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70th Annual Employee Benefits Conference

70th Annual Employee Benefits Conference
Sunday, November 10 - Wednesday, November 13, 2024

San Diego, CA

Agenda

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

OPENING SESSION—History Lessons from Epic Presidential Races

Jon Meacham is a presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize–winning author. He is a contributor to TIME and the New York Times Book Review as well as a highly sought-after commentator, regularly appearing on MSNBC, CNN and other news outlets. Meacham is a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbuilt University where he holds the Rogers Chair in the American Presidency. He will be signing copies of his 2022 book, And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle, following the keynote address.

7:30 AM - 8:45 AM

KEYNOTE SESSION—The AI-Powered Organization

Mike Walsh is the CEO of Tomorrow, a global consultancy on designing companies for the 21st century. For the past twenty years, he has been a leading authority on disruptive innovation, digital transformation and new ways of thinking. A global nomad from a diverse ethnic background, futurist and author of three best-selling books, Mike advises some of the world's biggest organizations on reinvention and change in this new era of machine intelligence.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

FEATURED SESSION—DOL Update

Join the Department of Labor's EBSA assistant secretary Lisa Gomez as she discusses the trends and hot topics in employee benefit plan regulation.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Utilizing Direct Contracting Approaches

  • Considerations for primary and ancillary benefit offerings
  • Pros and cons of direct contracting approaches
  • Case study examples of success

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Working With Your Investment Professionals

  • How to get more out of conversations
  • Reading the reports from your consultant and fund managers
  • Understanding your consultants and their role
  • Understanding investment managers and their role

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Pension Plan Actuarial Basics for the Nonactuary

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

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Public Sector Plans: Money Managers in Defined Contribution Plans

  • Who is providing members with education and advice?
  • Investment manager fees
  • Duty of plan trustees to monitor participant experience with outside advice
  • Member experience with retirement plans
    • Pension, 403(b) and 457 plans

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Honing Your Trustee Communication Skills Part I

One of the necessary attributes of a successful trustee is communication skills. So many situations arise when dealing with your board, your plan professionals, and your membership that require effective and efficient communication. At the same time, technology advancements and artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the communications landscape. This year's TMP Candidate classes (TMPC Part I and TMPC2 Part II) will be devoted to honing your communication skills to help you develop as a leader, engage with the multigenerational workforce, manage through conflict and consider broadly how to navigate the complexities of delivering benefits in today's environment.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Administrator’s Guide to Onboarding New Trustees

  • Best practices
  • Checklists for onboarding
    • Plan and trust documents, policies for trustees
    • Fund portals
    • Trustee education expectations and appropriate sessions
    • How to read and understand reports
    • Behaviors and expectations

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Fiduciary Responsibility Basics

  • Understanding your obligations
    • Financial oversight
    • Benefit payments
    • Collections of contributions and withdrawal liability
    • Securing data and privacy
  • Trust fund business vs. union business
  • Familiarity with fund policies and procedures
  • What duties can or should be delegated?
  • What are your responsibilities for reporting to participants?

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Insurance for Plans and Trustees

  • Overview of fiduciary liability and other insurance
  • 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

Communicating With Plan Participants

  • Evolving your plan communication efforts
    • Self-service
    • Use of AI
  • Identifying best practices
  • Communicating plan value
  • Legal considerations

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Cybersecurity Update—Where Are We Now?

  • Why investing in cybersecurity matters
  • DOL and HHS guidance
  • Staff training
  • Best practices—What to do when you have a breach

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Health Care Kickoff—Identifying Your Cost Drivers

This session will serve as an introduction to sessions in the health care track. Identify the cost drivers that are most impacting your plan and use this knowledge to decide which sessions to attend.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Communicating With Health Plan Participants

  • Tailoring messaging to specific generations
  • Driving utilization of existing health offerings
  • Getting creative while fulfilling legal obligations
  • How to work with a communications professional

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Whose Kid Is This? And Other Good Reasons to Conduct Dependent Eligibility Audits

  • Who is an ineligible dependent?
  • Why would an ineligible dependent be listed on the plan?
  • How to conduct a dependent eligibility audit
  • Potential cost savings

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Pharmacogenetics Update

  • Value of individualized treatment plans
  • Updates on genetic testing and gene therapy
  • Updated outcomes and effectiveness data

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

FEATURED SESSION—Addressing Substance Use in the Trades

  • Evaluating population risk and prevalence through data
  • Interventions
    • Peer support models
    • EAP/MAP
    • Recovery-friendly workplaces
    • Evidence-based interventions

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Investing 101

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

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Total Plan and Investment Manager Benchmarking

  • DOL audit perspective
  • Proper benchmarking used by investment managers
  • Total plan benchmarks
    • Defined benefit plans
    • Defined contribution plans
    • Health and welfare

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Investing in America's Future Infrastructure

  • Update on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021
  • Global perspective
  • Infrastructure funds
    • Risk and liquidity
  • Opportunities

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

What If (Investment) History Repeats Itself? Looking Back to the Future

  • How to set/understand a range of return expectations
  • Understanding your plan's risk tolerance
    • View of historical portfolio planning and market cycles
    • Understanding what you own and how it will perform in different environments
  • Actuarial perspectives

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Legal and Legislative Update for Retirement Plans

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

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Understanding Pension Plan Withdrawal Liability

  • Overview of withdrawal liability
  • Where/when does it apply? Are there exceptions?
  • Approaches to managing withdrawal liability
  • Review of experiences

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Conversation With the PBGC

Hear from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) about its biggest concerns, recent initiatives and outlook for the future.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Defined Contribution Plan Risk—Options to Minimize and Mitigate

How to provide choice and manage risk, including:

  • Annual expense review
  • Target date fund review
  • Overall expenses compared to a peer universe
  • Financial literacy and distribution education.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Understanding Alternative Pension Plan Designs

  • Overview of different designs
    • Adjustable pension plan (APP)
    • Variable annuity pension plan (VAPP)
  • Administrative and technology issues
  • Transition issues
  • Benefits and risks

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Accountants: Regulatory Update

  • Regulatory agenda
  • Enforcement activities and priorities
  • Recent proposed and enacted guidance

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Attorneys: Update on the SFA Program for Fund Professionals

  • Update to the application process
  • Changing documentation requirements for funds that received SFA
  • Investment manager selection for SFA assets
  • Preparing for a post-SFA DOL audit

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

DOL Audits of Apprenticeship Funds

  • Identifying the unique elements of a training fund
  • Policies and procedures to safeguard against violations
  • Expenses to avoid
  • Case study examples

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Honing Your Trustee Communication Skills Part II

One of the necessary attributes of a successful trustee is communication skills. So many situations arise when dealing with your board, your plan professionals, and your membership that require effective and efficient communication. At the same time, technology advancements and artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the communications landscape. This year's TMP Candidate classes (TMPC Part I and TMPC2 Part II) will be devoted to honing your communication skills to help you develop as a leader, engage with the multigenerational workforce, manage through conflict and consider broadly how to navigate the complexities of delivering benefits in today's environment.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Administrator’s Guide to Collections and Payroll Auditing

  • Developing and implementing a strong delinquency policy
  • Working with employers to improve reporting
  • Increasing collections through payroll audits
  • Communications between collections attorneys and the fund office
  • Best practices with ACH and checks

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Best Practices in Trustee Processes and Oversight

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

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Updates in Benefits Litigation

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

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Creating a Psychologically Safe Work Environment

Fostering a positive working environment amidst uncertainties is crucial for organizational success. Hear from a consultant in organizational well-being about specific strategies you can implement to safeguard psychological safety and enhance employee morale and engagement through effective benefit programs.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Health Care Legal and Legislative Update

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

  • No Surprises Act
  • Inflation Reduction Act
  • PBM litigation

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Health Plans 101—Terminology for New Trustees

  • Identifying plan structures
  • Who are your plan professionals?
  • Abbreviations, acronyms, slang and more
  • Written policy language

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Best Practices in Health Plan Cybersecurity

  • Identifying common threats
  • Steps for prevention
  • Post-breach action steps

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Using Data Analytics to Understand High-Cost Participants

  • Identifying your current high-cost participants
  • Identifying who may become a high-cost participant
  • Strategies for improving population health, reducing plan volatility and mitigating costs
  • Privacy and cybersecurity concerns

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Overcoming Barriers to Care

  • Identifying the social determinants of health and access to care
  • The role of targeted communications
  • Overcoming stigma and bias
  • Strategies for success

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Emerging Mental Health Treatment Options

  • Existing mental health treatment landscape
  • Psychedelics in treatment (e.g., ketamine, LSD, MDMA, psilocybin)
  • Importance of evidence-based therapies
  • Where are we now?

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Investments: A Fiduciary Primer

  • DOL guidance for making investment decisions
  • Consultant vs. manager roles
  • When is a consultant or manager a fiduciary?
  • Can I give up my fiduciary responsibility for investment decisions?

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Emerging Markets

  • The new BRICS
    • Divesting from China
    • Risks: Politics and policies
  • Why have emerging markets underperformed?
  • What to expect going forward

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Real Estate: Current Status and Future Outlook

  • Sector outlook
  • Open- and close-ended funds
  • Strategies in your plan's portfolio
  • Portfolio advantages and risks

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Liability-Driven Investments—Risk Management for Pension Plans

  • What is a liability-driven investment (LDI) strategy?
  • Using strategies found in special financial assistance plan management
  • Structuring plans to better prepare for decumulation
  • Impact on a plan's financial health

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Advanced Withdrawal Liability Topics

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

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Effectively Communicating Your Retirement Plans

  • Methods of communicating
  • Importance of financial literacy
  • Building a model of education
    • Goals of the plan
    • Planning for the future
  • Appropriate messages for participants, employers, trustees and administrators

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

The Impact of Noninvestment Risks on Your Pension Plan

We typically think about the risk due to asset allocation; this session will identify various noninvestment risks, including:

  • Plan maturity risk
  • Demographic risk
  • Plan design risk
  • Employer risk
  • Industry risk.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Variable Annuity Pension Plan—Choose Your Own Adventure

Can a solution be found in changing a formula? Join this interactive session to discuss key factors to consider when choosing to switch to a VAPP and apply those factors to a demo pension plan. During a follow-up session, Variable Annuity Pension Plan—Lessons Learned, the demo plan will be debriefed, discussing implications the plan may encounter.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

SECURE 2.0 Act—Get the Most Out of Your Plan

  • The ability to include student loan benefits in plans
  • Tools to help employees establish an emergency savings account
  • Ways to increase catch-up contributions for near-retirees
  • Expanded tax credits for new retirement plans

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Artificial Intelligence—A Futurist Perspective for Public Sector Plans

  • Risks and opportunities
  • Vendors
  • Theoretical vs. practical

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Accountants: Best Practices in Audit Quality

This session has been designed to review the Department of Labor's Audit Quality Report, addressing the findings and reviewing how to best handle deficiencies from the auditor's point of view.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Attorneys: Regulatory Update for Attorneys

  • Retirement Security Rule
  • QPAMs
  • In-depth look at proposed DOL regulatory action
  • NQTLs
  • SECURE 2.0 updates for attorneys

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Operational Policies for Your Apprenticeship Training Fund

  • Which policies should every fund have? What are you missing?
  • How often should your policies be updated?
  • Legal requirements
  • Communication methods

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Best Practices for Today’s Self-Administered Fund Office

This session will provide an "operations map" takeaway that management teams can use as a template to implement at their own fund office.

  • HR considerations
  • Recruiting and retaining staff, succession planning
  • Onboarding and training
  • Legal and regulatory issues
  • Cybersecurity and privacy

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Understanding the Fiduciary Duty of Appointing a Multiemployer Trustee

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

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Understanding Cyberliability Insurance

  • Can you rely on an "add-on" to your fiduciary liability or commercial umbrella insurance policy to protect your plan?
  • How much coverage do you need?
  • Are you covered if you aren't performing regular, independent security checks?
  • What is the next trend for fiduciaries to consider?
  • What is not covered?

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Fiduciary Education, International Foundation Member Benefits and Getting Involved

Join 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

Practical Uses for Artificial Intelligence in the Fund Office

This session aims to address the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence (AI) may bring to benefit fund administration, including how it is currently being utilized and its potential impact on the workforce.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

DOL Audit Trends for Health Plans

  • Updates on DOL health plan audits and investigations
  • Current trends, including mental health parity
  • Future initiatives

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Understanding Health Plan Actuarial Reports

  • How to read the actuarial valuation
  • Understanding how benefit changes affect cost
  • Decisions for actuaries
  • Decisions for trustees

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Prescription Drug Pipeline Update

  • What's coming down the pipeline
  • Specialty drug update
  • GLP-1 update
  • Biosimilars, formularies and other cost-containment strategies
  • Inflation Reduction Act implications

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Investing for Health and Welfare, Apprenticeship Plans

  • Investment horizon
  • Risk tolerance
    • Self-funded
    • Hybrid
    • Reserves and cash flows

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Basics of Defined Contribution Plan Investments

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

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Fixed Income Update

  • How interest rates impact bond returns
  • Reviewing your plan's bond allocation
  • Investment grade vs. high yield
  • Rethinking whole asset mix

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Private Credit in Your Plans

  • What is private equity?
  • What is private credit?
  • Valuation and liquidity issues
  • Trustees' role in commitment and oversight
  • Legal issues

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Dueling Pension Actuaries

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
  • Asset methods
  • Mortality rates
  • Variable plans.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Post–Special Financial Assistance—Keeping Your Plan Solvent

  • Implications of SFA for the short- and long-term solvency prospects of affected plans
  • Investment approaches intended to advance solvency beyond 2051
  • Post-SFA distribution compliance
  • Plan design and risk mitigation

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Variable Annuity Pension Plan—Lessons Learned

This is a follow-up session to Variable Annuity Pension Plan—Choose Your Own Adventure. A panel of experts will debrief the pros, cons and potential unintended consequences of a proposed pension plan as devised by the session's live audience participation.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Modern Defined Contribution Plan Design

  • Ideal investment choices
  • SECURE 2.0 implications
    • Automatic enrollment
    • Escalation features
    • Required minimum distributions
  • Financial literacy and distribution education
  • Income payout options

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

DOL Retirement Plan Audit Trends

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 successfully navigate an investigation.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Public Employee Retirement Strategy

  • The relationship between Social Security, Medicare and the pension plan
    • Coverage
    • Cost
    • Eligibility
    • Government pension offset
  • Helping members calculate their highest value option
  • Making the best decisions for your plan

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Ensuring Public Employee Health Benefits Are Inclusive

  • Defining "inclusive" health benefits
  • Meeting member needs
  • Navigating legal and political landscapes
    • What's the difference between inclusive benefits and benefit carve-outs?

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Accountants: The Future for the Audit Professional

A panel of professionals will lead a discussion for CPAs and their accounting and auditing staff.

  • What will audit teams look like and how do we find talent?
  • Competition in the workforce
  • The role of technology
  • Creating efficiencies
  • Potential pitfalls

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Attorneys: Ethical Considerations

This session will discuss recent developments in the representation of ERISA plan stakeholders; attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine and their representation; and the ethical rules and considerations for attorneys who work remotely. The session will also focus on the impacts of technology (including artificial intelligence (AI)) on the legal profession.

7:30 AM - 8:45 AM

KEYNOTE SESSION—Economic Update

Marci Rossell is a world-renowned economist and financial expert who electrifies audiences nationwide, speaking candidly on the nexus of economics, politics, culture and the media. She honed her animated style serving as the popular, lively Chief Economist for CNBC, where she became a household name and a must-watch source of financial news. The former co-host of the well-known "pre-market" morning news and talk show Squawk Box, Rossell is revered for taking complex economic issues, often dull in the button-down business press, and making them relevant to people's lives, families and careers.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Policy Review: Plan Operations to Insurance

Attend this session for a quick review of the many policies to consider for plan administration, such as:

  • Education policy
  • Delinquent and collection policy
  • Fiduciary, cyber, business and other insurance policies
  • Trustee expense and reimbursement policy.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Wearing the Right Hat at the Right Time—The Two-Hat Dilemma

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

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Trustee Expenses—In Depth

  • 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

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Stop-Loss Coverage—Understanding Your Options

  • What is stop-loss insurance?
  • Selecting the appropriate coverage levels
  • Reviewing and understanding contract terms
  • How to utilize stop-loss effectively
  • Adverse selection considerations
  • Pharmacy considerations

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

On- and Near-Site Clinics—What’s Working and What’s Not?

  • Overview of design options
  • Primary care, pharmacy, vision and other covered services
  • Attributes of successful models: Analytics, communication, service integration and more

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Advancements in Cancer

  • Insights into how cancer uniquely impacts unions and their members
  • Overview of scientific advances, clinical data and cutting-edge technology
  • Case study—Examples of success

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Stick to Your Plan: Let Your Investment Policy Statements Be Your Guide

  • How to approach asset allocation
  • How much detail should your investment policy statement (IPS) have?
  • Why is it so important to keep your investments within the IPS guidelines?
  • How to reconcile actuarial assumptions with investment return projections

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Alternative Investments: Private Equity

  • Understanding private equity
    • Liquidity constraints
    • Fee structures
  • Planning for illiquid assets in your portfolio
  • History of the marketplace and why it is growing
  • Are banks being replaced by private equity?

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

A Deep Dive Into Asset Performance—Understanding Attribution

  • Implementing your investment policy
  • Understanding asset mix and its impact on returns
  • Challenging your investment consultant based on performance and policy

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Proxy Voting—Updated DOL Regulations

  • What is proxy voting?
  • What kinds of investments involve proxy voting?
  • What is a trustee's fiduciary responsibility for proxy votes?
  • Updates to DOL regulations and action items for trustees

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Investment Consultant and Pension Actuary Conversation

  • Which comes first: The actuarial assumption or the investment allocation?
  • Approaching the issue differently and managing risk
  • Implications for actuarial assumptions and investment allocation

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

My Pension Plan Is Well-Funded—Now What?

  • Benefit improvements: Covering all service or only future service?
  • Risk management
  • Reconsidering actuarial assumptions

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Litigation Trends for Public Plans

  • Current litigation and claims against public sector retirement and health plans
  • Strategies for reducing litigation risk
  • Steps to take if your plan is at risk or in litigation

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Public Employee Disability Claims and Pension Decisions

  • How are decisions typically made?
  • Appeals process
  • What happens when a diagnosis is not clear?
  • Navigating mental health claims such as PTSD

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Apprenticeship and Training Grants—Finding and Obtaining External Funding

Training funds continue to obtain funding from a wide variety of external sources. This session will provide insights for trustees looking to navigate the process, including:

  • Where to look for opportunities
  • Navigating the application process
  • Best practices for success.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Data Automation and Office Efficiency

TPA and self-administered fund offices are essentially data companies. How can you implement data automation to improve efficiency?

  • Going paperless
  • Implementing an electronic data management (EDM) system and data programs
    • Efficiently identifying changes in monthly employer contribution reports and issues
    • Eliminating the need for various spreadsheets and manual processing
  • Administrators' fund portal
    • Developing a simple database that houses trustee information, benefit plan design (group suffixes/subgroups) and vendor/contract information
  • Compliance and appeal tracking system

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Vetting the Value of a “Professional” Trustee

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?
  • Identify reasons a fund would seek a "professional" trustee
  • What does the appointing entity hope to accomplish?
  • Other concerns and considerations

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Fiduciary Responsibilities in a Defined Contribution Plan

  • 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

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Mental Health and Nontraditional Benefits—Meeting Evolving Participant Needs

This session will provide an in-depth exploration of innovative and inclusive employee benefits that cater to diverse family structures and personal needs. By focusing on mental health benefits, LGBTQ+ support and other nontraditional benefits, organizations can enhance employee satisfaction, retention and overall well-being. Join us to learn best practices, implementation strategies and the positive impacts these benefits can have on your workforce.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

DOL Audit Trends for Health Plans

  • Updates on DOL health plan audits and investigations
  • Current trends, including mental health parity
  • Future initiatives

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Coverage for GLP-1 Drugs—Where Are We Now?

  • Current state of coverage for diabetes care
  • Current state of the industry in obesity drug coverage
  • Utilization trends and their impact on benefit plans
  • Cost and safety considerations
  • The role of prescription therapies as part of a total health approach

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Using Data Analytics to Understand High-Cost Participants

  • Identifying your current high-cost participants
  • Identifying who may become a high-cost participant
  • Strategies for improving population health, reducing plan volatility and mitigating costs
  • Privacy and cybersecurity concerns

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Utilizing Direct Contracting Approaches

  • Considerations for primary and ancillary benefit offerings
  • Pros and cons of direct contracting approaches
  • Case study examples of success

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Psychedelics—A Panel Discussion

  • Advancements in the science and research of their effectiveness
  • Legal landscape in the U.S.
  • Application for employee benefit plans
    • Plan design
    • Cost
    • Outcomes

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

The Future of Equity Investing

Join this panel for a discussion of the equity markets, including:

  • Growth vs. value
  • Active vs. passive
  • How does "cap" size matter?
  • Benefits and risks to portfolios.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

An Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) Debate

  • Challenging the model: Two sides of the coin
  • Importance of fiduciary liability oversight of trustees
  • Pitfalls and benefits

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Investing Special Financial Assistance Funds—Now What?

  • Regulatory requirements and trending options
  • Legacy assets vs. special financial assistance (SFA) assets
  • Audit requirements and risk management

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Artificial Intelligence in Investing

  • Tools for investment consultants
  • How managers may be using artificial intelligence (AI) in the portfolio
  • Quantitative investment strategies
  • How can you use AI for your fund?

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Variable Annuity Pension Plan—Choose Your Own Adventure

Can a solution be found in changing a formula? Join this interactive session to discuss key factors to consider when choosing to switch to a VAPP and apply those factors to a demo pension plan. During a follow-up session, Variable Annuity Pension Plan—Lessons Learned, the demo plan will be debriefed, discussing implications the plan may encounter.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Challenges Facing Defined Contribution Plans

  • Participant-directed
  • 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

SECURE 2.0 Act Update—2024 and Beyond

  • Roth catch-up contributions
  • Increase in annual catch-up contribution limit
  • Long-term part-time employee eligibility
  • Required minimum distributions
  • Creation of portability registry

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

DOL Retirement Plan Audit Trends

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 successfully navigate an investigation.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Headline Risk: Keeping Public Employee Plans Out of the News

  • Nonbenefit laws
    • Open meeting laws
    • Public procurement laws
    • Public records requests, etc.
  • Return-to-work rules and the perception risk

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Public Plan Approaches to Retiree Health Coverage

  • Overview of coverage options pre- and post-Medicare enrollment
  • Pros and cons for health plans and participants
  • Examples of successful approaches in action

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Accountants: Advanced Payroll Audits

This session will present hypothetical issues that payroll auditors may run into and the best way to handle them, including:

  • Trustee concerns
  • Contract interpretation
  • Missing or bad payroll records
  • When to contact the attorney
  • How artificial intelligence (AI) could help.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

The Impact of Women on the Jobsite

  • Understanding the unique needs of women
  • What you can and cannot do
  • Creating welcoming environments for women
  • Best practices for your fund

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Leadership Skills for a Healthy Workplace

  • Promoting empathy and psychological safety
  • Setting boundaries and establishing norms
  • Understanding the relationship between connectedness and well-being

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Best Practices in Selecting and Monitoring Fund Professionals

  • Performance metrics and standards, including performance penalties
  • Fees and reporting, including 408(b)2(B)
  • RFPs and RFIs
  • Cybersecurity best practices and questionnaire responses
  • Reviewing service provider succession plans

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Understanding Your Financial Statements and Budgeting

  • Terminology
  • How to read the plan financial statement
  • Understanding internal controls
  • Creating and following a budget for the plan/trust

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Cybersecurity Update—Where Are We Now?

  • Why investing in cybersecurity matters
  • DOL and HHS guidance
  • Staff training
  • Best practices—What to do when you have a breach

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Practical Uses for Artificial Intelligence in the Fund Office

This session aims to address the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence (AI) may bring to benefit fund administration, including how it is currently being utilized and its potential impact on the workforce.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Paid Leave in the Workplace

Paid leave covers everything from vacation and sick pay to bereavement and emergency leave. Join this panel discussion to learn about the latest trends.

  • 2024 International Foundation survey results
  • Strategies for compliance with state and local laws
  • Implementation of new programs
  • Best practices

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Health Care Legal and Legislative Update

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

  • No Surprises Act
  • Inflation Reduction Act
  • PBM litigation

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Prescription Drug Pipeline Update

  • What's coming down the pipeline
  • Specialty drug update
  • GLP-1 update
  • Biosimilars, formularies and other cost-containment strategies
  • Inflation Reduction Act implications

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Health Care Technology Update

  • The role of artificial intelligence (AI)
  • Wearables and other devices
  • Virtual offerings: Primary care, physical therapy, telepsychiatry and more
  • Security considerations

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Health Fund Mergers—Are They Feasible?

  • Plan communications and recordkeeping
  • Comparison/grandfathering of benefits
  • Network provider disruption issues
  • Administrative, implementation and compliance issues
  • Governance issues
  • Case study examples of success

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Overcoming Barriers to Care

  • Identifying the social determinants of health and access to care
  • The role of targeted communications
  • Overcoming stigma and bias
  • Strategies for success

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Mental Health Benefits—Helping Your Participants Access Crucial Resources

  • Achieving whole-person care
  • Mental health parity considerations
  • Coverage for substance use disorders
  • Addressing provider shortages

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Working With Your Investment Professionals

  • How to get more out of conversations
  • Reading the reports from your consultant and fund managers
  • Understanding your consultants and their role
  • Understanding investment managers and their role

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Total Plan and Investment Manager Benchmarking

  • DOL audit perspective
  • Proper benchmarking used by investment managers
  • Total plan benchmarks
    • Defined benefit plans
    • Defined contribution plans
    • Health and welfare

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Fixed Income Update

  • How interest rates impact bond returns
  • Reviewing your plan's bond allocation
  • Investment grade vs. high yield
  • Rethinking whole asset mix

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Legal and Legislative Update for Retirement Plans

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

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Effectively Communicating Your Retirement Plans

  • Methods of communicating
  • Importance of financial literacy
  • Building a model of education
    • Goals of the plan
    • Planning for the future
  • Appropriate messages for participants, employers, trustees and administrators

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Understanding Alternative Pension Plan Designs

  • Overview of different designs
    • Adjustable pension plan (APP)
    • Variable annuity pension plan (VAPP)
  • Administrative and technology issues
  • Transition issues
  • Benefits and risks

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Suspension of Benefits Retirement Plan Rules and Workforce Needs

Employers are facing workforce challenges and need seasoned employees to remain in covered employment, even on a part-time basis. But participants need to collect their pension benefits, which often runs afoul of plans' suspension of benefits rules.

  • Can the pension plan suspension of benefits rules help solve this problem?
  • Regulatory options
  • Industry and other considerations

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Public Sector Paid Family Leave Issues

  • Navigating state, local and national legislation
  • Addressing the politics of aligning coverage to state law
  • Designing the benefit for equity and inclusion

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Accountants: Intersection of Internal Controls and Cybersecurity

  • Penetration testing
  • Third-party security controls
  • Documentation—How it's used in the audit and how to understand the audit report
  • What is being found?

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Attorneys: Employment Discrimination in Employee Benefits

  • The relationship between employment laws (FMLA, military leave, workers' compensation, etc.) and ERISA for employee benefit plan rules
  • How to avoid employment discrimination issues and litigation for your benefit plan and your fund office
  • Roles of individual representatives vs. trustees

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Cybersecurity Options for Your Apprenticeship Fund

  • Impact of cyber-risk on apprenticeship funds
  • Legal requirements
  • Response/recovery plans, insurance, two-factor authentication and other strategies
  • Considerations for smaller funds
  • Case study examples of success

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Fiduciary Town Hall—Running a More Efficient Trust Board Meeting

This informative discussion will offer an opportunity to discuss meeting-related items such as setting an agenda, allocating enough time for agenda items, meeting preparation and materials, use of subcommittees, minutes and strategic planning.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Fiduciary Education, International Foundation Member Benefits and Getting Involved

Join 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

Retiree Health Care—Options for Your Participants

  • Options for covering pre- and post-Medicare retirees
  • Group pre-Medicare and Group Medicare Advantage plans
  • Pros and cons for retirees and plan sponsors
  • Inflation Reduction Act implications

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Health Plans 101—Terminology for New Trustees

  • Identifying plan structures
  • Who are your plan professionals?
  • Abbreviations, acronyms, slang and more
  • Written policy language

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Understanding Health Plan Actuarial Reports

  • How to read the actuarial valuation
  • Understanding how benefit changes affect cost
  • Decisions for actuaries
  • Decisions for trustees

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Whose Kid Is This? And Other Good Reasons to Conduct Dependent Eligibility Audits

  • Who is an ineligible dependent?
  • Why would an ineligible dependent be listed on the plan?
  • How to conduct a dependent eligibility audit
  • Potential cost savings

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Best Practices in Health Plan Cybersecurity

  • Identifying common threats
  • Steps for prevention
  • Post-breach action steps

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Autism Spectrum Disorders—Designing Proper Coverage

  • Identifying and diagnosing disorders
  • What should be covered?
  • Mental health parity considerations
  • Considering the appropriateness of care

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Investments: A Fiduciary Primer

  • DOL guidance for making investment decisions
  • Consultant vs. manager roles
  • When is a consultant or manager a fiduciary?
  • Can I give up my fiduciary responsibility for investment decisions?

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Investing in America's Future Infrastructure

  • Update on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021
  • Global perspective
  • Infrastructure funds
    • Risk and liquidity
  • Opportunities

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Liability-Driven Investments—Risk Management for Pension Plans

  • What is a liability-driven investment (LDI) strategy?
  • Using strategies found in special financial assistance plan management
  • Structuring plans to better prepare for decumulation
  • Impact on a plan's financial health

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Private Credit in Your Plans

  • What is private equity?
  • What is private credit?
  • Valuation and liquidity issues
  • Trustees' role in commitment and oversight
  • Legal issues

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Pension Plan Actuarial Basics for the Nonactuary

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

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Dueling Pension Actuaries

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
  • Asset methods
  • Mortality rates
  • Variable plans.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Conversation With the PBGC

Hear from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) about its biggest concerns, recent initiatives and outlook for the future.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Defined Contribution Plan Risk—Options to Minimize and Mitigate

How to provide choice and manage risk, including:

  • Annual expense review
  • Target date fund review
  • Overall expenses compared to a peer universe
  • Financial literacy and distribution education.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

The Impact of Noninvestment Risks on Your Pension Plan

We typically think about the risk due to asset allocation; this session will identify various noninvestment risks, including:

  • Plan maturity risk
  • Demographic risk
  • Plan design risk
  • Employer risk
  • Industry risk.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Public Sector Recruitment Challenges

  • National trends in recruiting for public sector jobs
  • Identifying highly valued benefits
  • Coordinating benefits and recruitment strategies
  • Addressing the reputation of public sector benefits
  • Revisiting prior benefit changes (e.g., pensions) and currently available plans

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Accountants: Town Hall

A panel of professionals will lead a discussion around emerging issues and best practices for CPAs and their accounting and auditing staff.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Attorneys: The State of the Law on Prohibited Transactions

  • Review of ERISA-prohibited transaction provisions
  • Review of prohibited transaction exemptions
  • Recent guidance
  • Practical application

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Improving Jobsite Awareness

  • Preventing workplace violence
  • First responder training: First-aid, CPR, AED, Narcan and more
  • Importance of active shooter training
  • Crisis intervention strategies
  • Fitness-for-work considerations

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Policy Review: Plan Operations to Insurance

Attend this session for a quick review of the many policies to consider for plan administration, such as:

  • Education policy
  • Delinquent and collection policy
  • Fiduciary, cyber, business and other insurance policies
  • Trustee expense and reimbursement policy.

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Wearing the Right Hat at the Right Time—The Two-Hat Dilemma

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

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Mental Health and Nontraditional Benefits—Meeting Evolving Participant Needs

This session will provide an in-depth exploration of innovative and inclusive employee benefits that cater to diverse family structures and personal needs. By focusing on mental health benefits, LGBTQ+ support and other nontraditional benefits, organizations can enhance employee satisfaction, retention and overall well-being. Join us to learn best practices, implementation strategies and the positive impacts these benefits can have on your workforce.

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Coverage for GLP-1 Drugs—Where Are We Now?

  • Current state of coverage for diabetes care
  • Current state of the industry in obesity drug coverage
  • Utilization trends and their impact on benefit plans
  • Cost and safety considerations
  • The role of prescription therapies as part of a total health approach

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

On- and Near-Site Clinics—What’s Working and What’s Not?

  • Overview of design options
  • Primary care, pharmacy, vision and other covered services
  • Attributes of successful models: Analytics, communication, service integration and more

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Mental Health Benefits—Helping Your Participants Access Crucial Resources

  • Achieving whole-person care
  • Mental health parity considerations
  • Coverage for substance use disorders
  • Addressing provider shortages

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Stick to Your Plan: Let Your Investment Policy Statements Be Your Guide

  • How to approach asset allocation
  • How much detail should your investment policy statement (IPS) have?
  • Why is it so important to keep your investments within the IPS guidelines?
  • How to reconcile actuarial assumptions with investment return projections

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Alternative Investments: Private Equity

  • Understanding private equity
    • Liquidity constraints
    • Fee structures
  • Planning for illiquid assets in your portfolio
  • History of the marketplace and why it is growing
  • Are banks being replaced by private equity?

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

What If (Investment) History Repeats Itself? Looking Back to the Future

  • How to set/understand a range of return expectations
  • Understanding your plan's risk tolerance
    • View of historical portfolio planning and market cycles
    • Understanding what you own and how it will perform in different environments
  • Actuarial perspectives

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

An Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) Debate

  • Challenging the model: Two sides of the coin
  • Importance of fiduciary liability oversight of trustees
  • Pitfalls and benefits

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Proxy Voting—Updated DOL Regulations

  • What is proxy voting?
  • What kinds of investments involve proxy voting?
  • What is a trustee's fiduciary responsibility for proxy votes?
  • Updates to DOL regulations and action items for trustees

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Challenges Facing Defined Contribution Plans

  • Participant-directed
  • 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)

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Suspension of Benefits Retirement Plan Rules and Workforce Needs

Employers are facing workforce challenges and need seasoned employees to remain in covered employment, even on a part-time basis. But participants need to collect their pension benefits, which often runs afoul of plans' suspension of benefits rules.

  • Can the pension plan suspension of benefits rules help solve this problem?
  • Regulatory options
  • Industry and other considerations

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Trustee Expenses—In Depth

  • 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

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Communicating With Plan Participants

  • Evolving your plan communication efforts
    • Self-service
    • Use of AI
  • Identifying best practices
  • Communicating plan value
  • Legal considerations

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Paid Leave in the Workplace

Paid leave covers everything from vacation and sick pay to bereavement and emergency leave. Join this panel discussion to learn about the latest trends.

  • 2024 International Foundation survey results
  • Strategies for compliance with state and local laws
  • Implementation of new programs
  • Best practices

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Stop-Loss Coverage—Understanding Your Options

  • What is stop-loss insurance?
  • Selecting the appropriate coverage levels
  • Reviewing and understanding contract terms
  • How to utilize stop-loss effectively
  • Adverse selection considerations
  • Pharmacy considerations

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Health Care Technology Update

  • The role of artificial intelligence (AI)
  • Wearables and other devices
  • Virtual offerings: Primary care, physical therapy, telepsychiatry and more
  • Security considerations

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Emerging Mental Health Treatment Options

  • Existing mental health treatment landscape
  • Psychedelics in treatment (e.g., ketamine, LSD, MDMA, psilocybin)
  • Importance of evidence-based therapies
  • Where are we now?

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Advancements in Cancer

  • Insights into how cancer uniquely impacts unions and their members
  • Overview of scientific advances, clinical data and cutting-edge technology
  • Case study—Examples of success

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

The Future of Equity Investing

Join this panel for a discussion of the equity markets, including:

  • Growth vs. value
  • Active vs. passive
  • How does "cap" size matter?
  • Benefits and risks to portfolios.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

A Deep Dive Into Asset Performance—Understanding Attribution

  • Implementing your investment policy
  • Understanding asset mix and its impact on returns
  • Challenging your investment consultant based on performance and policy

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Artificial Intelligence in Investing

  • Tools for investment consultants
  • How managers may be using artificial intelligence (AI) in the portfolio
  • Quantitative investment strategies
  • How can you use AI for your fund?

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Investment Consultant and Pension Actuary Conversation

  • Which comes first: The actuarial assumption or the investment allocation?
  • Approaching the issue differently and managing risk
  • Implications for actuarial assumptions and investment allocation

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Variable Annuity Pension Plan—Lessons Learned

This is a follow-up session to Variable Annuity Pension Plan—Choose Your Own Adventure. A panel of experts will debrief the pros, cons and potential unintended consequences of a proposed pension plan as devised by the session's live audience participation.