Joseph F. Hicks, Jr.,
FCA, MAAA, EA, MSPA, QPA
Principal and Co-Founder
With over 30 years of experience with multiemployer plans, Joe holds the Fellow, Conference of Consulting Actuaries (FCA), Member, Society of Pension Actuaries (MSPA), Enrolled Actuary (EA), Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA), and Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) designations.
A History of Expertise
As Principal and Co-Founder, Joe consults and provides actuarial and administrative services to a number of clients, with a focus on multiemployer pension and health plans. His most recent assignments include asset/liability projections, retirement plan redesign studies, and health plan benefit optimization and open enrollment implementation. Joe specializes in the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Multiemployer Pension Protection Act of 2014, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 compliance. He also has experience in withdrawal liability calculations, review and funding strategies, and projections for multiemployer funds.
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Joe is a Member-Selected Director on the Academy of Actuaries Board of Directors and former Chairperson of the Academy’s Multiemployer Plans Subcommittee. He is a current member of the IFEBP’s Professionals Committee, and a former member of the IFEBP’s Government Liaison Committee. He frequently presents at the Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, the Society of Actuaries Meeting, the Conference of Consulting Actuaries Meeting and the IFEBP Meetings. Joe has also authored articles for the journal of Pension Benefits and Benefits Magazine. He has also provided Expert Witness testimony on actuarial topics.
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Prior to founding KBA74, Joe was Multiemployer Practice Leader for The Savitz Organization, which was acquired by CBIZ, Inc. in 2016. Previously, Joe was an Assistant Vice President for a national actuarial consulting firm, where his primary responsibilities included providing valuation and other actuarial consulting services as account manager, actuary and consultant to a variety of clients. He was also Training Director and a member of the National Valuation Report Task Force where he oversaw the development of the proprietary pension valuation system.
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Joe is an avid runner and triathlete. He also enjoys coaching youth soccer and playing the drums.
Speaking and Publishing
Stronger Together: Multiemployer Plan Mergers, (May 2025) Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, Audio/Webcast
The Impact of Noninvestment Risks on Your Pension Plan, (November 2024) International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, San Diego, California
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Ethics for Retirement Actuaries, (October 2024) Society of Actuaries Annual Conference, National Harbor, Maryland
Rethinking the PBGC Premium Structure, (September 2024) American Academy of Actuaries, Audio/Webcast
ERISA@50: Multiemployer Perspectives From the Past to the Future, (August 2024) American Academy of Actuaries, Audio/Webcast
Special Financial Assistance – Where Are We Now? (March 2024), Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, Washington, DC
Dueling Actuaries, (October 2023) International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Boston, Massachusetts
Retirement Plan Issues and Trends, (February/June 2023) International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Orlando, Florida / San Diego California
Heading to Insolvency – What to Expect, (October 2022) International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Las Vegas, Nevada
ARPA Multiemployer Funding Relief (May 2022) Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, Audio/Webcast
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Dueling Actuaries, (October 2021) International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Denver, Colorado
Multiemployer Plan Provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA)—Discussion of Recently Issued Regulations, (August 2021) American Academy of Actuaries, Audio/Webcast
Overview of the American Rescue Plan Act, (May 2021) International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Audio/Webcast
“The Multiemployer Actuary and Administrator Tango”, Benefits Magazine (May 2021)
When PBGC Throws a Life Preserver to Multiemployer Plans (May 2021) Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, Audio/Webcast
Multiemployer Pension Plan Provisions of the COVID-19 Stimulus Law: Overview and Implementation Considerations, (April 2021) American Academy of Actuaries, Audio/Webcast
Retirement Plan Coverage in America – Focus on Multiemployer Plans, (March 2020) American Academy of Actuaries, Audio/Webcast
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Preparing Trustees for Imminent Insolvency, (October 2019) International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, San Diego, California
Administrative Issues with Multiemployer Plans (October 2019), Conference of Consulting Actuaries, San Antonio, Texas
Multiemployer Pension Crisis: A 360-Degree Look at the Issue and Potential Reforms (July 2019) Capitol Hill Briefings, Washington, DC
Would Your Assumptions Survive Review Under MPRA, and Should They? (April 2019), Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, Washington, DC
Funding Policies for Multiemployer Plans (October 2018) International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, New Orleans, Louisiana
Pension Valuation Forecasts (October 2017), International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Las Vegas, Nevada
Financial Security for You and Your Family (September 2016) United Food and Commercial Workers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
From Valuation to Projections for Multiemployer Plans (April 2016), Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, Washington, DC
Multiemployer Defined Benefit Legislation (January 2015), Conference of Consulting Actuaries, Audio/Webcast
New Approaches to Withdrawal Liability (April 2014) Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, Washington, DC
“Multiemployer Pension Funds and Reorganization Status” Journal of Pension Benefits (2013)
Confronting the Sunset of PPA, What’s Next? (October 2013) International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Las Vegas, Nevada
Multiemployer Update: PPA, PBGC (May 2013), Conference of Consulting Actuaries, Audio/Webcast
When PBGC Provides Assistance to Multiemployer Plans (April 2013), Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, Washington, DC
Multiemployer Plans for Single Employer Actuaries (October 2012), Conference of Consulting Actuaries, Boca Raton, Florida
Benefit Restrictions (October 2012), Conference of Consulting Actuaries, Boca Raton, Florida
Form 5500, Schedule MB for Multiemployer Plans (March 2012), Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, Washington, DC.
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Multiemployer Issues for Single Employer Actuaries (January 2012), Conference of Consulting Actuaries, Audio/Webcast
Multiemployer Workshop (October 2011), Conference of Consulting Actuaries, Las Vegas, Nevada
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Pension Relief Act for Multiemployer Plans (March 2011), Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, Washington, DC
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PPA Pension Funding Relief: Is the Cure Worse Than the Disease? (October 2010), Society of Actuaries Meeting, New York, New York
Pension Plan Mergers (November 2007) International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Anaheim, California
Pension Protection Act of 2006 (October 2007) Society of Actuaries Meeting, Washington, DC
Pension Funding Strategies and Targets (April 2005), Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, Washington, DC
Multiemployer Workshop (April 2019, 2018, 2017, 2014, 2012), Enrolled Actuaries Meeting, Washington, DC