Pension Plan Termination

Consulting

Terminating a defined benefit pension plan requires careful planning and meticulous attention to detail. The planning and execution process takes anywhere from 6 months to over 2 years and requires a focused, coordinated effort of the employer, actuary, legal counsel, benefits committee, administrator and others.  The PBGC, IRS, and DOL all have their specific filing requirements as well.

Prior to any actual termination work, steps must be taken to ensure the plan is in adequate operational and financial shape. The funding level of the plan, the accuracy and availability of participant data, number of missing participants, and whether a replacement plan will be offered in place of the terminated plan are examples of issues which must be considered prior to any move to terminate.

Once the decision to terminate is made, a detailed project plan must be developed and executed. SBA resources manage and execute all aspects of defined benefit pension plan terminations for our clients. Because we are financial and operational defined benefit experts, we are ideally positioned to guide clients though the planning process and flawlessly execute the plan.

Outsourcing

Because the plan termination process is confusing and often upsetting to participants, it is critical that your administrator accurately answer questions and respond to requests in a timely manner. SBA’s high-touch service center and outsourcing operation provides these services.  Our call center representatives are trained benefits professionals, many with decades of experience in benefits consulting and administration. They know your plan and the details around the termination and are able to address most questions on the initial call.