6 pages. Excerpt: The proposed regulations provided that all employees who are not otherwise assumed to retire as of the valuation date, but who will be eligible to begin benefits in the current year and 10 succeeding plan years, are assumed to retire at the earliest retirement date under the plan, but not before the end of the current plan year. The final regulations clarify that these early retirement assumptions apply to all participants ... who have not begun receiving payments. In addition, the 'earliest retirement age' cannot be earlier than the age at which the participant's benefit is fully vested.