Earl Pomeroy, David Godofsky and Syed Fahad Saghir participated in this annual conference.
Earl Pomeroy was a featured speaker during the session "Washington Update," 9:00am-10:30am, April 13. We have a new Congress. The last Congress gave us PBGC premium increases, the Cooperative and Small Employer Charity Act and an extension of the MAP-21 pension smoothing. What can we expect now? What surprises might arise? The panelists will discuss what is hot, what is cold, why we got what we got and the possibilities for this year and next.
David Godofsky was a featured speaker during the following sessions:
- Litigation Affecting DB Plans, 2:30pm-4:00pm, April 13. The panel reviewed recent court decisions affecting defined benefit plans and pension actuaries.
- Ethical Dilemmas I, 4:30-5:45pm, April 13. In this highly interactive session, panelists and audience members debated solutions to three difficult ethical situations faced by actuaries in their day-to-day practice, including conflicts of interest, selection of assumptions, disagreeable clients and disagreements with the prior actuary.
- The ERISA Uncertainty Principle (Heisenberg’s ERISA), 8:45am-10:30am, April 14. An ultra-fast look at the uncertainties in the fundamental particles of ERISA. Absence of authority and conflicts between statutes, regulations, rulings, judicial decisions, gray book and soft guidance, speeches, common practice and what “everybody knows” create uncertainties with respect to some of the most fundamental building blocks of ERISA. The panelists illuminated these uncertainties to help you provide practical and effective advice to your clients.
- Ethical Dilemmas II, 4:00pm - 5:30pm, April 14. In this highly interactive session, panelists and audience members debated solutions to three difficult ethical situations faced by actuaries in their day-to-day practice, including conflicts of interest, selection of assumptions, disagreeable clients and disagreements with the prior actuary. The presenters covered different case studies than Ethical Dilemmas I and does not require Ethical Dilemmas I as a prerequisite.
Syed Fahad Saghir was a featured speaker during the following sessions:
- "Multiple Employer Plans," 2:00-3:30pm, April 14. Multiple employer plans can arise under current rules in many situations, including joint ventures and changes in corporate structure. The presenters at this session provided an overview of current issues related to multiple employer plans, including funding, deduction, exclusive benefit, benefit restriction, non-discrimination and withdrawal liability issues. In addition, the speakers discussed proposals to change the current regulatory structure that applies to multiple employer plans in order to make them an attractive vehicle for small to mid-size employers to provide defined benefit pensions.
- "HATFA," 8:00-9:00am, April 15. Congress changed the interest rates last year, leaving actuaries to scramble. The panelists in this session reviewed the obvious and subtle funding and Sec. 436 changes driven by the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (HATFA) and how the subsequent guidance shapes operations. Funding requirements, assets, credit balances and benefit restrictions are all affected.
April 12-15, 2015
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel / Washington, DC