About Optimizing Foundations

Optimizing Foundations LLC is an actuarial consulting, plan administration and plan technology firm founded in 2015. The firm advises public and private plan sponsors on pension, retiree health, employee ownership and executive retirement plans, and provides management consulting and strategic advisory services, including M&A benefits due diligence, board advisory and analytics for universities and institutions.

Offices

287 Park Avenue South, Suite 430, New York, NY 10010. 13010 Morris Road, Suite 650, Alpharetta, GA 30004 (principal office). Telephone (917) 275-3802. Email info@optimizingfoundations.com. IQPension is the firm's valuation and client platform.

Leadership

Noor Rajah, Principal and signing actuary, FSA, EA, CFA, FCA, MAAA. Gursh Jhuty, Managing Director and Senior Actuary, FSA, EA, CFA, PMP, MAAA. Lina Xu, Senior Manager, Ph.D., FSA. Full biographies are on the team page.

Services

Pension funding and accounting valuations under Section 430, ASC 715 and IAS 19. GASB 67/68, 74/75 and 101 valuations for public employers. Retiree medical valuations under ASC 715-60. Cash balance plan design and administration. Third-party administration, compliance testing and Form 5500. Defined benefit plan termination and pension risk transfer, including annuity provider review under Interpretive Bulletin 95-1. ESOP repurchase obligation studies and administration. Nonqualified and executive retirement plans. Multiemployer withdrawal liability. M&A benefits due diligence. Total rewards optimization and workforce analytics. Management consulting for universities and institutions.

Quality and independence

Every deliverable is reviewed by a second credentialed actuary before it leaves the firm. The firm manages no assets, sells no products and has no compensation arrangements with insurers, investment managers or recordkeepers.

Professional community

Members of the Society of Actuaries, the American Academy of Actuaries and the Conference of Consulting Actuaries, with leadership roles in the Actuarial Society of New York and faculty appointments at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies.