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70th Annual Employee Benefits Conference

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

San Diego Convention Center,
San Diego, CA

Arrive in San Diego a bit earlier and take a deeper dive into critical elements impacting your fund management—challenge yourself to dig in, learn something new, and take your fund to the next level.

Trustees and Administrators Education and Networking

New Trustees Institute—Level I: Core Concepts

Two and a half-day workshop
Saturday, November 9, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.,
Sunday November 10, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., and
Monday, November 11, 2024, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Registration code: 24N8

Designed for Taft-Hartley trustees who have served for less than two years or who have not previously attended an International Foundation educational program. The New Trustees Institute is ideal for collective bargaining and other personnel who work with trustees and who would like a better understanding of their role and responsibilities. The institute’s highly rated faculty will return to lead the program.

Trustees Institute—​Level II: Concepts in Practice

Session filled, Please contact the Registration Department at [email protected] or (888) 334-3327, option 2 to be added to the waitlist.

Two-day workshop
Saturday, November 9, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and
Sunday, November 10, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Registration code: 24N9

This program explores how the concepts introduced in Level I apply to trust fund management, digging deeper into each area so trustees gain more confidence in their knowledge. Those completing Level II will have a greater understanding of their fiduciary responsibilities and will have a firmer overall grasp of trust fund management. Attendance of New Trustees Institute—​Level I: Core Concepts​ in strongly encouraged.

Note: Registration is limited and fills up quickly, register early.

Trustees Masters Program (TMP)

Two-day workshop
Saturday, November 9, 2024 and
Sunday, November 10, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Registration code: 24D2

The Trustees Masters Program (TMP) is the pinnacle event for advanced-level trustee networking and education. Designed by trustees and practitioners in the field for trustees who have five or more years of experience, TMP is for serious-minded trustees who want to think and act more boldly, systematically and proactively. The curriculum builds on trustees’ existing knowledge base and experience through peer exchange and group exercises over an intense two days. If you have already completed the program, consider the TMP Advanced Leadership Summit on Sunday, November 10.

TMP Advanced Leadership Summit

One-day workshop—Sunday ONLY, November 10, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Registration code: 24D3

The TMP Advanced Leadership Summit is an exclusive program for trustees who have earned the TMP Certificate of Attendance and commemorative pin. The Summit offers an opportunity to further examine relevant topics critical to a fund’s overall strategy. What will trustee leadership look like in the future? What are the challenges and prospective solutions for forward-thinking organizations? The topic focus of the TMP Advanced Leadership Summit changes each year to reflect the most essential issues facing trustees today. Attendees of the Summit will earn two tickets toward the main conference certificate of attendance.​

Note: Registration is limited, register early.

Certificate of Achievement in Public Plan Policy (CAPPP®): Health Part II

Two-day workshop
Saturday, November 9, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and
Sunday, November 10, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Registration code: 2418H

An essential program for new trustees and those seeking a refresher in public sector benefit plans, the CAPPP program addresses the core concepts and current trends in health plans, plan design and fiduciary aspects of public sector benefit plans. This exam-based program is led by industry practitioners and experts in the field.

Note: Limited seats are offered for this program.

Final offering of CAPPP
Attend in San Diego or stay tuned for new Public Sector Trustee education coming in 2025.
Contact Justin Held for details.

Certificate of Achievement in Public Plan Policy (CAPPP®): Pensions Part II

Two-day workshop
Saturday, November 9, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and
Sunday, November 10, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Registration code: 2418P

An essential program for new public sector trustees working with pensions, this program addresses the fundamental areas involved in managing pension plans. Sessions dissect the basics of what you need to know for your role and the distinguished faculty bring real-life scenarios and years of experience to enrich the content and your takeaways.

Note: Limited seats are offered for this program.

Final offering of CAPPP
Attend in San Diego or stay tuned for new Public Sector Trustee education coming in 2025.
Contact Justin Held for details.

Financial Planning Workshop

Health, Wealth and Happiness—Planning Your Path to a Successful Retirement

Two-Day program
Saturday and Sunday, November 9-November 10, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Registration code: Attendee only PC53; Attendee plus spouse/guest PC55

Securing a healthy and successful retirement requires a holistic approach that goes beyond just having enough money. This workshop will explore tools and resources to design the “life” side of your next chapter and to boost and protect your retirement income. Attendees of all ages are encouraged to attend.

$1,050 through September 30, 2024 and $1,350 after September 30 for members.

​​​Spouses/Guests may also attend this workshop at a reduced price!

Attendee plus spouse/guest registration:
$1,140 through September 30, 2024 and $1,440 after September 30 for members.
Use registration code: PC55

One-Day Enrichment Workshops—Attend One or Both Days!

Enrichment Workshops are $525 per day through September 30, 2024 and $675 per day after September 30 for members.

Cybersecurity and Social Engineering Fraud

Saturday, November 9, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Registration code: PC01

Fraud can happen at any time, in any place. You are responsible for having the tools necessary to prevent cyberattacks, data breaches, and claims fraud. Join this One-Day Preconference to learn how to spot social engineering fraud, learn about tools and tests to be implemented to avoid fraud, review and implement the right insurance coverage, and more!

Mental Health First Aid®

Session filled, Please contact the Registration Department at [email protected] or (888) 334-3327, option 2 to be added to the waitlist.

Saturday, November 9, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Registration code: PC03
Sunday, November 10, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Registration code: PC04

Mental Health First Aid® (MHFA) at Work is a high-impact, skills-based training program that teaches workers how to offer help to a person who may be developing or is suffering from a mental health concern or crisis. Attendees will be introduced to the unique challenges and needs of the individual who may experience the symptoms of mental illness.

  • Identify the impact of mental health challenges and recovery on the well-being of adults in the workplace.
  • Explain and practice the five-step MHFA action plan (ALGEE).
  • Discuss appropriate methods of self-care for individuals in the workplace.

Register early—Seating is limited to 30 attendees per day.

Overcoming Bias in the Workplace: Stop the Unconscious Decision Making That Leads to Unexpected Consequences

Saturday November 9, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Registration code: PC05

You know there’s a problem, but no one thinks they’re the problem. The real problem? Blind spots. Or as Tony puts it, “human thinking shortcuts”—the kind that create chaos and breed bias. In those blind spots are the hidden causes of discrimination that lead to alienation, absence and resignation, and before you know it, create a culture that can’t retain or attract top talent. The solution? A workforce that understands what unconscious bias is, how it occurs and how it can influence seemingly objective decisions despite our best intentions. We’ll look at how team members can reduce unconscious bias, and we’ll explore the many ways that we can change our practices to minimize the impact of cognitive bias and create a culture in which everyone can grow and succeed. You will learn to:

  • Understand the meaning of, and psychological basis beneath, unconscious bias
  • Grasp the pervasiveness of implicit bias
  • Recognize unconscious bias and its underpinning drivers in the workplace
  • Challenge “go with your gut” thinking and decision making.

Attorneys Only—Ethics and Diversity in Employee Benefits

Sunday, November 10, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Registration code: PC02

Join us for 3 hours of continuing legal education credits in Ethics and 1 hour of Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias training for benefit attorneys. This critical education will cover representation matters, contracts and relationships, disclosures, and DEI litigation. Be sure to include your CLE request on the registration form with your state and BAR license number.

Sessions include:

Ethics:  Representation, Contracts & Relationships

  • Dual capacity representation
  • Conflict of interest
  • Importance of representation contract
  • Waiver to attorney-client privilege

Ethics: Representation, Contracts & Relationships Scenario Workshop

  • Application to law firms
  • Application to clients
  • Plan of action / case study
    • Trustee contracting issues
    • Inadvertent formation of an attorney-client relationship

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Diverse Intentions

  • Self-reflection
  • DEI on the clock
  • DEI off the clock
  • Eliminate bias and enhance diversity

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Elimination of Bias Workshop

  • DEI application to law firms
  • DEI application to clients
  • Plan of action / case study
    • Recruitment, retention & advancement
    • Benefit plan considerations

A Way With Words: How to Say What You Mean to Get What You Want

Sunday, November 10, 2024, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Registration code: PC06

The ability to connect with those around us and powerfully and positively communicate wants and needs is a differentiator in today’s world of increasing isolation and separation. Develop the confidence to enter any meeting or conversation knowing you have the knowledge and tools to be heard and received in the way you intend, while positively influencing your teams, colleagues and superiors. To be effective communicators, you need both the relational part that enrolls others, builds consensus and encourages collaboration and innovation as well as the informational part that brings a sense of ease through clarity. You will learn:

  • How to spot and overcome common barriers that keep others from hearing and understanding what they mean to say
  • How to connect with people on both the informational and relational levels
  • The keys to effective listening that allow others to hear not only what is said but what’s intended.