Mid-Sized Pension Plan Management Conference Highlights

Keynote and luncheon presentations

Modernization of the Defined Contribution Plan: Looking at the Past and What Lies Ahead for the Future
Cynthia Egan, President
T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc.
Defined contribution plans continue to evolve—and the pace of change has been dramatic. Today, Americans are more dependent than ever on their defined contribution plans, leaning on them as a primary source for retirement income. Supporting sponsors and participants during this time means embracing change. It means drawing on the lessons of the past, fully utilizing the tools available today and developing bold ideas for the future. Cynthia Egan provides her expert perspective on what this means for providers, sponsors and participants.

The Evolution of Workplace Benefits: Providing for Employees' Total Financial Health
Rich Linton, Executive Vice President
Retirement Services, a division of Fidelity Investments
With baby boomers beginning to reach retirement age in unprecedented numbers, the composition of the American workforce will undergo a fundamental change. As members of "Gen Y" enter the workforce, they bring a new set of needs as employees and wants as consumers. It is undeniable that workplace savings plans, in particular total compensation and benefit allocation, must continue to evolve. It is incumbent upon service providers and employers to find innovative ways to distinguish their organizations through flexible benefits that better meet the needs of a more fluid workforce. Rich Linton demonstrates how, in doing so, these employers will be better prepared to manage evolving fiduciary and regulatory risks.

Jim Morris' photo Managing Retirement Plan Risk in a Changing Environment
James V. Morris, Senior Vice President
SEI Institutional Group
Your role as a plan sponsor only continues to increase in complexity as a new landscape for managing retirement plans evolves. In response to regulatory actions and market forces, retirement plans continue to undergo design changes, and subsequently, new risks are threatening the sponsoring organizations. James Morris outlines the kinds of risks prevalent for both DB and DC plan sponsors and offers new approaches to risk management. Mr. Morris also introduces a unique framework for DB and DC plan sponsors, designed to mitigate risks by aligning the overall process and increasing the levels of investment sophistication.

Donkeys, Elephants, Bulls and Bears—Oh My! Economic and Political Impact on Participant Behavior
Pamela A. Popp, Chief Operating Officer, Emerging Markets
JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services
What impact is the economic downturn having on plan participants’ behavior? Does the upcoming presidential election help or hinder the retirement plan industry’s efforts to improve participation, contribution rates and diversification? Is it really all doom and gloom, or is that just media hype? Pamela Popp provides insight on the effects a recessionary market and election year can have on participant behavior. She addresses industry trends, provides historical perspective and shares strategies to help sponsors fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities.

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General Session Panel Discussion

Find Shelter from Potential Fiduciary Storms
Friday, October 17, 2008 :: 8:30 am–10:00 am

Moderator:	Mark E. Friedman, Conference Co-Chairman
Panelists:	Drew McCorkle, Senior Vice President, Aon Consulting John E. Schadl, Associate Counsel, Vanguard Bradley J. Schlichting, Senior Counsel, Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services

New regulatory demands, the unfolding wrinkles of PPA and the threat of lawsuits by disgruntled plan participants can be dark clouds hanging over plan sponsors. Just like the weather, it’s difficult to predict where you may encounter stormy patches in managing your organization’s retirement program. Will you run afoul of regulators by failing to properly report plan fees or amend your plan? Will the QDIA you selected actually provide the safe harbor you thought it would? Will a class action attorney file suit against you for an alleged fiduciary breach? A panel of experts discusses what you can do to ensure that you fulfill your obligations as a fiduciary and adequately protect yourself and your organization.

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Mid-Sized Retirement & Pension Plan Management is produced in partnership with one of the nation’s top institutions of higher learning, the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. The conference is an unmatched opportunity to learn how to effectively manage your retirement and pension programs.

Expert speakers help you decipher the latest issues. Fellow plan sponsors, ERISA attorneys and qualified plan experts share their knowledge and experience on today’s most critical concerns.
40+ workshops allow you to customize your agenda to your organization’s needs.
Gain practical solutions you can take home and implement immediately. This conference gives a real-world perspective from others who have "walked in your shoes."
Networking opportunities abound; talk face-to-face with experts and peers in the plan sponsor community.
Ongoing fiduciary training. Attending this conference shows that you are committed to learning about your ERISA responsibilities. Plus, you receive online access to presentations from this and other Mid-Sized Retirement & Pension Plan Management programs for a full year after the conference.

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