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EXHIBIT HALL A OPEN
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
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REGISTRATION DESK OPEN
7:30 AM - 12:45 PM
1:30 PM - 5:45 PM |
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST (EXHIBIT HALL A)
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
General Session - 002
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
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002 |
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Saving Private
Retirement / Why We (Still) Have DB Plans |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. David R. Godofsky, 2.
Vicki Lostetter, 3. Bradley Belt
The reasons DB plans originally became
popular still apply, at least for some companies. Real, live plan
sponsors explain why they decided to start or continue their DB plans.
(Real, live actuaries delve into the issues raised.) |
REFRESHMENT BREAK (EXHIBIT HALL A)
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Track #4
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
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401 |
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The “Gold”en Rule of
Financial Economics |
Credits: EA Noncore 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. R. Evan Inglis, 2.
Mark T. Ruloff
Financial economics can be used by
actuaries to help their clients manage the risks of their defined
benefit plans. The panelists in this session explore the economics of
asset liability mismatch. Come and learn how you can help your clients
minimize volatility and increase predictability. |
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402 |
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Current Issues with
403(b) and 457 Plans |
Credits: EA Noncore 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Amy Cavanaugh, 2. Kathleen Sheil Scheidt, 3. Ann Kim, 4.
Cheryl Press
Recent legislation has substantially
changed the interrelationships among 457, 403(b) and other plans.
Proposed legislation may further complicate the issues. Our speakers
review the rules for these plans as well as strategies for getting the
maximum advantage from the new rules. |
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403 |
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Discussion of IRS Gray
Book Questions and Answers |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Donald J. Segal, 2.
Kenneth A. Steiner
Experienced practitioners involved in
the process lead a review of government responses to the Gray Book
questions. They comment on responses of particular interest and
facilitate a dialogue on practical implications of the responses and
alternative approaches where complete answers are not provided (Repeated
at #603.) |
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404 |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Rick Mayo, 2. Peter R. Hardcastle
Multiemployer plans (also know as
“Taft-Hartley” plans) present unique issues for actuaries. This panel
discusses key recent developments in multiemployer plans. Topics for
this session include the effect of the recent economic environment on
funding, plan design issues, recent court cases, and operational issues.
(Linked to #504). |
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405 |
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Life and Death – A Look
at Demographic Assumptions |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Richard E. Berger, 2.
J. Bradford Barlow
Demographic assumptions are receiving
greater scrutiny than in the past. The panel discusses the selection of
mortality, turnover and retirement assumptions. This includes a review
of the Society of Actuaries new turnover study as well as potential
trends in mortality assumptions such as generational mortality tables. |
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406 |
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Small Plan Design and
Technical Issues |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Lorraine Dorsa, 2.
Lawrence Deutsch, 3. Thomas J. Finnegan
Plan design options range from simple
to the most complex. How do you choose the optimal solution? Panelists
discuss designs which work for small plans, with focus on real world
issues, common problems and practical solutions. Examples including safe
harbor and general tested formulas are included. |
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407 |
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Plan Freezes: The New
Ice Age |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Marjorie R. Martin,
2. Kathleen A. Creech,
3. Mary W. Shah
Some employers have or are considering
“freezing” participation in their defined benefit plan. Other employers
have frozen benefit accruals except for a group of “grandfathered”
employees. Although this may help to solve current problems, there are
potential hazards lurking in the future. At this session you are
presented the reasons why employers are freezing their plans and the
potential future pitfalls. |
LUNCHEON
12:30 PM - 1:45 PM
Relaxing lunch - No Speaker/Entertainment
Track #5
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
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501 |
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What’s Been Happening? –
Legal & Regulatory Update |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Heidi Rackley, 2.
Christopher M. Bone, 3. Linda Josephson
The panel highlights hot new issues,
regulations and rulings from the IRS, DOL, and PBGC. Speakers emphasize
the practical application of these new developments and their effect on
client consulting assignments. (Repeated at
#101.) |
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502 |
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New and Proposed
Professional Standards |
Credit: EA Core 1.8
Panel: 1. Robert J. Rietz, 2.
Lauren M. Bloom
There are several new and proposed
professional standards that affect all of us. The panelists review these
standards, including the new guide to professional conduct and standards
on asset valuation methods, data quality, modeling and qualification.
(This session is not recorded). |
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503 |
Credits: EA Noncore 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Ben L. Upchurch, 2.
Carrie Duarte, 3. Adrien R. LaBombarde
Under Sarbanes-Oxley, CEOs and CFOs
must attest each year that their internal controls are proper with
respect to all information in their financial statements. This includes
internal controls on outside specialists who prepare numbers for their
financial statements. There will have to be some type of attestation by
the actuary that proper procedures were followed in developing the
actuarial information under FAS 87, 106, 132, etc. What does this mean?
With no standards of compliance currently in place, the panelists
discuss prevailing ideas on what the actuary may have to do to satisfy
this requirement of Sarbanes-Oxley. |
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504 |
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Multiemployer Plans
Workshop |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Paul Angelo, 2.
Matthew G. Deckinger
This session is a follow-up to
Session 404 providing multiemployer plan actuaries an
opportunity for a “hands-on” discussion of problems, issues, and
experiences encountered in their practices. (This session is not
recorded.) |
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505 |
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Funding Retiree Welfare
Benefits |
Credits: EA Noncore 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Dale H. Yamamoto, 2.
David S. Wean
Speakers at this session address
funding alternatives for retiree welfare benefits, including such
options as VEBAs, HSAs, HRAs, 420 asset transfers, and off-shore
captives. As benefit consultants we must help our clients analyze these
prefunding options. Come and hear about the latest trends in this area,
including the implications and pros/cons of these alternatives. |
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506 |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD .75
Panel: 1. Donald J. Segal, 2.
Carol D. Gold
Representatives of the Employee Plans
Division of the IRS meet with actuaries attending this session to
discuss areas of mutual concern, suggestions for future guidance, and
other topics that may arise. Take this opportunity to provide “feedback”
to the people in Washington with whom we have the most interaction. Last
year this session was extremely well received by the participants and
the IRS. (This session is not recorded.) |
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507 |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Karen Krist Justesen,
2. Amy C. Viener
Whadda ya mean I have a 4010 filing
due in a few weeks? With the drop in asset levels and interest rates,
many plans have to file 4010 information with PBGC on April 15th. PFEA
helped a bit, but there’s still a good chance large companies will need
to file. Just figuring out whether or not a filing is required takes a
fair amount of work, which is often a combined effort by actuaries of
more than one firm. Come and learn who must file, what must be filed,
and when to file. PBGC officials also explain what they do with all this
information once they get it. |
REFRESHMENT BREAK (EXHIBIT HALL A)
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Track #6
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
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601 |
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Application of Relative
Value and RASD Implementation Issues |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Kenneth A. Steiner,
2. John H. Moore, 3. Adrien R. LaBombarde
Regulations under Code Section 417(a)
regarding disclosure of the relative value of optional payment forms
will be fully effective in 2006 (and already applies in some cases),
while the retroactive annuity starting date regs (under Code Section
417(e)) have been effective since January 1, 2004. The panelists
discuss unusual provisions in these regs, challenges to implementation,
special issues, and outstanding questions (an overview of these rules is
presented in Session 201). |
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602 |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. James C. Glick, 2.
Peter R. Hardcastle, 3. Lawrence E. Isaacs
In these challenging economic times,
plan sponsors may need to delay plan funding. Consultants have
rediscovered IRC 412(d) and (e) which provide options for plan sponsors
to delay minimum funding. Recent legislative and regulatory guidance
have provided more clarity to the process. Find out how to apply for
relief under these rules, what criteria the IRS uses to approve waivers
and extensions and how to implement them after approval. |
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603 |
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Discussion of IRS Gray
Book Questions and Answers |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Bruce A. Cadenhead,
2. Marjorie A. Martin
Experienced practitioners involved in
the process lead a review of government responses to the Gray Book
questions. They comment on responses of particular interest and
facilitate a dialogue on practical implications of the responses and
alternative approaches where complete answers are not provided (Repeated
at #403.) |
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604 |
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The Case for FAS 88 –
Case Studies in Pension Accounting |
Credits: EA Noncore 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. David R. Jarrett, Jerrold Dubner
The Case for FAS 88 – Through a series
of case studies, the panel provides illustrations of the requirements of
FAS 88 and helps practitioners avoid the pension accounting surprises
that often accompany workforce restructurings, corporate reorganizations
and mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. |
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605 |
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Advanced Topics in
Nondiscrimination Testing |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. Edgar Friedman, 2. Annette Strand
As clients change plan designs and go
through mergers and acquisitions, nondiscrimination compliance gets more
and more difficult. The panel discusses techniques of testing these more
complicated situations, including DB/DC plans and related topics. |
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606 |
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Current Issues with
Non-qualified Plans – New Legislation |
Credits: EA Noncore 1.8, PD 1.5
Panel: 1. John H. Lowell, 2.
Max J. Schwartz, 3. James S. Hutchinson
For years, non-qualified deferred
compensation plans have operated with very few rules. The new law (we
think) brings many restrictions to this arena. Panelists discuss the
implications of these new restrictions. |
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607 |
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Paying PBGC Premiums in
the 21st Century |
Credits: EA Core 1.8, PD .75
Panel: 1. Diane Morstein, 2.
David Harvey, 3. Gloria S. Lesmeister
Learn all about premium payments and
audits from a panel of PBGC experts. See a hands-on demonstration of My
Plan Administration Account (MyPAA), PBGC’s web based premium payment
software that’s going to change your life. Imagine being able to track
all of your premium filings, to know which clients have wired their
payments and which are about to miss their deadlines. Learn what the
PBGC looks for when they do a premium audit, the common mistakes they
find and how you can help your clients through an audit. There is plenty
of time to ask questions and offer suggestions for future enhancements
to MyPAA. |
TUESDAY EVENING
GENERAL RECEPTION
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
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