1. ABC, Inc. on January 1, 2018 initiated a noncontributory, defined-benefit pension plan that grants benefits to its 100 employees for services rendered in years prior to the adoption of the pension plan. The total expected service-years of the 100 employees who are expected to receive benefits under the plan is 1,200. An actuarial consulting firm has indicated that the present value of the projected benefit obligation on January 1, 2018 was $5,880,000. On December 31, 2018 the following information was provided concerning the pension plan's operations for its first year.

Employer's contribution at end of year $1,600,000

Service cost 600,000

Projected benefit obligation 6,561,600

Plan assets (at fair value) 1,600,000

Expected return on plan assets 9%

Settlement rate 8%

a. Compute the pension expense recognized in 2018. Assume the prior service cost is amortized over the average remaining service life of the employees. Show your calculation in detail.

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b. Using the attached T-account template, prepare the journal entries to reflect accounting for the company's pension plan for the year ended December 31, 2018.