Question

Stanley-Morgan Industries adopted a defined benefit pension plan on April 12, 2018. The provisions of the plan were not made retroactive to prior years. A local bank, engaged as trustee for the plan assets, expects plan assets to earn a 10% rate of return. The actual return was also 10% in 2018 and 2019.* A consulting firm, engaged as actuary, recommends 5% as the appropriate discount rate. The service cost is $200,000 for 2018 and $290,000 for 2019. Year-end funding is $210,000 for 2018 and $220,000 for 2019. No assumptions or estimates were revised during 2018.

*We assume the estimated return was based on the actual return on similar investments at the inception of the plan and that, since the estimate didn’t change, that also was the actual rate in 2019.

Required:

Calculate each of the following amounts as of both December 31, 2018, and December 31, 2019: (Enter your answers in thousands (i.e., 200,000 should be entered as 200).)

Answer 1

	2018	2019
PBO, beginning year	$   -	$200
Service cost	$200	$290
Interest cost (200*5%)	$   -	$ 10
Benefits paid	$   -	$   -
Project Benefit Obligation	$200	$500
PBO, beginning year	$   -	$210
Actual return on fund assets (210*10%)	$   -	$ 21
Contributions	$210	$220
Benefits paid	$   -	$   -
Plant Assets	$210	$451
Service cost	$200	$290
Interest cost (200*5%)	$   -	$ 10
Expected return on plant assets (210*10%)	$   -	$ (21)
Pension Expense	$200	$279
Project Benefit Obligation	$200	$500
Plant Assets	$210	$451
Net Pension Asset	$ 10
Net Pension Liability		$ 49