71st Annual Employee Benefits Conference

Sunday, November 9 - Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Honolulu, HI

Agenda

Filter By Session Type

Virtual

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Session ID: A

OPENING SESSION—Overcoming Adversity

Category: Keynote

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Exhibit Hall III

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

World-renowned chef and entrepreneur Andrew Zimmern shares his deeply personal journey with addiction and sobriety and how he found his calling to tell stories through food and travel adventures. Balancing personal and professional moments of adversity, Zimmern offers an inspiring story of hope, perseverance, and how to become a better leader through resilience. From navigating uncertainty to "co-regulating before operationalizing" to learning how to "act your way into right thinking," Zimmern's message is a blend of personal experience and his own prescription for resiliency and success.

Andrew Zimmern
TV Personality, Chef and Author

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Session ID: B

KEYNOTE SESSION—Get Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence

Category: Keynote

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Exhibit Hall III

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

We typically associate success with speed and smarts. But in today's hypercompetitive world, even those gifts aren't enough. Collaboration expert Erica Dhawan argues that the game changer is a thoroughly modern skill called Connectional Intelligence (CxQ). As radical a concept as emotional intelligence was in the 90s, Connectional Intelligence is turning people into superconnectors who accelerate innovation, break down silos and foster breakthrough impact.

This dynamic, engaging, high-energy, fast-paced session will help participants understand the practice of using Connectional Intelligence as the key to purposeful collaboration, resilience and business success. Attendees will shift the notion of collaboration from more meetings and emails to productive engagement that improves speed and quality of service, increases subject matter expertise and specialist sharing across silos, reduces cross-team dysfunction and delay, and eliminates duplicative work. Attendees will learn new insights and tools to accelerate the connected power of teams, become more agile and innovative, and drive breakthrough ideas and outcomes.

Learning Outcomes:

Discover new ways to lead, inspire, and communicate with diverse teams through uncertainty.
Learn how to keep cross-team collaborations aligned, build trust and foster motivation.
Gain specific actions to inspire teamwork, innovation, resilience, revitalization and results-driven progress.
Learn behaviors to understand and build trust and connection, no matter the distance.

Erica Dhawan
Collaboration Expert, Author and Entrepreneur

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: A01-1

Talent Wars: Where Do We Find Our Next Administrator?
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom A

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Recruiting and onboarding
Growing talent—Retention efforts
- Career and professional development
- Compensation and benefits
Managing attrition

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: F01-1

Fiduciary Responsibility Basics
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 316ABC

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. union business
Familiarity with fund policies and procedures
Duties/activities that can be delegated

Jennifer Abrams, Esq.
Partner
SWB, PC

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: F08-1

Understanding and Monitoring Your Financial Statements
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom B

Session Type: Virtual / 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 statements

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G02-1

The Impact of Changing Workforce Demographics on Benefits
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 312

Session Type: In-Person

Impact of demographic trends: Worker tenure, birth rates, mortality tables and more
Impact on defined benefit pension funding and cash flows
Postretirement employment considerations
Recruiting and retaining the next generation

Michelle Zettergren
President, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
MagnaCare

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G06-1

FEATURED SESSION—The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Benefits
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Exhibit Hall III

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

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

Michael Stoyanovich
Vice President, Senior Consultant
Segal

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G08-1

Communicating With Plan Participants—Case Study Examples of Success
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 317

Session Type: In-Person

Tailoring messaging to specific generations
Bridging language barriers
Driving utilization of existing offerings
Being creative while fulfilling legal obligations
Case study examples

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G18

Updates in Benefits Litigation

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 319

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.

Katherine Hesse, Esq., CEBS
Partner
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P-ACCT1

Accountants: Accounting and Auditing—Key Updates and Insights for 2025

Category: Fund Professionals - Accountants

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 315

Session Type: In-Person

This session will review the latest accounting and auditing topics, such as:

Quality management standards
Peer review hot buttons
Risk assessment
Form 5500 changes.

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H01

Health Care Track Kickoff

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom C

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.

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H03-1

Navigating Mental Health Parity Requirements
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 318

Session Type: In-Person

Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) overview
Recent audit trends
Self-compliance efforts

John Barlament
Shareholder
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H09-1

Utilizing a Peer Support Model—Best Practices
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 308

Session Type: In-Person

What is a peer support model?
Overview of roles and models
Cost, benefits and the value proposition for mental health and addiction resources
Case study examples

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: PE1

Public Sector Legislative and Regulatory Update

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 302

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.

Linda Champion
Senior Counsel
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: T01

Preapprenticeship Programs

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 306

Session Type: In-Person

Working to create partnerships in the community
Communicating the value of apprenticeships
Setting up future apprentices for success
Developing a curriculum that offers to explore your trade
Resources for you

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: I01

Institutional Investing 101

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 314

Session Type: In-Person

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

Annie Taylor, CFA
Managing Director | Senior Consultant
Verus Investments

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: I12

Cryptocurrency: The Impact of Deregulation for Investments

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313A

Session Type: In-Person

Overview of cryptocurrency as an investment vehicle
New developments
- New administration deregulation
- S. central bank digital currency
- Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
How investment managers are investing in crypto
Understanding your indirect exposure risk

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: I17-1

How Artificial Intelligence Is Disrupting Markets and Reshaping the Investment Industry
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 311

Session Type: In-Person

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on markets
Where is AI being used in investments today?
Investing in AI-driven companies and technologies

Bradford Neuman, CFA
Senior Vice President and Director of Market Strategy
Fred Alger Management, LLC

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P02-1

Understanding Withdrawal Liability
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 313BC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Overview of withdrawal liability
Using separate assumptions for funding and withdrawal liability calculations
Where and when does it apply? Are there exceptions?
Approaches to managing withdrawal liability

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P07-1

Department of Labor (DOL) Retirement Plan Audit Trends
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 301

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.

Samuel Henson, J.D., CEBS Compliant, ASPPA-APM
Chief Legal Officer
Creative Planning

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P13-1

SECURE 2.0 Act Update—2025 and Beyond
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 321

Session Type: In-Person

Catch-up contributions
Increase in annual catch-up contribution limit
Emergency savings and withdrawals
Automatic enrollment
Required minimum distributions
Long-term and part-term employee eligibility
Life income

Steven Grieb, J.D., CEBS Compliant
Senior Compliance Counsel
Gallagher

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P18

Pension Scorecard

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 304

Session Type: In-Person

Measuring your plan against other plans using publicly available data
Funded status
Investment benchmarking
Value of the benefits offered

Tim Connor, EA, FSA, MAAA
Consulting Actuary
Milliman, Inc.

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: A02-1

Work-Life Balance—Keeping Grounded in Times of Uncertainty
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom C

Session Type: In-Person

Setting boundaries

Prioritizing tasks and delegating

Time management

Utilizing flexible work options

Managing stress and self-care practices

Chase Sterling, M.A., CWP
Founder and CEO, Wellbeing Think Tank
Principal Consultant, HHP Cultures

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: F02-1

Best Practices in Trustee Processes and Oversight
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 316ABC

Session Type: Virtual / 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

Craig Bitman
Partner
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: F09-1

Insurance for Plans and Trustees
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 317

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?

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G03-1

Suspension of Benefits—Part I: Retirement Plan Rules and Workforce Needs
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313A

Session Type: In-Person

Employers are facing workforce challenges and need seasoned employees to remain in or return to covered employment, even on a part-time basis. But participants need to collect their pension benefits, which often violates the plan's suspension of benefits rules.

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

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G09-1

Cybersecurity Benefits Update
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313BC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

The importance of investing in cybersecurity
Utilizing DOL and HHS guidance
Best practices—What are your first steps after a breach?

Ashley Farrell, CIPP/US
Data Privacy, Cybersecurity and AI Associate Attorney
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P-ACCT2

Accountants: Understanding the Tax Implications of Investments

Category: Fund Professionals - Accountants

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 315

Session Type: In-Person

With any new administration comes a possibility for changes in reporting and disclosures. This session will address the following:

UBIT reporting
Alternative investment compliance
990-T reporting
T-1 and other reporting and disclosure impacts
LM-10/LM-30
Complex K-1s.

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P-ATTY1

Attorneys: Changes to the Legal Landscape Impacting Employee Benefit Plans

Category: Fund Advisors - Attorneys

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 304

Session Type: In-Person

This session will discuss how attorneys who work with employee benefit plans can navigate the rapidly changing legal landscape with the presidential administration. New leaders in the EBSA, HHS, Treasury, PBGC and other agencies will have impacts on the regulations and enforcement on benefit plans.

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H02-1

Health Care Legal and Legislative Update
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom A

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

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

Elena Lynett, J.D.
Senior Vice President, Health Compliance
Segal

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H04-1

Prescription Drug Pipeline Update
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 312

Session Type: In-Person

What's coming down the pipeline?
Specialty drug update
Biosimilars, formularies, utilization management and other cost-containment strategies
Gene therapy/genetic testing update
The role of advocacy groups
Legal and legislative implications

Paul Lacombe, R.Ph., MBA
Clinical Strategy Director, Commercial Division
Express Scripts

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H10-1

Mental Health Provider Update
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 318

Session Type: In-Person

Provider landscape overview
Best practices in evaluating providers
Utilizing free and low-cost services
Avoiding common coverage pitfalls

Andrew Johnson
Fund Administrator
Teamster Center Services Fund

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H23

Ancillary Benefit Roundup

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 305

Session Type: In-Person

Dental, hearing, vision and chiropractic coverage
Other benefits for consideration
Aligning your offerings with changing plan demographics
Case study examples

Aruna Vohra
Senior Consultant
Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H25

Planning for "What If?" Scenarios With Your Health Plan

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom B

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Health plans today are operating in a tumultuous legal and legislative environment and must be prepared to adapt to ongoing changes. To help prepare and protect your fund amid this uncertainty, this session will cover:

Key policies and procedures that your fund should be adopting or refining
Enhancing operational effectiveness and integrity
Ensuring compliance with all applicable rules and regulations.

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: PE2

Recruitment and Retention Challenges in the Public Sector

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 308

Session Type: In-Person

Trends in recruitment and retention in the public sector
Coordinating benefits and your recruitment/retention strategies
Real-world examples of practices in action
Return-to-work impact
What role do benefits play in recruiting?

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: T02

Supporting Neurodivergent Learners in Your Apprenticeship Program

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 306

Session Type: In-Person

Understanding neurodivergence such as ADHD, dyslexia and autism (ASD)
Guidelines for success in the training program courses
- Making accommodations
- Additional support

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G22

Multiemployer Challenges and Opportunities

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 319

Session Type: In-Person

Join your peers to discuss the unique issues of the day. Topics may include:

SFA—Status and future
SECURE Act questions (technical corrections)
PBMs and ERISA preemption
Withdrawal liability rule.

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I02-1

Investments: A Fiduciary Primer
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 302

Session Type: In-Person

DOL guidance for making investment decisions
Consultant vs. manager roles
Understanding your investment policy statements (IPS)
When is a consultant or manager a fiduciary?
Can I give up my fiduciary responsibility for investment decisions?

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I03-1

Investing for Health and Welfare and Apprenticeship Plans
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 303

Session Type: In-Person

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

John Teramana, CAIA
Managing Director/Senior Consultant
Verus Investments

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I14-1

Interpreting Interest Rates
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 311

Session Type: In-Person

What drives interest rates?
What the Fed news really means
Understanding the charts

Ted Benedict, CAIA, CFA
Managing Principal, Consultant
Meketa Investment Group, Inc.

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I21

Emerging Markets

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 301

Session Type: In-Person

Why have emerging markets underperformed?
Role of emerging markets in your portfolio
New opportunities
Role of politics and policies

Natascha Willans
Partner and Associate Portfolio Manager
ABS Global Investments

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P03-1

Advanced Withdrawal Liability Topics
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 321

Session Type: In-Person

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

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P08-1

Effectively Communicating Your Pension/Retirement Plans
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 314

Session Type: In-Person

How do you talk about your plan to stakeholders?
Building a model of education
- Goals of the retirement plan
- Planning for the future
- Delivery methods
Appropriate messages for participants, employers, trustees and administrators

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P10-1

My Pension Plan Is Well-funded—Now What? Part I: Understanding Pension Plan Risk
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 307

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?

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P15-1

Retirement Plan Merger Overview
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 309

Session Type: In-Person

Administrative, implementation and compliance issues
Defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) concerns
Zone status issues
Governance issues
What's working in this space?

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: A04

Charting the Course: Key Decision Points and the Path to Merging Multiemployer Plans

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 319

Session Type: In-Person

Assessing financial and operational impacts
Addressing legal and regulatory considerations
Insight into the step-by-step process
Challenges to anticipate
Best practices for a smooth transition

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: F03-1

Understanding the Fiduciary Duty of Appointing a Multiemployer Trustee
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom C

Session Type: In-Person

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

Peter Rosene, Esq.
Shareholder
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: F10-1

Cybersecurity—It’s Okay to Spend Money to Protect Member Data
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom A

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Funds need 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

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G04-1

Suspension of Benefits—Part II: Health Plan Rules and Workforce Needs
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 302

Session Type: In-Person

Employers are facing workforce challenges and need seasoned employees to remain in or return to covered employment, even on a part-time basis. Although related, the practical and legal considerations for health and welfare plans when retirees transition between active and retiree status are in many respects different from those of retirement plans and require independent consideration by plan fiduciaries.

Alignment with the pension plan's suspension rules
The impact of Medicare Secondary Payer rules
What happens to the contributions for working retirees?
Interaction with Medicare Advantage Plans and claims risk
Administrative considerations as participants move between active and retiree status

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G05-1

Benefit Plan Audits
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 312

Session Type: In-Person

Review the types of audits and key areas involved in benefit plan auditing, including:

Auditing standards and SOC-1
Remittance reporting
DOL, IRS, payroll and internal audits
Specialty audits.

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G11

You’ve Been Summoned—Best Practices in Litigation, Depositions and Trial Testimony

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 317

Session Type: In-Person

Plan trustees, plan professionals, administrators and staff are often involved in plan litigation with little to no experience in these legal settings. How can you best prepare for these situations?

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P-ATTY2

Attorneys: Ethical Considerations

Category: Fund Advisors - Attorneys

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 308

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 their representation
The evolving ethical rules and considerations for attorneys.

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H05-1

GLP-1 Drugs—Part I: Where Are We Now?
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 316ABC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Industry update
Current state of coverage for diabetes and weight-loss care
The role of prescription drug therapies as a part of a total health approach
Utilization management
Case study examples

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H07

Pharmacy Benefit Managers 101—A Guide for New Trustees

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 318

Session Type: In-Person

What is a pharmacy benefit manager?
What do they do?
PBM market update
Potential legislative and/or regulatory updates
Maintaining a productive relationship

Eileen Pincay, R.Ph.
Senior Vice President, National Pharmacy Practice Leader, Consulting Services
Segal

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H11-1

New Horizons in Mental Health Treatment—Psychedelics
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 306

Session Type: In-Person

High-level industry check-in
Coverage, funding, legal considerations
Defining the market: Ketamine, LSD, MDMA, psilocybin and more
Common pitfalls and best practices

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H12-1

Health Hacks—Best Practices in Participant Health Literacy
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 303

Session Type: In-Person

CDC's definitions and emphasis
Communicating the "language of health care" to plan participants
Initiatives for leadership, staff and plan participants
Utilizing multiple communication channels
Case study examples

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H21

Health Plan Reserve Policies—Finding the Right Balance

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 315

Session Type: In-Person

How many months are too many? Too few?
Factors to consider: Size, funded status, population characteristics and more
Impact of plan investment metrics
Creating and maintaining an effective plan reserve policy

Michele Domash, FCA, FSA, MAAA
Principal Consulting Actuary
Cheiron, Inc.

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: PE3

Retiree Health Care—Approaches for Public Plans

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 307

Session Type: In-Person

Overview of coverage options for pre- and post-Medicare enrollees
Pros and cons for health plans and participants
Examples of success approaches in action
Medicare Advantage plans
CMS guidance on 2026 plans

Eric Stanger, J.D., M.B.A.
Retiree Healthcare Strategy
Via Benefits by WTW

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: T03

Emerging Technologies in Using Artificial Intelligence in Your Apprenticeship Programs

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 311

Session Type: In-Person

What are the tools being used?
Areas of use
- Administration
- Recruitment
- In the classroom and on the jobsite
New, emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI)
Policies and best practices

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I04-1

Working With Your Investment Professionals
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313A

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

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I06-1

Basics of Defined Contribution Plan Investments
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 301

Session Type: In-Person

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

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I08-1

Private Markets—Part I: The Basics
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 305

Session Type: In-Person

How do they fit into your portfolios?
Different underlying types
How to invest
Secondary market
Fee structures
Reporting

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I13-1

Asset Allocation for Today’s Markets
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 321

Session Type: In-Person

Reviewing interest rate trends
Removing risk from your portfolio
Active vs. passive
Investment deregulation

Ian Toner, CFA
Chief Investment Officer
Verus Investments

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I20

The Impact of Tariffs and Investment Restrictions on Your Portfolio

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313BC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Understanding tariffs
How asset classes and sectors are affected
Risk management strategies and portfolio rebalancing considerations
Resources that trustees can use to monitor changes

Benjamin Patzik, CFA®, CPA
Senior Vice President, Discretionary Investments & Risk
Segal Marco Advisors

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P01-1

Legal and Legislative Update for Retirement Plans
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 314

Session Type: In-Person

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

Deva Kyle
Of Counsel
Cohen, Weiss and Simon LLP

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P04-1

Actuarial Basics for the Nonactuary
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom B

Session Type: Virtual / 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?

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P11-1

My Pension Plan Is Well-Funded—Now What? Part II: Considering Your Options
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 304

Session Type: In-Person

Once you've assessed your plan's 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

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P19-1

Things You’re Dying to Know About Mortality
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 309

Session Type: In-Person

Understanding demographic actuarial assumptions
- Impact of longevity
- Generations in the workforce
How actuaries evaluate plan experience to develop new actuarial assumptions
Trustees' role in how assumptions are determined for the plan

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: A05

Merging Benefit Plans—Administrators’ Perspectives

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 301

Session Type: In-Person

Facilitation roles
Preparation
Professionals' involvement
Timeline
Communications
Policies and plan documents

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: F11

Vetting the Value of a “Professional” Trustee

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 302

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

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: F12-1

Fiduciary Responsibilities in a Defined Contribution Plan
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom A

Session Type: Virtual / 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

Jeffrey Endick, Esq.
Principal
Slevin & Hart, P.C.

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G07-1

Who Are Your Benefit Plan Professionals?
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 318

Session Type: In-Person

Current roles—Who are the players, and what do they do?
Setting expectations
Identifying and implementing performance measures
Request for proposal (RFP) and request for information (RFI) considerations

Lee Centrone
Senior Vice President
BeneSys, Inc.

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G10-1

Participant-Level Financial Education Initiatives—Keys to Success
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 306

Session Type: In-Person

Strategies for improving benefits literacy
Meeting the needs of a diverse workforce
Utilizing significant life events
The importance of multichannel communication
AI usage to modernize communications
Postretirement budgeting

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G12-1

Effective Board Meeting Strategies
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom B

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

What does an effective meeting look like?
Pros and cons of virtual vs. in-person meetings
Robert's Rules of Order
What technology solutions can help with board meeting effectiveness?
How do you deal with difficult and disputed decisions?

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G15-1

Fund Office Issues—Small Staff, Large Obstacles
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 314

Session Type: In-Person

Finding efficiencies with limited resources
Navigating insourcing and outsourcing decisions
Best practices in payroll, regulatory compliance, information technology and more

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P-ACCT4

Accountants: Why Does Audit Planning Matter?

Category: Fund Professionals - Accountants

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 312

Session Type: In-Person

Audit planning meetings are designed to set the foundation for an efficient and effective audit. To ensure resources are focused on the most critical areas, this mock planning meeting will explore how to:

Initiate and execute a planning meeting
Align parties
Establish objectives and identify risks
Prepare for what could go wrong.

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P-ATTY3

Attorneys: Lessons Learned From Current DOL Investigations

Category: Fund Advisors - Attorneys

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 305

Session Type: In-Person

This session will address attorney experiences, key takeaways and strategies on successful navigation from recent DOL investigations.

William Callinan
Member Attorney
Johnson + Krol, LLC

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H06-1

GLP-1 Drugs—Part II: Coverage and What the Data Is Telling Us
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 316ABC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

This panel discussion will provide an overview of:

GLP-1-related survey data at the plan and industry level
Compiling insights on cost
Coverage for diabetes and weight loss
Cost-control mechanisms
What key insights can be gleaned to help guide plan actions.

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H08-1

Navigating Your Pharmacy Benefit Manager Contract Language
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 304

Session Type: In-Person

Dissecting the contract elements
Ensuring proper transparency
Fulfilling your fiduciary obligations
Fiduciary liability cases
Future-proofing for legislation

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H15-1

Health Plan Cybersecurity Update
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 319

Session Type: In-Person

New trends to be aware of
Identifying common threats
Steps for prevention
Post-breach action steps

Julie Tracy, CISSP, CCSP
Manager, Advisory Cybersecurity Advisory
Withum

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H19-1

Cancer in the Workforce: Best Approaches to Care
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 321

Session Type: In-Person

Evaluating the workforce impact
Reviewing overall trend data
Best approaches for comprehensive care

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H24

Ensuring Support for Women in the Workforce

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313A

Session Type: In-Person

Plan demographic overview
Overcoming gender-based stigma in your funds
Health offering considerations
- Family-forming benefits
- Menstrual health
- Menopause-related benefits

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: PE4

Decumulation Strategies for Public Employer Defined Contribution Plans

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 309

Session Type: In-Person

Interaction with Social Security benefits
Review of required minimum distribution rules
Taxation rules
Communication tips for plan sponsors

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: T04

Personal Leadership Skills for Stronger Apprenticeship Programs

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 311

Session Type: In-Person

Making the business case to invest in nontechnical skills for apprentices
Essential training
- Conflict resolution
- Leadership development
Sharing successful development initiatives

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: F04-1

Wearing the Right Hat at the Right Time—The Two-Hat Dilemma
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom C

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

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I05-1

Stick to Your Plan: Let Your Investment Policy Statements Be Your Guide
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 308

Session Type: In-Person

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

Tim Walters
Senior Institutional Advisor
Mariner Institutional

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I09-1

Private Markets—Part II: Current Market
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 317

Session Type: In-Person

What's the market like today?
How to use the secondary market
Timing of commitments
Return on capital
Liquidity issues
Co-investments

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I19-1

The Future of Fixed Income
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313BC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Interest rate environment
Role of fixed income in a portfolio
Exploring different avenues of fixed income
- Investment grade
- Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS)
- High-yield bonds
- Core and core plus

Jeff Helsing
Fixed Income Strategist
T. Rowe Price

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P05-1

Dueling Actuaries
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 315

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
Funding methods
Mortality rates
Liability matching.

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P16-1

Asset Liability Matching Investment to Manage the Risk of Unfunded Liabilities
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 307

Session Type: In-Person

What is asset liability matching investment strategy?
How does it work in different interest rate environments?
How can it manage risk?
What impact can it have on the plan's financial health?
How do these strategies apply in negative cash-flow situations?
When is the right time to implement asset liability matching?

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P17-1

Entering the Green Zone and Staying There
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 303

Session Type: In-Person

What happens to your rehabilitation plan?
Effective management
Communication and managing expectations
Reconsidering actuarial assumptions

Christian Benjaminson, EA, FSA, MAAA
Principal Consulting Actuary
Cheiron, Inc.

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Session ID: C

KEYNOTE SESSION—Economic Update

Category: Keynote

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Exhibit Hall III

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

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.

Marci Rossell
Economic Forecaster, Former CNBC Chief Economist and Co-Host of Squawk Box
Delphin Investments

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: A03-1

Policies and Plan Documents
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313BC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

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

Education policies
Delinquent and collection policies
AI policies (staff, trustees, etc.)
Fiduciary, cyber, business and other insurance policies
Trustee expense and reimbursement policies
Plan document, summary plan description, SMM, SBC.

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: F05-1

Trustee Expenses
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 316ABC

Session Type: Virtual / 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

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: F06-1

Best Practices in Selecting Fund Professionals
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 314

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

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G01

U.S. Legislative Update

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom B

Session Type: Virtual / 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.

James Klein
Senior Advisor
American Benefits Council

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G13

FEATURED SESSION—Advancements in Worker Well-Being

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom A

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

How funds can enhance their workplace culture
Identifying the seven benchmarks inherent in a results-oriented well-being program
Mental health initiatives
Inclusion considerations
Financial wellness

Chase Sterling, M.A., CWP
Founder and CEO, Wellbeing Think Tank
Principal Consultant, HHP Cultures

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: G19-1

Better Communication Makes for a Better Audit
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 305

Session Type: In-Person

Communication is key, and this session will highlight the best practices for:

Communication between the auditor and fund office
Why timing and completeness are important for auditor requests
Maintaining an open dialogue
Developing a timeline.

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P-ACCT5

Accountants: Best Practices

Category: Fund Professionals - Accountants

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 321

Session Type: In-Person

Our panel of experts discusses the top issues for both large and small plans in the following areas:

Contributions
Benefits
Participant data
Investments
Data sharing.

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P-ATTY4

Attorneys: Employee Benefits Fiduciary Litigation Update

Category: Fund Advisors - Attorneys

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 304

Session Type: In-Person

This session will discuss the recent trends in fiduciary litigations filed against plans and fiduciaries and how the allegations in these lawsuits can shape the legal advice given to fiduciaries to mitigate the litigation risk. Additional topics will include PBM, excessive fee, pension risk transfer and forfeiture cases.

James Beall, Esq.
Partner
Willig, Williams & Davidson

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H13

Health Plans 101—Terminology for New Trustees

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 311

Session Type: In-Person

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

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H14-1

Practical Uses for Artificial Intelligence in Health Plans
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom C

Session Type: In-Person

Current and future capabilities
Impact on the member experience
Review of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) artificial intelligence (AI) strategic plan

Julia Posacki
Chief Strategy Officer
SmartLight Analytics

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H17-1

Health Plan Mergers Overview
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 306

Session Type: In-Person

Administrative, implementation and compliance issues
What is a "soft merger"?
Governance issues
What's working in this space?

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: H18

Retiree Health Coverage—Options for Your Participants

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 312

Session Type: In-Person

Setting the table—Current landscape
Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Coverage for pre-Medicare retirees
Trends for 2025 and beyond

Suzanne Taranto, EA, MAAA
Principal and Consulting Actuary
Milliman, Inc.

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: PE5

Navigating a Challenging Public Sector Environment

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 308

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

Donna Costa
Executive Director
PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund
Melissa Norcia
Chief Administrative Officer
California State Teachers' Retirement System (CALSTRS)
Scott Miller, J.D., NAF
Senior Consultant
Segal

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: T05

Engaging Apprentices in Their Benefits

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 315

Session Type: In-Person

Communicating to apprentices the value of benefits
Educating on the benefits currently provided
Long-term financial impacts of hardship distributions and loans
Responding to apprentices' needs
Using benefits as a recruitment tool

Stephanie Patrick, FSA, MAAA
Senior Consulting Actuary
Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: I07-1

Total Plan and Investment Manager Benchmarking
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 302

Session Type: In-Person

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

William Craig Dobbs, M.B.A., AIF
Managing Director–Wealth Management; Institutional Consultant and Director
Morgan Stanley, Graystone Consulting

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: I10-1

Real Estate in Your Investment Portfolio
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313A

Session Type: In-Person

State of the asset class
What is the role in the portfolio?
When do you reconsider real estate?
Is REIT foretelling the future of real estate?
Where are the opportunities?
Sector funds are emerging

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: I16

Custom Target-Date Funds

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 318

Session Type: In-Person

Why consider a custom approach?
- Plan demographics
- Glide paths
- Different investment options
  - Private markets
  - Comingled investment trust funds
Fee mitigation
Legal risks

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P06-1

Investment Consultant and Actuary Tango
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 317

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

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P09-1

Defined Contribution Plan Risk—Options to Minimize and Mitigate
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 301

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.

Downloads

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Session ID: P12-1

Understanding Alternative Plan Designs
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 319

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

Kelly Coffing, EA, FSA, MAAA
Principal and Consulting Actuary
Milliman, Inc.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: F07-1

Important Tools for Monitoring Compliance
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 312

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

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G02-2

The Impact of Changing Workforce Demographics on Benefits
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 315

Session Type: In-Person

Impact of demographic trends: Worker tenure, birth rates, mortality tables and more
Impact on defined benefit pension funding and cash flows
Postretirement employment considerations
Recruiting and retaining the next generation

Michelle Zettergren
President, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
MagnaCare

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G07-2

Who Are Your Benefit Plan Professionals?
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 304

Session Type: In-Person

Current roles—Who are the players, and what do they do?
Setting expectations
Identifying and implementing performance measures
Request for proposal (RFP) and request for information (RFI) considerations

Lee Centrone
Senior Vice President
BeneSys, Inc.

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G14-1

Improving Workplace Awareness
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom C

Session Type: In-Person

Preventing workplace violence
First aid, CPR, AED, naloxone/Narcan, mental health first aid and more
Importance of active shooter training
Crisis intervention strategies

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G16-1

Beyond the Payroll Audit—Impact on Financial Statements
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 302

Session Type: In-Person

Explore payroll auditing's impact on financial statements and the importance of all the players.

Understanding the fund office's perspective
Understanding audit perspective
Evaluating the quality of the payroll auditor and audit process
Examples of sufficient documentation
Workpaper and report examples

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G20

Fiduciary Education, International Foundation Member Benefits and Getting Involved

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 319

Session Type: In-Person

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

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P-ACCT3

Accountants: Building the Audit Team

Category: Fund Professionals - Accountants

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 309

Session Type: In-Person

In an ever-changing environment, keeping abreast of the forces at play that impact the profession is crucial. A panel of professionals will lead a discussion addressing:

What an audit team looks like
- Aligning skillsets
- Other skills needed on the team
How and where to find talent
Role of technology in creating efficiencies.

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H09-2

Utilizing a Peer Support Model—Best Practices
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 305

Session Type: In-Person

What is a peer support model?
Overview of roles and models
Cost, benefits and the value proposition for mental health and addiction resources
Case study examples

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H16-1

Telehealth Engagement in a Postpandemic World
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 317

Session Type: In-Person

Industry update—Where are we now?
Potential benefits and pitfalls: Cost, access, satisfaction and more
Best practices for continual engagement
Understand what is being covered by providers

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H20-1

Addressing Chronic Conditions in Your Plan Population
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom B

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Targeting your plan's most common conditions: Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, depression and more
The impact of preventive care
New strategies for success
Case study examples

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: H22

Stop-Loss Coverage Considerations

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313BC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Defining stop-loss coverage
Selecting appropriate coverage levels
How to utilize stop-loss effectively
Understanding coverage lasers

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: PE6

Public Sector Funding Policies—What You Need to Know

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 303

Session Type: In-Person

Unique funding challenges facing public retirement plans
The importance of a funding policy

R. Ryan Falls, FSA, FCA, EA, MAAA
Principal & Consulting Actuary
Milliman, Inc.

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: T06

Fiduciary Responsibility in Your Apprenticeship Programs

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 301

Session Type: In-Person

Keeping up with the latest legal and regulatory updates
Prohibited transactions
Functional fiduciaries
Governance oversight: The role of the trustee

Lisa Schwantz
Managing Principal
Kraw Law Group, APC

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: F04-2

Wearing the Right Hat at the Right Time—The Two-Hat Dilemma
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom A

Session Type: Virtual / 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

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I02-2

Investments: A Fiduciary Primer
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 321

Session Type: In-Person

DOL guidance for making investment decisions
Consultant vs. manager roles
Understanding your investment policy statements (IPS)
When is a consultant or manager a fiduciary?
Can I give up my fiduciary responsibility for investment decisions?

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I11

Understanding Real Assets in Your Portfolio

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 308

Session Type: In-Person

How they benefit your portfolio
Market volatility and liquidity issues
Inflation perspective
Review of real asset types
- Private real estate
- Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
- Infrastructure
- Timber and farmland
- Mining

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I17-2

How Artificial Intelligence Is Disrupting Markets and Reshaping the Investment Industry
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 316ABC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on markets
Where is AI being used in investments today?
Investing in AI-driven companies and technologies

Bradford Neuman, CFA
Senior Vice President and Director of Market Strategy
Fred Alger Management, LLC

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: I18-1

Applying Asset Liability Matching Strategies to Your Investments
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 307

Session Type: In-Person

Understanding liability-aware investing
- Special Financial Assistance (SFA) roots
- Applying SFA strategies to any fund
Asset liability matching investing strategies and negative cash flow strategies
Implementation
- Short- vs. long-term strategies
- Public and private market investments

Russell Kamp
CEO
Ryan ALM, Inc.

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P02-2

Understanding Withdrawal Liability
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 318

Session Type: In-Person

Overview of withdrawal liability
Using separate assumptions for funding and withdrawal liability calculations
Where and when does it apply? Are there exceptions?
Approaches to managing withdrawal liability

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P05-2

Dueling Actuaries
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 311

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
Funding methods
Mortality rates
Liability matching.

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P10-2

My Pension Plan Is Well-funded—Now What? Part I: Understanding Pension Plan Risk
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313A

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?

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: P14

Defined Contribution Plan Forfeiture Issues

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 306

Session Type: In-Person

Understanding forfeiture rules
Setting up your plan for compliance
When can you reabsorb?
What can funds be used for?
Identifying areas of potential litigation

Downloads

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Session ID: G17

Mastering Project Management: Essential Skills for Success

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 314

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.

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: A02-2

Work-Life Balance—Keeping Grounded in Times of Uncertainty
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom B

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Setting boundaries

Prioritizing tasks and delegating

Time management

Utilizing flexible work options

Managing stress and self-care practices

Chase Sterling, M.A., CWP
Founder and CEO, Wellbeing Think Tank
Principal Consultant, HHP Cultures

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: F02-2

Best Practices in Trustee Processes and Oversight
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom C

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

Craig Bitman
Partner
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: F08-2

Understanding and Monitoring Your Financial Statements
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 311

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 statements

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G03-2

Suspension of Benefits—Part I: Retirement Plan Rules and Workforce Needs
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 314

Session Type: In-Person

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

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G05-2

Benefit Plan Audits
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 301

Session Type: In-Person

Review the types of audits and key areas involved in benefit plan auditing, including:

Auditing standards and SOC-1
Remittance reporting
DOL, IRS, payroll and internal audits
Specialty audits.

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G06-2

FEATURED SESSION—The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Benefits
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 316ABC

Session Type: In-Person

Michael Stoyanovich
Vice President, Senior Consultant
Segal

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: G08-2

Communicating With Plan Participants—Case Study Examples of Success
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313BC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Tailoring messaging to specific generations
Bridging language barriers
Driving utilization of existing offerings
Being creative while fulfilling legal obligations
Case study examples

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P-ATTY5

Attorneys: Benefit Plan Mergers

Category: Fund Advisors - Attorneys

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 318

Session Type: In-Person

Attorneys will discuss their role at every phase of the plan merger process, including finding merger partners, due diligence, plan documentation and plan communication.

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H02-2

Health Care Legal and Legislative Update
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 315

Session Type: In-Person

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

Elena Lynett, J.D.
Senior Vice President, Health Compliance
Segal

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H05-2

GLP-1 Drugs—Part I: Where Are We Now?
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 312

Session Type: In-Person

Industry update
Current state of coverage for diabetes and weight-loss care
The role of prescription drug therapies as a part of a total health approach
Utilization management
Case study examples

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H10-2

Mental Health Provider Update
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 304

Session Type: In-Person

Provider landscape overview
Best practices in evaluating providers
Utilizing free and low-cost services
Avoiding common coverage pitfalls

Andrew Johnson
Fund Administrator
Teamster Center Services Fund

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: H12-2

Health Hacks—Best Practices in Participant Health Literacy
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 306

Session Type: In-Person

CDC's definitions and emphasis
Communicating the "language of health care" to plan participants
Initiatives for leadership, staff and plan participants
Utilizing multiple communication channels
Case study examples

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: PE7

Mental Health Parity—Audits of Public Sector Plans

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 308

Session Type: In-Person

This session addresses the Department of Health & Human Services' implementation of the non-quantitative treatment limitation comparative analysis requirements under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) for nonfederal governmental plans under the final rules.

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: T07

Instructor Quality for Your Apprenticeship Program

Category: Training and Education

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313A

Session Type: In-Person

The makings of great instructors
Finding the next generation of instructors
- Mentoring and internships
- Training and developing instructors
Best practices in technical training
- Honing your teaching skills
- Continuing professional education

Mark Johnson, Ed.D.
Professor
Pittsburg State University

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I04-2

Working With Your Investment Professionals
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 317

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

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I06-2

Basics of Defined Contribution Plan Investments
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 321

Session Type: In-Person

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

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I08-2

Private Markets—Part I: The Basics
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 307

Session Type: In-Person

How do they fit into your portfolios?
Different underlying types
How to invest
Secondary market
Fee structures
Reporting

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: I13-2

Asset Allocation for Today’s Markets
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 309

Session Type: In-Person

Reviewing interest rate trends
Removing risk from your portfolio
Active vs. passive
Investment deregulation

Ian Toner, CFA
Chief Investment Officer
Verus Investments

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P04-2

Actuarial Basics for the Nonactuary
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 302

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?

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P11-2

My Pension Plan Is Well-Funded—Now What? Part II: Considering Your Options
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom A

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

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

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P13-2

SECURE 2.0 Act Update—2025 and Beyond
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 319

Session Type: In-Person

Catch-up contributions
Increase in annual catch-up contribution limit
Emergency savings and withdrawals
Automatic enrollment
Required minimum distributions
Long-term and part-term employee eligibility
Life income

Steven Grieb, J.D., CEBS Compliant
Senior Compliance Counsel
Gallagher

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P15-2

Retirement Plan Merger Overview
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 303

Session Type: In-Person

Administrative, implementation and compliance issues
Defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) concerns
Zone status issues
Governance issues
What's working in this space?

Downloads

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Session ID: P16-2

Asset Liability Matching Investment to Manage the Risk of Unfunded Liabilities
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 305

Session Type: In-Person

What is asset liability matching investment strategy?
How does it work in different interest rate environments?
How can it manage risk?
What impact can it have on the plan's financial health?
How do these strategies apply in negative cash-flow situations?
When is the right time to implement asset liability matching?

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: A01-2

Talent Wars: Where Do We Find Our Next Administrator?
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 306

Session Type: In-Person

Recruiting and onboarding
Growing talent—Retention efforts
- Career and professional development
- Compensation and benefits
Managing attrition

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: F01-2

Fiduciary Responsibility Basics
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Room 315

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. union business
Familiarity with fund policies and procedures
Duties/activities that can be delegated

Jennifer Abrams, Esq.
Partner
SWB, PC

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: F10-2

Cybersecurity—It’s Okay to Spend Money to Protect Member Data
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 312

Session Type: In-Person

Funds need 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

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: F12-2

Fiduciary Responsibilities in a Defined Contribution Plan
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 314

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

Jeffrey Endick, Esq.
Principal
Slevin & Hart, P.C.

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G04-2

Suspension of Benefits—Part II: Health Plan Rules and Workforce Needs
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 302

Session Type: In-Person

Alignment with the pension plan's suspension rules
The impact of Medicare Secondary Payer rules
What happens to the contributions for working retirees?
Interaction with Medicare Advantage Plans and claims risk
Administrative considerations as participants move between active and retiree status

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G09-2

Cybersecurity Benefits Update
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 301

Session Type: In-Person

The importance of investing in cybersecurity
Utilizing DOL and HHS guidance
Best practices—What are your first steps after a breach?

Ashley Farrell, CIPP/US
Data Privacy, Cybersecurity and AI Associate Attorney
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G10-2

Participant-Level Financial Education Initiatives—Keys to Success
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 317

Session Type: In-Person

Strategies for improving benefits literacy
Meeting the needs of a diverse workforce
Utilizing significant life events
The importance of multichannel communication
AI usage to modernize communications
Postretirement budgeting

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: G12-2

Effective Board Meeting Strategies
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom C

Session Type: In-Person

What does an effective meeting look like?
Pros and cons of virtual vs. in-person meetings
Robert's Rules of Order
What technology solutions can help with board meeting effectiveness?
How do you deal with difficult and disputed decisions?

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P-ACCT6

Accountants: Town Hall

Category: Fund Professionals - Accountants

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 303

Session Type: In-Person

A panel of professionals will lead a discussion around emerging issues and best practices.

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P-ATTY6

Attorneys: Your Role in the Plan Investment Process

Category: Fund Advisors - Attorneys

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 307

Session Type: In-Person

Attorneys will analyze legal considerations involved in the plan investment process, from the RFP process to the negotiation and drafting of investment management agreements, limited partnership agreements, side letters and more.

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H03-2

Navigating Mental Health Parity Requirements
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 318

Session Type: In-Person

Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) overview
Recent audit trends
Self-compliance efforts

John Barlament
Shareholder
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H04-2

Prescription Drug Pipeline Update
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 316ABC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

What's coming down the pipeline?
Specialty drug update
Biosimilars, formularies, utilization management and other cost-containment strategies
Gene therapy/genetic testing update
The role of advocacy groups
Legal and legislative implications

Paul Lacombe, R.Ph., MBA
Clinical Strategy Director, Commercial Division
Express Scripts

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H06-2

GLP-1 Drugs—Part II: Coverage and What the Data Is Telling Us
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 311

Session Type: In-Person

This panel discussion will provide an overview of:

GLP-1-related survey data at the plan and industry level
Compiling insights on cost
Coverage for diabetes and weight loss
Cost-control mechanisms
What key insights can be gleaned to help guide plan actions.

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: H11-2

New Horizons in Mental Health Treatment—Psychedelics
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom A

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

High-level industry check-in
Coverage, funding, legal considerations
Defining the market: Ketamine, LSD, MDMA, psilocybin and more
Common pitfalls and best practices

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: PE8

Public Employee Retirement Strategy

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 305

Session Type: In-Person

Public pension history
Overview of public pension systems
Social Security facts and next steps

Hank Kim, Esq.
Executive Director and Counsel
National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS)

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I05-2

Stick to Your Plan: Let Your Investment Policy Statements Be Your Guide
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 321

Session Type: In-Person

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

Tim Walters
Senior Institutional Advisor
Mariner Institutional

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I09-2

Private Markets—Part II: Current Market
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 309

Session Type: In-Person

What's the market like today?
How to use the secondary market
Timing of commitments
Return on capital
Liquidity issues
Co-investments

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I14-2

Interpreting Interest Rates
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313BC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

What drives interest rates?
What the Fed news really means
Understanding the charts

Ted Benedict, CAIA, CFA
Managing Principal, Consultant
Meketa Investment Group, Inc.

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: I15-1

Investment Consultant Panel
This session is repeated on November 12, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313A

Session Type: In-Person

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

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P01-2

Legal and Legislative Update for Retirement Plans
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 304

Session Type: In-Person

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

Deva Kyle
Of Counsel
Cohen, Weiss and Simon LLP

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P03-2

Advanced Withdrawal Liability Topics
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 308

Session Type: In-Person

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

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P08-2

Effectively Communicating Your Pension/Retirement Plans
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom B

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

How do you talk about your plan to stakeholders?
Building a model of education
- Goals of the retirement plan
- Planning for the future
- Delivery methods
Appropriate messages for participants, employers, trustees and administrators

Downloads

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Session ID: P19-2

Things You’re Dying to Know About Mortality
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 319

Session Type: In-Person

Understanding demographic actuarial assumptions
- Impact of longevity
- Generations in the workforce
How actuaries evaluate plan experience to develop new actuarial assumptions
Trustees' role in how assumptions are determined for the plan

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: A06

Administrator-Only Roundtables: Building Community

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 315

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, solutions and innovations, roadblocks and solutions as discussed by each table. Please arrive early to secure your spot in the session.

Mary Karsten, CEBS, RHU
Fund Administrator
Wilson-McShane Corporation

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: F05-2

Trustee Expenses
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 316ABC

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

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: F06-2

Best Practices in Selecting Fund Professionals
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom B

Session Type: Virtual / 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

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: G14-2

Improving Workplace Awareness
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313BC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Preventing workplace violence
First aid, CPR, AED, naloxone/Narcan, mental health first aid and more
Importance of active shooter training
Crisis intervention strategies

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: G19-2

Better Communication Makes for a Better Audit
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 319

Session Type: In-Person

Communication is key, and this session will highlight the best practices for:

Communication between the auditor and fund office
Why timing and completeness are important for auditor requests
Maintaining an open dialogue
Developing a timeline.

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: H14-2

Practical Uses for Artificial Intelligence in Health Plans
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 311

Session Type: In-Person

Current and future capabilities
Impact on the member experience
Review of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) artificial intelligence (AI) strategic plan

Julia Posacki
Chief Strategy Officer
SmartLight Analytics

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: H15-2

Health Plan Cybersecurity Update
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313A

Session Type: In-Person

New trends to be aware of
Identifying common threats
Steps for prevention
Post-breach action steps

Julie Tracy, CISSP, CCSP
Manager, Advisory Cybersecurity Advisory
Withum

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: H17-2

Health Plan Mergers Overview
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 304

Session Type: In-Person

Administrative, implementation and compliance issues
What is a "soft merger"?
Governance issues
What's working in this space?

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: H20-2

Addressing Chronic Conditions in Your Plan Population
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 312

Session Type: In-Person

Targeting your plan's most common conditions: Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, depression and more
The impact of preventive care
New strategies for success
Case study examples

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: PE9

Public Employee–Only Roundtables: Building Community

Category: Public Plans

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 306

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.

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: I07-2

Total Plan and Investment Manager Benchmarking
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 301

Session Type: In-Person

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

William Craig Dobbs, M.B.A., AIF
Managing Director–Wealth Management; Institutional Consultant and Director
Morgan Stanley, Graystone Consulting

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: I10-2

Real Estate in Your Investment Portfolio
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 314

Session Type: In-Person

State of the asset class
What is the role in the portfolio?
When do you reconsider real estate?
Is REIT foretelling the future of real estate?
Where are the opportunities?
Sector funds are emerging

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: I15-2

Investment Consultant Panel
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 317

Session Type: In-Person

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

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: P09-2

Defined Contribution Plan Risk—Options to Minimize and Mitigate
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 303

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.

Downloads

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Session ID: P12-2

Understanding Alternative Plan Designs
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: Introductory

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom A

Session Type: Virtual / 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

Kelly Coffing, EA, FSA, MAAA
Principal and Consulting Actuary
Milliman, Inc.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: A03-2

Policies and Plan Documents
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Administration

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 311

Session Type: In-Person

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

Education policies
Delinquent and collection policies
AI policies (staff, trustees, etc.)
Fiduciary, cyber, business and other insurance policies
Trustee expense and reimbursement policies
Plan document, summary plan description, SMM, SBC.

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: F03-2

Understanding the Fiduciary Duty of Appointing a Multiemployer Trustee
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 301

Session Type: In-Person

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

Peter Rosene, Esq.
Shareholder
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: F07-2

Important Tools for Monitoring Compliance
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom B

Session Type: Virtual / 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

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: F09-2

Insurance for Plans and Trustees
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Fiduciary Responsibility

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 321

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?

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: G15-2

Fund Office Issues—Small Staff, Large Obstacles
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 319

Session Type: In-Person

Finding efficiencies with limited resources
Navigating insourcing and outsourcing decisions
Best practices in payroll, regulatory compliance, information technology and more

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: G16-2

Beyond the Payroll Audit—Impact on Financial Statements
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 303

Session Type: In-Person

Explore payroll auditing's impact on financial statements and the importance of all the players.

Understanding the fund office's perspective
Understanding audit perspective
Evaluating the quality of the payroll auditor and audit process
Examples of sufficient documentation
Workpaper and report examples

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: G21

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

Category: General Topics

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 316ABC

Session Type: In-Person

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

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: H08-2

Navigating Your Pharmacy Benefit Manager Contract Language
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 302

Session Type: In-Person

Dissecting the contract elements
Ensuring proper transparency
Fulfilling your fiduciary obligations
Fiduciary liability cases
Future-proofing for legislation

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: H16-2

Telehealth Engagement in a Postpandemic World
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 304

Session Type: In-Person

Industry update—Where are we now?
Potential benefits and pitfalls: Cost, access, satisfaction and more
Best practices for continual engagement
Understand what is being covered by providers

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: H19-2

Cancer in the Workforce: Best Approaches to Care
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Health and Welfare

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 317

Session Type: In-Person

Evaluating the workforce impact
Reviewing overall trend data
Best approaches for comprehensive care

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: I03-2

Investing for Health and Welfare and Apprenticeship Plans
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313BC

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

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

John Teramana, CAIA
Managing Director/Senior Consultant
Verus Investments

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: I18-2

Applying Asset Liability Matching Strategies to Your Investments
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Location: Room 305

Session Type: In-Person

Understanding liability-aware investing
- Special Financial Assistance (SFA) roots
- Applying SFA strategies to any fund
Asset liability matching investing strategies and negative cash flow strategies
Implementation
- Short- vs. long-term strategies
- Public and private market investments

Russell Kamp
CEO
Ryan ALM, Inc.

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: I19-2

The Future of Fixed Income
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Investments

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 312

Session Type: In-Person

Interest rate environment
Role of fixed income in a portfolio
Exploring different avenues of fixed income
- Investment grade
- Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS)
- High-yield bonds
- Core and core plus

Jeff Helsing
Fixed Income Strategist
T. Rowe Price

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: P06-2

Investment Consultant and Actuary Tango
This session is repeated on November 11, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 313A

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

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: P07-2

Department of Labor (DOL) Retirement Plan Audit Trends
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Kalākaua Ballroom A

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Samuel Henson, J.D., CEBS Compliant, ASPPA-APM
Chief Legal Officer
Creative Planning

Downloads

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Session ID: P17-2

Entering the Green Zone and Staying There
This session is repeated on November 10, 2025

Category: Pension

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Room 314

Session Type: In-Person

What happens to your rehabilitation plan?
Effective management
Communication and managing expectations
Reconsidering actuarial assumptions

Christian Benjaminson, EA, FSA, MAAA
Principal Consulting Actuary
Cheiron, Inc.

Downloads

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Session ID: D

FINALE SESSION—Red Shoes Living, Igniting Human Potential

Category: Keynote

Difficulty Level: All

Location: Exhibit Hall III

Session Type: Virtual / In-Person

Red Shoes Living—standing out for embracing the positive at work and in your life—is the most relevant and life-changing business message for our time. As an internationally recognized speaker, Lonnie Mayne shares the simple framework of Red Shoes Living with audiences around the world. The foundation of his success is the Red Shoes Living concept that centers on getting the best version out of employees by focusing on five key Red Shoes pillars. These pillars encourage employees to stand out in the work they do and in the life they live. Whether it’s business or personal Red Shoes Living is a way of life. In a world that is increasingly noisy and negative, the Red Shoes philosophy has become a symbol for making a positive impact in the world of business.

Lonnie Mayne
Founder and CEO
Red Shoes Living, Inc.

Downloads

Pricing

Through September 29, 2025

US$1,850.00

Member

Members Only

Nonmember

After September 29, 2025

US$2,150.00

Member

Members Only

Nonmember

71st Annual Employee Benefits Conference

Agenda

Filter By Track

Filter By Session Type

Pricing