|
|
|
|
|
Updated: |
|
|
Program Schedule
5:00 - 7:05 PM
1 - Gray Book Review Experienced practitioners lead a review of government responses to the Gray Books. The panelists discuss the practical implications of the answers and any new information developed since the 2009 EA Meeting.
7:00 – 8:00 AM
8:00 – 10:15 AM
2 - General Session: It’s
not Web 2.0. It’s not Web 3.0. It’s simply life. We have more technology than ever before. We can reach more people than ever before, in shorter amounts of time. But that doesn’t mean we should do it! You can have all the tools in the world—it doesn’t mean you know what to do with them! When Help a Reporter launched in March 2008, it quickly became one of the most successful word of mouth programs ever, attracting more than 75,000 current members without spending one penny on advertising. How? The beauty of social and viral technology is that it allows us to reach many, many people in nanoseconds. The danger of it? The exact same thing. Peter Shankman discusses social networking, viral marketing and all the “fun ways” to use them—and perhaps most important why sometimes not using any of them is your best bet. He'll show you how marketers, businesses, publicists, and everyday humans are:
10:15 – 10:35 AM
3 - Retiree
Medical -- Innovative Designs and "Cutting-Edge" Accounting Employers are now looking at some retiree medical designs that likely were never envisioned when FAS 106 was put into place. Come learn about some of these designs and how to account for them. 4 - "Why Do I Have
to Provide You with an Incentive to Take Drugs?" Speakers at this session explore cost effectiveness of incentive based prescription drug plan designs. Are they working? Do they reduce costs? 5 - What's Up In
Washington? New Administration, new Congress, new thoughts? Where is the country headed in relation to retirement plans? 6 - Wrap-up in
Nori: Overview of Pensions in Japan Japan's cultural and language barriers have made understanding its pension environment difficult for US multinationals. But those communication barriers will be lifted at this session. With an approaching deadline (March, 2012) by which to restructure tax qualified pension plans (TQPPs) and a gradual movement toward hybrid contribution plans underway, a look at Japan's benefits scene is interesting and timely. 7 - No Country for
Old Men (and Women): Mortality Trends & Longevity Hedges Are actuaries adequately planning for the "living to 100 generation?" How can we assist clients (and the general public) to manage and/or hedge longevity risk? The speakers explore and contrast risk management options, US mortality trends, and longevity hedging techniques being considered in the UK. 8 - Public
Employee Retirement Plan GASB The Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is in the process of rethinking the principals behind reporting and disclosure for public employee retirement plans. The speakers discuss the process GASB is going through, what they have produced so far and where this may be headed. 9 - "Check Your
WRERA View Mirror" WRERA relief update – a general discussion of where we are to date on regulations and how actuaries have been managing the application of the rules in the current environment. 10 - It's a Small
World After All It's a world of hope and a world of new legislation, regulatory guidance, and financial turmoil. Come hear what's new in small plan valuations and administration.
11 - IAS and FAS -
How to Help Companies Make the Transition from US GAAP to IFRS The SEC has issued a proposed road map for US public companies to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards. The presenters at this session attempt to help you understand where US GAAP is headed and what it means for accounting for employee benefits. 12 - Late Breaking
Developments 13 - Serving the
Interest of the Public In 2007, the leaders of the North American Actuarial Council (NAAC) signed a statement acknowledging "the paramount importance of acting in the public interest" and indicating that it "is important to identify, protect, and advance the public interest in the work of our profession—its organizations and its members." What does this mean for an individual actuary? Who is the "public?” Is there one "public" or do different segments of the "public" have different interests? Is this a call for each actuary to serve the interests of the "public" or a call to the profession as a whole? Actuaries in the UK are currently dealing with implementing a similar call to serve the public interest with regard to setting standards of practice on ethical issues. Panelists from the UK and the US, including a member of the Actuarial Standards Board, lead a discussion on how these calls may change how we provide actuarial services. 14 - If We Build
It, Will They Come? A Retirement 20/20 Update The Society of Actuaries Pension Section launched the Retirement 20/20 project in late 2005 in reaction to the shortcomings of both traditional defined benefit (DB) plans and defined contribution (DC) plans, shortcomings which have been further accentuated during the recent financial crisis. Retirement 20/20 is a strategic multi-year project to look at the possibilities that could exist outside of the traditional DB/DC framework in both the U.S. and Canada. Since its inception, Retirement 20/20 has systematically brought together actuaries (pensions and annuities), economists, attorneys, employers, investment advisors and public policy experts to debate what we need for a robust retirement system in the 21st century without regard to the constraints of existing legislative requirements. The speakers at this session bring you up to date on what has been learned in our three conferences, present the measurement framework tool and demonstrate its application to several actual design models, summarize the Retirement 20/20 capstone report presented at the Pension Research Council Conference at Wharton earlier this year, and give you a preview of our plans for 2010, including our unique and exciting “Call for Models Contest.” 15 - Increasing
Your Personal Actuarial Value More then ever before we are all challenged to convince clients and employers that we bring value to the table. The speakers explore how each of us can do this, whether it be by incorporating ERM, broadening our skills, publishing, etc. 16 - A Case Study
in Workforce Planning In a hypothetical scenario, a large employer with an aging workforce embarked on a workforce planning exercise. Some retirement-related issues were encountered, including the affects of wear away. These and other issues/affects are examined. 17 - Retiree
Medical: Still In the Trenches This is an open-forum discussion about actuarial OPEB issues, both private and public sector moderated by leading consultants. Come discuss your hot topics. 18 - Consumer
Driven Healthcare -- Emerging Data & Trends 3:30
– 3:50
PM
19 - Small Plan
Design -- "Taking it to the Limit" What's new in designing retirement plans in the small plan market? Bring your ideas and be ready to share. 20 - New Buyer
Perspective With companies focused on belt tightening and the bottom line, consulting services may be viewed as expensive, or worse, expendable. How can we effectively market our services in a distressed environment? A professional services advisor and corporate procurement officer discuss best practices and broader new buyer perspectives. Learn how to better understand your client’s needs, how they drive value internally and how you can better align your work to help them maximize value. 21 - GASB 43/45:
Raiders of the Not-So-Lost ARC How are public OPEB sponsors dealing with these very large liabilities? Hear from both sides of the table. A finance director and a consultant discuss strategies, successes and failures. 22 - Healthcare
Reform – Budget Implications The new Administration has promised healthcare reform before the end of the President's first term. Dramatic progress has been made to date. The panel discusses short-term and longer-term implications of proposed initiatives on the US budget and its impact on individuals. 23 - I Have a
Friend Who… An Ethics Workshop Bring your burning ethics questions to this interactive workshop. Current and former ABCD members lead discussions of attendees' issues. (This is a workshop limited to 40 attendees.) 24 - DC Plans --
Is That Your Final Answer? How were 401(k) plan participants impacted by the financial crisis? Are 401(k) plans a failure? The panelists focus on DC plan risks, retirement income adequacy, and how plan sponsors are working to manage those risks and improve the outcomes. 25 - Are You
Smarter Than an Actuarial Student? How many years has it been since you sat for an actuarial exam? Do you still think you have your edge? Join us for the latest actuarial game show where contestants are asked to test their knowledge, with help from recent Enrolled Actuary exam passers. The emphasis is on material a pension consulting actuary should know. Don't be in jeopardy of not knowing what you should. 26 - Asset
Liability Modeling Today - Liability Driven Investing Approaches Investments - LDI 101, LDI -- what happened in 2008/2009? What alternative investments are suggested for the future?
7:00 – 8:00 AM
27 - "The Good,
The Bad, and The Ugly" PPA-Unanswered Questions There are still a number of issues under PPA where final guidance has not been issued. The panel identifies and discusses the top outstanding issues. 28 - Workshop on
Public Employee Retirement Systems (Part I) Come join an open forum to exchange ideas, information and experiences on current topics of interest to actuaries who work with public employee retirement systems. Topics for discussion may include actuarial assumptions, plan design trends and more. 29 - EACAs, QACAs,
and MRD Waivers Eligible Automatic Contribution Arrangement (EACA), Qualified Automatic Contribution Arrangement (QACA), Minimum Required Distribution (MRD). How has the financial crisis affected defined contribution plans? The speakers discuss short-term concerns and opportunities and expected long-term trends, including steps employers can take now to allow participants to recover from the economic downturn. 30 - When the CFO
says: "*!?*!!?" 31 - Case Studies
from Health Data Warehouse Users Representatives from two analytic firms present new technology that's available today to help plans, employers and employees manage healthcare. 32 - Debate: A
National Care Record Database, for or Against? Experts say $X billion is wasted each year due to incomplete, inaccurate, and/or redundant healthcare records. At the same time, real questions of privacy and flexibility have arisen. Come listen to all sides of the argument and form your own opinions. 33 - X-Men and
Other Super Heroes: Expatriate Benefits and Compensation 34 - "Hang 'Em
High" Executive Compensation Issues in Today's World Risk management in executive compensation arrangements. No execs were harmed in the making of this session. Hear what is new and what exactly is happening after the events of the past year.
9:40 – 10:00 AM
35 - Blazing
Saddles: Underfunded Plans and the PBGC The economic downturn has raised everyone’s awareness of pension plan funding levels, including the PBGC. Hear from the speakers about how to deal with a broad range of PBGC issues including reportable event traps, annual employer financial and actuarial information reporting and PBGC’s enhanced ability to pursue “downsizing liability.” 36 - Employer
Approaches to Improve Quality and Control Cost of Health Care Two employers and an MD will discuss the spectrum of approaches they have used to improve outcomes and control cost of health care. Employers will review the broad range of options considered, their rationale for program selection, emerging results where available, and lessons learned. In addition to traditional care management and health promotion/disease prevention programs, panelists will review innovative programs, which range from care support for complex conditions focusing specifically on the most expensive 1% of participants to effective use of on-site clinics. 37 - DC Rodeo -
How to Get Employees in the Game and Help Them Stay on Top when the
Riding gets Rough Our panel discusses behavioral finance in DC plans and some of the latest research on the influence of ethnicity on retirement plan behavior. 38 - Legislative
and Regulatory Reform The speakers provide an up-to-date overview of the status of healthcare reform (HCR) and other new and potential legislative/regulatory that is happening in the healthcare arena. 39 - Return of the
Workshop on Public Employee Retirement Systems (Part II) Continuing discussions of topics that were not covered in the previous session on public employee retirement systems. Topics may include assumption setting, reporting and disclosure, valuation and funding of DROP and OPEB. 40 - Spanning the
Globe “and Nobody Got Hurt” How has the global financial crisis impacted retirement plans around the world? Do some countries have better mechanisms in place to avoid or manage large losses? The speakers at this session delve into and explore these issues. 41 - What’s in it
for Me? Communicating Complex Concepts As actuaries, we pride ourselves on communicating complex information to our clients. But are we providing the information they really need? Join us for a working session focused on moving from actuarial results to true awareness advice.
42 - The ASB and
You: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue What do we need to know about the new ASOPs? What have we forgotten about the old ASOPs? What is the process to identify new ASOPs or ASOPs for updating? Representatives of the ASB discuss recent and proposed ASOPs affecting consulting actuaries, especially ASOP 41. Other topics include how ASOPs implement the Council of US Presidents’ (CUSP) statement regarding actuaries and the public interest.
Anyone interested is invited to stop by, meet, and discuss public plans issues, news, and outlooks.
Anyone interested is invited to stop by, meet, and discuss healthcare reform issues, news, and outlooks.
Anyone interested is invited to stop by, meet, and discuss small firm issues, news, and outlooks.
7:00 – 8:00 AM
43 -
Multi-employer Workshop Discussion of issues impacting consulting to the multi-employer world. WARNING -- discussion may include health & welfare funding issues. 44 - Communicating
Uncertainty How to go beyond just delivering "the number(s)" whether they be next year's host country (H.C.) budget, program risk management (PRM)/RAB & expenses, pension liabilities/exp., etc. Incorporates the EA/consulting actuary conflict and ERM issues. 45 - Dances with
Wolves The devil is in the details -- what's involved in making sure that a plan's administration is compliant with all of the various notices and limitations. 46 - ERM -
Actuaries and Credentials 47 - Is Retiree
Drug Subsidy (RDS) the Best Approach for Employers - or - RDS
Alternatives? Historically, the primary value of employer sponsored retiree health plans for Medicare eligibles resided in the prescription drug benefit. However, the retiree health care environment changed considerably with the launch of Medicare Part D in 2006. Many employers elected to remain the primary payer of prescription drug benefits for their Medicare eligible retirees and to apply for federal subsidies under the Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) program. Now in the fourth RDS year and in challenging economic times, many employers are revisiting their decision to elect RDS and examining ever evolving options to sponsorship and delivery of health benefits for Medicare eligibles, particularly benefits where the employer subsidy is capped. The speakers during this session review employer alternatives to RDS from the consulting and Prescription Benefit Management points of view. In doing so, we may identify what actions employers are taking and the drivers behind that decision. 48 - A Modest
(Actuarial) Proposal: Responsible Healthcare Reform A panel of two physicians, with an actuary as moderator discuss how physicians view health information technology (HIT) initiatives, Consumer Driven Health Plans (CDHP), Disease Management and Wellness. 49 - Stand By Your
Plan Panelists discuss overall low risk approaches to pension plans, plan design, and investments.
9:15 – 9:30 AM
50 - Impact of the
Economic Downturn on Employers' Health & Welfare Benefits What impact does/will this unprecedented economy and attempts to control it have on employers' health and welfare budgets? Specific potential topics include:
51 - Medicare
Futures Changes to Medicare are in continual debate in Congress and in policy circles, ranging from the role of private plans to overall provider payment policy. More broadly, elements of Medicare could influence the development of a public plan option under national healthcare reform. Major healthcare changes are on the horizon for 2010 and later, and Medicare is clearly a central part of these evolving changes. Tune into the speakers at this session to get a current reading on how future changes in Medicare might impact insurers, employers and other parties involved in the management of post-65 benefits in particular, as well as Medicare's potential role in national healthcare reform. 52 - Life
Insurance for Pension Actuaries The product development engine in the life insurance industry is running as strong as ever. The panelists describe some of the more creative products relevant to employers and the actuaries who consult to them. 53 - If I Could Do
it All Over Again - Retirement Plan of the Future Based on what we know today, how would you change pensions (outside of stringing up FASB?) Design, funding, investments, the whole ball of wax. In this interactive session, speakers provide their thoughts, along with audience critique of designs. 54 - Showdown at
the IAS Corral Have your clients asked how convergence to international accounting standards might impact them? If so, come to this session to learn about the important nuances and potential pitfalls of IFRS. Bring your questions too! 55 - Dialogue with
the IRS This is an excellent opportunity for attendees to ask questions and discuss important developments with representatives of the IRS. Don't miss your chance to (possibly) get answers to some questions that have been troubling you. 56 - Seeing the
Forest for the Trees: Bringing Value Back to the Actuary-Client
Relationship The credit crisis, recession, and other economic impacts put pressure on the further commoditizing actuarial services. The volatility of PPA funding rules pushes us to become short-term managers of risk at the expense of a longer-term view. Senior actuaries will lead an interactive session on how we can be more relevant and add value to our client relationships. 56A - Update on
Asset Smoothing for Public Plans
(Just Added) A description is forthcoming.
10:45 – 11:00 AM
57 - ABCD Hearing Attend an ABCD hearing and listen in on the subsequent deliberations. Current and former ABCD members portray the subject actuary, the Investigator, and the ABCD chair(s) in a live hearing. Selected audience members serve as ABCD members.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
© 2010 Conference of Consulting Actuaries. All rights reserved. |
6:30 – 9:30 PM