The decline of traditional DB plans has also been accompanied by growth in hybrid
plans such as cash balance (CB) plans[8]. While conversion to CB plans is one way in
which traditional DB plans have been modified, CB conversions have been hampered
by legal and political problems. Further, companies seeking to stop additional pension
accruals for at least some of their workers generally have two main options available to
them:
(1) a DB plan termination; or
(2) a DB plan freeze.
When a DB plan terminates, it ceases all operations, and all accumulated benefits vest
immediately. When a company freezes a DB plan, however, the pension plan itself
continues to operate, although some or all of the employees stop accruing benefits.