Kris Seets to Serve as a Moderator at the PAPERS Spring Forum

Events​

May 28, 2025

Kris Seets to Serve as a Moderator at the PAPERS Spring Forum

Kris Seets will serve as a panel session moderator at the Pennsylvania Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (PAPERS) Spring Forum for the topic “Current Trends in Pension Assumptions: Insights from the Experts.”   

Kris will lead an in-depth discussion with actuarial professionals on key topics shaping pension plan management today.  The session will cover updates on mortality tables, proposed new regulations, and the latest trends in economic and demographic assumptions. Attendees will learn how these changes impact funding strategies, plan valuations, and long-term risk management.

Michael Spadaro to Serve as a Panel Speaker at the PAPERS Spring Forum

Events​

May 28, 2025

Michael Spadaro to Serve as a Panel Speaker at the PAPERS Spring Forum

Michael Spadaro will serve as a panel speaker at the Pennsylvania Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (PAPERS) Spring Forum for the topic “So Many Risks, So Little Time…”

The session is designed to help plan trustees identify, understand, and manage various risks as part of their fiduciary responsibility. Michael will cover how trustees can remain diligent over the long-term to promote intergenerational equity, while reducing contribution volatility. He will discuss risk management approaches, such as experience studies, stress testing, and risk reports, and the ways each contribute to managing plan risk.

GRS Consultants to Present at the NCPERS’ Trustee Educational Seminar (TEDS)

Events​

May 18, 2025

GRS Consultants to Present at the NCPERS' Trustee Educational Seminar (TEDS)

Dana Woolfrey and Krysti Kiesel will serve as speakers at the NCPERS’ Trustee Educational Seminar (TEDS) for the session “Back to Basics: Actuarial Valuations.”

Session Summary: This session is for new trustees or those seeking a refresher in the fundamentals of actuarial valuations. The presenters will discuss actuarial assumptions, different actuarial cost methods, commonly employed policies/practices that impact contribution rate development, and explanations of terms regularly used in an actuarial valuation report. To help trustees understand the levers available to make decisions about their plans, the speakers will also discuss the role and use of actuarial assumptions in an actuarial valuation and how assumptions are developed by actuaries and approved by the Board.

Kris Seets Selected to Serve on the PAPERS Education Committee

Events​

May 9, 2025

Kris Seets Selected to Serve on the PAPERS Education Committee

We are pleased to announce that Kris Seets has been selected to serve on the Pennsylvania Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (PAPERS) Education Committee. 

PAPERS provides education and training to Trustees of Public Employee Retirement Systems throughout Pennsylvania. The Education Committee oversees the conference curriculum and works closely with speakers to ensure that Trustees receive the knowledge and skills to excel in overseeing public pension systems. 

Kris will be attending the PAPERS Spring Forum in Harrisburg, PA on May 28-29, 2025

GRS Consultants to Present a Session on Social Security at the Spring MAPERS Conference

Events​

May 17, 2025

GRS Consultants to Present a Session on Social Security at the Spring MAPERS Conference

GRS consultants, James Anderson and Casey Ahlbrandt-Rains will present as session on Social Security titled,  “Social Security Check(up):  How am I doing Doc?  Should I be Worried?” at the Michigan Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (MAPERS) Spring Conference.  

Session Summary: Jim and Casey will discuss the current state of Social Security, the looming “crisis,” and the impact of the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset repeal.

Key takeaways for attendees include:  1) Understanding what it means when people say that Social Security will “run out of money.” 2)  Knowing what could happen if nothing is done.  3) Learning about various ways to sustain the program. 4) Assessing how changes may or may not impact them personally.

Kristopher Seets, FSA, EA, MAAA Joins GRS

Events​

02/12/2025

Kristopher Seets, FSA, EA Joins GRS

Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company (GRS) is pleased to announce that Kristopher Seets has joined the company as a Senior Consultant. Kristopher will be based in Baltimore, Maryland and serve clients as part of GRS’ Midwest Region. In addition to serving clients, Kris will help lead GRS’ Mid-Atlantic expansion.

During his career, Kris has been a public pension expert serving state and local retirement systems nationwide, with an emphasis on Pennsylvania and Maryland. He is also a sought after resource for the public sector community, as evidenced by the many industry conferences where he has served as a speaker.

Kris’s expertise among public employee retirement systems in the Mid-Atlantic further strengthens GRS’ reputation for premier actuarial consulting. His complete biography is here.

Michael Spadaro, FSA, EA, FCA, MAAA Joins GRS

Events​

02/12/2025

Michael Spadaro FSA, EA, FCA, MAAA Joins GRS

Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company (GRS) is pleased to announce that Michael Spadaro has joined the company as a Consultant. Michael will be based in Baltimore, Maryland and serve clients as part of the GRS’ Midwest Region.

In addition to providing actuarial consulting services, Michael will be involved in expanding the company’s Mid-Atlantic presence. Prior to joining GRS, Michael served as an actuary to statewide and local pension and OPEB plans in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia.

He also has in-depth experience helping clients implement and manage their plans using web-based defined benefit plan administration software, an increasingly important aspect of operating public pension retirement systems today.
Michael’s dedication to public sector clients makes him an excellent fit with GRS’ mission and goals. His complete biography is here.

GRS Consultants to Present at the NCPERS Public Safety Conference

Events​

October 30, 2024

GRS Consultants to Present at the NCPERS' Public Safety Conference

Louise Gates and Paul Wood will present the topic “Let’s Talk about COLAs (We Don’t Mean Coke or Pepsi)” at the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement System’s Public Safety Conference held on October 27-30, 2024. 

Session Summary: In the wake of surging post-pandemic inflation, retirees face financial pressure, especially as many pension plans offer little or no cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). This session will explore various options for providing post-retirement COLAs, examining the impact on pension plans, and the effectiveness of these adjustments in preserving purchasing power. Attendees will gain insights into how COLAs can be structured to meet public safety officers’ unique needs to secure financial stability in retirement despite rising costs.

GRS Consultants to Present at the NCPERS’ Trustee Educational Seminar (TEDS)

Events​

May 19, 2024

GRS Consultants to Present at the NCPERS' Trustee Educational Seminar (TEDS)

Joe Newton and Blake Orth will present the topic “Pension and OPEB Go Together Like Peas and Carrots” at the NCPERS’ Trustee Educational Seminar (TEDS).

Session Summary:

Pension and retiree healthcare benefit provisions and costs are nearly always linked.  When pension plan changes occur, the impact on the retiree health benefits is not always obvious or easy to understand. Managing these benefits, which are interrelated, yet have distinct risks unique to each, requires a holistic review of the impacts.

This session will provide trustees with the tools to navigate decision points as they consider proposals to modify pension benefits and assumptions that may impact retiree health benefits. The presenters will also offer multiple case studies on best practices and strategies that have led to meaningful yet affordable benefit packages for retirees.

GRS Consultants to Present at the NCPERS’ Trustee Educational Seminar (TEDS)

Events​

May 18, 2024

GRS Consultants to Present at the NCPERS' Trustee Educational Seminar (TEDS)

Daniel White and Thomas Lyle will serve as speakers at the NCPERS’ Trustee Educational Seminar (TEDS) for the session “Back to Basics: Actuarial Valuations.”

Session Summary: This session is for new trustees or those seeking a refresher in the fundamentals of defined benefit plan design, funding policy, and development of the contribution requirement. To help trustees understand the levers available to make decisions about their plans, the speakers will discuss the role and use of actuarial assumptions in an actuarial valuation and how assumptions are developed by actuaries and approved by the Board.