Esther Peterson

ASA, EA, MAAA

Consulting Actuary

Chicago, IL, US

Esther Peterson is an actuary with Milliman in Chicago. She joined the firm in 2017.

Experience

Esther provides actuarial services to multiemployer defined benefit, single-employer defined benefit, and retiree medical plans. She prepares actuarial valuations, assumption and benefit improvement studies, asset/liability projections, withdrawal liability calculations, plan design studies (including variable annuity designs), non¬discrimination testing, financial accounting disclosures, participant benefit statements, certification of individual retirement benefit calculations, and various IRS and PBGC filings. Esther previously provided actuarial services with another international actuarial consulting firm.

Publications and Presentations

Esther Peterson and Maha Ansari. (December 8, 2022). COVID-19 mortality experience analysis for multiemployer plans. Milliman.com.

Esther Peterson and Joliene Deskus. (May 5, 2022). Experience Studies. Milliman Employee Benefits Forum, Denver, CO.

Esther Peterson. (June 24, 2021). Student loans and employer matching retirement contributions: A solution or a different problem? Milliman.com.

Esther Peterson. (June 11, 2020). COVID-19: A look at minimum required contributions for single-employer defined benefit plans. Milliman.com.

Esther Peterson and Yutaro Seki. (March 13, 2020). QDRO benefit calculations: A closer look at early retirement subsidies. Milliman.com.

Retirement Section Quarterly Newsletter Articles:

Esther Peterson. (September 2022). Uncertainty in Aging: Are Retirees Prepared to Face the Risks? SOA.org.

Esther Peterson. (January 2023). Aging: The Great Common Denominator. SOA.org.

Esther Peterson. (October 2023). Megatrends Impacting the Future of Retirement Plans. SOA.org.

Esther Peterson. (April 2024). Needs vs. Wants: What do Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) Plans address? SOA.org.

Professional Designations

Enrolled Actuary under ERISA
Associate, Society of Actuaries
Member, American Academy of Actuaries

Education

BS, Mathematics/Economics, Seattle Pacific University

Affiliations

Retirement Section News Committee, Society of Actuaries
Retirement Policy and Design Evaluation Committee, American Academy of Actuaries, 2021-2024
Math Motivators, 2018-2022

Publications

Read their latest work

Article

COVID-19 mortality experience analysis for multiemployer plans

08 December 2022 - by Esther Peterson, Maha Ansari

This issue of Multiemployer Review examines the future impact of COVID-19 on multiemployer pension plans through analysis of employee mortality data.

Article

Student loans and employer matching retirement contributions: A solution or a different problem?

24 June 2021 - by Esther Peterson

We analyze the problem of student debt and how student loan matches (SLiMs) by employers could mitigate the problem. Should this solution should be considered?

Article

COVID-19: A look at minimum required contributions for single employer defined benefit plans

11 June 2020 - by Esther Peterson

This article summarizes the components that feed into IRS minimum required contributions and addresses some questions that employers may have.

Article

QDRO benefit calculations: A closer look at early retirement subsidies

13 March 2020 - by Esther Peterson, Yutaro Seki

What are the methods for calculating benefits payable under a separate interest Qualified Domestic Relations Order when a pension plan offers subsidized early retirement?