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:

“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

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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

Deanna Allison – Director of Benefits, Well-Being and Financial Programs, Bread Financial

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

Shaynan Garrioch – Chief Human Resources Officer, The Culinary Institute of America

Tonya Hamm – Executive Director of Plan Operations, Adventist Healthcare Retirement Plans

Brad Kadue – President, Precision Associates

Adelia Soremekun – Senior Director, Total Rewards, The Jackson Laboratory

Sara Trexler – Chief Administrative Officer, NC State Employees’ Credit Union

Allison Wardlaw – Plan Development and Compliance Director, Michigan Office of Retirement Services

Brian Williamson – Director, Benefits & Retirement Programs, Avangrid

agenda

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Welcome Reception


Retirement Income
Employee Financial Wellness
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Retirement Income Workshop

  1. 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

    Breakfast and Registration

  2. 9:00 – 9:10 a.m.

    Opening Remarks

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 11:00 – 11:10 a.m.

    Coffee Break

  6. 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

  1. 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

    Breakfast and Registration

  2. 9:00 – 9:10 a.m.

    Opening Remarks

  3. 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.

    Panelist
    Monica DeAgostino, HR Manager – Benefits, Compensation & HRIS, MRIGlobal

  4. 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.

    Moderator
    Phil Sherman, Senior Retirement Plan Consultant, Deschutes Investment Consulting LLC

  5. 11:00 – 11:10 a.m.

    Coffee Break

  6. 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

  1. 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

    Lunch and Registration

  2. 1:00 – 1:10 p.m.

    Opening Remarks

  3. 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.

    Panelist
    Pam Hess, Executive Director, Retirement Research Center, a DCIIA organization

  4. 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.

    Panelists
    Kim Cochrane, Director, Client Services, HUB International MidAtlantic
    Rosie Zaklad, Principal, Groom Law Group, Chartered

  5. 3:00 – 3:15 p.m.

    Coffee Break

  6. 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.

    Panelist
    Viv Hunter Turner, Principal, Groom Law Group, Chartered

  7. 4:15 – 5:15 p.m.

    Keynote

  8. 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

    Cocktail Reception

  9. 6:30 p.m.

    Excellence in Retirement Awards

Day 2

  1. 7:00 – 8:15 a.m.

    Breakfast

  2. 8:20 – 8:30 a.m.

    Opening Remarks

  3. 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.

    Panelist
    George Sepsakos, Principal, Groom Law Group, Chartered

  4. 9:30 – 10:15 a.m.

    Case Study

  5. 10:15 – 10:45 a.m.

    Coffee Break

  6. 10:50 – 11:50 a.m.

    Breakouts

    1. 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.

      Panelists
      Lisa K. Loesel, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery

      Brent Sheppard, Partner, Financial Advisor,Cadence Financial Management

    2. 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.
    3. 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.
  7. 11:55 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.

    Breakouts

    1. Equity in Retirement Benefits
      How to provide retirement and financial wellness programs that benefit all employee groups.

      Panelists
      Liz Aidoo, Financial Planner, Manager of DEI and Spanish Language Services, Francis LLC
      Adelia Soremekun, Senior Director, Total Rewards, The Jackson Laboratory

    2. 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.
    3. 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.
  8. 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

    Lunch

  9. 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

    Main Stage

  10. 2:35 – 3:05 p.m.

    Breakouts

  11. 3:05 – 3:30 p.m.

    Coffee Break

  12. 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

    Breakouts

    1. Practical Lessons From Plan Sponsors
      Award-winning plan sponsors share ways they’ve improved their plans and challenges they’ve overcome.

      Panelist
      Allison Wardlaw, Plan Development and Compliance Director, Michigan Office of Retirement Services

    2. 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.
    3. 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.

      Panelist
      Jacob M. Mattinson, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery

  13. 4:30 – 5:20 p.m.

    Workshops

  14. 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

    Themed Party

Day 3

  1. 7:30 – 8:50 a.m.

    Breakfast

  2. 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

    Plan Sponsor Idea Exchanges

  3. 9:00 – 9:10 a.m.

    Opening Remarks

  4. 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.

  5. 10:10 – 10:30 a.m.

    Coffee Break

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 12:00 p.m.

    To-go lunch

registration

Registration is now open!

Pricing

Plan SponsorsFREE 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*

speakers

  • Pam Hess

    Pam Hess

    Executive Director
    Retirement Research Center a DCIIA organization
    Pam Hess
    Executive Director
    Retirement Research Center a DCIIA organization

    Pam Hess is the Executive Director at the DCIIA Retirement Research Center. Previously, she was with Aon Hewitt and served as their Director of Retirement Research. Earlier in her career Pam worked on the investment side at Aon Hewitt and with other firms in the financial services industry, including Smith Barney. Pam received a bachelor’s degree in finance from The University of Illinois, at Chicago. She earned her master’s in business administration from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, with concentrations in accounting, finance and managerial & organizational behavior. Pam is also a CFA Charterholder since 2002. She is based in Charlotte, NC.

  • Monica DeAgostino

    Monica DeAgostino

    HR Manager – Benefits, Compensation & HRIS
    MRIGlobal
    Monica DeAgostino
    HR Manager – Benefits, Compensation & HRIS
    MRIGlobal

    Monica De Agostino is an HR Leader with over 16 years of experience leading Benefits and Total Rewards. She has worked in industries where people and innovation are the keys to success. Monica believes in empowering individuals and fostering a sense of humanity and connection in the workplace. She has led MRIGlobal to win PLANSPONSOR’s 2022 Nonprofit DC Plan Sponsor of the Year and be a finalist in 2020 and 2021 Business Journal’s Healthiest Employer.

    Growing up in South America, raised in multiple countries, and comfortable everywhere, Monica believes education transforms generations. Monica has a Bachelor’s in International Business and an MBA in Management. She holds Senior HR Professional Certifications from SHRM and HRCI Institutes.

  • Lisa K. Loesel

    Lisa K. Loesel

    Partner
    McDermott Will & Emery
    Lisa K. Loesel
    Partner
    McDermott Will & Emery

    Lisa K. Loesel is a partner in McDermott Will & Emery’s Chicago office. Lisa focuses her practice on employee benefits matters, including the design, amendment and administration of 401(k), 403(b) and pension plans, as well as nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements and employee stock ownership plans. She counsels privately and publicly held corporations regarding the employee benefits design and transition matters arising from corporate mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. She also advises clients regarding fiduciary and plan investment issues under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Lisa also has experience counseling plan fiduciaries with respect to the claims and appeals procedures under ERISA.

  • Jacob M. Mattinson

    Jacob M. Mattinson

    Partner
    McDermott Will & Emery
    Jacob M. Mattinson
    Partner
    McDermott Will & Emery

    Jacob M. Mattinson is a partner in McDermott Will & Emery’s Chicago office. His practice focuses on employee benefits matters related to health and welfare plans, retirement plans, and executive compensation issues. He frequently counsels privately and publicly held corporations and tax-exempt entities on a variety of benefits and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) issues, including ERISA fiduciary issues, compliance with the Affordable Care Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), ERISA implications in corporate transactions, ERISA administrative claims and appeals, and executive compensation matters.

  • Brent Sheppard

    Brent Sheppard

    Partner, Financial Advisor
    Cadence Financial Management
    Brent Sheppard
    Partner, Financial Advisor
    Cadence Financial Management

    Brent Sheppard is Partner, Financial Adviser and Director of Corporate Retirement Plan Consulting at Cadence Financial Management. Brent has earned the Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist, Retirement Income Certified Professional, and Accredited Investment Fiduciary designations. He helps companies design and manage innovative retirement benefit plans, financial wellness programs and customized executive services. What he is most proud of is seeing his clients, their organizations, and their employees achieving their financial goals. Brent is frequently invited to speak at industry conferences such as those hosted by PLANSPONSOR, SPARK Institute and SHRM. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware and has his Series 7, 63, and 66 securities licenses.

  • Rosie Zaklad

    Rosie Zaklad

    Principal
    Groom Law Group, Chartered
    Rosie Zaklad
    Principal
    Groom Law Group, Chartered

    Rosie Zaklad is a principal at Groom Law Group, Chartered and co-leader of the firm’s tax practice. Her day-to-day practice involves the design, implementation and ongoing administration of retirement plans, including defined benefit, defined contribution, and tax-deferred annuity plans. She focuses on tax-qualified plan compliance issues, including Internal Revenue Service audits, rulings, and corrections. Rosie has extensive experience assisting plan sponsors in navigating the plan termination process, including preparing employee communications, obtaining agency approvals, and responding to post-termination audits. She has also represented clients in responding to Department of Labor and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation inquiries, investigations, and audits.

    During her tenure at Groom, Rosie has counseled clients on a wide range of retirement plan issues in connection with corporate transactions and spinoffs, including distributions, plan loans, company stock, record retention, and treatment of transferring employees. She has also advised on tax and ERISA issues in connection with the post-merger integration of retirement plans.

  • Viv Hunter Turner

    Viv Hunter Turner

    Principal
    Groom Law Group, Chartered
    Viv Hunter Turner
    Principal
    Groom Law Group, Chartered

    Viv Hunter Turner advises employer-sponsored welfare plans on employee benefit compliance issues under the Affordable Care Act, Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), ERISA, and COBRA. Additionally, she counsels clients on implementing wellness programs that comply with applicable regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and the HIPAA wellness rules. Higher education institutions and affiliated organizations turn to Viv for a range of issues such as plan governance structure, contracts, wellness initiatives and providing benefits to both union and non-union populations. Other industries served include Fortune 50 mass media and retail, Fortune 100 entertainment and transportation, health insurance issuers, and the industrial engineering industry.

  • George Sepsakos

    George Sepsakos

    Principal
    Groom Law Group, Chartered
    George Sepsakos
    Principal
    Groom Law Group, Chartered

    George Sepsakos is a principal at Groom Law Group, Chartered who represents clients on a broad range of ERISA, federal tax and securities law matters. His practice is primarily focused on issues related to Title I of ERISA, including fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction issues.  George’s practice includes:

    • Regularly defending plan trustees, fiduciaries, and service providers in investigations and enforcement proceedings brought by the Department of Labor.
    • Representing clients in front of the Department of Labor (DOL), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), seeking advisory opinions, prohibited transaction exemptions, no action letters, and other guidance.
    • Counseling banks, broker-dealers, recordkeepers, investment managers and advisers and other financial services companies on the structuring and marketing of retirement plan services and products.
    • Advising clients on compliance with DOL’s final regulation defining the term “fiduciary.”
    • Regularly counseling large employers and plan committees to develop processes and best practices regarding plan investments, including the acquisition and management of employer securities, and plan governance matters.
    • Conducting reviews and internal audits of plan governance and administrative practices.

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.

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