Consultants and Actuaries

James Sparks is a Consultant in GRS’ Southfield, Michigan office.  He has more than 14 years of experience serving statewide and local government programs.  James specializes in actuarial consulting for public sector pension and OPEB retirement systems, as well as §529 pre-paid tuition programs.

James has served clients across the country, including public retirement systems in Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and §529 programs in Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada and Virginia.  His client’s range in size from $10 million to over $100 billion in assets.

For public sector retirement systems, James’s primary responsibilities include preparing and presenting actuarial valuations, assisting with GASB reporting, conducting actuarial audits and experience studies, analyzing plan design changes, and developing cash flow projections and sensitivity analyses.  He also provides services related to individual benefit calculations, Domestic Relation Orders, §415(b) limit testing, and annual benefit statements.

For §529 pre-paid tuition programs, James leads actuarial valuations, pricing development, experience studies, and long-term financial projections.  He currently provides ongoing actuarial consulting services to three statewide programs that remain open to new enrollment. 

Professional Designations

• Associate, Society of Actuaries
• Fellow, Conference of Consulting Actuaries
• Member, American Academy of Actuaries

Presentations and Publications

James has presented at national and regional conferences, such as, the National Public Pension Financial Forum (P2F2) and the Pennsylvania Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (PAPERS).  His presentations have addressed topics such as the distinctions between funding and accounting (GASB) valuations, demographic trends and their impact on pension sustainability, and strategies for managing unfunded liabilities.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Actuarial Mathematics and Economics (Dual Major), University of Michigan