Combination will build stronger presence throughout the United States
 
Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC (Horizon Actuarial) today announced it is combining with Crews MacQuarrie & Associates, Inc. (CMA). Both firms provide actuarial and consulting services to multiemployer plans.
 
The transaction is scheduled to close on July 1, 2018, at which time the shareholders and other professionals of CMA will officially become part of Horizon Actuarial. The combined firm will be called Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC. 

Horizon Actuarial will now have outstanding depth of actuarial and consulting resources for both pension and health and welfare plans on both the east and west coasts, serving clients throughout the U.S.
 
“Both firms have a stellar reputation for providing outstanding service,” said Stan Goldfarb, Managing Consultant, Actuary, and co-founder of Horizon Actuarial. “This combination is a very good match. It will help strengthen the services we deliver to our clients and give both firms expanded reach in new geographic areas.”
 
The combination adds three offices and represents approximately a 20% increase in associates for Horizon Actuarial. Both firms have strong reputations in the multiemployer community of high quality work and exceptionally talented teams of associates.
 
The principals of CMA approached Horizon Actuarial three years ago about the potential for a combination. “We believed then, as we do now, that this combination is in the best interest of our valued employees and the clients we serve,” said Gerry Crews, Principal of CMA. “We never considered any firm other than Horizon Actuarial because of its reputation and our solid belief that both firms possess an uncompromising commitment to our associates and our clients.”
 
About Horizon Actuarial Services
Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC is a leading consulting firm that specializes in providing innovative solutions to multiemployer benefit plans. The firm proudly serves pension and health and welfare plans in various industries, including construction, trucking, professional sports, hospitality, entertainment, retail food, and communication.
 
Horizon Actuarial was created in October of 2007, when Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a leading multinational consulting firm, announced that it was exiting the multiemployer and Taft-Hartley plan consulting business. Watson Wyatt spun off its multiemployer business to a new company – Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC. Three Watson Wyatt pension actuaries, Stan Goldfarb, Larry Weitzner, and Cary Franklin, were the founding owners of the new firm. The firm’s three principal offices are in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
 
About Crews MacQuarrie & Associates
Crews MacQuarrie & Associates, Inc. provides consulting and actuarial services to multiemployer benefit plans in the retail food, wholesale food, commercial real estate, hotel, gaming, technology, and soft drink industries.
 
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Crews MacQuarrie & Associates (CMA) was formed in 2002 by consultant Gerald Crews and consulting actuary Wade MacQuarrie.
 
Contact: Mark Lewis, COO/CFO | Horizon Actuarial | 678.317.4126 | mark.lewis@horizonactuarial.com

Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC is pleased to announce that eight of our consultants will be presenting at the 63rd Annual Conference of the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans (IFEBP).  The Annual Conference will be held from Sunday, October 22 through Wednesday, October 25, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Prior to the Annual Conference is the Trustees Masters Program (TMP), which will be held on Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22 and the New Trustees Institute, which will be held from Saturday, October 21 through Monday, October 23.

Trustees Masters Program (TMP)
The Trustees Masters Program (TMP) is the pinnacle event for advanced level trustee networking and education. It is designed to build on trustees’ existing knowledge base and experience through peer exchange and group exercises over an intensive two days.  Cary Franklin and Aruna Vohra are leading sessions during the Trustees Masters Program.

Cary Franklin
Using Fund Professionals Wisely
Saturday | 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
 
Future Challenges
Sunday | 8:00-8:30 a.m.
 
Case Studies
Sunday | 8:30-11:30 a.m.
 
Open Forum/Wrap-Up Questions
Sunday | 3:30-4:00 p.m.

Aruna Vohra
Future Challenges
Sunday | 8:00-8:30 a.m.

Case Studies
Sunday | 8:30-11:30 a.m.
 
Open Forum/Wrap-Up Questions
Sunday | 3:30-4:00 p.m.

New Trustees Institute - Level I and II
Developed by trustees for trustees, New Trustees Institute - Level 1: Core Concepts lays the groundwork for those new to health, pension or other Taft-Hartley multiemployer benefit funds. Trustees will hear from several different multiemployer practitioners, including accountants, actuaries, attorneys, administrators and other trustees, who will explain the need-to-know basics of fiduciary responsibility and trust fund management.

Level II: Concepts in Practice explores how the concepts introduced in Level I apply to trust fund management. Developed by experienced multiemployer fund trustees, administrators and advisors, this institute provides the practical information a trustee needs to know. Mary Ann Dunleavy, Kevin Culp, and Stephanie Patrick are leading sessions during the New Trustees Institute -Level II.

Mary Ann Dunleavy | Kevin Culp
Governance/Administration
Saturday | 8:00-10:00 a.m.
 
Investments
Saturday | 1:00-5:00 p.m.
 
Retirement
Sunday | 8:00-11:30 a.m.

Stephanie Patrick
Health Plans
Sunday | 12:15-4:00 p.m.

Annual Conference Sessions

Ben Ablin
I10 | Concepts in Advanced Asset Allocation
Topics: Overview of return assumptions | Why review them now? | Explore how return assumptions are selected | What are the factors to consider? | Asset allocation strategies | Trends and landscape of return assumptions | Review different samples of risk and return scenarios
1: Monday | 10:45 a.m.-12:00 noon
2: Tuesday | 7:30-8:45 a.m.

Tom Cliffel
P10 | Alternative Plan Designs in the Multiemployer Community – The Risk Spectrum
Topics: Explore various alternative plan design features, and discover: Where do they fall on the risk spectrum? | What goals/objectives do they meet? | How is funding impacted? | How are benefits affected? | What is the communication messaging?
1: Monday | 10:45 a.m.-12:00 noon
2: Tuesday | 7:30-8:45 a.m.

Mary Ann Dunleavy
G12 | Working Effectively With Your A-Team (Attorney/Accountant/Administrator/Actuary)
Participate in this interactive, fast-moving panel, and take home a tip or two for your fund. Topics: What are some effective methods/practices in using your A-team? | How do you ensure cross communication, and why? | What can happen when communication is siloed?
1: Monday | 10:45 a.m.-12:00 noon
2: Tuesday | 1:15-2:30 p.m.
 
Cary Franklin
P1 | Managing Pension Risk and Plan Maturity
Topics: How is pension risk measured? | Managing risk through: Plan design: Do alternative designs help? | Funding policy: How much cushion is appropriate? | Investment policy: When is derisking appropriate? | Risk associated with mature plans: managing plan maturity
1: Monday | 9:15-10:30 a.m.
2: Tuesday | 9:00-10:15 a.m.
 
G15 | The Multiemployer Plan Landscape – A Survey of 5500 Data
This session will highlight research from the International Foundation and Horizon Actuarial Services, looking at the universe of multiemployer health, pension and retirement plans. Highlights will include a multiyear look at: Plan funding | Plan investments | Demographics | Health benefit costs | Plan cash flows
Tuesday | 2:45-4:00 p.m.

Stan Goldfarb
P02 | PBGC Solvency and Solutions
Topics: Where are premiums headed? | Are there other options that can be considered? | What tools are needed to make the PBGC viable? | Old pool and new pool withdrawal liability | Shrinking union workforce and contribution base
1: Monday | 1:30-2:45 p.m.
2: Tuesday | 2:45-4:00 p.m.

Stephanie Patrick
H17 | How to Assess the Financial Status of Your Health Fund
Topics: What can multiyear projections tell you? | Considerations/sensitivities | Use of a dashboard and key statistics | Asset levels and funding goals | Regular monitoring
Monday | 10:45 a.m.-12:00 noon
 
G15 | The Multiemployer Plan Landscape – A Survey of 5500 Data
This session will highlight research from the International Foundation and Horizon Actuarial Services, looking at the universe of multiemployer health, pension and retirement plans. Highlights will include a multiyear look at: Plan funding | Plan investments | Demographics | Health benefit costs | Plan cash flows
Tuesday | 2:45-4:00 p.m.

Aruna Vohra
H25 | Emerging Trends in Health Care
Topics: Pharmacogenetic testing: What is it? How is it used? Limitations and coverage | On-site or near-site clinics; patient-centered medical homes: Prevalence, Cost savings, Does it really manage disease? | Infusion centers | Mentoring programs | Functional medicine: a new wave of practice? What does that mean for coverage?
1: Monday | 3:00-4:15 p.m.
2: Tuesday | 1:15-2:30 p.m.

​Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC is pleased to announce that five of our consultants will be presenting at the 62nd Annual Conference of the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans (IFEBP).  The Annual Conference will be held from Sunday, November 13 through Wednesday, November 16, 2016 in Orlando, Florida.  Prior to the Annual Conference is the Trustees Masters Program, which will be held on Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, November 13.

Trustees Masters Program
The Trustees Masters Program (TMP) is the pinnacle event for advanced-level trustee networking and education. Designed by trustees and practitioners in the field for trustees who have five or more years of experience, TMP is for serious-minded trustees who want to think and act more boldly, systematically and proactively. The curriculum builds on trustees’ existing knowledge base and experience through peer exchange and group exercises over an intensive two days. Cary Franklin and Aruna Vohra are leading sessions during the Trustees and Masters Program.

Aruna Vohra

TMP05: Future Challenges
Potential Topics: • Discussion of issues and solutions raised in breakout sessions
Sunday, 11/13  |  8:00 am - 8:30 am

TMP06: Case Studies
Potential Topics: • Understand how others are dealing with similar problems • Develop a list of new approaches and ideas for consideration
Sunday, 11/13  |  8:30 am – 11:30 am

TMP08: Open Forum/Wrap-Up Questions
Sunday, 11/13  |  3:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Cary Franklin

TMP02: Using Fund Professionals Wisely
Potential Topics: • Formulate solid expectations of providers and professionals that serve funds • Create key data elements trustees should receive • Assemble key questions that should be posed to providers
Saturday, 11/12  |  10:15 am – 12:30 pm

TMP05: Future Challenges
Potential Topics: • Discussion of issues and solutions raised in breakout sessions
Sunday, 11/13  |  8:00 am - 8:30 am

TMP06: Case Studies
Potential Topics: • Understand how others are dealing with similar problems • Develop a list of new approaches and ideas for consideration
Sunday, 11/13  |  8:30 am – 11:30 am

TMP08: Open Forum/Wrap-Up Questions
Sunday, 11/13  |  3:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Annual Conference Sessions

Aruna Vohra
​
H04: New Plan Coverage Challenges for Health Plans
With rapid changes in what medical treatment is provided, trustees have an opportunity to look at how to address claims. 

• What are the new claim issues confronting plans? • Transgender benefits • Coverage for adult children • Infertility coverage/fertility preservation • Genetic testing –Medical marijuana • Prosthetics (3-D printing) • Genetically designed drugs
• Complying with no sex discrimination in health plans (Section 1557 in ACA) or other regulations
• What can trustees do to prepare to address the claims of the future?

1  Monday, 11/14  |  1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
2  Tuesday, 11/15  |  8:00 am – 9:15 am

Cary Franklin

P13: Addressing Funding Shortfalls
• How do shortfalls develop? • What are the Yellow and Red Zone requirements for correcting shortfalls? • What tools are available? • Which approaches are most effective? • How can funding policies help address funding shortfalls?
1  Monday, 11/14  | 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
2  Tuesday, 11/15  | 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Jason Russell

P17:  The Value of a Funding Policy
• ​What is it and what is required? • Goals of a funding policy • How are policies used and applied in practice? • Components of a solid funding policy • Examples
1  Monday, 11/14  |  11:15 am – 12:30 pm
2  Tuesday, 11/15  |  9:30 am – 10:45 am

Stan Goldfarb

P09: Meeting the Challenges in a Low-Interest-Rate Environment
• Review the current viability of your funding improvement or rehab plan and benchmarks for success. • How to go about reviewing your asset allocation • Are your plan’s actuarial assumptions still valid? • How long can you miss your rate of return before something needs to change?
1  Tuesday, 11/15  |  8:00 am – 9:15 am
2  Wednesday,11/16  |  9:30 am – 10:45 am

Stephanie Patrick

H10 Workshop: Mitigating Costs in an ACA World
This discussion goes into greater detail exploring how to use measurement periods, number of FTEs and plan options to control ACA-related costs. Touch upon affordability testing and any special issues under Davis-Bacon.
1  Monday, 11/15  |  1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
2  Tuesday, 11/15  | 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

H21: The Health Plan Landscape – A Survey of 5500 Data
Receive a summary of the International Foundation research efforts with Horizon Actuarial, looking at key components and trends in welfare plans. Hear potential ideas on what it means.
1  Wednesday,11/16  |  9:30 am – 10:45 am

Horizon Actuarial would like to congratulate the following associates who recently earned the actuarial designations shown below:

Ken Densmore: Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA).
Lindey Settle: Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA).

Congratulations to Ken and Lindey on these great accomplishments!

After a wonderful and distinguished career, Larry Weitzner retired from Horizon Actuarial on December 31, 2015.

Larry was one of the three original principals of Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC.  He was a senior actuary and the managing consultant of the Atlanta office. With 40 years of consulting experience, Larry was an expert on a number of issues affecting multiemployer benefit plans.  His clients included not only defined benefit pension plans, but also annuity plans and retiree medical plans.

Larry was a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars, such as with the American Risk Southern Employee Benefits Conference, American Management Association, Risk and Insurance Management Society, and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. He also served as the chairman of the Multiemployer Subcommittee of the American Academy of Actuaries.

We sincerely thank Larry for his invaluable wisdom and contributions, both in founding Horizon Actuarial and as a leader within the company for its first eight years of existence. We congratulate Larry on his retirement and wish him all the best as he enters the next phase of his life.

​Nathan Slaff has replaced Larry as the managing consultant for our Atlanta office.

In connection with the retirement of one of our founding owners, Larry Weitzner, we have expanded the ownership structure of Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC. The following associates have joined Cary Franklin and Stan Goldfarb as owners as of March 1, 2016:

    Tom Cliffel
    Consulting Actuary | Cleveland
   
    Kathleen Coda
    Consulting Actuary | Los Angeles
   
    Mary Ann Dunleavy
    Consulting Actuary | Washington, DC
   
    Mark Lewis
    Chief Operating and Financial Officer | Atlanta
   
    Ron Littler
    Consulting Actuary | Los Angeles
   
    Jason Russell
    Consulting Actuary | Washington, DC
   
    Nathan Slaff 
    Actuary and Managing Consultant | Atlanta

If you have any questions, please contact Cary Franklin, Stan Goldfarb, or your local Horizon Actuarial consultant.