Chapter 20: Q5Q. (page 1161)
What is the role of an actuary relative to pension plans? What are actuarial assumptions?
An actuary is a professional in an organization which collects, combines, and analyzes the data that affects an organization's decision. They are also responsible fordetermining the risk level.
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Andrews Company has five employees participating in its defined benefit pension plan. Expected years of future service for these employees at the beginning of 2017 are as follows. Future Employee Years of Service Jim 3 Paul 4 Nancy 5 Dave 6 Kathy 6 On January 1, 2017, the company amended its pension plan, increasing its projected benefit obligation by $72,000. Instructions Compute the amount of prior service cost amortization for the years 2017 through 2022 using the years-of-service method, setting up appropriate schedules.
Gordon Company sponsors a defined benefit pension plan. The following information related to the pension plan is available for 2017 and 2018. 2016 2017 2018 Annual service cost \(16,000 \) 19,000 \( 26,000 Settlement rate and expected rate of return 10% 10% 10% Actual return on plan assets 18,000 22,000 24,000 Annual funding (contributions) 16,000 40,000 48,000 Benefits paid 14,000 16,400 21,000 Prior service cost (plan amended, 1/1/17) 160,000 Amortization of prior service cost 54,400 41,600 Change in actuarial assumptions establishes a December 31, 2018, projected benefi t obligation of: 520,000 2017 2018 Plan assets (fair value), December 31 \)699,000 $849,000 Projected benefi t obligation, January 1 700,000 800,000 Pension asset/liability, January 1 140,000 Cr. ? Prior service cost, January 1 250,000 240,000 Service cost 60,000 90,000 Actual and expected return on plan assets 24,000 30,000 Amortization of prior service cost 10,000 12,000 Contributions (funding) 115,000 120,000 Accumulated benefi t obligation, December 31 500,000 550,000 Interest/settlement rate 9% 9% Instructions (a) Compute pension expense for 2017 and 2018. (b) Prepare the journal entries to record the pension expense and the company’s funding of the pension plan for both years.
If pension expense recognized in a period exceeds the current amount funded by the employer, what kind of account arises, and how should it be reported in the financial statements? If the reverse occurs—that is, current funding by the employer exceeds the amount recognized as pension expense—what kind of account arises, and how should it be reported?
What is meant by “prior service cost”? When is prior service cost recognized as pension expense?
Describe the reporting of pension plans for a company with multiple plans, some of which are underfunded and some of which are overfunded.
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