Annual Meeting Sessions
Monday, October 26
002 - Business Session and Keynote Presentation
The CCA’s Business Session begins with the welcoming of attendees, announcement of new directors and officers, Treasurer’s Report and presentation of the CCA’s annual awards. Our keynote presentation immediately follows.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
101 - Late Breaking Developments
This session delivers a timely overview of the most important late-breaking development affecting pension actuaries and retirement plan consultants. Speakers will look at regulatory updates, market trends, and emerging issues with direct implications for client advice.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Core Credit: 0.75
EA Non-Core Credit: 0.75
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
102 - Small Plans: SECURE 2.0 Plan Administration and Plan Amendments
The implementation of SECURE 2.0 continues to present important administrative and compliance challenges for sponsors of small retirement plans and their advisors. Panelists provide a practical update on the latest plan administration requirements, including operational changes, required and optional provisions, and key implementation deadlines. Speakers also address plan amendment requirements, common compliance pitfalls, and strategies for coordinating with plan sponsors, third-party administrators, and legal counsel to ensure plans remain compliant while taking advantage of the flexibility offered by SECURE 2.0.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Core Credit: 0.75
EA Non-Core Credit: 0.75
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
103 - Unique Actuarial Issues in Church Plans
The church pension world is sometimes referred to as the wild west of the pension world. And without ERISA requirements there is a lot of flexibility, but not everything goes. There is a whole world of information to be aware of. Come learn some of the basics (and not as basic) of the church plan landscape that any actuary needs to know when consulting with religious organizations.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Non-Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
104 - Beyond Traditional Healthcare Plans: Evaluating Alternatives
As costs rise, employers are taking a closer look at whether the status quo still works for their active employees in the commercial healthcare market. Speakers explore the evolution of employer-sponsored benefits, key challenges facing the group model, and emerging alternatives. Drawing on perspectives from industry experts, the discussion addresses a range of emerging alternatives and highlights the opportunities, risks, and real-world considerations for organizations considering a transition.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
105 - The US Healthcare System: How we got Here and Where is it Going?
In a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, understanding how we arrived here is essential to navigating what comes next. This session offers healthcare actuaries a streamlined look at how the US healthcare system evolved into today’s high-cost environment and where it is heading. Speakers from leading healthcare think tanks will highlight key historical drivers – such as market consolidation, rising specialty drug costs, and regulatory shifts – and outline emerging trends that will shape future cost pressures and system reforms.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
106 - Governance Best Practices Across Benefit Plans
This session explores ERISA and non-ERISA fiduciary governance structures that apply to employer-sponsored retirement plans, and are now being applied to health and welfare plans. The speakers explore what fiduciaries can learn from these other governance regimes as they strive to apply best standards to their own plans.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Non-Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
107 - Computer Stuff for Public Plan Consultants
Public pension consultants face increasing digital governance complexity: client AI policies, communications accessibility requirements, cyber hygiene expectations, and related operational technology risks. This session highlights common pitfalls and gray areas offering a practical, consultant-focused discussion on reducing risk and actively managing these consulting dynamics.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Non-Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
108 - PBGC Update
PBGC speakers will discuss current issues the Corporation is tracking – SFA, withdrawal liability regulations, agency funding, etc.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
109 - Actuaries Mind the Gap: How Pay Transparency Shapes Retirement and Benefit Outcomes
The EU pay transparency directive is commonly viewed as a compliance requirement. Yet its most lasting effects will be felt in retirement adequacy and lifetime benefit outcomes. This session examines how greater transparency in pay structures, a job architecture, and career progression directly influences pension accrual, employer contributions, and insured benefit over time. This session connects day-to-day pay decisions with long-term realities, highlighting how small differences compound into significant pension and benefit gaps. Panelists will explore how transparency requirements interact with different pension designs and expose structural inequalities embedded in legacy rewards programs.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
Leadership Development Community Luncheon
The CCA Leadership Development Community meets to discuss current issues, outlooks, and news. Neither CCA nor community membership is required to attend.
Credits:
201 - Working With the PBGC
This session explores the practical and professional considerations of working with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) on single employer plans. The discussion will cover standard terminations, PBGC initiated terminations, early warning program, 4062(e ) liability, and recent developments. Speakers will discuss their own experiences navigating PBGC-related issues.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
202 - Pension Accounting: Special Topics and Considerations
This session moves beyond the fundamentals of ASC715 and IAS19 to address advanced pension accounting topics. The discussion will cover complex and less frequent scenarios. Potential topics include cash balance plans and recent EITF information, plan transactions such as mergers and spinoffs, first-time US GAAP or IFRS adoption, plan termination, and plan accounting under ASC960. This session intends to help attendees manage and address these accounting situations.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Non-Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
203 - Social Security and How can we Fix it?
Each of us are expecting to receive a Social Security benefit, but the trust fund/taxes are expected to cover only ¾ of promised benefits fewer than 10 years from now. This session is intended to help each of us understand the current benefit design and evaluate thought-provoking elements that can restore financial soundness.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Non-Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
204 - Current Topics in Medicare Advantage and Part D
Speakers highlight current topics in Medicare Advantage, Part D, and changes to the programs due to the Inflation Reduction Act. Topics will include Medicare Advantage, Part D, employer-sponsored Medicare plans and OPEB valuation issues.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
205 - Double Digit Healthcare Trend
Employer healthcare cost increases have accelerated in recent years, approaching or exceeding 10%. Join today’s panel as we look at the drivers of this increase, consider what is controllable from an employer’s perspective, and debate their relevance and impact going forward. Topic to consider include insurer/provider negotiation, federal legislation and regulation, AI, population health, and workforce dynamics.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
206 - Investing in Continuous Learning
Organizations that prioritize continuous learning don’t just keep up, they pull ahead. Companies with strong learning cultures consistently outperform their peers, drive higher profitability, and retain top talent longer. Join a dynamic panel of clients and consultants as they share their experiences and learnings from their organizations. Expect an interactive session where your questions and perspectives are part of the conversation.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Non-Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
207 - DROP it Like it's Hot
DROPs have been used as a public plan retention tool almost since inception. However, they have seen a resurgence in interest, and a divergence of provisions, in recent years. Speakers contrast two case studies of recent implementations: one strictly required to be cost neutral and the other with no such considerations. Join the conversation to discuss actuarial and administrative considerations of two DROPs that may barely recognize each other.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Non-Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
208 - Withdrawal Liability Litigation Update
Many withdrawal liability issues have been wending their way through the courts with two reaching SCOTUS. Come hear an employer and plan side attorney discuss the current status of cases involving withdrawal liability issues.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
209 - Alternatives in Asset Allocation
Speakers discuss how alternative assets can be used to potentially improve the risk and return characteristics of a portfolio. Topics are expected to include hedge funds, portable alpha, and private markets.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Non-Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
301 - ERISA Trivia
Think you can navigate the depths of ERISA better than a trail guide at the Grand Canyon? Scale the Red Rocks of regulations and see if you have what it takes to reach the summit. If you are feeling a bit lost in the desert heat, don’t sweat it – you’re guaranteed to trek home with some fresh knowledge.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
302 - Retiree Medical Strategy: From Plan Design to Actuarial Impact
This session provides an overview of retiree medical plan design. The discussion explores how various design features are being utilized, such as Medicare Advantage and EGWPs, the effect of prescription drug rebates, and the use of healthcare reimbursement accounts. There will be a focus on how these plan designs influence the selection of actuarial assumptions and the relationship between plan design and its actuarial impact.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Non-Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
303 - Reading the Curve: How Interest Rates Shape DB Investment Decisions
This session explores how movement and shapes of the yield curve influence investment strategy decisions for DB plans. It will examine the implications for asset allocation, liability matching, and risk management in different interest rate environments. The discussion will also review expected return on asset bond models and how they are applied to support funding, valuation, and long-term planning objectives.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Core Credit: 0.75
EA Non-Core Credit: 0.75
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
304 - Emerging PBMs and Other Pharmacy Topics
In recent years, we have seen the introduction of alternative PBM vendors. Speakers will highlight differences with the new PBM models relative to traditional PBMs. Additional topics driving costs in pharmacy benefits will be discussed such as most favored nations pricing, specialty drugs, and GLP-1s.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
305 - Value Based Care
Value-Based Care ties provider reimbursements to the quality and outcomes of care rather than the volume of services provided. An evidence-based approach that addresses access, quality, service, and costs encourages healthcare hospitals and providers to deliver better care by rewarding them for achieving specific metrics tied to outcomes and improved patient experiences. Our panel of actuaries and clinicians (who have experience in transitioning employer-sponsored health plans from traditional pricing strategies to value-based approaches) provide their insights into the models used in these programs and the factors that drive success for patients and health systems to reduce total costs, improve care, and yet make health sustainable for all.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
306 - SCOTUS and Actuaries
The US Supreme Court has ruled on many ERISA and ACA cases over the years that had been incredibly impactful in the employee benefits world. This session will describe how such cases wind up at SCOTUS in the first place, and dives into several of the more impactful cases relevant to actuaries and consultants working in the employee benefits space.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Non-Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
307 - Risk Sharing: An Oasis in the Pension Funding Desert
As public pension plans face shifting economic climates, many of the states’ largest systems have moved beyond traditional designs to embrace sophisticated risk sharing mechanisms. But does shifting the “heat” actually keep the plan cool? Join us for a deep dive into the inner workings of major public plans as we hear directly from in-house actuaries who have navigated these waters. This session moves past the rhetorical to examine the real-world “lessons learned” from implementing and managing Variable COLAs and cash balance designs.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Non-Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
308 - Risk-Sharing Plan Designs
A look at alternative plan designs which share plan risks between participants and plan sponsors.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50
EA Non-Core Credit: 1.50
EA Formal Credit: 1.50
309 - Retirement Systems at the Intersection of Capital Culture and Care
Retirement systems reflect cultural attitudes toward risk, family responsibility, and the role of the state as much as they do financial design. This session examines how different societies have developed retirement frameworks – from conservative capital focused systems to models that rely on family structures or public welfare – and what choices mean for participant outcomes. This session offers a balanced perspective on aligning retirement design with both financial efficiency and social reality.
Credits:
CPD Credit: 1.50