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 2008 CCA Audiocast Schedule
Cosponsored by the
American Academy of Actuaries
Previous 2008
Audiocasts:
PPA Gut Check
January 22, 2008
12:30 – 1:45 PM EST Credit:
CPD/EA Core 1.5
Moderator:
Donald J. Segal - JPMorgan
Presenters:
Martin Pippins - Internal Revenue Service
Carolyn E. Zimmerman - Internal Revenue Service
Tonya Manning - Aon Consulting
Kenneth A. Steiner - Watson Wyatt Worldwide Topics may include:
- Guidance on funding;
- Benefit restrictions (covered by the proposed
regulations);
- Yield curve, segment rates, and 417(e) (3)
interest rates;
- Mortality tables for the funding target
calculations and lump sums;
- Changing the lump sum basis and 204(h)
notices; and
- Cash balance plans guidance.
New
and Improved - ASOPs for Pension Actuaries
February 13, 2008
12:30 – 1:45 PM EST
Credit:
CPD/EA Core 1.5
Presenters:
Larry Sher
- Buck Consultants
David Fleiss - Bolton Partners Inc.
John Moore
- JPMorgan
The Actuarial Standards Board has
recently issued the new ASOP 44 that addresses asset valuation
methods, and also revised ASOP 4 (for measuring pension obligations
and determining costs and contributions), ASOP 27 (pertaining to
economic assumptions), and ASOP 35 (covering demographic
assumptions). Each of these ASOPs go into effective March 15, 2008.
Please join us as our panel presents a framework for how these ASOPs
fit together, and discusses key elements of each.
Controlled Groups
March 12, 2008
12:30 - 1:45 PM EDT Credit:
CPD/EA Core 1.5
Presenters:
S. Derrin Watson - SunGard Relius
Aggregation Aggravation: The
controlled group and common control rules have befuddled
practitioners for years. This program provides a concise summary of
the employer aggregation rules, including the different attribution
systems, and the consequences of aggregated systems.
Confidentiality & Data
Security
May 14, 2008
12:30 - 1:45 PM EDT
Credit:
CPD/EA Core 1.5
Presenters:
Robert J. Rietz - Deloitte Consulting
Stephen N. Eisenstein - Ernst & Young, LLP
What is PII (3.14159265?) and what do we
need to know about it? Is PII more than PHI? What states have passed
PII legislation? What are the consequences of exposing someone's PII?
What can I do to protect myself and my employer from litigation on
this topic? During this audiocast, the speakers discuss professional
responsibility related to confidentiality and the protection of
sensitive employee information. Topics to be discussed include
general background on federal and state data security legislation,
HIPPA PHI requirements, potential consequences of HIPPA violations,
and sample best practices to protect census data from falling into
the wrong hands.
Newly Released Proposed
PPA Regulations
on Quarterly Contribution Requirements
May 22, 2008
12:30 - 1:45 PM EDT
Jointly sponsored by the Society of Actuaries.
Co-sponsored by the American Academy of Actuaries
and the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries
Credit:
CPD/EA Core 1.5
Moderator:
Donald J. Segal - JPMorgan
Presenters:
Carolyn E. Zimmerman, Internal Revenue Service
Brian C. Donohue, JPMorgan
The IRS released proposed regulations on
single-employer plan minimum required contributions under the
Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) on April 15th. The proposed
regulations provide guidance on the determination of minimum
required contributions and quarterly contributions under the funding
rules that apply to single employer defined benefit plans. These
regulations affect sponsors, administrators, participants, and
beneficiaries of single employer defined benefit plans. An IRS
representative and a practitioner discuss these proposed
regulations.
Communications & Record
Retention
June 11, 2008
12:30 - 1:45 PM EDT
Credit:
CPD/EA Core 1.5
Presenters:
J. Greg Gaston - J. G. Gaston & Associates Inc.
J.P. Neal - Watson Wyatt Worldwide
Nishan DeSilva - Watson Wyatt Worldwide
Record retention is getting increasing visibility from
corporate leaders. As the information sprawl spreads across organizations,
it becomes very important to manage and control business records. The
growing number of laws and regulations that specifically reference the
management of business records makes it imperative for every actuary to know
and understand records retention issues.
During this audiocast, the speakers discuss the importance of a records
management program and review professional responsibility as it relates to
both client and internal work products. Topics to be discussed include
identifying business records, handling of paper and electronic records with
special emphasis on e-mail records, legal and business retention
requirements and record disposition. The session will also highlight key
records retention requirements in the actuarial field.
Financial Economics 101
July 9, 2008
12:30 - 1:45 PM EDT
Credit:
CPD/EA Noncore 1.5
Presenters:
Stu Alden - Watson Wyatt Worldwide
Mark Ruloff - Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting
Pension minimum funding legislation and accounting requirements have
been forcing liability calculations away from traditional actuarial
methods towards more mark-to-market measures. Why has it been
decided that these liability measures are more appropriate for
minimum funding and accounting? Financial economics (or more
specifically, pension finance) calls for pension market liabilities
to be measured using bond rates. Using market liabilities, measured
at bond rates, removes what would otherwise be a bias towards equity
investment over bonds when making investment decisions.
Pension finance goes on to state what finance
issues should be considered when making an asset allocation
decision. From the shareholders point of view, the risk/reward trade
off of investing in equities versus bonds has no first order effect.
However, there are second order effects including stakeholder taxes,
surplus ownership, and agency issues that should guide the
investment decision. The audiocast speakers
provide an introduction to financial economics and what it has to
say about the measurement of pension liabilities and broad asset
allocation decisions.
Presidential Candidates
Health Plan Review
September 10, 2008
12:30 - 1:45 PM EDT Credit:
CPD 1.5
Presenters:
Dale H. Yamamoto - Red Quill Consulting
Jennifer Tolbert - Kaiser Family Foundation
Jeff Lemieux - America's Health Insurance Plans Health care has become an important campaign issue
for the presidential candidates this year. Each of the candidates
have diverse views on tackling the rising costs of health care and
the uninsured. Presenters discuss these alternatives and their
impact on employee benefits and the health insurance industry.
Actuarial Gains & Losses
November 12, 2008
12:30 - 1:45 PM EST
Credit:
CPD/EA Core 1.5
Presenters:
Patrick A. Ward - JPMorgan
Kathleen E. Manning - MWM Consulting Group
Panelists discuss effects of Actuarial Gains and Losses under
the new PPA funding rules.
Qualification Standards
December 3, 2008
12:30 - 1:45 PM EST
Credit:
CPD/EA Core 1.5
Presenters:
Robin B. Simon - Buck Consultants, an ACS Company
John T. Stokesbury - Deloitte Consulting LLP
It's a year into the required "Qualification
Standards." The speakers review the QS and answer your questions on:
- CE,
- Professionalism Topics,
- EA Carve Out; and
- Organized Activities.
Conflict of Interest
December 10, 2008
12:30 - 1:45 PM EST
Credit:
CPD/EA Core 1.5
Presenters:
William J. Falk - Towers Perrin
William B. Fornia - Aon Consulting Conflicts
of Interest can result in high profile problems, jeopardize our
integrity, and can violate our standards of practice and pertinent
laws.
Our speakers will explore various types of
conflicts of Interest, provide many examples, and give information
which will help you identify potential conflicts and avoid them.
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