Lookback month definition

[Guest LC Brosio]

Does the term "lookback month" refer to: The month containing the 30-year treasury bond data; or The following month in which the resulting average is published?

[david rigby]

I assume you are talking about the 30-year treasury rate for 417(e) minimum lump sum.

The lookback month is the month itself. The publication date is (typically) about 7-10 days after the end of the month. For example, for a calendar year plan, the lookback month can be August, September, October, November, or December.

Form a practical perspective, you usually want some advance notice of the rate so it makes sense to choose a lookback month as far back as you can stand (but beware of the regs at initial adoption).