ed_pensionben.html - Association for Financial Professionals

Pension and Benefits

For a copy of any of the sessions listed please contact Chris Banas, Educational Programs Administrator at 301.961.8816.

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

24: ERISA Fiduciary Issues and Investment Developments

Treasury professionals act as fiduciaries under ERISA in managing investments for their organizations' retirement plans. ERISA rules on fiduciary conduct are strict and there is a potential for liability. This session will cover current retirement plan investment trends, fiduciary standards and ways to best fulfill these standards, with a focus on defined benefit plan issues.
Stuart I. Odell, Director, Retirement Investments, Intel Corporation
R. Bradford Huss, Esq., Partner, Trucker Huss

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

42: Defined Contribution: A Brave New World?

The recent market crisis has called into question the design and perhaps even the viability of defined contribution plans. This session examines the latest trends and best practices in DC plan management, including retirement income adequacy, managing plan risk, investment fund due diligence, mutual funds versus collective trusts, the current state of securities lending, and benchmarking target date funds.
Lori Lucas, CFP, Defined Contribution Practice Leader, Callan Associates
Stacy L. Schaus, CFP, Defined Contribution Practice Leader, PIMCO

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

60: The Health Care Dilemma: Individual Responsibility, Social Good or Entitlement?

This session will discuss the growing problem of escalating health care costs, turbulent economic conditions and a changing global landscape. Learn what the future may hold for the U.S. health care system under the new president and Congress, and what the implications may be for individuals, businesses, and the national landscape. Gain valuable information to use in your future decision-making processes.
Dennis Triplett, President of Healthcare Services, UMB Financial Corporation

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

77: Pension Plan Financial Management - Today and in the Future

It's a challenging time for pension plan sponsors. Pension assets have declined significantly in the past year resulting in increased cash contribution and expense requirements. New rules for funding and accounting have important implications on cash requirements, balance sheet adjustments as well as benefit distributions and participant notifications. Come learn how to avoid financial surprises and make sure your program is aligned to your business objectives.
Christine Tozzi, FSA, EA, Retirement Leader, San Francisco, Watson Wyatt

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

117: Target-Date Funds: The Search for Transparency

Target-date funds were touted as the plan sponsor's perfect 401(k) solution. During this financial meltdown, many target-date funds have proven to be seriously flawed. Discuss methods to gain greater transparency on target-date funds and other investment options. Regulations define plan fiduciaries as investment experts. A comprehensive investment due diligence process is essential to protecting plan sponsors from being held personally liable for employee investment underperformance.
Marlow Key, Director of Finance, PATH
Linda Ruiz-Zaiko, President and Founder, Bridgebay Financial, Inc.

Rep. Lynn Jenkins Brings Treasury Background to CongressWith corporate tax reform heating up in Congress, it’s helpful that treasury and finance professionals have a former colleague on the inside. Rep. Lynn Jenkins is arguably the most prominent treasurer-turned-Congressman.
AFP Applauds Passage of OTC Derivatives End-User ExemptionAFP has voiced its approval of bipartisan passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of H.R.634, the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act, which exempts non-financial end-users from imposed-margin requirements on over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives trading, a sought-after clarification to the Dodd-Frank Act.
This Week in Corporate Finance: Back to Normal?Following the U.S. equity market indexes peaking on May 22, the investor community has been trying to figure out how the next chapter of the recovery story will play out. As the U.S. economy improves, the need for stimulus will decrease, and the market has been trying to contemplate going back to a more “normal” environment.
AFP EconWatch - June 17, 2013While rising gasoline and food prices led to the largest one-month increase in producer prices since February, little in two inflation reports released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that the Federal Open Market Committee will decide this week to slow the pace of expansion of the Fed’s balance sheet.
June 2013 Risk NewsletterThis issue begins with a timely interview with John Drzik, CEO of Oliver Wyman, focusing on the global risk landscape. Next, practitioner Dawnette Blake, CCM, explains the benefits of natural hedging. In addition, Nilly Essaides covers the growing appetite for cyber-risk insurance, AFP offers more risk survey analysis and sessions at its upcoming Annual Conference, and more.