Estimating individual annual cost in pension plan

[TPApril]

Pardon my lack of knowledge on the topic please. Without using pension software, is there a basic excel formula to come up with a rough estimate of the annual cost of a participant, by plugging in say projected retirement benefit, years to retirement, interest rate or other relevant parameters?

[My 2 cents]

Wouldn't an excel spreadsheet capable of making such calculations be "pension software"?

It's the "other relevant parameters" - they would have to include mortality rates and, if relevant, rates of compensation increases, not to mention termination rates, disability rates, etc.

If pension software is not available, what purpose would be served by developing estimated annual costs by participant? It's hard enough to divorce such estimates from the value of actual benefit entitlements when one has access to full calculations consistent with the determination of the annual plan contribution.

[TPApril]

ok thanks, just thought i'd ask, trying to cut costs by not asking the actuary, but i see will have to ask the professional.