about
In the world of employer-sponsored retirement plans, the only constant is change.
The annual PLANSPONSOR National Conference is the must-attend event for human resource and financial professionals responsible for administering plans to keep up to date with the latest trends, regulatory and legislative updates, and optimal administration and investment practices.
During half-day immersive workshops, plan sponsors, advisers, providers, industry group representatives and legal experts will take a deep dive into retirement income and financial wellness for employees. This unique cross section of the retirement plan industry is also represented in the engaging and insightful presentations and panel discussions throughout the conference. The annual Excellence in Retirement Awards bring all together to celebrate the achievements of plan sponsors and providers.
The 2025 PLANSPONSOR National Conference also offers ample opportunity to connect with peers, build community, foster valuable networks and explore providers’ product and service innovations.
Last Year’s Attendees Said:
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“Speakers were all excellent.” “Speakers were great, content fantastic, pages of takeaways. Thanks!!” “I spoke with plan sponsors and other consultants, and everyone was super engaged. I learned a lot from speakers and from interaction with others during free time and the integration events.” “This was a very well put together conference with every detail planned out perfectly. I enjoyed the topics and learned a lot that can be applied to my role. Thank you!” |
“I loved the panels, the social events and the location. Many thanks and congratulations to the PLANSPONSOR team on another great success!” “Loved the event. Thanks so much for the education, great food and the award!” “Great job on putting together a valuable conference. I really enjoy the roundtable discussions by employer type/size.” “Excellent session topics and convenient location with sufficient amenities in the hotel and nearby.” |
2025 PLANSPONSOR National Conference Begins In
Highlights Include…
Excellence in Retirement Awards
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Plan sponsors and the recordkeepers, investment managers and retirement plan advisers and consultants that support them will set aside corporate goals and gather to cheer on each other’s success! The 2025 Plan Sponsor of the Year finalists will be recognized, and the winners announced. We’ll also recognize plan sponsors whose plans have earned the Best in Class 401(k) Plan designation, providers named DC Survey Standouts and provider staff chosen as Service Stars.
Our Advisory Board
Judy Bobilya-Feher – Chief Financial Officer, Aunt Millie’s Bakeries
Thayla Bohn – SVP, Corporate and Human Resources, American Fidelity Companies
Rachel Christman – Director, Total Rewards, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Monica DeAgostino – HR Manager – Benefits, Compensation & HRIS, MRIGlobal
Tonya Hamm – Executive Director of Plan Operations, Adventist Healthcare Retirement Plans
Josh Jessup – General Manager of Human Resources, Delta Air Lines
Brad Kadue – President, Precision Associates
Adelia Soremekun – Senior Director, Total Rewards, The Jackson Laboratory
agenda
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Welcome Reception
Retirement Income Workshop
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8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast and Registration
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9:00 – 9:10 a.m.
Opening Remarks
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9:10 – 10:00 a.m.
Elements of Retirement Spending and Income
Hear what research shows about retirement spending. Learn how to help participants determine their spending needs, alert them to health care costs in retirement and educate them about Social Security and Medicare. -
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Retirement Income Product Landscape
Experts will define and explain the array of options plan sponsors have for helping participants create income in retirement. They will discuss the requirements for selecting retirement income products and solutions and share tips for making the best choices for participants. -
11:00 – 11:10 a.m.
Break
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11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Retirement Tier
A retirement tier is a range of products, solutions (including investments), tools and services to support participants who are near, entering or in retirement. Learn optimal strategies for creating a retirement tier in your retirement program.
Employee Financial Wellness Workshop
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8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast and Registration
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9:00 – 9:10 a.m.
Opening Remarks
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9:10 – 10:00 a.m.
Pillars of Financial Wellness
Learn how to define financial wellness for your employee base and what options plan sponsors have for offering financial wellness benefits. Hear stories of successful implementation from plan sponsor peers. -
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Considering Financial Wellness in Retirement Plan Design
From features that have been available for years to new plan design options provided by the SECURE 2.0 Act, hear how to optimize your plan design to best meet employees’ financial wellness needs. -
11:00 – 11:10 a.m.
Break
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11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
How Voluntary Benefits Fit
From a variety of voluntary benefits, how do you choose what’s on your benefits menu? Learn what others have done.
Day 1
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12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch and Registration
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1:00 – 1:10 p.m.
Opening Remarks
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1:10 – 2:00 p.m.
State of the Retirement Plan Industry
Representatives from the retirement plan ecosystem talk about developments in the industry, what’s in flux and what the future might hold. -
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
SECURE 2.0 Implementation
Experts will discuss the guidance issued since the passage of the SECURE 2.0 Act and what plan sponsors must do to prepare for deadlines and to implement provisions of the sweeping law. -
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.
Break
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3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Creating Committees of Excellence
Committee setup, governing documents and training. Meeting frequency, topics and documentation. This session will detail it all. Learn how to establish both a committee and procedures to achieve excellent plan governance. -
4:15 – 5:15 p.m.
Keynote
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5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Cocktail Reception
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6:30 p.m.
Excellence in Retirement Awards
Day 2
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7:00 – 8:15 a.m.
Breakfast
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8:20 – 8:30 a.m.
Opening Remarks
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8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Washington Update
Experts take a deep dive into the latest retirement plan-related legislation, regulations and litigation, offering practical lessons for plan sponsors. -
9:30 – 10:15 a.m.
Case Study
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10:15 – 10:45 a.m.
Break
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10:50 – 11:50 a.m.
Breakouts
- Cleaning Up Your DC Plan
Maintaining accurate plan documents and participant census data is crucial for the effective administration of retirement plans. Learn optimal practices for retirement plans during mergers and acquisitions, as well as tips for maintaining accuracy when consolidating or changing providers. Attendees will gain insights on how to navigate common challenges, avoid compliance pitfalls and ensure smooth transitions that benefit both plan sponsors and participants. - Essential QDIA Considerations
The plan investment menu should meet the needs of all participants, from younger employees to those nearing or in retirement, as well as those with all levels of investment knowledge. A panel will discuss decisions about qualified default investment alternatives, the use of passive and active funds, managed accounts, hybrid QDIAs, collective investment trusts and more. - DB Plan Maintenance
Learn how sponsors of DB plans can enhance plan maintenance, plus considerations for including DB plans in the total retirement planning picture.
- Cleaning Up Your DC Plan
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11:55 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.
Breakouts
- Equity in Retirement Benefits
How to provide retirement and financial wellness programs that benefit all employee groups. - Communicating About Investments
Learn how to give participants a basic understanding of investment options, talk them through market volatility and communicate at key life stages about investment changes. - Fixing Common Mistakes
Hear the most common mistakes fiduciaries make and the details of programs and fixes that have either been prescribed by the IRS or become best practices. Experts will offer tips and strategies for having a good defense for potential regulator inquiries and litigation.
- Equity in Retirement Benefits
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12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
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1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Main Stage
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2:35 – 3:05 p.m.
Breakouts
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3:05 – 3:30 p.m.
Break
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3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Breakouts
- Practical Lessons From Plan Sponsors
Award-winning plan sponsors share ways they’ve improved their plans and challenges they’ve overcome. - Benchmarking Investments and Fees
Experts will explain what factors to look at when benchmarking investments, as well as what benchmarks to use to ensure investments are prudent and fees are reasonable. - Applying a Fiduciary Standard to Health Care Benefits
Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, all plan sponsors are now required to attest that their fees for health care plans are fair and reasonable for services provided. Learn how to apply fiduciary processes and transparency to health care, as you have for your retirement plan.
- Practical Lessons From Plan Sponsors
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4:30 – 5:20 p.m.
Workshops
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5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Themed Party
Day 3
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7:30 – 8:50 a.m.
Breakfast
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8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Plan Sponsor Idea Exchanges
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9:00 – 9:10 a.m.
Opening Remarks
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9:10 – 10:10 a.m.
I Survived an Audit
Hear about the experiences of plan sponsors that have been through IRS or DOL audits. -
10:10 – 10:30 a.m.
Break
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10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
How to Recognize Elder Financial Abuse or Fraud Among Your Employee Base
What responsibilities do plan sponsors have to protect participant accounts from fraud? As more retirees are leaving their balances in plans, do plan sponsors know how to spot signs of financial abuse? An expert will discuss how to recognize financial abuse or fraud and what to do about it. -
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Insights From PLANSPONSOR’s Participant Survey
Find out what retirement plan participants and non-participants think, according to findings of the 2024 PLANSPONSOR Participant Survey. -
12:00 p.m.
To-go lunch
registration
Registration is now open!
Pricing
Plan Sponsors – FREE if you book your room in our conference rooming block, otherwise, there will be a $155 registration fee
Advisers – $300 *If you register before April 18, you will receive the early bird rate of $150*
sponsors
Become a sponsor.
Join a select group of industry product and service providers who are maximizing their firm’s exposure in front of this highly influential group of plan sponsors and retirement plan advisers.
Sponsorship Information: Rob Reif | 212-217-6906 | Robert.Reif@ISSMediaSolutions.com
General Information: Carol Popkins | 203-461-0985 | Carol.Popkins@ISSMediaSolutions.com
venue
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
540 Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
Hotel Accommodations:
Book now! We have reserved a block of rooms at the conference rate of $299.
Click here to reserve your room.
photos
by Matt Kalinowski
