Breakfast and Registration (workshop atttendees only)
(7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II Foyer)

Opening Remarks
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR
(4^th Floor, Avenue Ballroom)

Retirement Income Options
Experts will discuss the income solution choices plan sponsors have to offer participants and how to determine the best way to offer them.

Moderator
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
Kevin Crain, Executive Director, Institutional Retirement Income Council
Brendan McCarthy, Head of Retirement Investing, Nuveen
Sean Bjork, President, Bjork Asset Management

Helping Participants With Retirement Income Decisions
Whether a DC plan offers income solutions or not, participants need a strategy for establishing income in retirement. Industry groups and providers suggest that plans offer a range of products, solutions, tools and services to support participants who are near, entering or in retirement. Speakers will dissect the array of options for plan sponsors, how required minimum distributions fit into strategies and offer suggestions for choosing the best offerings.

Moderator
Shelly Horwitz, Managing Director, Pensionmark

Panelists
Bruce Lanser, Senior Retirement Plan Consultant, UBS
Sam Moroni, Senior Wealth Strategy Associate, Retirement Plan Consulting, UBS Financial Services
Joshua Weinstein, Vice President, Retirement Income Experiences, Fidelity Investments

Annuity Assessment
Building on the earlier discussion, this session will address data on the availability and adoption of annuity products for DC plans. Speakers will further explain annuity options and discuss misunderstandings/misconceptions and how to evaluate annuities.

Moderator
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
Scott Mayland, Of Counsel, Groom Law Group
Chris McGlynn, Director, National Markets Institutional Retirement Solutions Group, Pacific Life Insurance Company
Matt Gray, Assistant Vice President, Worksite & Middle Markets, Allianz Life

Lunch (7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II Foyer)
Sponsored by Morningstar Investment Management, LLC

Lunch and Registration (7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II Foyer)
Sponsored by Morningstar Investment Management, LLC

Opening Remarks
Alison Cooke Mintzer, Publisher, ISS Media
(7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)

State of the Retirement Plan Industry
(7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
We’ll ask Lisa M. Gomez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, about recent developments in the retirement plan industry, what’s in flux and what the future might hold.

Interviewer
Alison Cooke Mintzer, Publisher, ISS Media

Interviewee
Lisa M. Gomez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration

SECURE 2.0 Implementation
(7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Experts will discuss the guidance issued since passage of SECURE 2.0 and what plan sponsors must do to prepare for deadlines and implement provisions of the sweeping law.

Moderator
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
Percy Lee, Of Counsel, Ivins Phillips Barker
Rosie Zaklad, Principal, Tax Practice Leader, Groom Law Group
Alvaro Galvis, Partner, The MG Group at Merrill Lynch

Break (7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II Foyer)
Sponsored by John Hancock Investments

Pillars of Financial Wellness
(7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
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.

Moderator
Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media

Panelists
Thayla Bohn, SVP Corporate and Human Resources, American Fidelity Assurance Company 
Zack Hubbard, Director of Financial Planning and Participant Engagement, Greenspring Advisors
Brent A. Hines, Executive Director, Foundation for Financial Wellness

Keynote: The Resurging Workforce: Optimism and Expectations for the Future
(7th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Roger Gray will share insights from Bank of America’s Workplace Benefits Report covering everything from optimism in the workplace, to pay equity and steps employers can take to improve workplace wellness.

Sponsored by Bank of America

Opening Night Reception
(7^th Floor, Exhibit Hall Salon III)
Peruse the exhibits, grab a cocktail and a bite –  immerse yourself in the excitement of the upcoming Awards Dinner!
Sponsored by Principal® 

Excellence in Retirement Awards Dinner
(7th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
The 2024 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.

Breakfast (7^th Floor, Exhibit Hall, Salon III)
Sponsored by T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc.

Opening Remarks (7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

The Benefits Spend: Costs and Decisions
(7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Employers want to get the most bang for their buck when it comes to benefits. After considering industry benchmarks, the competitive landscape and employee preferences, the benefits budget is a key factor in what employers ultimately choose to offer. Hear research findings about the benefits employees value most, the average cost of benefits for employers and stories from some plan sponsors about how they decided to spend benefits dollars.

Moderator
Joseph Topp, Principal, Vice President – Investment Consulting Services, Francis LLC

Panelists
Bridget Bearden, Research and Development Strategist, Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)
Chuck Williams, CEO, Finspire
Shaun McCloskey, Executive Relationship Manager, T. Rowe Price

Precision in Protection: Using Guaranteed Lifetime Income and Managed Accounts to Improve Outcomes
(7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Increased longevity, market uncertainty and inflation present a challenge to traditional retirement planning approaches. At the same time, the impact of these risks can vary dramatically based on the personal situation of each plan participant. In this session, we’ll demonstrate how integrating guaranteed lifetime income within the managed account framework can improve outcomes by calibrating protection based on an individual’s needs and risk tolerances.

Presenters
Matt Gray, Assistant Vice President, Worksite & Middle Markets, Allianz Life
Nathan Voris, Head of Channel Strategy, Morningstar Investment Management LLC

Sponsored by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America

Break (7^th Floor, Exhibit Hall, Salon III)
Sponsored by John Hancock Investments

Breakouts

1. Enhanced Engagement Efforts
   (7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
   Tips and optimal practices for getting employees to engage with financial wellness programs and retirement plans. Examples from plan sponsors and advisers.

   Moderator
   Brad Arends, Co-Founder and CEO, intellicents

   Panelists
   Kelli Send, Principal, Senior Vice President – Financial Wellness Services, Francis
   Peter Kapinos, Vice President, Head of Workplace and Investment Marketing, Empower
   Landon Barnes, AVP – Customer Experience Retirement Income Solutions, Principal

2. Essential QDIA Considerations
   (4^th Floor, Marriott Ballroom)
   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 alternative selection, the use of passive and/or active funds, managed accounts, hybrid QDIAs, collective investment trusts and more.

   Moderator
   Phil Senderowitz, Managing Director, Strategic Retirement Partners

   Panelists
   George Sepsakos, Principal, Fiduciary Practice Leader, Groom Law Group
   John Doyle, Senior Retirement Strategist, Capital Group home of American Funds
   Julie Varga, Vice President, Product & Investment Specialist, Morningstar Retirement

3. DB Plan Maintenance
   (4^th Floor, Avenue Ballroom)
   How sponsors of DB plans can enhance their maintenance of them, plus considerations for including DB plans in the total retirement planning picture.

   Moderator
   Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media

   Panelists
   Rob Massa, Managing Director, Houston Market Retirement Practice Leader, Qualified Plan Advisors
   Brian Donohue, Partner, October Three
   Paul Moore, Senior Vice President, Workplace Consulting, Fidelity Investments

Breakouts

1. Fixing Common Mistakes
   (7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
   The most common mistakes fiduciaries make and the details of programs/fixes prescribed by the IRS or that have become best practice. Experts will offer tips and strategies for having a good defense for potential regulator inquiries and litigation.

   Moderator
   Leah Sylvester, Executive Partner | President – Retirement Plans, Shepherd Financial

   Panelists
   Gary Blachman, Partner, IceMiller
   Michael Kushner, Director – New Business Development, Advanced Strategies Group

2. Equity in Retirement Benefits
   (4^th Floor, Marriott Ballroom)
   How to provide retirement and financial wellness programs that benefit all employee groups.

   Moderator
   Lisa Drake, Retirement Plan Consultant, SageView Advisory Group

   Panelists
   Pam Hess, Executive Director, DCIIA
   Sal Naidoo, Deputy Managing Director, SEIU 775 Benefits Group
   Beth A. Pattillo, Director, Retirement and Financial Wellness Programs, Leidos, Inc.

3. The ABCs of RFPs
   (4^th Floor, Avenue Ballroom)
   Experts will discuss steps in the request for proposals process, trends that could dictate new areas of focus for RFPs and questions plan sponsors should ask providers.

   Moderator
   Tom Demko, Managing Director, SageView Advisory Group

   Panelists
   Brent Sheppard, Partner, Financial Advisor, Cadence Financial Management
   Kristi Baker, Managing Partner, CSi Advisory Services, a division of HUB International
   Michelle Allen, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, The MEMIC Group

Lunch
Sponsored by Morningstar Investment Management, LLC
(7^th Floor, Exhibit Hall, Salon III)

Breaking Down Invisible Barriers: What’s Standing Between Employees and Retirement Readiness?
(7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Employers feel responsible for ensuring employees have access to an array of personalized benefits options—which may include financial advice solutions like a managed account program—that adequately meet their unique needs. However, employers are often left questioning why those benefits are not widely adopted by employees. What if the answer was as simple as, “The solution’s value proposition is being lost in translation.” Yes, you heard that right.
As we recognize Edelman Financial Engines’ 20th anniversary of managed accounts, we’ll dive into recent research conducted in partnership with Cerulli Associates that uncovers the invisible barriers that are inhibiting more widespread employee adoption of managed accounts, thus standing in the way of increased retirement readiness. To further bring these findings to life, we’ll be joined by Cerulli Associates Director of Retirement Shawn O’Brien and award-winning personal finance journalist and best-selling author Jean Chatzky, who will moderate a panel of employees. This insightful and thought-provoking dialogue promises to provide a more detailed look at these invisible barriers, and more importantly, how we can work together to break them down.

Speakers
Jean Chatzky, Founder and CFEO,HerMoney.com
Samantha Lordi, Vice President, Integrated Marketing, Employee Solutions, Edelman Financial Engines
Shawn O’Brien, Director of U.S. Retirement practice, Cerulli Associates

Sponsored by Edelman Financial Engines, LLC

Breakouts

1. AI in the Retirement Industry
   (7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
   Explore the potential use of artificial intelligence to improve retirement plan and participant outcomes in this engaging session.

   Presenter
   Sean Daly, AI Program Manager, OneDigital

2. Applying a Fiduciary Standard to Health Care Benefits
   (4^th Floor, Marriott Ballroom)
   Many retirement plan sponsors have made it a regular practice to monitor and benchmark all plan fees to ensure they are fair and reasonable for services provided. Now 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. Now is the time to put in place a fiduciary process for your health care plans. Learn how to apply fiduciary responsibility and transparency to health care as you have for your retirement plan.

   Presenters
   Jamie Greenleaf, Senior Vice President, OneDigital Retirement + Wealth
   Barbara Delaney, Principal and Founder, SSRBA, a division of HUB International

3. Considerations Unique to Nonprofit and Government Plan Sponsors
   (4^th Floor, Avenue Ballroom)
   Though many factors in designing and administering a retirement plan can apply across plan types, not all types are governed by the same rules, and employee groups are not the same. Join a discussion about the considerations and issues for nonprofit and government plan sponsors that differ from their corporate counterparts.

   Moderator
   Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media

   Panelists
   Drew Freeman, Director of Outreach, RetireReadyTN, Tennessee Department of Treasury
   Audra Ferguson, Partner, IceMiller
   Rachel Christman, Director of Total Rewards, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Break (7^th Floor, Exhibit Hall, Salon III)
Sponsored by John Hancock Investments

Breakouts

1. Secrets of Award-Winning Plan Sponsors
   (7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
   Plan Sponsor of the Year finalists and winners share ways they’ve improved their plans and challenges they’ve overcome.

   Moderator
   Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media

   Panelists
   Josh Jessup, General Manager for Global Retirement and Mobility, Delta Air Lines
   Elizabeth Haynie, Health and Wellness Benefits Manager, The Beck Group
   Amy DeWallace, HR Business Partner, Corporate, David Evans and Associates
   Lindsay Madaras, Sr. Manager, Associate Well-Being, Bread Financial

2. The Health Care Piece of the Puzzle
   (4^th Floor, Marriott Ballroom)
   The relationship between health care benefits, employee financial wellness and benefit budgets. How to balance the advantages of different health care benefits with the costs.

   Moderator
   Alex Ortolani, Editor, PLANADVISER

   Panelists
   Monica DeAgostino, Director – Benefits, Compensation & HRIS, MRIGlobal
   Greg Puig, Partner & Head of Group Insurance, Sentinel Group
   Sarah Haflett, VP of Health Care Thought Leadership and Research, Fidelity Investments

3. “Swift” Investment Changes
   (4^th Floor, Avenue Ballroom)
   How are participants thinking about their retirement plan investments in a post-COVID world amidst Taylor Swift economics, geopolitical shake-ups and climate concerns? How does this affect what investments plan sponsors might want to have available in their plan? Do traditional asset allocation strategies still work and should there be alternatives included in a plan lineup? Learn how to balance what participants want with what will produce the best outcomes for them.

   Moderator
   Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

   Panelists
   Jeff Cullen, CEO, Strategic Retirement Partners
   Frances Donald, Global Chief Economist & Strategist, John Hancock Investment Management
   Warren Cormier, Director Emeritus, DCIIA Retirement Research Center (RRC)

Workshop 1—“Executive” Decisions
(7th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Do you offer a nonqualified deferred compensation plan for executives or are you considering doing so? Learn about trends in plan design and funding and about the role nonqualified plans can play in financial wellness and retirement readiness.

Presenters
Clay Kennedy, Vice President, Insurance & Nonqualified Retirement Plan Sales, Newport, an Ascensus company
Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media
Sponsored by Newport, an Ascensus company

Workshop 2—SECURE 2.0: Putting It Into Practice
(4^th Floor, Marriott Ballroom)
Some provisions from the SECURE 2.0 Act are already in effect — and many are still on the way — helping to expand access to employer-sponsored retirement benefits and increase retirement readiness for more American workers. SECURE 2.0 added many substantial incentives for employers to adopt or enhance a retirement plan and several changes that will help employees save for retirement. Employers continue to have questions and need to know how to move forward on important provisions.

Presenter
Ron Ulrich, Vice President, Product Consulting and Compliance, ADP Retirement Services
Sponsored by ADP

Taco Takeover! Exhibit Hall Party
(7^th Floor, Exhibit Hall, Salon III)
Enjoy a variety of Mexican-inspired dishes and drinks as you stroll through the exhibit hall at our Mexican-themed party!

Celebrating 50 Years of “ERISA”!

Breakfast (7^th Floor, Exhibit Hall, Salon III)
Sponsored by T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc.

Plan Sponsor Idea Exchange (Plan Sponsors Only) 
(4^th Floor, Avenue & Marriott Ballrooms)

Breakout 1 – Corporate DC <$200mm
(4th Floor Avenue Ballroom)

Breakout 2 – Corporate DC >$200mm
(4th Floor Avenue Ballroom)

Breakout 3 – Nonprofit and Government
(4th Floor  Marriott Ballroom)

Opening Remarks (7th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Creating Committees of Excellence
(7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Committee setup, governing documents and training; meeting frequency, topics and documentation—this session will detail it all. Learn how to establish a committee and procedures to achieve excellence in plan governance.

Moderator
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
Benjamin L. Grosz, Partner, Ivins Phillips Barker
Julie Doran Stewart, Head of Fiduciary Advisory Services, Sentinel Group
Judy Bobilya-Feher, Chief Financial Officer, Aunt Millie’s Bakeries

Break (7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II Foyer)
Sponsored by John Hancock Investments

I Survived an Audit 
(7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Hear about the experiences of plan sponsors that have been through IRS and/or DOL audits

Moderator
Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media

Panelists
Rita Fiumara, Senior Retirement Plan Consultant, UBS Financial Services
Linda Ressinger, Manager – Compensation, Benefits & HRIS, MacArthur Foundation
Chris Hunt, Senior Manager, Retirement Benefits, Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.

Elevating Employee Engagement & Wellbeing: The Power of Emotional Connections
(7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Unlock the transformative potential of emotional connections in enhancing employee engagement and wellbeing. Explore the intersection of science, psychology and technology to build confidence and foster financial wellbeing. Discover practical strategies to leverage emotions for sustainable financial behaviors.

Introduction
Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media

Presenters
Jennifer Rayner, Founder, Moniwell
Lauren Loehning, Partner at Retirement Impact | Co-Founder, Moniwell

To-go lunch (7^th Floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II Foyer)
Sponsored by Morningstar Investment Management, LLC