do defined benefit plans need an actuary
ERISA, establishes an important statutory. role for pension actuaries in the United States. As part of its statutory goal to protect the retirement se-. curity of Americaâs workers, ERISA requires tax-quali-. fied defined benefit plans to obtain an actuarial. valuation of plan reserves each year. When valuing the. plans râ eserves, the actuary is required by ERISA to act on. behalf of plan participants.