USAC banner

71st Annual Employee Benefits Conference

72nd Annual Employee Benefits Conference
Sunday, October 25 - Wednesday, October 28, 2026

New Orleans, LA

Agenda

  • Filter By Track
  • Filter By Session Type

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Session ID: A

OPENING SESSION—The Challenge of Change

Category: Keynote

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

The central challenge for all organizations is adaptation. How do you build a new plane while flying the old one? How do you bring your people along when the path is difficult, uncertain and risky? This talk explores the hidden psychological barriers that make organizational change difficult, then offers specific and actionable ideas (including one “ninja” technique) to bring about real change.

7:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Session ID: B

KEYNOTE SESSION—The Human Advantage

Category: Keynote

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

In this powerful and provocative program, Seth Mattison brings together his signature ideas, The Human Advantage and The Human Moat, to help leaders and teams get clear on where they create real value in a world shaped by AI.

As speed, knowledge and execution become easier to access, the edge moves somewhere else. Not in doing more, but in how you think, how you decide and how you show up when it matters.

This experience invites people to take a hard look at the way they are working and leading today, and to step into a different standard. One where agency matters, where alignment is real, and where the human elements that can’t be automated become the foundation for how you lead, perform and move forward.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P-ACCT1

Accountants: Update from the Department of Labor

Category: Fund Professionals - Accountants

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

A representative of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has been invited to address topics, including:

  • Regulatory agenda
  • Enforcement activities and priorities
  • Recent proposed and enacted guidance
  • Other important issues and initiatives.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: I07-1

Basics of Defined Contribution Plan Investments
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Participant vs. trustee directed
  • What is a QDIA?
  • Fees transparency: Custody, recordkeeping and investment
  • Communicating fees
  • Trustee responsibilities and risks

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H16-1

Deciphering Your PBM Contract Language
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Identifying standard contract elements
  • The impact of recent transparency initiatives
  • Fulfilling your fiduciary duties

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P15

Derisking Through a Funding and Benefit Policy

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Gradual steps to strengthen funding and offer benefits responsibly
  • Manage costs
  • Clear benchmarks
  • Support long-term plan stability and participant security

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H03-1

DOL Audit Trends for Health Plans
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • DOL oversight practices
  • Recent enforcement overview
  • Evaluating the investigation process
  • Current enforcement trends

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: T01

Fiduciary Responsibility in Your Apprenticeship Programs

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Keeping up with the latest legal and regulatory updates
  • Prohibited transactions
  • Plan documents
  • Governance oversight: The role of the trustee

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H01

Health Care Track Kickoff

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Learn about the sessions in the health care track of the U.S. Annual Conference. Identify the cost drivers that are most impacting your plan and use this knowledge to decide which sessions of the conference to attend.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: I01

Institutional Investing 101

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Basics of stocks, bonds and interest rates
  • Terms used in investments
  • Separate accounts, commingled funds and mutual funds
  • Cyclical nature of investments
  • Historical views of portfolio design
  • Why market timing doesn’t work

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: F09-1

Insurance for Plans and Trustees
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Overview of fiduciary liability and other insurance, including cyber
  • Do you have enough coverage?
  • Understanding the timing for claims
  • Benefit overpayment protection
  • What other benefits does your policy offer?

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: I02-1

Investments: A Fiduciary Primer
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understanding fiduciary duties under ERISA and trust law
  • Defining the roles of trustees and investment professionals
  • Reviewing core investment principles and asset classes
  • Learning how to read performance reports
  • Identifying key questions to ask advisors
  • Strengthening oversight through policy and governance

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P01-1

Legal and Legislative Update for Retirement Plans
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • New legislative and regulatory developments
  • State initiatives that may affect the plan sponsor
  • Defined contribution litigation

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P18-1

Liability-Driven Investment to Manage the Risk of Unfunded Liabilities
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What is a liability-driven investment (LDI) strategy?
  • How does LDI work in different interest rate environments?
  • How can it manage risk?
  • What impact can it have on the plan’s financial health?
  • How do LDI strategies apply in negative cash-flow situations?
  • When is the right time to implement LDI?

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: A03

Merging Benefit Plans—Administrator’s Perspectives

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Facilitation roles
  • Preparation
  • Professionals’ involvement
  • Timeline
  • Communications
  • Policies and plan documents

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H13-1

Navigating a Member Cancer Diagnosis
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Identifying member pain points: prior authorization, medical necessity, exclusions and more
  • The role of patient navigator programs
  • Best practices in communication
  • Mental health considerations
  • Fulfilling your fiduciary obligations

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G15-1

Project Management: Essential Skills for the Fund Office
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session is designed to explore the core project management principles, including:

  • Project scope
  • Timeline
  • Resources
  • Communication
  • Deliverables
  • Differentiation between job management and project management.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: PE1

Public Sector Legislative and Regulatory Update

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attend this session to learn about updates in the legislative and regulatory environment for health and welfare and retirement plans in the public sector.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G07-1

Rising to the Challenge: Communications in Difficult Situations
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Raising difficult issues
  • Conflict resolution
  • Handling difficult and disputed decisions
  • Creating trust through conflict

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G01

U.S. Legislative Update

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session provides an informative and comprehensive analysis of recent, pending or upcoming legislation activities that will continue to shape your plan decisions.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P20

Understanding Variable Annuity Pension Plans (VAPPs)

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Balancing risk and reward
  • Target return vs. hurdle rate
  • Impact of under- or overachieving your target return
  • Policies to consider

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: F01-1

You Are a Fiduciary—Now What?
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understanding your obligations regarding:
    • Financial oversight and benefit payments
    • Collections of contributions and withdrawal liability
    • Securing data and privacy.
  • Trust fund business vs. other business
  • Familiarity with fund policies and procedures
  • Duties/activities that can be delegated

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P-ACCT2

Accountants: Addressing Industry Challenges—Sharing Best Practices for Audit Firms

Category: Fund Professionals - Accountants

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Discussion on industry challenges wherein a panel of professionals will share best practices in key areas of the profession, including:

  • Audit quality and standards
  • Quality management standard
  • Competing priorities
  • Sampling techniques
  • SFA silo accounting.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P-ATTY1

Attorneys: Changes to the Legal Landscape—Health Plans

Category: Fund Advisors - Attorneys

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attorneys will discuss recent trends in litigation against health plans and fiduciaries.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: F02-1

Best Practices in Trustee Processes and Oversight
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Evolving fiduciary responsibilities
  • Disclosures, conflicts of interest and parties in interest
  • Areas vulnerable to breaches in fiduciary responsibility
  • Oversight of professionals, investments and fees

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: T02

Beyond the Numbers: Recruitment and Retention

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Benchmarking your program
  • Adapt outreach methods to address workforce shifts
  • Preapprenticeship and nontraditional candidate programs
  • Working with contractors to promote hiring
  • Communicating the realities of the trades

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P12

Communicating Defined Contribution Plans to Participants

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Choosing your contribution amount
  • Participant understanding of vesting schedules
  • Understanding fees and investment options
  • In-service and retirement age distributions

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H19

Communicating the Value of Your Health Plan

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Using your health benefits as a recruitment and retention tool
  • Communicating the “true cost” of coverage to your participants
  • Using education to guide participant decision making
  • Real-world examples of success

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: A02

Creating a Multiemployer Fund Office Compliance Calendar

Category: Administration

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

With so many new reporting requirements, it has become increasingly difficult for fund offices to manage their timelines.

  • What is due and when?
  • What if your plan year is not the calendar year?
  • Communication strategies

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: F10-1

Cybersecurity—It’s Okay to Spend Money to Protect Member Data
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Funds need an independent review of:
    • Email policies and usage (staff, trustees, employers)
    • Security (hardware, software, etc.)
    • Connections to other data sources (e.g., recordkeepers).
  • How to review vendors for security audits and services
  • No fund is too small for security improvements.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P07-1

DOL Retirement Plan Audit Trends
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attend this session to learn about the Department of Labor's trends in retirement plan audits and investigations. Everything from current trends to future initiatives will be covered, as well as details on how to navigate an investigation successfully.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H25-1

Fraud Prevention Initiatives—Protecting Your Plan Assets
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • The most common sources of health plan fraud
  • New cybersecurity trends, including common threats, prevention steps and post-breach action steps
  • Understanding your fiduciary obligations
  • William Tobin

    Attorney-Shareholder, Employee Benefits
    Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H02-1

Health Care Legal and Legislative Update
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attend this session to learn about updates in the legislative and regulatory environment for health and welfare plans.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H04-1

Health Plans 101—Terminology for New Trustees
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Identifying plan structures
  • Identifying plan professionals
  • Abbreviations, acronyms, slang and more
  • Components of written policy language

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I04-1

Investing for Health and Welfare and Apprenticeship Plans
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Investing through the lens of a plan type
  • Investment horizon
  • Risk tolerance
  • Reserves and cash flows

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I03-1

Investment Governance
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Roles and responsibilities of trustees
  • Establishing an effective investment committee
  • Traditional vs. OCIO arrangements
  • Meetings that help manage the fast pace of markets
  • Proxy voting

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I12

Managing Investment Risk in an Uncertain Market

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Identify key risks facing benefit plans today
  • Understand market, demographic and industry risks
  • Evaluate short-term liquidity and cash needs
  • Align assets with long-term benefit obligations
  • Strategies to consider

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H26-1

Providing Benefits From Fertility Through Menopause
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attend this session to hear options for offering women’s health benefits from fertility to menopause.

  • How to include these benefits in your plan or workplace
  • Providing worker support
  • Third-party vendors
  • Examples of successful implementations

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: PE2

Retiree Health Care Landscape—Public Plan Approaches

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Overview of coverage options for pre- and post-Medicare enrollees
  • Pros and cons for health plans and participants
  • CMS guidance on 2026 plans and landscape for 2027

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H18-1

Stop-Loss Insurance—Finding the Right Fit
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Stop-loss level-set: Definitions, plan types and industry characteristics
  • Evaluating your plan population
  • Selecting appropriate coverage levels
  • Policy and pricing considerations

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I19-1

The Current State of Private Markets
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Historical review of asset class performance
  • Liquidity and distribution issues
  • Understanding fee structures
  • Benchmarking practices
  • Continuation vehicles

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G02-1

U.S. Regulatory Update
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Join this session to hear the latest trends and hot topics in employee benefit plan regulation.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G05-1

Understanding the 7 Benchmarks for a Well Workplace
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Preconference

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Through this workshop, you'll be introduced to the Wellness Alliance’s 7 Benchmarks, a foundation for building and sustaining a results-oriented workplace wellness strategy. By using this information in your organization, you can provide a credible framework that can be tailored toward organization-specific values, mission, vision and goals for wellness. Organizations that are dedicated to the health of their workers are given a structure to help their organizations through the Well Workplace process.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P02-1

Understanding Withdrawal Liability
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Overview of withdrawal liability
  • Using separate assumptions for funding and withdrawal liability calculations
  • Where/when does it apply, and are there exceptions?
  • Approaches to manage withdrawal liability

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G04-1

What Is Wellness?
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Mental health initiatives
  • Inclusion considerations
  • Financial wellness

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P04-1

Actuarial Basics for the Nonactuary
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understanding the valuation report
  • Key assumptions and how they impact valuation and costs
  • How changes in benefits affect long-term costs
  • Understanding zone status
  • What are present values and how are they calculated?

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I14

Addressing Negative Cash Flow

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What is negative cash flow?
  • How can it impact a pension plan?
  • Strategies to address negative cash flow
  • Questions trustees should be asking their professionals

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G06-1

Addressing Violence On and Off the Jobsite
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understanding causes of bullying and violence
  • Recognizing and responding to abuse
  • How to intervene, mitigate and de-escalate
  • Training programs and tools

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P03-1

Advanced Withdrawal Liability Topics
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Using separate assumptions for funding and withdrawal liability calculations
  • Complete or partial withdrawal liability
  • PBGC regulations—What's new?
  • Merger consequences
  • Legal and other issues

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P-ATTY2

Attorneys: Changes to the Legal Landscape—Pension Plans

Category: Fund Advisors - Attorneys

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attorneys will discuss recent trends in litigation against pension plans and fiduciaries.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H24

Best Practices in Direct Contracting

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understanding direct contracting concepts
  • Pros and cons
  • Market interest
  • Case study examples of success

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P11-1

Challenges Facing Defined Contribution Plans
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What types are out there?
  • Participant vs. trustee directed
  • 401(k) vs. other plan types for the multiemployer world
  • SECURE 2.0 implications
  • How to complement your defined benefit (DB) plan (if you have one)

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G10-1

Conducting Effective Board Meetings—Part I
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What does an effective meeting look like?
  • Robert’s Rules of Order
  • Using a parliamentarian
  • Preparing for a board meeting
  • Creating an effective agenda

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I08-1

Evolution in Asset Allocations
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Terms used in investments
  • How to approach asset allocation
  • How much detail should your investment policy statement (IPS) have?
  • Why is keeping your investments within the IPS guidelines so important?
  • How to reconcile actuarial assumptions with investment return projections
  • How should the macroeconomic outlook change my investing decisions?

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H07-1

GLP-1 Drugs—Part I: Coverage Considerations
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Industry update: Pipeline changes, impact of direct-to-consumer advertising, oral medications and more
  • Balancing plan costs and outcomes
  • Managing member expectations
  • A view from the fund office

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: PE3

Navigating a Challenging Public Sector Environment

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Complying with nonbenefit laws
    • Open meeting laws
    • Public procurement law
    • Public records requests
  • Return-to-work rules
  • Tips for effective public relations

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: A01

Positioning Your Benefit Plans in a Competitive Labor Market

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session will review how to strategically keep the plan well-funded while asking whether the benefits you are offering are competitive in the job market.

  • Evaluating and benchmarking benefits in the job market
  • Making benefit plan improvements and managing costs
  • Navigating labor-management concerns

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G08-1

Providing Preretirement Support to Your Members
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session will share guidance and tools for you to help your members transition into retirement.

  • Retirement readiness: financial and emotional support
  • How to explain different retirement plan structures and benefit options
  • Health care options
  • Activities beyond the workplace

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H17

Revisiting Your Dental Benefit Offerings

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • The link between oral health and other conditions
  • Industry update: Changes to standards, technology, networks and more
  • Ensuring your contracts are current and competitive
  • RFI and RFP considerations
  • Vincent Graziano

    Senior Vice President and Health Benefits Manager
    Segal

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: T03

Succession Planning in Apprenticeship Programs for Staff and Trustees

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Developing a structured succession plan
  • Responding to changing workforce demographics
  • Evaluating costs and incentive opportunities
  • Identifying leaders and fostering growth
  • Communicating value in the recruitment process

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H12

The Affordable Care Act 2.0: The Grandfathered Status Decision

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • The Affordable Care Act (ACA)—Where are we now?
  • Compliance requirements for maintaining grandfathered status
  • Requirements for when you forgo your status
  • Case study examples of approaches

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H21-1

The Current State of On- and Near-Site Clinics
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Determining fit with your current plan population
  • Design considerations: Delivered services, models and more
  • Measuring the success of your initiatives
  • Case study examples
  • Brian Cappel

    Vice President of Taft-Hartley Plans
    Marathon Health

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H14

The Future of Precision Medicine

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Pharmacogenetic industry update
  • Genetic testing therapies
  • The next horizon
  • Evaluating plan impact
  • Cost-containment considerations

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P06-1

Two Perspectives, One Plan: Investment Consultants and Actuaries
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Which comes first: The actuarial assumption or the investment allocation?
  • What are your plan risks?
  • Measuring your risks, current and future
  • Implications for assumptions and investment allocation

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G18-1

Understanding Prohibited Transactions
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What is a prohibited transaction?
  • Who are parties-in-interest?
  • What penalties can be imposed?
  • Are there any exceptions to the prohibited transaction rules?

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: F03-1

Understanding the Fiduciary Duty of Appointing a Multiemployer Trustee
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • How are trustees appointed, and who has the authority to appoint?
  • Understanding your fiduciary responsibility and duty to monitor your trustees
  • Strategies for recruiting trustees
  • Institutional knowledge and continuity
  • Succession planning
  • Professional trustees

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: F04-1

Wearing the Right Hat at the Right Time—The Two-Hat Dilemma
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session will examine real-life scenarios that demonstrate the fine line between outside interests and the interests of the participants.

  • Difficult and uncomfortable decisions
  • Understanding your co-fiduciary responsibility
  • Tools and processes for effective decision-making
  • Appropriate documentation and due diligence

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I05-1

Working With Your Investment Professionals
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understanding investment consultants and managers and their roles
  • Understanding fee arrangements and negotiations
  • Ensuring that strategies align with your fund’s goals
  • Reading the reports from your consultant and fund managers
  • Maximizing your advisory obligation while maintaining a strong relationship

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P-ACCT3

Accountants: Lessons Learned—DOL Practice Reviews

Category: Fund Professionals - Accountants

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • DOL practice review case studies
  • Key takeaways for fund offices and auditing firms

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: PE4

Becoming a More Effective Public Pension Fiduciary

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Overview of pension benefit projections model
  • Funding components
  • Overview of core pension plan design types
  • Overview of pension plan design options
  • The role of trustees in effective plan administration

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G17-1

Communicating With Plan Participants—Case Study Examples of Success
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Bridging language barriers
  • Driving utilization of existing offerings
  • Being creative while fulfilling legal obligations

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G11-1

Conducting Effective Board Meetings—Part II
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Pros and cons of virtual vs. in-person meetings
  • Preparing with plan professionals
  • Meeting minutes
  • Following up after the meeting

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G09

Defining Success Across Benefit Funds

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session challenges trustees to look beyond budgets and compliance and ask more foundational questions: What does success look like for members, for the fund and for the board itself? What do you measure and why?

  • Member experience and understanding
  • Health, retirement and workforce outcomes
  • Financial sustainability and risk management
  • Operational effectiveness and trust in governance

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P08-1

Designing a Participant Education Plan
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Building a model of education
    • Goals of the retirement plan
    • Planning for the future
  • Understanding distribution options
  • Appropriate messages for participants, employers, trustees and administrators

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P05-1

Dueling Actuaries
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

In a series of short debates, learn about varying considerations and perspectives on the following:

  • Moving the discount rate
  • Discount rates for funding vs. withdrawal liability
  • VAPPs
  • Mortality rates
  • Asset liability matching.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: F12-1

Fiduciary Responsibilities in a Defined Contribution Plan
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Timely transfer of worker contributions (wage deferrals) and employer contributions to the recordkeeper
  • Choosing and monitoring investment options
  • Understanding the various share classes and fees
  • Participant loans and hardships
  • Monitoring administrative reserves and forfeitures

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H08-1

GLP-1 Drugs—Part II: 2026 Data Insights
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • GLP-1 survey data: Industry and plan-level insights
  • Coverage for diabetes and weight loss
  • Impact of cost-control mechanisms
  • Using data to guide plan action

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H15-1

Health Plan Reserves—Where Should You Be?
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Determining your appropriate reserve level
  • Factors to consider: Funded status, population characteristics and more
  • Impact of plan investment metrics
  • Creating and maintaining an effective plan reserve policy
  • Marcella Giorgou

    Principal & Consulting Actuary
    Milliman, Inc.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H06-1

Improving Plan Outcomes Through Data
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • The current state of plan metrics
  • Requesting data from your professionals
  • Finding data patterns among your membership
  • Identifying action steps to improve outcomes

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I16

Infrastructure Investing for Tomorrow’s Energy Transition

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Review of the energy landscape
  • The role of artificial intelligence
  • Opportunities in energy
  • Assess liquidity, fees and capital commitment structures
  • Infrastructure’s place within your portfolio strategy

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P10-1

Innovations in Defined Contribution Plans
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Managed accounts and personalization tools
  • New trends in investment menu options
  • Custom target date plans
  • Fee structures and cost reduction strategies
  • Lifetime income strategies
  • Legal risks to consider

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I20

Investment Consultant Townhall

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This facilitated panel discussion will offer an opportunity for investment consultants to discuss hot topics in the investment landscape.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: A04

Merging Benefit Plans—Navigating Culture Change

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

In this session, we will look at how to support participants and staff through a merger.

  • Challenges to anticipate
  • Merging cultures
  • Communication
  • Best practices for a smooth transition

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H23

Navigating the Point Solutions Landscape

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Industry update—Untangling the web of offerings
  • Impact of artificial intelligence
  • Contracting considerations
  • Best practices in the RFI and RFP processes
  • Monitoring the effectiveness of your vendors

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I18-1

Public Equity Markets Today
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Historical review of public equity
  • Mega, large and small caps
  • Growth and value styles and performance
  • Opportunities outside of the “Magnificent Seven”
  • Determining the right mix for your portfolio

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H22

Retiree Health Coverage—Options for Plan Participants

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Evaluating the current coverage landscape
  • Coverage for pre-Medicare retirees
  • Future trends to consider

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H20

Site-of-Care Strategies—Optimizing Your Plan Delivery Models

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Identifying and redirecting high-cost services: Imaging, infusions and surgeries
  • Managing member needs and expectations
  • Communication strategies
  • Measuring plan impact
  • Ember Gard

    VP of Service Delivery and Strategy
    Innovative Care Management, Inc.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: T04

Solutions—Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Apprenticeship Programs

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Recognize mental health issues
  • Field-relevant prevention programs
  • Practical programs that work
  • Using technology
  • Resources to use
  • Legal and insurance implications

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I06-1

Total Plan and Investment Manager Benchmarking
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • DOL audit perspective
  • Proper benchmarking used by investment managers
  • Total plan benchmarks
  • Plan types: Defined benefit, defined contribution, health, apprenticeship

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: F11

Understanding the Use of “Professional” Trustees

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session is designed to provide trustees with information on why some funds may use a “professional” trustee to fill vacancies.

  • What are “professional” trustees and “independent” fiduciaries?
  • Reasons a fund seeks a “professional” trustee
  • What does the appointing entity hope to accomplish?
  • Other concerns and considerations

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G03

Updates in Benefits Litigation

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attend this session to learn about updates in litigation and fiduciary responsibility for employee benefit plans. The speaker will cover a range of new and/or updated cases within the federal court system.

7:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Session ID: C

KEYNOTE SESSION—Economic Outlook

Category: Keynote

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P-ACCT4

Accountants: Navigating Tax Filings and Other Reports—Compliance Essentials

Category: Fund Professionals - Accountants

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Form 5500
  • Form 990/990 T
  • Summary annual report
  • Annual funding notice
  • Zoning status certification
  • Compensation disclosures

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: I09-1

Alternative Investments 101
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Defining alternative investments and core strategies
  • Understanding fee structures
  • Evaluate liquidity constraints and capital calls
  • Assess pacing, commitments and cash flow impact
  • Diversification and risk strategies
  • Questions to ask before investing

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P-ATTY3

Attorneys: Ethical Considerations

Category: Fund Advisors - Attorneys

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attorneys will discuss recent developments in the representation of ERISA plan stakeholders. Potential topics include:

  • What practitioners need to know about attorney-client privilege
  • Work product doctrine and its representation
  • The evolving ethical rules and considerations for attorneys.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: I07-2

Basics of Defined Contribution Plan Investments
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Participant vs. trustee directed
  • What is a QDIA?
  • Fees transparency: Custody, recordkeeping and investment
  • Communicating fees
  • Trustee responsibilities and risks

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: F02-2

Best Practices in Trustee Processes and Oversight
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Evolving fiduciary responsibilities
  • Disclosures, conflicts of interest and parties in interest
  • Areas vulnerable to breaches in fiduciary responsibility
  • Oversight of professionals, investments and fees

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G14-1

Cybersecurity Update
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • The importance of investing in cybersecurity
  • How does the use of AI enhance or add risk?
  • Utilizing DOL and HHS guidance
  • Best practices—What are your first steps after a breach?

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: A05-1

Policies and Plan Documents
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attend this session for an overview of many key policies and documents to consider for plan administration, such as:

  • Education policies
  • Trustee expense and reimbursement policies
  • Delinquent and collection policies
  • AI policies (staff, trustees, etc.)
  • Document retention policies (physical and electronic)
  • HIPAA and PII policies
  • Plan documents, summary plan descriptions, SMMs and SBCs.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H05-1

Prescription Drug Pipeline Update
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What’s coming down the pipeline?
  • Specialty drug update
  • Cost-containment strategies
  • Legal and legislative implications

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H26-2

Providing Benefits From Fertility Through Menopause
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attend this session to hear options for offering women’s health benefits from fertility to menopause.

  • How to include these benefits in your plan or workplace
  • Providing worker support
  • Third-party vendors
  • Examples of successful implementations

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: PE5

Public Employers: Comparing Self-Funded and Fully Insured Health Plans

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This panel discussion will explore topics such as:

  • Differentiating between plan funding structures
  • Future challenges and opportunities
  • Insights from small-, mid- and large-sized plans

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H18-2

Stop-Loss Insurance—Finding the Right Fit
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Stop-loss level-set: Definitions, plan types and industry characteristics
  • Evaluating your plan population
  • Selecting appropriate coverage levels
  • Policy and pricing considerations

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: I11-1

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Investing—Hype or Market Shift?
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understand how AI is shaping markets
  • Explore impacts on productivity and labor markets
  • Examine market concentration and mega cap dominance
  • Assess shifts in capital investment and valuations
  • Identifying risks and opportunities for plans

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: F05-1

Trustee Expenses
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Plan-related expenses vs. other expenses
  • Areas of potential concern
  • Documentation and policies
  • How good people can make poor choices
  • Training your new trustees
  • Areas drawing DOL attention

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P06-2

Two Perspectives, One Plan: Investment Consultants and Actuaries
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Which comes first: The actuarial assumption or the investment allocation?
  • What are your plan risks?
  • Measuring your risks, current and future
  • Implications for assumptions and investment allocation

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P19-1

Understanding Alternative Plan Designs
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • New trends in plan design
  • Risk and return
  • Options that are attractive to employers and participants
  • Pros and cons of variable benefit plans

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P14-1

Understanding Decumulation: Tools for Participants to Spend Down Retirement Assets
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What are participants doing before and when they are leaving a plan?
    • Preretirement sessions/education
  • DC planning vs. DB plan roles
  • Trustee responsibilities

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G18-2

Understanding Prohibited Transactions
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What is a prohibited transaction?
  • Who are parties-in-interest?
  • What penalties can be imposed?
  • Are there any exceptions to the prohibited transaction rules?

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P02-2

Understanding Withdrawal Liability
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Overview of withdrawal liability
  • Using separate assumptions for funding and withdrawal liability calculations
  • Where/when does it apply, and are there exceptions?
  • Approaches to manage withdrawal liability

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H09-1

Using Artificial Intelligence to Manage Health Plan Operations
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Overview of emerging technologies
  • Implementing practical applications: Member chatbots, data analysis and more
  • Dos and don’ts in implementation
  • The importance of an AI policy
  • HIPAA considerations

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G04-2

What Is Wellness?
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Mental health initiatives
  • Inclusion considerations
  • Financial wellness

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P-ACCT5

Accountants: Artificial Intelligence—Practical Uses and Emerging Trends

Category: Fund Professionals - Accountants

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Use cases
  • Benefits and risks
  • Emerging trends

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P03-2

Advanced Withdrawal Liability Topics
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Using separate assumptions for funding and withdrawal liability calculations
  • Complete or partial withdrawal liability
  • PBGC regulations—What's new?
  • Merger consequences
  • Legal and other issues

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I10-1

All About Fees—Understanding the Costs of Investing
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Types of fees
  • Benchmark fees against peers and market trends
  • Review private market and OCIO fee arrangements
  • Conducting regular fee reviews and negotiations

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P-ATTY4

Attorneys: A Guide to Successful Plan Mergers

Category: Fund Advisors - Attorneys

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attorneys will discuss their role at every phase of the plan merger process, including identifying merger partners, conducting due diligence, preparing plan documentation, communication and addressing special financial assistance.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: F06-1

Best Practices in Selecting Fund Professionals
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Performance metrics and standards (including performance penalties)
  • Fees and reporting, including §408(b)2(B)
  • RFPs and RFIs
  • Vendor cybersecurity best practices and questionnaire responses
  • Reviewing service provider succession plans
  • Understanding the trustee’s fiduciary responsibility of selecting the fund professionals

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P11-2

Challenges Facing Defined Contribution Plans
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What types are out there?
  • Participant vs. trustee directed
  • 401(k) vs. other plan types for the multiemployer world
  • SECURE 2.0 implications
  • How to complement your defined benefit (DB) plan (if you have one)

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G12-1

Evaluating Your Payroll Auditing Program
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Roles and responsibilities
  • How to evaluate payroll audit programs
  • Collection and payroll audit policies
  • Cycles and alternate employer selections
  • Steps to expedite collections

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I13-1

Fixed Income Opportunities
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Review today’s interest rate market and past trends
  • Exploring different opportunities
  • Correlation issues with equity market
  • What credit spreads mean for your strategies
  • Understanding treasury risk and duration risk

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H15-2

Health Plan Reserves—Where Should You Be?
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Determining your appropriate reserve level
  • Factors to consider: Funded status, population characteristics and more
  • Impact of plan investment metrics
  • Creating and maintaining an effective plan reserve policy
  • Marcella Giorgou

    Principal & Consulting Actuary
    Milliman, Inc.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: F09-2

Insurance for Plans and Trustees
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Overview of fiduciary liability and other insurance, including cyber
  • Do you have enough coverage?
  • Understanding the timing for claims
  • Benefit overpayment protection
  • What other benefits does your policy offer?

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I04-2

Investing for Health and Welfare and Apprenticeship Plans
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Investing through the lens of a plan type
  • Investment horizon
  • Risk tolerance
  • Reserves and cash flows

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I02-2

Investments: A Fiduciary Primer
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understanding fiduciary duties under ERISA and trust law
  • Defining the roles of trustees and investment professionals
  • Reviewing core investment principles and asset classes
  • Learning how to read performance reports
  • Identifying key questions to ask advisors
  • Strengthening oversight through policy and governance

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P01-2

Legal and Legislative Update for Retirement Plans
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • New legislative and regulatory developments
  • State initiatives that may affect the plan sponsor
  • Defined contribution litigation

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P18-2

Liability-Driven Investment to Manage the Risk of Unfunded Liabilities
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What is a liability-driven investment (LDI) strategy?
  • How does LDI work in different interest rate environments?
  • How can it manage risk?
  • What impact can it have on the plan’s financial health?
  • How do LDI strategies apply in negative cash-flow situations?
  • When is the right time to implement LDI?

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H10-1

Mental Health Benefits—Accessing Necessary Resources
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Identifying causes, symptoms, risk factors and preventive steps
  • Provider landscape update
  • Overview of psychedelic offerings
  • Plan design considerations
  • Where your plan participants can access appropriate resources

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H13-2

Navigating a Member Cancer Diagnosis
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Identifying member pain points: prior authorization, medical necessity, exclusions and more
  • The role of patient navigator programs
  • Best practices in communication
  • Mental health considerations
  • Fulfilling your fiduciary obligations

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: T06

Practical Applications for Using Artificial Intelligence in Your Apprenticeship Program

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What are the tools being used?
  • Areas of use
    • Curriculum development
    • Analytics, evaluations and benchmarking
    • In the classroom and on the jobsite
  • Using AI effectively and responsibly
  • Policies and best practices

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G07-2

Rising to the Challenge: Communications in Difficult Situations
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Raising difficult issues
  • Conflict resolution
  • Handling difficult and disputed decisions
  • Creating trust through conflict

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: PE6

Stress Less, Serve Better: Addressing Public Worker Burnout

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Causes of worker burnout, including wage freezes, staffing challenges and increased administrative burdens
  • Role of mental health initiatives such as peer counseling, mobile apps, yoga and sound baths
  • Low-cost considerations
  • Best practices for implementation

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H21-2

The Current State of On- and Near-Site Clinics
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Determining fit with your current plan population
  • Design considerations: Delivered services, models and more
  • Measuring the success of your initiatives
  • Case study examples
  • Brian Cappel

    Vice President of Taft-Hartley Plans
    Marathon Health

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G02-2

U.S. Regulatory Update
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Join this session to hear the latest trends and hot topics in employee benefit plan regulation.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G05-2

Understanding the 7 Benchmarks for a Well Workplace
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Preconference

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Through this workshop, you'll be introduced to the Wellness Alliance’s 7 Benchmarks, a foundation for building and sustaining a results-oriented workplace wellness strategy. By using this information in your organization, you can provide a credible framework that can be tailored toward organization-specific values, mission, vision and goals for wellness. Organizations that are dedicated to the health of their workers are given a structure to help their organizations through the Well Workplace process.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: F01-2

You Are a Fiduciary—Now What?
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understanding your obligations regarding:
    • Financial oversight and benefit payments
    • Collections of contributions and withdrawal liability
    • Securing data and privacy.
  • Trust fund business vs. other business
  • Familiarity with fund policies and procedures
  • Duties/activities that can be delegated

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P04-2

Actuarial Basics for the Nonactuary
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understanding the valuation report
  • Key assumptions and how they impact valuation and costs
  • How changes in benefits affect long-term costs
  • Understanding zone status
  • What are present values and how are they calculated?

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: A06

Administrator’s Oversight—Software System Implementation

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session will feature a facilitated discussion on best practices, lessons learned from software system implementations, outstanding issues and future opportunities.

  • Robert Blumenfeld

    Fund Administrator
    Teamsters Industrial Employees Welfare Fund

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G13-1

Artificial Intelligence Uses in the Fund Office
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being evaluated by benefits organizations as a tool to support benefits administration. This session focuses on how AI is being applied in practical, measured ways within benefit plans, with an emphasis on practical use cases rather than future promises.

  • Operational tasks
  • Governance, risk and oversight considerations
  • Current capabilities, limitations and appropriate use

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P-ATTY5

Attorneys: From Paper to Practice—Making Policy Compliance Actually Work

Category: Fund Advisors - Attorneys

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Drafting, implementing and amending policies
  • Overpayments
  • Cybersecurity
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Missing participants

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G10-2

Conducting Effective Board Meetings—Part I
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What does an effective meeting look like?
  • Robert’s Rules of Order
  • Using a parliamentarian
  • Preparing for a board meeting
  • Creating an effective agenda

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: F10-2

Cybersecurity—It’s Okay to Spend Money to Protect Member Data
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Funds need an independent review of:
    • Email policies and usage (staff, trustees, employers)
    • Security (hardware, software, etc.)
    • Connections to other data sources (e.g., recordkeepers).
  • How to review vendors for security audits and services
  • No fund is too small for security improvements.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: T05

Developing Critical Skills Needed for the Trades

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Assessing skills needs of apprentices, journey workers and trainers
    • Communication
    • Emotional intelligence
    • Resiliency
    • Leadership
  • Measuring success
  • Sharing successful development initiatives

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P07-2

DOL Retirement Plan Audit Trends
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attend this session to learn about the Department of Labor's trends in retirement plan audits and investigations. Everything from current trends to future initiatives will be covered, as well as details on how to navigate an investigation successfully.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I08-2

Evolution in Asset Allocations
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Terms used in investments
  • How to approach asset allocation
  • How much detail should your investment policy statement (IPS) have?
  • Why is keeping your investments within the IPS guidelines so important?
  • How to reconcile actuarial assumptions with investment return projections
  • How should the macroeconomic outlook change my investing decisions?

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: F12-2

Fiduciary Responsibilities in a Defined Contribution Plan
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Timely transfer of worker contributions (wage deferrals) and employer contributions to the recordkeeper
  • Choosing and monitoring investment options
  • Understanding the various share classes and fees
  • Participant loans and hardships
  • Monitoring administrative reserves and forfeitures

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H25-2

Fraud Prevention Initiatives—Protecting Your Plan Assets
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • The most common sources of health plan fraud
  • New cybersecurity trends, including common threats, prevention steps and post-breach action steps
  • Understanding your fiduciary obligations
  • William Tobin

    Attorney-Shareholder, Employee Benefits
    Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H07-2

GLP-1 Drugs—Part I: Coverage Considerations
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Industry update: Pipeline changes, impact of direct-to-consumer advertising, oral medications and more
  • Balancing plan costs and outcomes
  • Managing member expectations
  • A view from the fund office

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H02-2

Health Care Legal and Legislative Update
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attend this session to learn about updates in the legislative and regulatory environment for health and welfare plans.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: F07-1

Important Tools for Monitoring Compliance
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Big data and data analytics
  • What your vendors bring to the table
  • Audits—Dependents, death, cyber and compliance
  • Policies and procedures
  • Contract language

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I03-2

Investment Governance
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Roles and responsibilities of trustees
  • Establishing an effective investment committee
  • Traditional vs. OCIO arrangements
  • Meetings that help manage the fast pace of markets
  • Proxy voting

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P09-1

Modern Defined Contribution Design
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Ideal investment menu choices
  • SECURE 2.0 considerations
  • Required minimum distributions and income payout options
  • Financial literacy and distribution education

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P16-1

My Pension Plan Is Well-Funded—Now What? Part I: Understanding Pension Plan Risk
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Congratulations—Your plan is well-funded. But don’t get too comfortable. A solid funded ratio today doesn’t guarantee long-term success.

  • What does it mean to be “well-funded”?
  • What are the key risk factors to consider?
  • How do assumption choices influence risk profile and stability?
  • What is the impact of plan maturity?

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G16-1

Paid Leave in the Workplace
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Paid leave covers everything from vacation and sick pay to bereavement and emergency leave.

  • Strategies for compliance with federal, state and local laws
  • Implementation of new programs
  • Best practices

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H11-1

Substance Use Disorders—Best Practices for Prevention and Treatment
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Establishing the need—Safety, production, cost and more
  • Plan design considerations
  • Compliance considerations
  • Best practices for program success

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I19-2

The Current State of Private Markets
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Historical review of asset class performance
  • Liquidity and distribution issues
  • Understanding fee structures
  • Benchmarking practices
  • Continuation vehicles

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: PE7

The Retirement Timing Decision—Impact on Your Public Plan

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Trends in public plan retirement ages
  • Communication initiatives for plan participants
  • Plan design considerations
  • Impact on pension plan funding

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I15-1

The State of Real Estate
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Current market review
  • Understanding the market shifts and opportunities they present
  • Exploring alternative property types
  • Liquidity and valuation risks

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: F03-2

Understanding the Fiduciary Duty of Appointing a Multiemployer Trustee
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • How are trustees appointed, and who has the authority to appoint?
  • Understanding your fiduciary responsibility and duty to monitor your trustees
  • Strategies for recruiting trustees
  • Institutional knowledge and continuity
  • Succession planning
  • Professional trustees

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: A07

Addressing Industry Challenges: Sharing Accounting and Auditing Best Practices in the Fund Office

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Internal controls
  • Large office vs. small office
  • Responsibilities—Administrator and the auditor
  • Competing priorities
  • Policies and procedures

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G06-2

Addressing Violence On and Off the Jobsite
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understanding causes of bullying and violence
  • Recognizing and responding to abuse
  • How to intervene, mitigate and de-escalate
  • Training programs and tools

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P-ATTY6

Attorneys: Trust Agreement—What Should and Should Not Be Included

Category: Fund Advisors - Attorneys

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Utilizing the trust agreement for productive plan administration
  • Number of trustees and quorum
  • Professional trustees
  • Plan sponsors
  • Arbitration breakout
  • Amy Kelly

    Partner
    Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

  • William Marx

    Associate
    Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G11-2

Conducting Effective Board Meetings—Part II
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Pros and cons of virtual vs. in-person meetings
  • Preparing with plan professionals
  • Meeting minutes
  • Following up after the meeting

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H16-2

Deciphering Your PBM Contract Language
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Identifying standard contract elements
  • The impact of recent transparency initiatives
  • Fulfilling your fiduciary duties

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P13-1

Defined Contribution Plan Risk—Options to Minimize and Mitigate
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

How to provide choice and manage risk, including:

  • Annual expense review
  • Target date fund review
  • Overall expenses compared to a peer universe.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P08-2

Designing a Participant Education Plan
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Building a model of education
    • Goals of the retirement plan
    • Planning for the future
  • Understanding distribution options
  • Appropriate messages for participants, employers, trustees and administrators

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H03-2

DOL Audit Trends for Health Plans
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • DOL oversight practices
  • Recent enforcement overview
  • Evaluating the investigation process
  • Current enforcement trends

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P05-2

Dueling Actuaries
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

In a series of short debates, learn about varying considerations and perspectives on the following:

  • Moving the discount rate
  • Discount rates for funding vs. withdrawal liability
  • VAPPs
  • Mortality rates
  • Asset liability matching.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G19

Fiduciary Education, International Foundation Member Benefits and Getting Involved

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attend this session to learn more about the importance of fiduciary education for trustees and administrators of employee benefit plans and how International Foundation programs and resources can support your educational path.

  • Fiduciary education: Who needs it and why?
  • Educational paths
  • International Foundation member benefits

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H08-2

GLP-1 Drugs—Part II: 2026 Data Insights
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • GLP-1 survey data: Industry and plan-level insights
  • Coverage for diabetes and weight loss
  • Impact of cost-control mechanisms
  • Using data to guide plan action

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H04-2

Health Plans 101—Terminology for New Trustees
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Identifying plan structures
  • Identifying plan professionals
  • Abbreviations, acronyms, slang and more
  • Components of written policy language

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H06-2

Improving Plan Outcomes Through Data
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • The current state of plan metrics
  • Requesting data from your professionals
  • Finding data patterns among your membership
  • Identifying action steps to improve outcomes

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I17

International Equities: Opportunities Abroad

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Historical asset returns
  • Understanding developed and emerging markets
  • Currency management
  • Geopolitical considerations
  • Exploring the right mix in your portfolio

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P17-1

My Pension Plan Is Well-Funded—Now What? Part II: Considering Your Options
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Once you’ve assessed your plan risk, it’s time to consider the options. From investment strategies to benefit design to funding policies, a well-funded position opens the door to important—and sometimes difficult—decisions.

  • Investment strategies tailored to plan maturity and cash flow needs
  • Plan design features for long-term sustainability
  • Considerations around benefit improvements
  • The importance of stress testing and stochastic modeling

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G15-2

Project Management: Essential Skills for the Fund Office
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session is designed to explore the core project management principles, including:

  • Project scope
  • Timeline
  • Resources
  • Communication
  • Deliverables
  • Differentiation between job management and project management.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G08-2

Providing Preretirement Support to Your Members
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session will share guidance and tools for you to help your members transition into retirement.

  • Retirement readiness: financial and emotional support
  • How to explain different retirement plan structures and benefit options
  • Health care options
  • Activities beyond the workplace

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I18-2

Public Equity Markets Today
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Historical review of public equity
  • Mega, large and small caps
  • Growth and value styles and performance
  • Opportunities outside of the “Magnificent Seven”
  • Determining the right mix for your portfolio

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: PE8

Public Retirement Roadmap: Social Security Facts, Options and Next Steps

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Public pension history
  • Overview of public pension systems
  • Social Security: Facts, integration and transition
  • Daniel Siblik

    Consulting Actuary
    Segal

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I06-2

Total Plan and Investment Manager Benchmarking
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • DOL audit perspective
  • Proper benchmarking used by investment managers
  • Total plan benchmarks
  • Plan types: Defined benefit, defined contribution, health, apprenticeship

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: F08-1

Understanding and Monitoring Your Financials
This session is repeated on October 28, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • How to read the plan’s financial statements and tax returns
  • Ratios and reserves
  • Creating and following a budget for the plan/trust
  • Internal financial statements vs. external
  • Trustee roles and responsibilities

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: F04-2

Wearing the Right Hat at the Right Time—The Two-Hat Dilemma
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session will examine real-life scenarios that demonstrate the fine line between outside interests and the interests of the participants.

  • Difficult and uncomfortable decisions
  • Understanding your co-fiduciary responsibility
  • Tools and processes for effective decision-making
  • Appropriate documentation and due diligence

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I05-2

Working With Your Investment Professionals
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understanding investment consultants and managers and their roles
  • Understanding fee arrangements and negotiations
  • Ensuring that strategies align with your fund’s goals
  • Reading the reports from your consultant and fund managers
  • Maximizing your advisory obligation while maintaining a strong relationship

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: P-ACCT6

Accountants-Only Roundtables: Building Community

Category: Fund Professionals - Accountants

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • This session is for accountants and auditors to have open discussions on hot topics and trends in accounting and auditing. These will include best practices, innovations, roadblocks and solutions as discussed by each table. Please arrive early to secure your spot in the session!

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: A08

Administrator-Only Roundtables: Building Community

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session is for administrators to have open discussions on hot topics and trends in benefits administration. These will include best practices, innovations, roadblocks and solutions as discussed by each table. Please arrive early to secure your spot in the session!

  • Jennifer Miller
    Jennifer Miller

    Retirement Plan Administrator
    Michigan Education Association

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: I10-2

All About Fees—Understanding the Costs of Investing
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Types of fees
  • Benchmark fees against peers and market trends
  • Review private market and OCIO fee arrangements
  • Conducting regular fee reviews and negotiations

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: T07

Apprenticeship-Only Roundtable: Building Community

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session is for stakeholders to have open discussions on hot topics and trends in apprenticeship and training programs. These will include best practices, innovations, roadblocks and solutions as discussed by each table. Please arrive early to secure your spot in the session!

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: G13-2

Artificial Intelligence Uses in the Fund Office
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being evaluated by benefits organizations as a tool to support benefits administration. This session focuses on how AI is being applied in practical, measured ways within benefit plans, with an emphasis on practical use cases rather than future promises.

  • Operational tasks
  • Governance, risk and oversight considerations
  • Current capabilities, limitations and appropriate use

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: G17-2

Communicating With Plan Participants—Case Study Examples of Success
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Bridging language barriers
  • Driving utilization of existing offerings
  • Being creative while fulfilling legal obligations

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: I13-2

Fixed Income Opportunities
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Review today’s interest rate market and past trends
  • Exploring different opportunities
  • Correlation issues with equity market
  • What credit spreads mean for your strategies
  • Understanding treasury risk and duration risk

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: F07-2

Important Tools for Monitoring Compliance
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Big data and data analytics
  • What your vendors bring to the table
  • Audits—Dependents, death, cyber and compliance
  • Policies and procedures
  • Contract language

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: P09-2

Modern Defined Contribution Design
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Ideal investment menu choices
  • SECURE 2.0 considerations
  • Required minimum distributions and income payout options
  • Financial literacy and distribution education

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: P16-2

My Pension Plan Is Well-Funded—Now What? Part I: Understanding Pension Plan Risk
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Congratulations—Your plan is well-funded. But don’t get too comfortable. A solid funded ratio today doesn’t guarantee long-term success.

  • What does it mean to be “well-funded”?
  • What are the key risk factors to consider?
  • How do assumption choices influence risk profile and stability?
  • What is the impact of plan maturity?

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: PE10

Public Employee-Only Roundtables: Building Community

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

This session is for public employee fiduciaries and staff to have open discussions on hot topics and trends in the public sector.

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: H11-2

Substance Use Disorders—Best Practices for Prevention and Treatment
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Establishing the need—Safety, production, cost and more
  • Plan design considerations
  • Compliance considerations
  • Best practices for program success

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: F05-2

Trustee Expenses
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Plan-related expenses vs. other expenses
  • Areas of potential concern
  • Documentation and policies
  • How good people can make poor choices
  • Training your new trustees
  • Areas drawing DOL attention

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: P14-2

Understanding Decumulation: Tools for Participants to Spend Down Retirement Assets
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

  • What are participants doing before and when they are leaving a plan?
    • Preretirement sessions/education
  • DC planning vs. DB plan roles
  • Trustee responsibilities

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: H09-2

Using Artificial Intelligence to Manage Health Plan Operations
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Overview of emerging technologies
  • Implementing practical applications: Member chatbots, data analysis and more
  • Dos and don’ts in implementation
  • The importance of an AI policy
  • HIPAA considerations

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: G20

You Attended the U.S. Annual Conference—Now What?

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Communicating key takeaways and actions at your next meeting
  • Tips for implementing new initiatives
  • Making the case for ongoing education

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: I09-2

Alternative Investments 101
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Defining alternative investments and core strategies
  • Understanding fee structures
  • Evaluate liquidity constraints and capital calls
  • Assess pacing, commitments and cash flow impact
  • Diversification and risk strategies
  • Questions to ask before investing

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: F06-2

Best Practices in Selecting Fund Professionals
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Performance metrics and standards (including performance penalties)
  • Fees and reporting, including §408(b)2(B)
  • RFPs and RFIs
  • Vendor cybersecurity best practices and questionnaire responses
  • Reviewing service provider succession plans
  • Understanding the trustee’s fiduciary responsibility of selecting the fund professionals

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: G14-2

Cybersecurity Update
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • The importance of investing in cybersecurity
  • How does the use of AI enhance or add risk?
  • Utilizing DOL and HHS guidance
  • Best practices—What are your first steps after a breach?

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: P13-2

Defined Contribution Plan Risk—Options to Minimize and Mitigate
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

How to provide choice and manage risk, including:

  • Annual expense review
  • Target date fund review
  • Overall expenses compared to a peer universe.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: G12-2

Evaluating Your Payroll Auditing Program
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Roles and responsibilities
  • How to evaluate payroll audit programs
  • Collection and payroll audit policies
  • Cycles and alternate employer selections
  • Steps to expedite collections

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: P10-2

Innovations in Defined Contribution Plans
This session is repeated on October 26, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Managed accounts and personalization tools
  • New trends in investment menu options
  • Custom target date plans
  • Fee structures and cost reduction strategies
  • Lifetime income strategies
  • Legal risks to consider

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: H10-2

Mental Health Benefits—Accessing Necessary Resources
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Identifying causes, symptoms, risk factors and preventive steps
  • Provider landscape update
  • Overview of psychedelic offerings
  • Plan design considerations
  • Where your plan participants can access appropriate resources

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: P17-2

My Pension Plan Is Well-Funded—Now What? Part II: Considering Your Options
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Once you’ve assessed your plan risk, it’s time to consider the options. From investment strategies to benefit design to funding policies, a well-funded position opens the door to important—and sometimes difficult—decisions.

  • Investment strategies tailored to plan maturity and cash flow needs
  • Plan design features for long-term sustainability
  • Considerations around benefit improvements
  • The importance of stress testing and stochastic modeling

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: G16-2

Paid Leave in the Workplace
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Paid leave covers everything from vacation and sick pay to bereavement and emergency leave.

  • Strategies for compliance with federal, state and local laws
  • Implementation of new programs
  • Best practices

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: A05-2

Policies and Plan Documents
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

Attend this session for an overview of many key policies and documents to consider for plan administration, such as:

  • Education policies
  • Trustee expense and reimbursement policies
  • Delinquent and collection policies
  • AI policies (staff, trustees, etc.)
  • Document retention policies (physical and electronic)
  • HIPAA and PII policies
  • Plan documents, summary plan descriptions, SMMs and SBCs.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: H05-2

Prescription Drug Pipeline Update
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • What’s coming down the pipeline?
  • Specialty drug update
  • Cost-containment strategies
  • Legal and legislative implications

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: I11-2

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Investing—Hype or Market Shift?
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Understand how AI is shaping markets
  • Explore impacts on productivity and labor markets
  • Examine market concentration and mega cap dominance
  • Assess shifts in capital investment and valuations
  • Identifying risks and opportunities for plans

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: I15-2

The State of Real Estate
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Current market review
  • Understanding the market shifts and opportunities they present
  • Exploring alternative property types
  • Liquidity and valuation risks

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: PE9

Tools to Bring Back to Your Public Board

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • Fiduciary education principles
  • Board self-evaluation parameters
  • Components of an artificial intelligence policy
  • Cybersecurity initiatives
  • Strategic planning steps

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: P19-2

Understanding Alternative Plan Designs
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Pension & Benefits

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • New trends in plan design
  • Risk and return
  • Options that are attractive to employers and participants
  • Pros and cons of variable benefit plans

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: F08-2

Understanding and Monitoring Your Financials
This session is repeated on October 27, 2026

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location:

Session Type: In-Person

  • How to read the plan’s financial statements and tax returns
  • Ratios and reserves
  • Creating and following a budget for the plan/trust
  • Internal financial statements vs. external
  • Trustee roles and responsibilities

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Session ID: D

FINALE SESSION—The Audacity of “What If?”

Category: Keynote

Difficulty Level: All

Location:

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

“What if there is a better way?” As the innovator of an audacious new category of public speaking that brought poetry to industry in unprecedented ways, Sekou has mastered the art of audacity. His 20-year career helping global brands humanize messaging began with two words: “What if?” What if we could define business our own way? What if our way could set the standard for our industry?

This inspiring and interactive speech will help you ignite that same audacity needed for you to defy convention, deny limitations and define yourselves for yourselves. It focuses on redefining the word “touch” as a metaphor for how leaders and brands can impact communities in increasingly purposeful ways. Prepare to engage your imagination and learn new strategies to help your business get in TOUCH with its humanity.