sponsors

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.

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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.

    Moderator
    Chuck Williams, CEO, Finspire

    Panelists
    J. Brian Coleman, VP of Total Rewards, Dawn Foods
    Bruce Lanser, Senior Retirement Plan Consultant, UBS
    Marcia Wagner, Founder, The Wagner Law Group

  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.

    Panelists
    Monica De Agostino, Director – Total Rewards & HRIS, MRIGlobal
    Kelli Send, Co-founder, Senior Vice President – Financial Wellness Services, Francis

  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.

    Moderator

    Panelist
    Andy Banducci, Senior Vice President, Retirement and Compensation Policy, ERISA Industry Committee
    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
    Mark Iwry, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and a Visiting Scholar, Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
    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. 8:15 – 8:20 a.m.

    Opening Remarks

  3. 8:20 – 9:10 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. 9:10 – 10:00 a.m.

    Sponsored Main Stage

  5. 10:00 – 10:30 a.m.

    Coffee Break

  6. 10:30 – 11:20 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.

      Panelist
      John Lowell, Partner, October Three Consulting

  7. 11:25 – 11:55 a.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.

      Panelists
      Jodi Epstein, Partner, Ivin, Phillips & Barker, Chartered
      Julie Doran Stewart, Head of Fiduciary Advisory Services, Sentinel Group

  8. 12:00 – 12:50 p.m.

    Sponsored Workshops

  9. 12:50 – 1:50 p.m.

    Lunch

  10. 1:50 – 2:40 p.m.

    Sponsored Main Stage

  11. 2:45 – 3:15 p.m.

    Breakouts

    1. The Intersection of Health Care and Retirement
      Studies show that many employees are worried about health and long-term care expenses in retirement. Learn how plan sponsors can help them prepare and educate employees about their savings options.

      Panelist
      Sam Moroni, Senior Wealth Strategy Associate, Retirement Plan Consulting, UBS Financial Services
      Greg Puig, Partner & Head of Group Insurance, Sentinel Group

    2. NQDC Plan Design and Trends
      Offering nonqualified deferred compensation plans to help key employees and executives with financial wellness and retirement savings is gaining traction among employers of all sizes. Hear about trends and optimal plan designs.

      Panelist
      Rita Fiumara, Senior Retirement Plan Consultant, Senior Institutional Consultant, UBS Financial Services

    3. Government and Non-ERISA Plans
      Panelists will discuss the opportunities, unique rules and challenges faced by sponsors of defined contribution plans that are not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
  12. 3:15 – 3:45 p.m.

    Coffee Break

  13. 3:45 – 4:35 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
      Deanna Allison, Director, Benefits, Well-Being and Financial Programs, Bread Financial

    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.

      Panelist
      Benjamin Grosz, Partner, Ivin, Phillips & Barker, Chartered

    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.

      Panelists
      Percy Lee, Of Counsel, Ivin, Phillips & Barker, Chartered
      Jacob M. Mattinson, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery

  14. 4:40 – 5:30 p.m.

    Sponsored Main Stage

  15. 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

  • Liz Aidoo

    Liz Aidoo

    Financial Planner, Manager of DEI and Spanish Language Services
    Francis LLC
    Liz Aidoo
    Financial Planner, Manager of DEI and Spanish Language Services
    Francis LLC

    Named 2024’s Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year for Efforts in DEI, Liz serves as Director of DEI and Servicios en Español and Financial Planner at Francis LLC. She uses her extensive experience as an international, bilingual educator to help advise participants through the often-confusing world of personal finance. In addition, Liz leads the firm’s DEI Committee and works to create a more inclusive, collaborative, and just workplace; one that supports minoritized individuals and offers opportunities for learning and growth that positively impact the Francis team and their clients.

  • Deanna Allison

    Deanna Allison

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

    Deanna Allison is Director, Benefits, Well-Being and Financial Programs for Bread Financial based in Columbus Ohio. She has been in the retirement industry for over 20 years. Allison has done both large plan administration and third-party administrator (TPA) work during her career. Her current role includes oversight for benefits involving participant behavior and the overall well-being for a global audience. Allison’s group has proudly created and shared its award-winning content and programs for more than 10 years. They’ve met directly with more than 6,000 associates delivering content on mental health, physical well-being and financial confidence.

  • Andy Banducci

    Andy Banducci

    Senior Vice President, Retirement and Compensation Policy
    ERISA Industry Committee
    Andy Banducci
    Senior Vice President, Retirement and Compensation Policy
    ERISA Industry Committee

    Andy Banducci is Senior Vice President, Retirement and Compensation Policy, ERISA Industry Committee. He leads ERIC’s efforts to develop and advocate for retirement, compensation and paid leave public policies priorities for ERIC member companies at the federal, state and local levels.

    Prior to joining ERIC, Andy served as the Chief Policy Officer of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), where he advised the U.S. Senate-confirmed Director on all legislative and regulatory activities; oversaw the agency’s legislative affairs; and coordinated the agency’s external activities.

    In addition to his agency experience, Andy has staffed three congressional committees on retirement, compensation, and labor policy. He has a J.D. at the University of Michigan Law School and undergraduate degrees from Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College.

  • Kim Cochrane

    Kim Cochrane

    Director of Client Services
    HUB International Mid Atlantic LLC
    Kim Cochrane
    Director of Client Services
    HUB International Mid Atlantic LLC

    Kim Cochrane, QPA, TGPC, is the Director of Client Services at HUB International Mid Atlantic LLC in Rockville, MD. She has over 25 years of experience, primarily in the consulting area of IRS, Department of Labor and ERISA regulations.
    Kim focuses on corporate and non-profit retirement plans, including pension plans, 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, profit sharing, cash balance and executive benefit plans. Kim’s day-to-day responsibilities include working with plan trustees on addressing their fiduciary responsibilities and working with individuals on managing their retirement accounts.
    Kim holds FINRA Series 6, 63 and 65 securities registrations, life and health insurance licenses and is a credentialed and active member of The ARA (American Retirement Association), NAPA (The National Association of Plan Advisers) and WIPN.
    At HUB, Kim is a Non-Profit Specialty Expert and has received numerous industry awards, including NAPA’s Top Woman Advisor, PLANADVISER’s Top Retirement Plan Adviser and PLANSPONSOR Adviser of the Year Finalist.
    Prior to joining HUB in January 2022, she was the Director of Client Services with Raffa Retirement Services. She has spent over 20 years as a relationship manager and consultant at some of the biggest recordkeepers in the industry.

  • Monica De Agostino

    Monica De Agostino

    Director - Total Rewards & HRIS
    MRIGlobal
    Monica De Agostino
    Director - Total Rewards & 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.

  • Julie Doran Stewart

    Julie Doran Stewart

    Head of Fiduciary Advisory Services
    Sentinel Group
    Julie Doran Stewart
    Head of Fiduciary Advisory Services
    Sentinel Group

    Julie has worked in all areas of the retirement plan ecosystem over the course of her career, making her a well-rounded expert in navigating the complexities of the industry. Equipped with this unique perspective and expertise, she assists her clients in making informed decisions and mitigating risk while helping their employees plan for the retirement they deserve. Alongside her everyday duties, she serves on the company’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Council.

    Julie has a Master of Business Administration degree from Babson College, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Communication degree from Bentley College. She is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary, AIF, and a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA). Julie has her FINRA Series 65 license and Life, Accident and Health Insurance licenses from The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

  • Jodi Epstein

    Jodi Epstein

    Partner
    Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Chartered
    Jodi Epstein
    Partner
    Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Chartered

    Jodi has more than 25 years of experience with all aspects of employee benefits, with a particular focus on defined benefit plans and 401(k) plans. She is particularly adept at managing integrations after acquisitions, setting up new benefit platforms, pension plan lump sum windows and terminations, and advising qualified plan committees regarding their fiduciary duties. Jodi’s practice includes day-to-day compliance issues, such as assisting with implementation of new legislation and regulations, trouble-shooting when glitches arise in plan operations, and helping qualified plan committees monitor plan investments and plan vendors. She has experience with government entities as well as corporate clients. Her practice also includes the one-of-a-kind issues that arise in connection with M&A activity.  

    Jodi is well-versed in the complexity and challenges raised by large controlled groups.  Clients appreciate Jodi’s ability to manage projects involving multiple plan vendors, often on a tight timetable. Her client service and responsiveness are unsurpassed. Jodi has been individually recognized by Chambers & Partners for Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation since 2019 and by Best Lawyers since 2017.

  • Rita Fiumara

    Rita Fiumara

    Senior Retirement Plan Consultant, Senior Institutional Consultant
    UBS Financial Services
    Rita Fiumara
    Senior Retirement Plan Consultant, Senior Institutional Consultant
    UBS Financial Services

    Rita is a Senior Vice President and a Senior Institutional Retirement Consultant with UBS since 1996. Rita has dedicated her career to equipping Plan Sponsors with best practices in meeting their Fiduciary responsibilities. Her focus integrates plan design consulting with employee education in building effective communication programs to increase overall plan participation. Rita serves as a partner to her clients and advocate in assisting them in maintaining the most competitive cost structures, formalization of investment committee meetings and decisions, and overall holistic management of all regulatory requirements. She is a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and a Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS). Rita has a B.A. with a concentration in finance from the University of South Florida and an M.S. in business administration from the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

  • Benjamin L. Grosz

    Benjamin L. Grosz

    Partner
    Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Chartered
    Benjamin L. Grosz
    Partner
    Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Chartered

    Ben advises clients on a broad range of employee benefits, federal tax, fiduciary, planning and controversy matters.

    Ben’s employee benefits practice consists of advising employers on a wide range of issues, including: ERISA; health, welfare and retirement plans; compliance with state and federal laws and regulations; and executive compensation. In particular, he regularly advises plan committees, providing legal updates and fiduciary training. He recently advised a Fortune 500 public company on a large ($1 billion) annuity lift-out from a pension plan.

    In addition, Ben has assisted clients in structuring settlements, asset sales, reorgs, and charitable donations. He has experience drafting estate planning documents, administering estates, and with probate matters. He also has advised boards of directors and the management of nonprofits. In addition to being a counselor to nonprofits, he has also served as an officer and/or director for tax-exempt organizations.

    Before law school, Ben was a business manager at Capital One, where he developed strategy and analysis for its credit card and banking businesses.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Mark Iwry

    Mark Iwry

    Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and a Visiting Scholar
    The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
    Mark Iwry
    Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and a Visiting Scholar
    The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

    Mark Iwry served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury from 2009 to January 2017, and concurrently as the Treasury Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Retirement and Health Policy.  In this capacity, he was responsible, together with the Assistant Secretary of Labor, for overseeing the regulation of the nation’s private pension system. His portfolio included pensions/retirement (DB and DC plans, IRAs, etc.) and national savings policy; related tax policy and other tax and legal aspects; legislative and regulatory implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and other health policy; other employee benefits and compensation, and related legislative, policymaking, and rulemaking/regulatory responsibilities.

    Currently Mark is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and a Visiting Scholar at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He has been a partner in the law firm of Covington & Burling and Of Counsel to the law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell, providing advice and assistance to plan sponsors, service providers, other major corporations, investment firms, financial institutions, trade associations, small businesses, and non-profits. He previously served as the Treasury Department’s Benefits Tax Counsel, Research Professor at Georgetown University, and a co-founder and Principal of the nonpartisan Retirement Security Project.

  • Percy Lee

    Percy Lee

    Of Counsel
    Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Chartered
    Percy Lee
    Of Counsel
    Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Chartered

    Percy advises clients on a wide range of federal income tax, estate and gift tax, and employee benefits issues. He specializes in developing creative solutions to the challenges of providing benefits to a modern, dynamic workforce while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations, such as HIPAA.

    At Stanford Law School, where he received his J.D., Percy served as the Senior Finance Editor of the Stanford Law Review and an Editor of the Stanford Journal of Law, Business and Finance. He also participated in the Stanford Supreme Court Litigation Clinic and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, and completed a summer internship at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 

  • 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.

  • John Lowell

    John Lowell

    Partner
    October Three Consulting
    John Lowell
    Partner
    October Three Consulting

    John Lowell is a Partner and Consulting Actuary with October Three Consulting LLC. He was President of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries in 2018 and has represented the U.S. profession globally. Based in Atlanta, he has spent nearly the last 40 years assisting employers of all sizes and in most industries with the design, funding, administration, and compliance aspects of nearly all aspects of their employee rewards programs. In recent years, his focus has been on rebuilding employer-sponsored retirement programs so that employees are able to deal with our impending retirement crisis. In particular, his focus is on building programs that cater to the workforce of 2025 and beyond by making them flexible, personalized, and adaptable to an evolving diverse workforce while keeping the program costs stable and affordable during challenging times. His clients seek to attract and retain great employees by offering them what they are asking for today.

  • 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.

  • Sam Moroni

    Sam Moroni

    Senior Wealth Strategy Associate, Retirement Plan Consulting
    UBS Financial Services
    Sam Moroni
    Senior Wealth Strategy Associate, Retirement Plan Consulting
    UBS Financial Services

    Sam has been with the UBS Retirement Plan Consulting Group since 2007 working with employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k), 403(b) and nonqualified deferred compensation. Sam brings a human element to helping participants become financially aware of their short and long-term investment goals. He specializes in working with plan sponsors to design and implement targeted employee education and communication campaigns that empower plan participants of all age groups, whether they’re just starting their savings or nearing retirement.

  • Greg Puig

    Greg Puig

    Partner & Head of Group Insurance
    Sentinel Group
    Greg Puig
    Partner & Head of Group Insurance
    Sentinel Group

    With a passion for assisting clients in all things benefits and Health & Welfare, Greg is a key player on Sentinel’s leadership team. Having called Sentinel home for more than 13 years, he is driven by a desire to help people day in and day out.

    Greg brings a unique view of benefits to the table, having curated a diverse background in health and welfare, insurance consulting and retirement. By helping firms create strong education game plans, his expertise enhances the value of their offerings and empowers employees to feel confident in what is offered to them. Greg has a Bachelor of Science – Business Administration, Finance from the University of Connecticut; has Life, Accident and Health Insurance licenses in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and is PPACA Certified.

  • 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.
  • Kelli Send

    Kelli Send

    Co-founder, Senior Vice President – Financial Wellness Services
    Francis
    Kelli Send
    Co-founder, Senior Vice President – Financial Wellness Services
    Francis

    With over 30 years of advising plan participants under her belt, Kelli Send has extensive financial wellness knowledge and oversees the firm’s financial wellness team. She is responsible for curriculum design and delivery, as well as the firm’s money coaching services. Under her leadership, the financial wellness team has won 15 Eddy Awards for excellence in retirement plan participant education programs.

    Kelli is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Professional (CFP) and has her Series 65 license and ERISA Fiduciary certification. She has a B.A. in Marketing from Michigan State University and an M.A. in Adult Education from Carroll University.

  • 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.

  • Phil Sherman

    Phil Sherman

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

    Phil Sherman, CFP, is the Senior Retirement Plan Consultant of Deschutes Investment Consulting in Portland, OR. He was originally drawn to the retirement plan industry after years of working in the wealth management field, where his interactions shed light on the lack of financial literacy. This inspired him to shift his focus to retirement plans and their participants. By working with retirement plans, he realized he could have a direct impact on education through workplace benefits and help employees better handle their money and make choices today that will have a lasting impact for tomorrow.

  • Marcia Wagner

    Marcia Wagner

    Founder
    The Wagner Law Group
    Marcia Wagner
    Founder
    The Wagner Law Group

    Marcia S. Wagner is the founder of The Wagner Law Group, one of the nation’s largest and most highly regarded law firms specializing in ERISA, employee benefits and executive compensation, and has practiced employee benefits law for over 38 years. Wagner is an authority on qualified and non-qualified plans, fiduciary issues, deferred compensation and welfare benefit arrangements, with experience in plan design and drafting, compliance, tax planning and consultation on all aspects of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. She also serves as an expert witness in ERISA litigation. Wagner has recently been appointed to the Board of Directors for the American Benefits Council, as well as a Member to the Board of Governors of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel. She has written hundreds of articles and 27 books. She is a highly sought after lecturer, is widely quoted in financial journals and has been a guest on Fox, CNN, Bloomberg and NBC.

  • Chuck Williams

    Chuck Williams

    Managing Partner, Chief Executive Officer
    Finspire
    Chuck Williams
    Managing Partner, Chief Executive Officer
    Finspire

    As a 25-year industry veteran, Chuck has devoted his professional life to enhancing the financial well-being of institutional and individual clients. As the Finspire, LLC Chief Executive Officer and Senior Consultant, Chuck provides oversight of the firm and is a lead consultant for many of the firm’s corporate retirement plans and high-net worth individual clients. Chuck is also an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern’s School of Continuing Studies where he has been teaching the Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits course since 2005.

    Prior to co-founding Finspire, LLC, Chuck served as a Managing Director and Senior Lead Consultant with Sheridan Road Advisors, LLC for 10 years, and with Bank Leumi for the 8 years prior. Chuck is continually working to strengthen his industry knowledge and expertise. Chuck is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS), A Certified 401(k) Specialist (C(k)P), an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF). He earned his B.S. in Finance from DePaul University and his Masters in Business Administration from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University.

  • 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.

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by Matt Kalinowski