No Name]

TPA 25 years (still don't know squat). Red Sox, SF Giants, 49ers, Pats, Celtics (ugh), former Bruins fan (hockey sucks on West Coast).

Meat eater married to a Vegetarian. East Coast kid who hates fish (any kind).

[rcline46]

B.A. in Chemistry, 30 years with THIS firm, started as programmer. See my column in the Journal of Pension Benefits.

[Lori Friedman]

See my column in the Journal of Pension Benefits

I'd love to find and read your column, but that would require you to share your real name with us!

I particularly like cross testing discussions

Do you mean "cross testing" or "cross dressing"?

[AndyH]

Well, I've been trollin the waters for more than three touchdowns now lookin fo' predatory fish, be they pariahs or piranna.

A favorite hobby of mine is callin out ill-intended purveyors of financially harmful products such as:

interest-only mortgages (except to rich people-that's ok)

loan sharks er credit agencies

high commission life insurance sold to the unknowing

annuities of many pursuasions

412(i) programs of most colors,

Seems like many purveyors of the latter been swimmin upstream away from the big red coast guard boats with their lights flashin' lately. Some seem to have hit land and converted to interest-only mortgage lenders targetting the naive.

Remember the SNL Land Shark skits?

[rcline46]

Lori - it is my name, mostly! Plan Administration column. (and any others who care to look at the column)

[Don Levit]

I have been in life and health insurance sales since 1980.

The last few years I have studied state and federal regulation of health insurance.

I have come to the conclusion that the state departments of insurance know much more about state regulation than the federal regulation of health insurance.

Without getting into what preempts what, I hope to use this "confusion" as an opportunity to do some innovative financing of permanent affordable group type products.

I believe it is vitally important that we really give a lot of thought to making the market advantageous for all the players.

If we don't get this mess cleared up, I fear it will be an indication of our unwillingness to straighten out even more difficult problems.

I am very concerned about the type of environment my kids will be living in.

Don Levit

[Mary C]

Got "assigned" to benefits by my then boss when COBRA first came out and the company needed to have someone to administer it. Guess that makes more years than I care to remember. Have always worked for an employer who administers their own benefits, never a TPA, insurance or sales. Earned my CEBS designation early on and now work in benefit plan compliance area for a large corporation.

Never had much home town sports teams to be proud of, but the Bengals seem off to a fairly good start so that may change.

[AndyH]

Oh, and my inspiration is quinn the car fixer.

Don, what "mess" do you refer to?

[maverick]

Career military (jarhead), been doing d.c. plan tpa work for 9 years. CEBS, QKA.

Reside in the great city of Green Bay, Wisconsin, home of the 0 - 3 Packers. Last Sunday I napped during the game. When I woke up I asked my wife "How much did they lose by?".

Maverick

p.s. for Quint. SNL land shark skit:

knock, knock

who's there?

candygram

[Don Levit]

Quint.

Thanks for your question.

The health insurance issue, to have some sense of resolution, will result in market and consumer driven policies that are permanent and affordable.

With all the different special interests competing for attention and dollars, I have serious reservations whether we can come to any significant progress.

If we do not, and there is an even more significant federal involvement, this will be an unfortunate indicator of self interest run amok.

Sure, self interests exist. That is part of our survival instinct. However, to the degree this self interest escalates out of proportion, the common welfare suffers.

Eventually, even those with significant financial reserves will feel the side effects.

If we can't resolve the insurance issue, which is relatively simple if people work together, how will we resolve much more complex problems?

Don Levit

[Tom Poje]

started in pension about age 30 and have been at it for almost 20 years.

stumbled and bumbled my way along to help edit one of the Pension Answer Books

despite my stubborness, have managed to gather enough knowledge about Pentabs/Quantech/Relius software to be able to write a decent report or two

must be rather dull - never married or fooled around, never have been close to be being drunk (oddly enough I do make wine), etc. found a movie puzzle that I posted that apparently has been a big hit based on comments and number of downloads. make the birthday cards for the people at work. ASPPA has been 'dumb' enough to ask me give presentations, so they have had to put up with a scarecrow, fractured pension songs and other such silly nonsense.

Most importantly, my faith does mean everything to me, but then God has a plan with benefits that are out of this world - and He guarantees them, no PBGC to worry about.

[R. Butler]

I graduated from law school about 10 years ago. Never really considered ERISA up to that point, but Sallie Mae wanted to be repaid & this small TPA firm offered me just enough money to satisfy Sallie Mae. I've been here ever since. Hope to get into a law firm for a few years to get a broader experience & then maybe open up shop myself. We shall see.

Outside of work, I volunteer on one of ASPPA's committees. I'm active in my church. I've been married for five years & have a one year old son. (Being a dad is the most incredicle experience.) I'm a fanatical Univ. of Kentucky & Pittsburgh Steeler fan.

[JanetM]

After many years wondering the globe as paid tourist for the Air Force you mean? I worked in CPA firm and hated auditing. Was asked to join newly formed pension group at the firm. After a few years I got to the point I hated my clients so I jumped to the plan sponsor side 6 years ago. I like the view from here, still training baby auditors on the difference between DB and DC plans and how the financial statements are different.

[AndyH]

maverick makes my buddy list. Forgot about candygram! Hilarious! (Most of the rest of you are already on it so my harpoon would never go your direction).

Don, a question for you. Who pays for all that demand-stimulating pharmaceutical advertising? Watch the nightly news and you feel like you're about to have 3 heart attacks yet have ADD and need viagra. And experience all those wonderful side effects all at the same time!

Don't you think that is indicative of a major problem all by itself?

I don't want my tax dollars paying for those commercials! Do you? I've always felt that there should be national catastrophic health insurance, not national advertising-induced prescription welfare that benefits the mega companies alone.

[AndyH]

Oh, and Tom, you've never had a twelve pack of 'Gansett?

Lori will remember, "Hi Neighbor, have a Gansett"!

[Tom Poje]

Quint:

no clue what a Gansett is, since you said 12 pack, I assume some type of beer. actually, no I never even tried a beer, but then I never tried coffee either.

....But I slept at a Holiday Inn once

[Guest 401der]

Career corporate/tax paralegal. Got into ERISA speciality in 1984 just in time for the TEFRA, DEFRA & REA restatement period and was hooked. Currently working in-house for the recordkeeping/administration division of a large mutual fund company doing plan design and due diligence work as well as internal ERISA consulting. As a tax attorney friend of mine said once when he thought he might like to get into ERISA work but then quickly decided it wasn't for him - "It's not something to dabble in."

[Lame Duck]

Attorney, been in this field almost since I got out of law school, which was too long ago to remember. I have had people comment that I might be suffering from a mental deffect or deficiency since I went to law school dreaming of being a tax attorney. How sad is that?

For fun, I write - novels, short stories and poetry. I've had one novel published but sales are rather underwhelming at the moment. Since I was hoping for a best seller to fund my retirement, I guess I'l keep plugging along helping other people with their retirements.

By the way, Lori, I can tell you more than you ever wanted to know about crossdressing.

[R. Butler]

I have had people comment that I might be suffering from a mental deffect or deficiency since I went to law school dreaming of being a tax attorney. How sad is that?

What do you know? I also went to law school dreaming of being a tax attorney. Not only that, but even without regard to the dream, many think I suffer from a mental deficiency.

By the way, Lori, I can tell you more than you ever wanted to know about crossdressing.

Lori might be more curious than I am, but if you can tell me anything about crossdressing, its more than I want to know.

[Lori Friedman]

Lori will remember, "Hi Neighbor, have a Gansett"!

Oh, but of course I remember Narragansett Beer! Does the product still exist?

To the uninitiated, let's just say that 'Gansett wasn't exactly the Chivas Regal of beer.

Quint, I even remember that Narragansett Beer had a premium label called Haffenreffer.

[stephen]

Hi Neighbor, have a 'Gansett

Alas, it seems the brewery is no more...

[stephen]

Perhaps it's on the rise again

I spoke too soon- excerpt below

"The beer is currently brewed in La Crosse, Wisc., and is available in 16-ounce cans. The investor group plans to move production to the High Falls Brewery in Rochester, N.Y., next month. Hellendrung said the company also plans to have a small brewery operation in Providence.

The beer is available in about 250 bars, restaurants and liquor stores in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, about double its distribution before the investors acquired the brand, Hellendrung said."

[No Name]

Help me out here..

Yoo Hoo, Neighbour,

(don't remember this line)

Carlings Black Label Beer

Other greats... Schlitz, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Shaeffer (sp).

[No Name]

Oops,

Another cup of coffee and it comes back.

Yoo Hoo, Mabel

Black Label

Carlings Black Label Beer

Back to sleep now.

[WDIK]

I'm always impressed by...the very advanced level of discussion.

To which of the following discussions were you referring?

http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=28156

http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=23275

http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=23733

http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=16760

http://boards.theforce.net/Classic_Trilogy...02/21736126/?26

http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=25886

[AndyH]

Let's see, awards time:

stephen hits a two run homer over everything (but why don't those stories mention me?)

Lori earns an A for remembering "Green Death" but drops a couple of pegs by putting the awesome gansett tast down-actually I'm not kidding-it was good.

Tom wins a free jump in the 6' x 8' Express swimming pool followed by a continental breakfast with a bloody mary and decaf coffee.

WDIK definitely wins archivist of the year-awesome collection-and you even caught the "deemed safe habor" discussion!

mutliple people tie for crossdresser of the year

but the MVP is reserved for he/she/it that can connect the dots with a picture of me sluggin down a "Gansett" in one gulp then crunching the can just before I got eaten in Jaws. I cannot find such a picture although there are dozens of text references to it on the net.

[R. Butler]

but the MVP is reserved for he/she/it that can connect the dots with a picture of me sluggin down a "Gansett" in one gulp then crunching the can just before I got eaten in Jaws. I cannot find such a picture although there are dozens of text references to it on the net.

This is the best I can do.

[Tom Poje]

well, apparently I had a beer named after myself!

[stephen]

Is it alcohol and caffeine free?

[Tom Poje]

As far as I can tell there is a series of comics in some country way across the water featuring a beer guzzling bartender with some familar sounding name.

supposedly very popular. so they named a few beers after him. doubt it is still made, though if anyone ever finds some of the stuff I would love to have a bottle just to sit on the shelf. well, my brother was fascinated by the whole thing, but as far as he can tell the silly stuff isn't made any more.

stephen: I am sure of this, the beer itself isn't free.

[Steve72]

Haffenhreffer (AKA "Green Lightning") is still very much available.

[AndyH]

Green "Death" in my world Steve.

I win:

[jevd]

Boy did we get off topic.

But I guess that's our nature.

Started in LA in the Bank/S&L industry before S&Ls had trust powers. Pre-ERISA

Moved up and down the Coast then to Philadelphia and then Denver.

Every major move a child then figured it out and am staying put.

5 kids ages 12 - 24 b g b g b

Am responsible for 1987 Whittier Narrows earth quake epicenter under my employer's computer center. ( Long story for another time)

[FAPInJax]

Actuary for a 'really long time' (over 25). I have been told that I am extroverted meaning that I will look at your shoes when talking to you . I worked in the private sector for a large consulting firm (actually a CPA firm), then a small consulting firm (a lot more fun) and now a software firm.

[JanetM]

jevd, that has got to be interesting story. Hmmmm earthquake epicenter......

You still in Denver?

[stephen]

I am a former High School and Elementary School math teacher. I have worked in the employee benefits field for over 10 years. My career has been with TPA's (NC, VA and now IN).

Teams I root for:

NFL: Vikings; MLB: Braves (since the Dale Murphy and Bob Horner days), NCAA: NC State (Alumnus); NBA and NHL: they don't much matter until their respective playoffs (which last too long- I will never understand why a 7 game series can last for two weeks but that is another story for another day)

OK Lori- you started this thread and have yet to give your background.

[jevd]

OK

Long story made somewhat shorter.

At a benefits seminar in the Palm Springs area in September/Oct of '87 a certain instructor got lost his hat on a mountain top & made us wait for the last tram to bring him back to the hotel.

We decided to play a practical joke as we knew he was from the east coadt and was a little nervous about quakes.

Being the instigator of the plan I was elected to tie a string to a chandelier prior to class that someone would pull at a designated time while the rest of us shook the table to rattle the water glasses.

While standing on a chair and reaching for the chandelier, it started shaking by itself and the floor started to shake.

Perfect.We'll have an aftershock.

I'm a believer but I didn't know I had that much pull with the man upstairs.

It turns out the epicenter was under my employers computer center in the L A area. When the story got out, I received a call from a V, P. who asked me if I was going to write a check for the deductible.

$ 20 very big ones.

This is not a made up story. I have very credible witnesses still in the industry.

Yes. I'm still in the Denver area and I'm not resp[onsible for the latest quake near here or the Christmas Day '96 when I was here.

And believe it or not there was one in Philadelphia area during my time 88- 90 in that city.

Maybe I should change my name for the boards. Any suggestions??

[MWeddell]

I'm an attorney who practiced law for a few years before spending the last 16 working for an employee benefits consulting firm. I was a computer programmer before law school. Married and have raised two amazing daughters.

[Guest quinn the car fixer]

i've been a clone for 9 years. hope to get my '87 IROC fixed and running(b/c i am from rochester) and move out of my parent's basement by next summer.

[JanetM]

jevd,

S cubed - shiver, shake, shudder

[Guest beccafaith]

Thank you for the all the posts. I got a good laugh out of them. Most of these threads get pretty boring, but this one never does

[Kirk Maldonado]

JEVD:

How's this for a creative moniker: New Name? (It is still available; I just checked.)

[could be me maybe not]

epicenter?

[jevd]

I liked s-cubed

Epicenter not bad either.

Thanks for the suggestions

[JanetM]

Hey Kirk, think we are safe with S-cubed in town?

[jevd]

I've been here 15 years. No Damage yet??

[JanetM]

HMMM, is that a question or statement.

I still contemplate changing my name to Murphy sometimes.

[Belgarath]

Janet - I'm a great believer in O'Toole's corollary to Murphy's law, which states: "Murphy was an optimist."