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Conference Schedule
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Thursday, April 14, 2005 |
| 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
Conference Registration |
| 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. |
Continental Breakfast |
| 9:00 to 10:20 a.m. |
Keynote Address: "Preparing for Change: Integrating Employees into Your Health and Productivity Solutions"
Carol Harnett, AVP, National Disability and Life Practice Leader, The Hartford
John M. Davis, President and Founder, Motivational Images
The deteriorating health of Americans grabs regular media headlines. As employers looked for ways to stem the associated financial impact, they focused on the integration of benefit plans and plan design changers. While this direction is important, we may have missed a key element: incorporating the employee into identifying the root causes and creating the potential solutions.
Experience Level: Intermediate |
| 10:20 to 11:00 a.m. |
Conference Break Sponsored by The Segal Company
Exhibit Hall |
| 11:00 to 11:50 a.m. |
Break-Out Sessions
Health and Welfare Session #1
"Healthcare: The Perfect Storm"
William (Bill) Moeller, President and CEO, United Healthcare of Illinois; David Weichers, MD, Medical Director, United Healthcare ; John Boquist, Vice President, Lanco Companies
This session includes a discussion of cost drivers, employer engagement, care management, and quality and cost transparency.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Retirement Session #1
"Monitoring Your Retirement Plan Assets: What You Need to do Now"
David L. Wolfe, Partner and Vice Chairman, Gardner, Carton & Douglas, LLP
Discuss hot issues relating to investment oversight and review of best practices in defined contribution plan investment structures and processes to minimize fiduciary liability exposure.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Benefits Boot Camp Session #1
"Protected Benefits: What ERISA Provides Employers and Employees"
Joanna Lynn, Manager, HRO Compliance Group, Hewitt Associates
Learn the basic requirements of ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), responsibilities of employers, and protections for employees.
Experience Level: Beginner |
| Noon to 1:30 p.m. |
2005 WEB Excellence in Benefits Awards (WEBA) Luncheon
Sponsored by The Hartford
Keynote Address: "Excelling in One's Profession"
Ron Williams, Silver and Bronze Medalist, 2004 Summer Paralympic Games; District Sales Manager, Southwire Corporation |
| 1:45 to 2:35 p.m. |
Break-Out Sessions
Health and Welfare Session #2
"Maybe Ignorance Isn't Bliss: A Survivor's Guide to Benefit Plan Compliance Reviews"
Fred M. (Fritz) Hewelt, Vice President and Director, Central Region Benefit Plan Compliance Review Services, Aon Consulting
Many employers are afraid to examine their plans' regulatory compliance for fear of what may be found. Fortunately, there is an answer! This presentation will explore the compliance review processes often used to: 1) evaluate a benefit plan's level of compliance, and 2) by so doing, provide benefit professionals with compliance "peace of mind."
Experience Level: Intermediate
Retirement Session #2
"Coping With the New Deferred Compensation Plan Rules"
Michael Melbinger, Partner, Winston & Strawn, LLP
New Code Section 409A creates a set of rules and requirements that are not unlike those applicable to qualified plans and, in effect, creating a sub-category of "lesser qualified Plans."
Experience Level: Intermediate
Benefits Boot Camp Session #2
"Basics of Retirement Plans"
Tom Foster, National Key Accounts Manager, Corporate Retirement Plans, The Hartford
This session will breakdown defined benefit and defined contribution plans with a focus primarily on defined contribution plans and, more specifically, 401(k), profit sharing and money purchase options. This session will also discuss how pending legislation could affect age weighted and cross tested plans.
Experience Level: Intermediate |
| 2:35 to 3:00 p.m. |
Conference Break Sponsored by Diversified Investment Advisors
Exhibit Hall |
| 3:00 to 3:50 p.m. |
Break-Out Sessions
Health and Welfare Session #3
"Legislative Update: What you Need to Know About Health and Welfare Laws that Will Impact Your Plan"
Michael Tomasek, Partner, Shiff Hardin LLP
This session includes a discussion of recent developments in the health and welfare area, including health savings accounts (HSAs), Medicare, prescription drugs, COBRA regulations and HIPAA security regulations compliance.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Retirement Session #3
"What Should be on Your 401(k) Radar in 2005?"
Cynthia A. Van Bogaert, Partner and Chair of Employee Benefits Practice Group, Boardman Law Firm LLP
This session provides suggestions for updating your 401(k) "must do" list. Look at legislative and regulatory changes that need to be addressed in 2005.
Experience Level: Advanced
Benefits Boot Camp Session #3
"Alphabet Soup of Welfare Benefits"
Sibyl Bogardus, JD, Employee Benefits Attorney
"Walk" through the acronyms surrounding non-health related welfare and fringe benefits. This journey will provide comprehensive explanations for short-term disability, long-term disability, group term life, flexible spending, dependent care and other fringe benefit and welfare programs.
Experience Level: Beginner |
| 4:00 to 4:50 p.m. |
Break-Out Sessions
Health and Welfare Session #4
"Best Practices in Healthcare Consumerism and Wellness Communication"
Janice Burnham, President, The ROC Group; Kathy McAlpine, Senior Benefit Communications and Training Manager, Kraft Foods
How do you get employees to become active health care consumers and engaged in improving their health care and the health of their families? A number of companies are seeking answers to this issue. The ROC Group will demonstrate a number of best practices in achieving employee engagement.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Retirement Session #4
"Choosing a 401(k) Vendor: What to Look for in Today's Market"
Mark Dzierzak, Senior Manager, Deloitte Consulting, LLP; Janet Burt, Vice President, Fidelity Institutional Retirement Services; Bill Noyes, Managing Director & Consultant Practice Leader, Mass Mutual Financial Group; Christine Skatchke, Director of Qualified Plan Product Strategy, Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services
Three leading 401(k) providers discuss what companies need to look for when selecting a 401(k) vendor.
Experience Level: Advanced
Benefits Boot Camp Session #4
"Health Benefits and Funding"
Denise M. Gavaletz, JD, General Counsel, Touchstone Consulting Group
Take a look at the basic components of health benefit programs as well as the methods to fund these various benefits.
Experience Level: Beginner |
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Friday, April 15, 2005 |
| 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
Conference Registration |
| 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. |
Continental Breakfast Sponsored by Spectera
Exhibit Hall |
| 9:00 to 10:20 a.m. |
General Session: "Leading the Employee Experience – Technology and Beyond"
Wendy Rhodes, HRO Leadership, Hewitt Associates; Panel Representing Leading Chicago Businesses
This session will present how two national Chicago-based businesses use technology to successfully manage their benefit plans.
Experience Level: Intermediate |
| 10:20 to 11:00 a.m. |
Conference Break Sponsored by The ROC Group |
| 11:00 to 11:50 a.m. |
Break-Out Sessions
Health and Welfare Session #5
"Emerging Trends in Managing Prescription Drug Costs"
Connie F. Perry, Vice President and National Pharmacy Practice Leader, Aon Consulting, Inc.
During this session, a clinical pharmacy consultant will discuss the dilemma employers currently face regarding the drug benefit. Implications for drug benefit design as well as what is anticipated in the near-term regarding manufacturer, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) and health plan initiatives will be presented.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Retirement Session #5
"How to Maximize Participation in Your Company's 401(k) with Outstanding Communication"
Shelly Weiner, Vice President and Regional Director, Diversified Investment Advisors
Learn how Trinity Health won the 2004 Profit Sharing Council of America Best of Show Signature Award for their eye-catching campaign.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Benefits Boot Camp #5
"COBRA Overview and Health Plan Update"
Andrea L. Bailey, Esq., Partner, Constangy, Brooks & Smith
Gain an overview of the requirements of COBRA and HIPAA, and how these laws affect employee benefit plans and their participants.
Experience Level: Beginner |
| Noon to 1:30 p.m. |
Conference Luncheon – Door Prize Giveaway
Keynote Address: "Work and Health Today and Tomorrow: Medical Benefits, Consumerism and Leveraging Absence"
Speaker: Ron S. Leopold, Vice President, National Medical Director, MetLife
The relationship between medical and disability patterns of a population is getting unprecedented attention. The ten percent (10%) of a working population that submits a short term disability claim annually accounts for greater than fifty percent (50%) of medical expenses. As American businesses brace for an aging workforce, they will need to prepare for challenges of increased chronic conditions in the workforce. Leveraging short term absence activity offers promising solutions to impact rising health care costs.
Experience Level: Advanced |
| 1:30 to 2:20 p.m. |
Break-Out Sessions
Health and Welfare Session #6
"The Impact of Offering Domestic Partner Benefits: What You Need to Know"
Mark Weisberg, Partner, Winston & Strawn, LLP; Elizabeth Kaminsky, Manager, Price WaterhouseCoopers
This session explores the business and legal issues involved in the decision whether to offer employee benefits to same sex partners and spouses.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Retirement Session #6
"IRS Compliance: What to do if the IRS Knocks on Your Door and What You Should do Before Then"
Joseph S. Adams, Esq., Partner, McDermott, Will & Emory, LLP; Kevin Connolly, Senior Manager, Deloitte Consulting, LLP
Learn how to avoid the increasing frequency and sophistication of IRS audits of both qualified retirement plans and executive compensation arrangements. Identify the most common defects and how to correct them. Proactive plan sponsors can take this information and perform a self-assessment of their arrangements before the IRS arrives.
Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Benefits Boot Camp #6
"Executive Benefits"
Alan Rose, Director, Vericon Solutions
Learn about the types of executive benefit programs and structures that are available to employers including Rabbi Trusts and 419 Welfare Trusts and typical funding arrangements.
Experience Level: Beginner |
| 2:20 to 2:30 p.m. |
Beverage Break |
| 2:30 to 3:20 p.m. |
Closing General Session:
"Eyes on the Prize: Defining the Characteristics of Success for Today's Retirement Plans"
Rusty Field, Vice President/Financial Education Planning Services, American Express Retirement Services
Is your retirement plan working? How do you know for sure? It takes more than meeting 404(c) requirements, raising participation or offering the latest web tools or gadgets for a retirement plan to be a success. Retirement readiness must become the point of arrival for each participant and plan sponsor. This keynote presentation addresses the reality of the present retirement plan system in a thought-provoking manner. See where today's plan sponsor and service provider partnership should be heading, and how a results-driven and holistic retirement plan and financial education program can deliver financially healthy employees and better overall business performance.
Experience Level: Advanced |
| 3:30 p.m. |
Benefits Solutions Conference Adjournment |
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Worldwide Employee Benefits Network, Inc.
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