Below is a brief agenda at-a-glance. Please download the full conference brochure for more detailed information.
SUNDAY, JULY 15
2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Registration Open
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall
MONDAY, JULY 16
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall
8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Introduction and General Session 1: Washington Update
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
1: Defined Benefit Distribution Issues
2: Defined Contribution Design I: Issues in a Troubled Economy
3: Have You Done Your 408(b)(2) Disclosures? Is Anyone Reading Them? (Repeated as Workshop 8)
4: Distributions and Beneficiary Potpourri
5: Am I a MEWA and if so, What Does that Mean?
12:00 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.
Lunch (Exhibit Hall Closed)
12:55 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Keynote Speaker – Tour of Public Pension Reform
2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
6: Defined Benefit Plan Valuations - Post Post-PPA – Who’s in Control – Government, Sponsor or Actuary?
7: 403(b) Plans: Document Issues and Correction Guidance
8: Have You Done Your 408(b)(2) Disclosures? Is Anyone Reading Them? (Repeat of Workshop 3)
9: Paying Plan Fees from the ERISA Bucket (Repeated as Workshop 15)
10: Health Reform Update (Repeated as Workshop 48)
3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
11: Cash Balance and Defined Benefit Plan Document Issues
12: Defined Contribution Plan Design II: Advanced Issues (Cross Testing and Partnership Calculations)
13: Pressing the Reset Button: Fiduciary Implications and Participant Experience Considerations
14: Electronic Disclosures and Communications
15: Paying Plan Fees from the ERISA Bucket (Repeat of Workshop 9)
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Networking Reception in the Exhibit Hall
TUESDAY, JULY 17
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall
8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
16: Cash Balance Practicum – Including Recent Regulations and Late Breaking Defined Benefit News
17: Aristotle & ERISA: A Case Study Approach to Ethical Dilemmas in Being A Benefits Professional
18: Lifetime Income Solutions in Retirement Plans
19: ERISA Litigation Update (Repeated Workshop 28)
20: Affiliated Service Groups, Controlled Groups and Mergers & Acquisitions
9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
21: How to Mess Up Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plan Design Without Even Trying
22: Wellness Plans and How It Works
23: Plan Fiduciary: To Be or Not To Be
24: New EPCRS Procedures
25: Keeping Up with Participant Notices, What’s a Plan Sponsor to Do?
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
26: Professionalism and Ethics for Actuaries
27: Non-Traditional, Sophisticated Investments in a Qualified Plan
28: ERISA Litigation Update (Repeat of Workshop 19)
29: The Drama of Participant Loans and Hardship Case Studies
30: Communicating Difficult Concepts and Delivering Difficult Messages
12:30 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Lunch (Exhibit Hall Closed)
1:25 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Fixing Social Security - Assuring the future viability of a great system
2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
31: The 401(k) Questionnaire and the Future Targets of IRS Audits (Repeated as Workshop 51)
32: Retirement Readiness: The Value Standard For Our Industry
33: Primer on Prohibited Transactions – Penalties, Corrections and Reporting
34: Informal Defined Benefit Roundtable (No Press, No IRS, No Recording)
35: Is Your Plan Data Safe?
4:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
36: Plan Freezes and Their Aftermath
37: Evolution of the Stable Value Market Segment
38: MEP-o-Mania
39: Managing Healthcare Costs with HRAs, FSAs and HSAs
40: Plan Audits Part I: Preparing for the Plan Audit
Open Evening
WEDNESDAY, JULY 18
7:15 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
Breakfast
8:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
41: Pros and Cons of Target Date Funds
42: Top 10 Issues in Non-Qualified Deferred Plans
43: Domestic Partner and Same-Sex Spouse Issues in Employee Benefits
44: Plan Audits Part II: Understanding the Results of your Audit Report, Deficiency Letter and Required Communications
45: Dealing with Directed Investments, 404(c) Compliance and Participant Fee Disclosure
9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
46: AFTAPs and Benefit Restrictions for DB Plans
47: Helping Qualified Plan Committees Meet Their Fiduciary Obligations
48: Health Reform Update (Repeat of Workshop 10)
49: Questions & Answers with the Regulators – Defined Contribution
50: Fraud in Employee Benefit Plans
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
51: The 401(k) Questionnaire and the Future Targets of IRS Audits (Repeat of Workshop 31)
52: Things a TPA Should Do and Not Do
53: Differences Between Plans Sponsored by Governments, Churches and Other Tax Exempt Organizations
54: IRS Questions & Answers – Defined Benefits
55: Informal Defined Contribution Roundtable (No IRS, No Recording, No Press)
12:30 p.m.
Conference Adjourns
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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION INFORMATION
The Western Benefits Conference offers up to 20.5 hours of ASPPA CPE credit. The conference is designed to provide up to 18.5 JBEA CPE credits for enrolled actuaries, with core and non-core sessions offered during each time segment, as well as up to 18.5 ERPA CPE credits. The final decision as to the number of JBEA credits rests solely with the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries (JBEA).
Workshops 17 and 26 qualify for 1.5 ASPPA, ERPA and JBEA ethics CPE credits. Workshop 26 offers professionalism CPE credits for JBEA.
Attorneys (CLE Credit)
Approved: California, Washington
Pending Approval: Colorado, Illinois
We will apply for program approval in certain states upon request. Please email conference@westernbenefits.org if you need CLE credit in a specific state. To receive CLE credit, you must sign a roster for that particular state at the Conference Registration Desk. CLE certificates are not automatically sent to all attendees if you have not signed the roster. WBC staff will apply for advance approval of program if the application process and filing fees are not prohibitive.
Insurance CE Credit
Approved: California
Pending Approval: Iowa, Washington
We will apply for program approval in certain states upon request. Please email conference@westernbenefits.org if you need credit in a specific state. To receive credit, you must sign a roster for that particular state at the Conference Registration Desk. WBC staff will apply for advance approval of program if the application process and filing fees are not prohibitive.
Please check back periodically for updates. We will post approved credit and credit applied for as it is available.