How to Keep Informed in the Pension Community

[Gary]

I currently have a subscription to Research Institute of America Pension and Benefits Weekly Updates. It is quite expensive for a self employed actuary starting out. Does anyone know of either a cheaper service or an internet site or any other means that gives a pension acturay up to date happenings in the pension world as well as applicable interest rates?

Thank you

[Larry M]

Gary, welcome to the world of consulting actuaries - you'll love it (assuming you can survive Georgia's summer climate...)

When you are starting out, almost everything is expensive - relatively. Later, it remains just as costly, but the income increases and so it seems as if it costs less.

I do not know which RIA subscriptions you have - my (also solo practice) subscriptions developed from CCH/BNA/RIA hard copy books (with weekly delivery of hundreds of pages to file in multiple volumes) to RIA cd roms to, currently, RIA's internet based service, which allows me to pick and choose from among a range of services (and prices). [i dropped the RIA P&B Weekly Updates because there were alternatives available - such as the daily newsletter from this site - which were more current and free.]

One source of current interest rates is the Society of Actuaries' web site (consider joining its Pension Council for more info and networking).

The Academy has an internet based "Alert" system which may help you.

Also extremely important, I developed and maintained a wide group of other pension professional (including actuaries, attorneys and administrators) friends to whom I can turn for help whenever a question arises. Part of the development was joining with actuaries or estate counsel people in a local/regional group (some formal, some informal) which met on a regular basis to discuss various topics.

Consider, as well, joining the Conference of Consulting Actuaries - its sessions are very practical and it provides an excellent place for developing your own network. [There are some who feel ASPA provides a similar service...and which is better suited to you is something you should decide.]

[Guest [Pat M]]

Gary, I'm not an actuary, but often need the same info...I have my own daily and weekly links list for benefits and court case review. In addition to rate data, you'll probably need to keep up with more general industry info. As Larry notes, Dave Baker's newsletter is very up-to-date. You may want to sign up thru benefitslink.

Also, for FASB: http://www.rutgers.edu/Accounting/raw/fasb/public/index.html The searchable Federal Register is also printed online on a daily basis. It includes proposed regs, contact names for current committees & scheduled meetings that are open to the public: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html

[This message has been edited by [Pat M] (edited 04-30-2000).]

[david rigby]

The first thing I do everyday is look at BenefitsBuzz. Second, I look at the Federal Register.

Another good point is to organize your research. One of the best internet plans of organization is:

http://www.benefitslink.com/articles/usingweb.html