Breakfast and Registration (workshop RSVP’s only)
(Registration for workshops – 7th floor grand ballroom salon I/II foyer)
(Breakfast for workshops – 4th floor foyer)

Opening Remarks
(4th floor, Marriott Ballroom)

Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

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.

Moderator
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
Kevin Crain, Executive Director, Institutional Retirement Income Council
Marcia Mantell, Owner, Mantell Retirement Consulting, Inc.

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
Elise Thiemann, CFA, Head of DC Investment Strategy, SSGA
Marcia Wagner, Founder, The Wagner Law Group

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.

Moderator
Mark Olsen, Managing Director, PlanPILOT

Panelists
Jason Chepenik, Senior Vice President, OneDigital Financial Services
Ralph Corasaniti, Vice President, Defined Contribution Lifetime Income, Prudential

Breakfast and Registration (workshop RSVP’s only)
(Registration for workshops – 7th floor grand ballroom salon I/II foyer)
(Breakfast for workshops – 4th floor foyer)

Opening Remarks
(4th floor, Avenue Ballroom)

Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, PLANSPONSOR

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.

Moderator
Greg Kaplan, Head of Retirement Services, Newfront

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

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

Panelists
Kathleen Kelly, Managing Partner, Compass Financial Partners, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company
Nick Maynard, SVP, Commonwealth
Dwyatt Mcclain, Head of Retirement Income Distribution, Fidelity Investments
Brian J. Tiemann, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery

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.
Moderator
Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
Julia Fearn, Director of Channel Partnerships, SoFi at Work
Shay Garrioch, Chief Human Resource Officer, The Culinary Institute of America
Patti Ruh, Head of People Operations, Vitality Group US

Lunch and Registration
(7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II foyer)

Sponsored by Morningstar Retirement

Opening Remarks
(7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)

Alison Cooke Mintzer, Publisher, PLANSPONSOR

State of the Retirement Plan Industry
(7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Representatives from the retirement plan ecosystem talk about developments in the industry, what’s in flux and what the future might hold.

Moderator
Alison Cooke Mintzer, Publisher, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
Andy Banducci, Senior Vice President, Retirement and Compensation Policy, ERISA Industry Committee
Bridget Bearden, Research and Development Strategist, Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)
Pam Hess, Executive Director, Retirement Research Center, a DCIIA organization

SECURE 2.0 Implementation
(7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
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.

Moderator
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

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

Coffee Break

Sponsored by Manulife John Hancock Investments

Creating Committees of Excellence
(7th 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 both a committee and procedures to achieve excellent plan governance.

Moderator
Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
Alvaro Galvis, Senior Vice President, Senior Retirement Benefits Consultant, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Michael Kozemchak, Managing Director, Institutional Investment Consulting
Viv Hunter Turner, Principal, Groom Law Group, Chartered

Personalizing the Participant Experience for the workplace of tomorrow
(7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Employees are unique individuals, each on a personal journey with hopes, futures, and dreams. Yet they all share something in common: Most are worried, some even overwhelmed, about that future. Hear from our Participant Experience Executive, Amanda Ross, as she shares our enhanced Participant Experience approach and how we personalize it to provide flexible, life-adjusted financial guidance every step of the way. Guidance that goes beyond traditional benefits and provides more of what employees need to manage their day-to-day finances -today and tomorrow.

Presenter
Amanda N. Ross, Managing Director, Workplace Benefits, Bank of America

Sponsored by Bank of America

Opening Night Reception
(7th floor, Grand Ballroom 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 Award Dinner
(7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
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.

Breakfast

Sponsored by Vanguard

Opening Remarks

Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Washington Update
Experts take a deep dive into the latest retirement plan-related legislation, regulations and litigation, offering practical lessons for plan sponsors.

Moderator
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
Lisa M. Gomez, previous Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security, U.S. Department of Labor
George Sepsakos, Principal, Groom Law Group, Chartered

Untangling Your Participants’ Financial Complexity: Make it Make Sense
Today’s financial landscape is anything but simple and uncertainty only adds to the complexity employees face. As retirement plan sponsors, how can you support participants in making confident decisions along their unique financial journeys? A potential solution? Offering financial advice.

In this session, we’ll explore what it takes to deliver the right support that reflects the realities employees are facing, striking an appropriate balance between tailored solutions and human advice. Come ready for an interactive conversation—grounded in experience and enriched by real stories. Together, we’ll look at how to turn financial complexity into clarity, one participant at a time.

Speakers
Yvonne Beaudreau, Director, Workplace Planning, Edelman Financial Engines
Dan Chaparian, Vice President, Institutional Marketing, Edelman Financial Engines
Joe Dinan, Principal Portfolio Manager, Edelman Financial Engines
Kyle Evans, Senior Director, Workplace Planning, Edelman Financial Engines

Sponsored by Edelman Financial Engines

Coffee Break

sponsored by Manulife John Hancock Investments

Breakouts

1. Cleaning Up Your DC Plan
   (7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
   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.

   Moderator
   Phil Senderowitz, Managing Director, Strategic Retirement Partners

   Panelists
   Jeff Kettwig, Vice President, National Practice Leader, John Hancock
   Lisa K. Loesel, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
   Rich Martin, Assistant Director – Consulting, Principal
   Brent Sheppard, Partner, Financial Advisor, Cadence Financial Management

2. Essential QDIA Considerations
   (4th 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 alternatives, the use of passive and active funds, managed accounts, hybrid QDIAs, collective investment trusts and more.

   Moderator
   Joe Cravotta, Manager of Institutional Services, Henderson Brothers Financial Partners

   Panelists
   Sean Bjork, President, Bjork Asset Management
   Rui Remedios, Senior Investment Consultant, Retirement Investment Services, Charles Schwab
   Julie Varga, SVP, Product & Investment Specialist, Morningstar Retirement

3. DB Plan Maintenance
   (4th floor, Avenue Ballroom)
   Learn how sponsors of DB plans can enhance plan maintenance, plus considerations for including DB plans in the total retirement planning picture.

   Moderator
   Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, PLANSPONSOR

   Panelists
   Tom Demko, Managing Director, SageView Advisory Group
   Michael Devlin, Principal, BCG Pension Risk Consultants, Inc
   John Lowell, Partner, October Three Consulting

Breakouts

1. Equity in Retirement Benefits
   (7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
   How to provide retirement and financial wellness programs that benefit all employee groups.

   Moderator
   Francisco Abril, Vice President, Financial Wellness and Employee Engagement, HUB Retirement and Wealth Management

   Panelists
   Liz Aidoo, Financial Planner, Manager of DEI and Spanish Language Services, Francis LLC
   Sudipto Banerjee, Director of Retirement Thought Leadership, T. Rowe Price
   Adelia Soremekun, Senior Director, Total Rewards, The Jackson Laboratory

2. Communicating About Investments
   (4th floor, Marriott Ballroom)
   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.

   Moderator
   Jonathan Nolan, Vice President, Investment Consulting Services, Francis LLC

   Panelists
   John Doyle, Senior Retirement Strategist, Capital Group, home of American Funds
   Kimberly Stockton, Head of DC Research and Investment Thought Leadership, Vanguard

3. Fixing Common Mistakes
   (4th floor, Avenue Ballroom)
   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.

   Moderator
   Joseph Topp, Senior Vice President – Investment Consulting, Francis LLC

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

From Complexity to Clarity: Exploring Modern Fiduciary Models
(7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
The landscape of fiduciary outsourcing is evolving—what was once limited to targeted support has expanded to include more comprehensive solutions and Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs). As employers look to reduce complexity, manage risk, and improve participant outcomes, many are rethinking how they deliver and govern their defined contribution plans.

This session will explore how PEPs are emerging as a compelling solution within the broader continuum of fiduciary outsourcing. Attendees will walk away with actionable insights on evaluating and implementing a PEP, while also understanding how other fiduciary models compare.  Real-world case studies will be woven throughout to highlight key decision points, successes, and lessons learned.

Attendees will gain an in-depth understanding of:

• Maximizing the Effectiveness of DC Plan Delivery
  How evolving expectations around participant outcomes, plan governance, and operational efficiency are reshaping what success looks like for modern DC plans.
• Fiduciary Outsourcing Today
  A brief look at how the market has shifted from standalone fiduciary support to bundled, delegated models—setting the stage for PEP growth.
• Strategic Advantages of PEPs
  How PEPs can improve participant outcomes, reduce administrative burden, centralize fiduciary oversight, and offer scalable plan design and cost efficiencies.
• WTW Survey Insights
  What the data shows about plan sponsor adoption of fiduciary outsourcing models.

Presenters
David O’Meara, Director, Investments, WTW
Holly Tardif, Director, Retirement – Defined Contribution Strategy, WTW
Chris West, Managing Director – LifeSight U.S. Business Leader & Defined Contribution & Non-qualified Practice Leader, WTW

Sponsored by WTW

The Power of Lifetime Income: Moving from Concept to Reality – Insights from Leading Consultants
(4th floor, Marriott Ballroom)
Drawing from their extensive work with plan sponsors across industries, plan sizes/types and participant populations, a panel of consultants will share real-world lifetime income implementation strategies and practical solutions they’re recommending to their clients. Get an insider’s view of how leading organizations are successfully navigating the lifetime income landscape.

These market-leading consultants will share:

• Direct feedback from plan sponsor implementations and product due diligence
• Behind-the-scenes insights on which solutions are gaining traction and why
• Common lifetime income roadblocks they’re helping plan sponsors overcome
• Emerging best practices in product selection and program design

Moderator
Vik Arya, Managing Director, Retirement Investing, Nuveen

Panelists
Brian Abshire, Head of DC Multi-Asset Solutions & DC OCIO, Aon
Emily Phillips, Senior Director, Investments – Northeast Leader, WTW

Holly Verdeyen, Partner, US Defined Contribution Leader, Mercer

Sponsored by Nuveen

Lunch

Sponsored by Morningstar Retirement

Guaranteed Lifetime Income in Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans: Key Insights and Future Directions
This session offers key insights for plan sponsors considering guaranteed lifetime income options for their retirement plans. Allianz will share their latest research on participant attitudes and preferences, providing valuable perspectives on how products like annuities can help meet participant needs while also contributing positively to perceptions of the plan and employer. Empower will discuss their experiences as a recordkeeper implementing guaranteed lifetime income offerings, highlighting practical lessons and successes. Together, we’ll explore the implications of these findings and discuss future trends in adopting and evolving guaranteed lifetime income products, helping plan sponsors make informed choices to enhance their retirement plan offerings.

Presenters
Kelly Rome, Vice President of Product Development and Management, Empower
Matt Stubblefield, Aggregator Channel Head, Allianz Life

Sponsored by Allianz

Breakouts

1. The Intersection of Health Care and Retirement
   (7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
   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.

   Moderator
   Shelly Howard-Horwitz, Managing Director, Retirement, Executive & Employee Benefits, World Investment Advisors

   Panelists
   Sam Moroni, Senior Wealth Strategy Associate, Retirement Plan Consulting, UBS Financial Services
   Greg Puig, Partner & Head of Group Insurance, Sentinel Group
   Kendall Stice, VP, Healthcare Intermediary Business Development, Fidelity Investments

2. NQDC Plan Design and Trends
   (4th floor, Marriott Ballroom)
   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.

   Moderator
   Heather Taylor, Director, Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Strategies, MarshMcLennan Agency

   Panelists
   Rita Fiumara, Senior Retirement Plan Consultant, Senior Institutional Consultant, UBS Financial Services
   Rob Kaufman, Nonqualified Plan Design & Strategy Consultant, Empower

3. Government and Non-ERISA Plans
   (4th floor, Avenue Ballroom)
   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.

   Moderator
   Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, PLANSPONSOR

   Panelists
   Lisa Drake, Managing Director, SageView Advisory Group
   Errol Hau, Principal, Financial Advisor, CAPTRUST 

Coffee Break

Sponsored by Manulife John Hancock Investments

Breakouts

1. Practical Lessons From Plan Sponsors
   (7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
   Award-winning plan sponsors share ways they’ve improved their plans and challenges they’ve overcome.

   Moderator
   Remy Samuels, Reporter, PLANSPONSOR

   Panelists
   Deanna Allison, Director, Benefits, Well-Being and Financial Programs, Bread Financial
   Amy French, Chief Human Resources Officer, Westfield Bank
   Allison Wardlaw, Plan Development and Compliance Director, Michigan Office of Retirement Services
   Pam West, Senior Leader, Total Rewards, Boys and Girls Clubs of America

2. Benchmarking Investments and Fees
   (4th floor, Marriott Ballroom)
   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.

   Moderator
   Alison Cooke Mintzer, Publisher, PLANSPONSOR

   Panelists
   Kevin Drever, Institutional Investment Consultant, ADP
   Benjamin Grosz, Partner, Ivin, Phillips & Barker, Chartered
   Raul Valdes-Perez, CEO and Co-Founder, OnlyBoth, Inc.
   Keith H. Van Etten, Portfolio Construction Consultant, Manulife John Hancock Investment

3. Applying a Fiduciary Standard to Health Care Benefits
   (4th floor, Avenue Ballroom)
   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.

   Moderator
   Barbara Delaney, Principal, SS/RBA, a member firm of Global Retirement Partners, LLC (GRP)

   Panelists
   Jeffrey Cullen, CEO, Strategic Retirement Partners
   Percy Lee, Of Counsel, Ivin, Phillips & Barker, Chartered
   Jacob M. Mattinson, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery

Designing for Tomorrow: How Richmond University Medical Center Used Data and Insights to Improve Overall Plan Design
As retirement plan design continues to evolve, embedding lifetime income solutions into default options is becoming a defining strategy for the future. This panel will highlight emerging trends in embedded defaults and the rising importance of guaranteed income. Featuring a partnership between Richmond Medical Center of Staten Island and their consultant USI, we’ll examine how the organization leveraged data analytics to guide smarter plan design and reshape their retirement strategy. Attendees will gain insight into how plan sponsors can meet the changing needs of today’s workforce and deliver stronger retirement outcomes through modern default solutions.

Moderator
Tim Pitney, MD Head of Lifetime Income Default Solutions, TIAA

Panelists
Shawn Heron, Vice President and Senior Investment Consultant, USI Advisory, Inc.
Dave Murray, CFO, Richmond Medical University Center

Sponsored by TIAA

Cocktail Party
Join us in the exhibit hall before you head out for the evening for Chicago neighborhood-themed Cocktails and Dinner at Wicker Park after Dark!

Breakfast

Sponsored by Vanguard

Plan Sponsor Idea Exchanges
(4th floor, Marriott Ballroom & Avenue Ballroom)

1. Idea Exchange 1
   CORPORATE DC <$250M

   Facilitator
   Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

2. Idea Exchange 2
   CORPORATE DC >$250M

   Facilitator
   Alison Cooke Mintzer, Publisher, PLANSPONSOR

3. Idea Exchange 3
   NONPROFIT & GOV

   Facilitator
   Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, PLANSPONSOR

Opening Remarks
(7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)

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

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

Panelist
Darbi Buchanan, Director of 401(k) Services, WorkSmart Systems
Cassie Crist, Principal, Sikich

Coffee Break

Sponsored by Manulife John Hancock Investments

Recognizing Cognitive Decline and Mitigating Financial Abuse or Fraud Among Your Employee Base
(7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
What are the key issues individuals face regarding fraud and their retirement accounts? What can plan sponsors do to help protect those accounts? What do they need to teach individuals to do? What can be done on an automated basis? Anna Rappaport will discuss work the Society of Actuaries has done to understand plan sponsor practices, and research done with individuals to understand how to deal with risk. She will provide tips for plan sponsors.

Presenter
Anna M. Rappaport, F.S.A., M.A.A.A., President, Anna Rappaport Consulting

Insights From PLANSPONSOR’s Participant Survey
(7th floor, Grand Ballroom Salon I/II)
Find out what retirement plan participants and non-participants think, according to findings of the 2024 PLANSPONSOR Participant Survey.

Presenter
Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, PLANSPONSOR

To-go lunch

Sponsored by Morningstar Retirement