"Last year [the author] ... concluded that if interest rates stayed flat (as of the summer of 2012), typical DB plan sponsors would have 'downside' funding protection under MAP-21 through 2020. Since last year's article interest rates have increased, and there is some talk that the long term downward trend in rates, which began back in October of 1981, may have ended. [This article updates the] analysis of the effect of MAP-21 on funding to reflect current interest rates."  MORE >>