National Conference Breakout Sessions

One reason PSCA's National Conference is a worthwhile investment is the wide variety of breakout workshops that we offer. Breakout workshops cover a wide range of topics, including investments, communication and education, compliance, plan design and administration, and more. No matter what your role is with your company's defined contribution plan, there will be multiple sessions at the National Conference that will provide you with valuable information and proven strategies that you can take back and apply to your plan. Here are a few of the breakout workshops that we have already lined up:

What You May Not Know About Your Investment Advisor

This presentation will distinguish between the different types of investment advisors that work with plan sponsors and other fiduciaries. Investment Advisors differ in registration requirements, following suitability or fiduciary standards, and may or may not disclose potential conflicts of interest. The presentation will discuss why reviewing an ADV Form may not tell the whole story and what other steps you can take to ensure that your investment advisors are working in your best interests. Presented by: David Hudak and Fred Stewart, Portfolio Evaluations, Inc.

Ask the Experts

Two nationally-recognized ERISA in-house counsel and outside counsels answer any and all questions from the audience. This popular and informative session provides insight, opinion, and candor to unravel some of the more complex issues in our industry. One of the most highly-rated sessions in the history of PSCA National Conferences. Bring all of your questions! Presented by: Ian Kopelman, DLA Piper LLP (US) and Karen Barnes, McDonald’s Corporation

Are You Prepared to Be a Fiduciary?

Plan sponsors face increasing challenges in today’s environment. Many plan fiduciaries may feel uncomfortable in their role as fiduciaries because of a lack of training or clear objectives for the committee. As defined contribution plans have become the backbone of retirement for most Americans, plan fiduciaries are asking two questions: How can I mitigate risk for me and my company, and how can I improve our retirement benefit for our participants to provide a better outcome for them?

By following some straightforward steps, plan fiduciaries can develop an approach to the governance of their plan that will help protect themselves from liability, and provide a framework for a better overall retirement benefit for plan participants.

This session will show you how to:

• Mitigate risk for committee members
• Establish a risk management framework for making decisions about investments
• Address the three key areas of risk in your plan: investments, fees and operational compliance
• Demonstrably improve the benefit to participants through the committee decision process
• Know when to use professional assistance, including legal counsel and consultants

Presented by: Donald Stone, Plan Sponsor Advisors

Roundtables

Roundtable discussions are one of the most popular sessions of past PSCA National Conferences. Roundtables are attended by plan sponsors who want to speak with other Plan Sponsors at similarly-sized companies - small, medium, and large company sessions are hosted. This year additional roundtables will take place, one exclusively for providers and one exclusively for tribal plans. Each session will be hosted by experts who will keep the topics and the dialogue moving. Plan Sponsors find these sessions among the most valuable at the conference.

• Small Company, 1-1,000 Employees - Moderated by Mary Kay Leydon, Transamerica Retirement Services
• Mid-Size Company, 1,001-9,999 Employees
• Global and Large Company, 10,000 or More Employees - Moderated by Kenneth Raskin, White & Case LLP
• Service Providers
• Tribal Employers - Moderated by Robert Yoder, Esq.

These are just a few of the breakout sessions we have lined up for PSCA's National Conference. Be sure to check this site often; we'll be updating with information about all of our breakout sessions, general sessions, and keynote speakers. We look forward to seeing you in September!