I N T E G R I T Y E X P E R T I S E R E S U L T S E M P L O Y E E S C O M M U N I T Y

Taft-Hartley PlansRetirement & Actuarial • Health & Welfare • Consulting Services

Specialized service offerings through the application of our expertise and proprietary tools.

Pension Fund Actuarial Consulting

ZoneCast has been designed for Multiemployer pension plans to project future zone status under a wide range of benefit design, asset return, contribution, and industry activity scenarios. The tool allows Trustee Boards to review current and projected plan funding in order to make decisions in a single meeting, proving especially useful for developing Funding Improvement or Rehabilitation Plans. The tool also includes measures of “stochastic projections” illustrating the likelihood of future zone status so decisions can be made reflecting the investment risk of the Fund.

n Multiemployer PlansWe provide actuarial expertise to Trustees of Multiemployer plans through working with trustees to ensure that pension plans operate smoothly in today’s market conditions. Zone reporting and forecasting comes via our proprietary software ZoneCast.

n Retirement StrategyWe know that a retirement program is a valued benefit that can be a large portion of the wage package, and is therefore a frequent topic of conversation with both Union members and Employers. We assist in the development of strategic plans that align your retirement goals (defined benefit, defined contribution and retiree medical) with your business and membership objectives.

Our focus is on understanding the concerns and goals of both Labor and Management, and then work with the Trustees to develop a strategy that provides the greatest opportunity for success.

n Monitoring RiskRisks are continually monitored and communicated proactively so that decisions can be made at the most opportune time.

Contribution and Benefit Strategies » How does the contribution level support the benefits promised in light of the various risks?

» Can alternative plan designs better meet the trade off between benefits, contribution’s, and risk?

Investment Return » Does the investment return assumption appropriately reflect the Board’s risk tolerance?

» How would the balance between contributions and investment return differ if less (or more) investment risk was taken?

» What would the funding picture look like if returns are less (or greater) than expected?

Work Hours » How does the funding outlook change if work activity is higher (or lower) than expectations?

» How reliant is funding to incoming contributions?

Mortality » What happens if members live longer in retirement?

Changing Legislation » How do changing rules affect the way benefits are earned or funded?

n Additional ServicesCowden regularly assists plan sponsors with various compliance related matters such as plan communications, required notices, benefit calculations, and government filings.

About UsCowden Associates, Inc. (Cowden) is a

consulting and actuarial firm. We have

a dedicated team of professionals with

extensive experience in compensation,

health and welfare, retirement programs,

and employee communications services.

Using a total compensation based

approach, Cowden provides a full range

of consulting services, helping clients

establish and maintain high quality

compensation and benefits programs,

aligning organizations’ business strategies

and objectives.

I N T E G R I T Y E X P E R T I S E R E S U L T S E M P L O Y E E S C O M M U N I T Y

Health and Welfare Financial Management

MedproCast is a proprietary tool used to assist with the financial modeling aspects of Multiemployer Welfare Funds. Modeling can be done on projections of your data based on the following variables:

• Annual Contribution Hours• Hourly Contribution Rates• Trend Assumptions• Historic and Future Plan

Change Adjustments

n Multiemployer PlansCowden will assess your benefit offerings, including funding methods, plan design, market competitiveness, costs and cost drivers to assist in the development of a short and long-term strategic plan that aligns with your benefits and Fund objectives.

n Benefit Plan Financial Management » Ongoing Financial Evaluation and Forecasting

» Monitoring Risk » Benchmarking and Plan Design Alternatives

» Cost Containment Recommendations

n Renewal Evaluation And Analysis » Budget Annual Benefit Costs » Renewal Projections » Renewal Analysis » Funding Analysis

n Vendor Management » Vendor Management and Market Assessment

» Ongoing Vendor Management

n Wellness Consulting » Program Development » Vendor Assessment

n Compliance Support » Compliance Assistance

nDocument Preparation

Combined Services Working TogetherWe fully understand that success within the trade and union depends on the balance between strong, well-funded fringe benefits and a competitive wage package that builds projects with union labor. We focus on helping Boards understand the stress points of the various benefit programs so they can best allocate money to the benefit Fund that provides the greatest value for the Union member and the Employer.

n Fund Benefits » Contract Negotiation Assistance » Cross Funding » Welfare Fund Actuarial Services » Pension Fund Disability Benefit Services

n Ongoing Financial Evaluation & Forecasting

Cowden’s exceptional interactive approach is what sets us apart from similar consulting firms. To deliver a tailored resolution to your specific needs, we first identify the overall attributes exclusive to your Fund. We build an understanding of your Fund by asking questions, observing and listening. In this manner you are not merely receiving a

pre-fabricated answer, but rather a unique solution for your circumstances.

Cowden is unique in that, our compensation, benefits and retirement practices work jointly to provide a total compensation approach to our clients’ understanding of their benefit programs; how they work together and how changes reflect within an organization across their benefit programs.

I N T E G R I T Y E X P E R T I S E R E S U L T S E M P L O Y E E S C O M M U N I T Y

I N T E G R I T Y E X P E R T I S E R E S U L T S E M P L O Y E E S C O M M U N I T Y

Four Gateway Center • 444 Liberty Avenue, Suite 605 • Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1222 • (412) 394-9330 • Toll Free (888) 889-9432w www.cowdenassociates.com | t ElliotDofCowden | l company/917086 | r cowdenconnect.com | f /cowdenassociates

Our Vision And Mission...To be a lifelong, trusted compensation, benefits and retirement advisor to our clients earning their loyalty through listening,

anticipating their needs and creating value by utilizing our expertise, responsiveness, innovation and exemplary service.

We advance the objectives of our clients by focusing our integrity and expertise to achieve superior results.