This screen defines the effective-dated methods and assumptions used by a valuation. The sections below document the items on each tab.
The Basic tab defines the period, displayed actuarial methods, economic assumptions, marriage assumptions, COLA, and reported-amount controls for the provision.
- Effective Date: identifies the first date on which this provision applies.
- Stop Date / None: identifies the last date on which this provision applies. Select None to leave the provision open-ended.
- Funding Method Display: selects the methods displayed in valuation results: Unit Credit, Projected Unit Credit, Entry Age Normal - Level Dollar, and Entry Age Normal - Level Percentage of Pay. For an ERISA funding assumption definition, Unit Credit is selected and displayed as Unit Credit (Target). Entry Age Normal - Level Percentage of Pay is unavailable when the Sponsor has no earnings-type reported amount. Attained Age Normal - Level Percentage of Pay is displayed but unavailable.
- Fraction of People Married - Fixed / Table-based: selects how DB Precision determines the assumed fraction married. The current screen accepts fixed values; the table-based option is displayed but unavailable.
- Fraction of People Married - Male / Female: supplies the fixed fractions used for male and female participants when weighting single-life and married payment forms.
- Applicable On: identifies the date at which the fraction-married assumption is applied. The screen displays Decrement date.
- Years Husband is Older than Wife - Fixed / Table-based: selects how DB Precision determines the assumed spouse-age difference. The current screen accepts fixed values; the table-based option is displayed but unavailable.
- Years Husband is Older than Wife - Male / Female: supplies the assumed age difference for male and female participants when actual beneficiary information is unavailable.
- Minimum Funding Interest Rate: displays the primary interest-rate basis. Select Details to configure it on the Valuation Interest Rates screen.
- Maximum Funding Interest Rate / N/A: displays a separate maximum interest-rate basis. Select Details to configure it, or select N/A when no maximum basis applies.
- Other Increase Rates: supplies the annual increase rates used to project the Taxable Wage Base, 401(a)(17) Limit, and 415(b) Limit.
- PBGC Premiums: selects Do not calculate, Use published segment rates (standard method), or Use maximum funding rates (alternate method).
- Cost of Living Benefit Increase (COLA) - Fixed / Table-based: selects a fixed increase or a COLA Table. Selecting Fixed enables the Rate and Start Age; selecting Table-based enables the table selector.
- Rate / Start Age: supplies the fixed COLA rate and the age at which fixed increases begin.
- Maximum Benefit Ratio / Type: limits the accumulated benefit increase and selects whether COLA accumulates on a Simple or Compound basis.
- Apply COLA to Inactive Participants: applies the configured increase to inactive-participant benefits.
- No Benefit Increases if Only Beneficiary Is Alive: stops COLA increases when only the beneficiary remains alive.
- Reported Amounts: lists each available reported amount and its assumption Type and Value. Open a row to configure its projection settings on the Assumption Reported Amount screen.
- Ignore Amounts With Effective Dates After Calculation Date: ignores reported amounts whose effective dates fall more than the specified number of days after the calculation date.
- Use Estimated Amounts: permits estimated reported-amount values to be used when applicable.
- Ignore Earnings Prior to Current Year When Determining Present Value of Future Salary (PVFS) at Entry Age: excludes earnings before the current projection year from the Entry Age PVFS determination.
The Mortality tab assigns mortality assumptions to each participant or survivor population used by the valuation.
- Active: selects mortality while an active participant remains exposed to the retirement, termination, and disability decrements. Select None when no active mortality applies.
- Terminated / Pre-payment Start: selects participant mortality after termination and before deferred payments begin.
- Disabled / Pre-payment Start: selects participant mortality after disability and before disability payments begin.
- Disabled / Post-payment Start: selects participant mortality after disability payments begin.
- Retired (Including Terminated): selects post-payment mortality for retired participants, including terminated participants whose retirement payments have begun.
- Survivor / Pre-payment Start: selects survivor mortality before survivor payments begin.
- Survivor / Post-payment Start: selects survivor mortality after survivor payments begin.
- Lump Sum: selects mortality used for applicable life-contingent lump-sum forms.
- Mortality Selection Methods: selects Pre-decrement, one Constant mortality assumption, Varies by Reported Amount, Varies by years from valuation, or Varies by year. Active mortality uses None in place of Pre-decrement.
- Configure: opens the selected constant or varying mortality definition. The button is unavailable when the population inherits Pre-decrement mortality.
- For Survivors Prior to Participant Death, Use Participant Mortality Rather Than Survivor Mortality: applies participant mortality to the survivor while the participant is still alive.
Use Valuation Mortality to define a constant mortality selection. Reported-amount and year-based selections use the Valuation Assumption Detail Screens.
The Decrements tab defines the annual retirement, termination, and disability assumptions applied while a participant remains active.
- Retirement Probabilities: selects 100% at fixed age, a Retirement Probabilities table, Varies by Reported Amount, Varies by years from valuation, or Varies by year.
- Termination Probabilities: selects None, a system Termination Probabilities table, Varies by Reported Amount, Varies by years from valuation, or Varies by year.
- Post-termination Retirement Probabilities: selects Same as probabilities for active employees, 100% at fixed age, a Retirement Probabilities table, Varies by Reported Amount, Varies by years from valuation, or Varies by year.
- Disability Probabilities: selects None, a system Disability Probabilities table, Varies by Reported Amount, Varies by years from valuation, or Varies by year.
- Configure: defines the table selection that applies to a reported-amount, years-from-valuation, or calendar-year variation. The button is enabled for the selected variation method.
- Probabilities Stop at Earliest Retirement Age: independently stops termination or disability probabilities beginning with the first year in which the participant is retirement-eligible and the active retirement assumption produces a nonzero rate.
- Decrement Timing: places decrements at the Beginning of year or Middle of year.
- Decrement Precedence: selects Adjust all rates, Do not adjust any rates, or Only adjust mortality when DB Precision accounts for competing active decrements.
- Decrement Table Rate Lookup - Age Rounding: selects how participant age is rounded before a decrement probability table is read.
- Decrement Table Rate Lookup - Service Rounding: selects how service is rounded before a service-based decrement probability table is read.
- Decrement Table Rate Lookup - Service Determination: selects the date from which service used in the decrement-table lookup is measured.
- Salary Scale Rate Table Lookup - Age Rounding: selects how participant age is rounded before a salary scale table is read.
- Salary Scale Rate Table Lookup - Service Rounding: selects how service is rounded before a service-based salary scale table is read.
- Salary Scale Rate Table Lookup - Service Determination: selects the date from which service used in the salary-scale lookup is measured.
When a decrement or mortality selection varies by participant reported amount, projection duration, or calendar year, use the Valuation Assumption Detail Screens.