Pensions & Divorce: Defined Benefit Plans:
This type of plan promises that upon retirement the employee will receive a defined (known) monthly income for life. The yearly contributions necessary to provide the promised monthly benefit upon retirement are unknown and depend upon a number of variables, such as:
- the amount of the monthly benefit to be received upon retirement;
- the number of years left until retirement;
- the length of time benefits will be received;
- the amount of income that can be earned on yearly contributions;
- etc.
Fixed Benefit Plan
This type of Defined Benefit Plan establishes the monthly benefit as a definite (fixed) percentage of the employee's remuneration. The plan usually takes the average of the annual compensation for a period of years prior to retirement and multiplies it by the fixed percentage.
Example: 50% of the average yearly compensation over the 4 consecutive plan years which produced the highest annual compensation.
Flat Benefit Plan
Under this type of Defined Benefit Plan, the employee receives a monthly benefit expressed as a fixed dollar amount, such as $1,000 per month.
Unit Benefit Plan
Upon retirement, under this type of Defined Benefit Plan, the employee will receive a monthly benefit determined by a pension unit. This unit is multiplied by each year of service for which the employee receives credit. The pension unit is a percentage of compensation, such as 2% or a defined dollar amount.
How Defined Benefit Plans are Valued
In order to determine the value of a benefit under a Defined Benefit Plan as of a specific date, the appraiser actuarially determines the present value of receiving pension benefits in the future. In other words, the appraiser determines the amount which must be invested today, so that upon retirement, the plan has sufficient funds to provide the employee with the appropriate monthly benefit for life. In determining the present value, the appraiser considers mortality, age on date of valuation and separation, normal retirement age, the monthly entitlement upon retirement, an appropriate interest rate, and other variables.
Typical Scenario: The Jones' were married on April 30, 1970. Mr. Jones has been employed by the XYZ Company since April 15, 1965. On April 1, 1996, the Jones' separated. As of the date of separation, Mr. Jones had accrued a vested benefit of $842.14 per month payable at age 62. He was born on April 2, 1940. What is the present value of Mr. Jones' Defined Pension Benefit? The services of a pension appraiser are secured to determine the present value of the Defined Pension Benefit by the PBGC Actuarial and Mortality Tables Method, Life Expectancy Method , GATT Method or a Specific Method (dictated by state law).
| Featured Downloads: | The Download Center |
 Pension Rights at Divorce Equitable Distribution of Stock Options |
| Featured Book: | The Divorce Bookstore |
 Over 100 Pages 3-Ring Binder | Pension Issues and Divorce Availability: In Stock (immediate) Shipping: 24 Hour - Confidential Packaging When couples get divorced they must decide how to divide their property. Retirement benefits (pensions) often form a substantial part of the parties' total marital estate and many times are the largest single marital asset afforded the couple. Similar to other assets, pensions are typically divisible in cases of divorce to the extent that they are acquired during the period of marriage. |
| Related Research Center Categories: | Helpful Services: | ||
| Appraisals Appreciation of Assets Classification of Assets Disabilty Benefits Division of Property Double Dipping | Employee Benefits Equal Division Factors in Award Financial Interest on Assets Military Benefits | Pensions Severance Pay Social_Security_Benefits Stock Options Valuation of Assets |  Access to some research documents (those we license from independent legal research companies) are restricted to subscribers. In order to gain access to ALL of these documents, you must subscribe to establish an account. If you are already a subscriber, you may sign in before you begin your research. (Why Subscribe?) |
| Divorce Tip: # 34 "Dissolution of Marriage" means the same thing as "divorce." In many states that term has been adopted instead of divorce. Sponsored by: Tax Aspects of Divorce |
| The Research Center: (Divorce Cases of Interest) | Research Home | ||||
Find Case Law, Case Analysis, and Divorce Information...
| |||||
Copyright© 1996-2008. All rights reserved by Divorce Source, Inc.
Comments & Suggestions? or Recommend This Page to a Friend!