Breakfast and Registration
(Symphony Ballroom Foyer)

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Plan Sponsor Introductions – For Plan Sponsors Only
(Symphony Ballroom)
Get to know your peers at the conference during a time of connection and networking. Share about your plan’s strengths and challenges and what you hope to gain from the conference.

Opening Remarks
(Symphony Ballroom)

Alison Cooke Mintzer, Publisher, PLANSPONSOR

Oh, What a Year It’s Been!
(Symphony Ballroom)
Daniel Aronowitz, Assistant Secretary of Labor, Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, will talk about developments across the retirement plan industry, including changes under the Trump administration, what’s in flux and what the future might hold.

Speaker
Daniel Aronowitz, Assistant Secretary of Labor, Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration

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

Moderator
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
Andy Banducci, Senior Vice President, Retirement and Compensation Policy, ERISA Industry Committee
Brad Campbell, Partner, Faegre Drinker
R. Bradford Huss, Director, Trucker Huss

Break

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Creating Committees of Excellence
(Symphony Ballroom)
Committee setup, governing documents and training. Meeting frequency, topics and documentation. This session will detail it all. Learn how to establish committees and procedures to achieve excellent plan governance.

Moderator
Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media

Panelists
Heather Bader, Partner, Faegre Drinker
Lisa Gomez, Founding Member, LMG Collaborative Consulting Solutions
Kathleen Kelly, Managing Partner, Compass Financial Partners, a Division of MMA Securities LLC

The Art and Science of Retirement Education: Empowering Participants Through Modern Engagement
(Symphony Ballroom)

Presenter
Amanda Ross, Managing Director, Head of Workplace Benefits Participant Experience, Bank of America

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Lunch

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Immersive Workshop 1: Retirement on the Horizon
(Symphony Ballroom)

Immersive Workshop 2: Employee Financial Wellness
(Griffin Ballroom [FGH])

See separate workshop tabs above for the agendas.

Cocktail Reception
(Exhibit Hall – Griffin Ballroom)
The Awards Dinner Cocktail Party invites you to connect over drinks, food, and conversation in the Exhibit Hall—an energizing start to the evening before we celebrate at the Awards Dinner!

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Excellence in Retirement Awards
(Symphony Ballroom)

Opening Remarks
(Symphony Ballroom)

Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Retirement Income Strategies
(Symphony Ballroom)
Experts will discuss the plan design and investment options, AI and other technology that can be used to help retirement plan participants develop a withdrawal strategy.

Moderator
Sean Kelly, Vice President, Financial Adviser, Heffernan Financial

Panelists
Idan Shlesinger, Partner, October Three
Elise Thiemann, Vice President, Head of DC Investment Strategy, State Street Investment Management
Chuck Williams, CEO, Finspire

Health Care Costs in Retirement
(Symphony Ballroom)
Panelists will discuss employees’ savings needs for health expenses in retirement, what Medicare covers and how plan sponsors can help them prepare.

Moderator
Kelli Send, Co-Founder, Senior Vice President – Financial Wellness Services, Francis, LLC

Panelists
Barbara Delaney, Principal, SS/RBA – a member firm of Global Retirement Partners, LLC
Marcia Mantell, President, Mantell Retirement Consulting Inc
Greg Puig, Partner & Head of Group Insurance, Sentinel Group

Break

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All About Annuities
(Symphony Ballroom)
Experts will explore the evolution of annuities and the features of different types of annuities in the marketplace. Learn how to determine what will work best for your employee base, how to communicate with employees about annuities and what due diligence will fulfill your fiduciary duties.

Moderator
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
George Sepsakos, Principal, Groom Law Group
Matt Gray, Vice President, Employer Markets, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America

Cocktail Reception
(Exhibit Hall – Griffin Ballroom)
The Awards Dinner Cocktail Party invites you to connect over drinks, food, and conversation in the Exhibit Hall—an energizing start to the evening before we celebrate at the Awards Dinner!

Sponsored by

Excellence in Retirement Awards
(Symphony Ballroom)

Opening Remarks
(Griffin Ballroom [FGH])

Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media

Pillars of Financial Wellness
(Griffin Ballroom [FGH])
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
Joseph Topp, Principal, Senior Vice President – Investment Consulting, Francis LLC

Panelists
Kristi Baker, Managing Partner, HUB Retirement and Wealth Management
Chris Ceder, Senior Retirement Strategist, Goldman Sachs
Julia Fearn, Director of Channel Partnerships, SoFi at Work

Considering Financial Wellness in Retirement Plan Design
(Griffin Ballroom [FGH])
From features that have been available for years to new plan design options provided by legislation, hear how to optimize your plan design to best meet employees’ financial wellness needs.

Moderator
Bryan Peeples, Managing Director, Strategic Retirement Partners

Panelists
Molly Cunningham, Product Area Leader, Lifetime Financial Help, Fidelity Investments
Monica DeAgostino, Senior Director, Compensation & Benefits, Dairy Management Inc.
Rob Massa, Managing Director, Houston Market Retirement Practice Leader, Prime Capital Retirement

Break

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Financial Wellness Show and Tell
(Griffin Ballroom [FGH])
Plan sponsors and others demonstrate strategies they’ve used successfully to help employees with financial wellness needs.

Moderator
Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media

Panelists
Robin Flaharty, Associate Director, Commonwealth
Ryan Igleheart, Director of Associate Benefits, Humana
Steven Lilienthal, Benefits Manager, Ice Miller

Cocktail Reception
(Exhibit Hall – Griffin Ballroom)
The Awards Dinner Cocktail Party invites you to connect over drinks, food, and conversation in the Exhibit Hall—an energizing start to the evening before we celebrate at the Awards Dinner!

Sponsored by

Excellence in Retirement Awards
(Symphony Ballroom)

Breakfast
(Exhibit Hall – Griffin Ballroom)

Sponsored by

Opening Remarks
(Symphony Ballroom)

Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Legislation Implementation
(Symphony Ballroom)
Experts will discuss the guidance issued and guidance still needed regarding legislation such as the SECURE 2.0 Act and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. They’ll discuss what plan sponsors must do to prepare for deadlines and to implement provisions.

Moderator
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
Lisa Gomez, Founding Member, LMG Collaborative Consulting Solutions
Robert R. Gower, Director, Trucker Huss
Kendra Isaacson, Principal, Mindset

From Expectation to Reality: New Research on Closing America’s Retirement Readiness Gap
(Symphony Ballroom)
The TIAA Institute, in partnership with Ipsos, surveyed more than 1,500 U.S. adults across all life stages to uncover striking gaps between what Americans expect from retirement and what they are likely to experience. While future retirees are planning to work five years longer than today’s retirees and confidence in Social Security continues to erode, the research surfaces powerful solutions including automatic enrollment and contribution escalation, access to guaranteed lifetime income, and omni-channel advice that blends human guidance with digital planning tools. Plan sponsors who act on these insights have a direct opportunity to strengthen benefit strategies, improve plan design, and meaningfully advance the retirement security of the employees they serve.

Presenter
Surya P. Kolluri, Head of TIAA Institute

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Break

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Breakouts

1. Navigating Plan and Provider Changes
   (Symphony Ballroom)
   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
   Sean Bjork, President, Bjork Asset Management

   Panelists
   Erin Breit, Assurance Principal – Employee Benefit Plans, BDO USA
   David Levine, Partner, Groom Law Group
   Leah Sylvester, Executive Partner, President – Retirement Plans, Shepherd Financial

2. Private Market Investments in DC Plans
   (Griffin Ballroom [FGH])
   Regulations and legislation have opened the door for nontraditional investments in retirement plans. Learn the pros and cons for plan sponsors and participants of new investment options and how to fulfill your fiduciary responsibilities.

   Moderator
   Michael Kozemchak, Managing Director, Institutional Investment Consulting

   Panelists
   Patrick Arey, Custom Solutions Sales Director, Empower
   Brandon Shea, Defined Contribution Strategist, T. Rowe Price
   Brian Tiemann, Partner, McDermott Will & Schulte LLP

3. DB Plan Maintenance
   (Harpeth I & II)
   Learn how sponsors of DB plans can enhance plan maintenance, why pensions are attractive (especially when markets are down), and why employees and employers are increasingly considering them alongside other retirement options as part of the total retirement-planning picture. What does the goal for the plan along with political and market developments indicate for investment strategies?

   Moderator
   Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

   Panelists
   Matt Avery, Vice President, Fidelity Workplace Consulting, Fidelity Investments
   Rich Hudson, Consulting Actuary, First Actuarial Consulting Inc.
   John Lowell, Partner, October Three

Breakouts

1. Communication and Engagement Workshop
   (Symphony Ballroom)
   With interactive exercises and polling, hear from plan sponsors and others about communication campaigns and engagement strategies that have worked for them to get employees of different demographic groups and workplace situations more involved with their retirement plans.

   Speakers
   Liz Aidoo, Principal, Director of Inclusive Engagement Strategy, Francis LLC
   Michael Kushner, Retirement Plan Consultant
   Jason Parese, Sr Director, Partner Development, ADP Retirement Services

2. QDIA Evolution
   (Griffin Ballroom [FGH])
   Learn about trends and changes in qualified default investment options and what to consider when making a selection for your participant base.

   Moderator
   Lisa Barstow, Retirement Plan Advisor, Sentinel Group

   Panelists
   John Doyle, Senior Retirement Strategist, Capital Group
   Brian Miller, Senior Manager, Multi-Asset Product Management and Strategy, Vanguard
   Phil Senderowitz, Managing Director, Strategic Retirement Partners

3. Fixing Common Mistakes
   (Harpeth I & II)
   Panelists will discuss 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
   Josh Ulmer, Managing Director, Institutional Consulting Director, Morgan Stanley

   Panelists
   Jeanne Sutton, Managing Director, Strategic Retirement Partners
   Rosie Zaklad, Principal, Groom Law Group

Workshops

1. Stand Out from The Crowd: 2026 NQDC Survey Trends
   (Symphony Ballroom)
   Newport and PLANSPONSOR experts will walk through some of the findings from the recent 2026 Newport/PLANSPONSOR NQDC Trends survey report. From plan management and technology to participant engagement and plan financing, see where your NQDC plan aligns with your plan sponsor peers—and discover opportunities where your organization can stand out.

   Sponsored by

   Presenters
   Clay Kennedy, Vice President, Insurance & Nonqualified Retirement Plan Sales, Newport
   Alison Cooke Mintzer, Publisher, PLANSPONSOR

2. Future Ready: Designing Retirement Plans for Every Generation
   (Griffin Ballroom [FGH])
   Your workforce spans Gen Z to Baby Boomers, but their retirement timelines all have one thing in common: They’re getting longer. In this session, we’ll uncover what each generation needs to achieve a financially secure retirement – and what employers can do to meet those needs through plan design, communication, and income-focused strategies. Expect clear guidance, data-backed insights, and practical steps you can implement to better support employees at every stage.

   Sponsored by

   Speakers
   Holly Kraick, Consultant, Sales Enablement – Retirement Solutions, Nationwide
   Don W. Regan, Program Director, Nationwide

Lunch

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Workshops

1. Impacting retirement outcomes – Lifetime income and beyond
   (Symphony Ballroom)
   As plan sponsors continue to evaluate key initiatives for 2026 and align committee priorities, hear from leading consultants on topics that can impact retirement outcomes for participants in the short, medium and long term.

   During this workshop, we’ll explore groundbreaking research from Nuveen and the TIAA Institute that reveals critical gaps in retirement planning and hear from leading industry consultants on how they’re guiding plan sponsors through this transition.

   Learning Objectives:

   • Current participant sentiments and expectations regarding retirement security.
   • How in-plan lifetime income options can enhance retirement readiness and address key risks.
   • Emerging investment trends such as access to private markets and levers for personalization.

   This session will provide actionable insights to transform retirement outcomes for participants while addressing key employer concerns about workforce management and employee satisfaction.

   Sponsored by

   Speakers
   Vikrant Arya, Managing Director, Nuveen Retirement Investing
   Nate Palmer, Managing Director, Wilshire
   Travis Power, CPFA, Vice President, Retirement Plan Consulting, OneDigital Financial Services

2. The next generation of defined contribution plans: An inside look at Pooled Employer Plans
   (Griffin Ballroom [FGH])
   Pooled Employer Plans are reshaping how defined contribution plans are delivered across both 401(k) and 403(b) markets. In this interactive panel, industry leaders will explore how PEPs are evolving beyond administrative efficiency to support stronger retirement outcomes. Drawing on scale, investment capabilities, data and analytics, and integrated participant experiences, PEPs offer a different model for delivering DC plans. The discussion will examine how these elements come together to help sponsors navigate increasing complexity while maintaining appropriate oversight and focus on participant needs.

   Sponsored by

   Speakers
   David O’Meara, Managing Director, Investments, WTW
   Holly Tardif, Senior Director, Retirement, WTW
   Chris West, Senior Managing Director, Head of Defined Contribution, WTW

Breakouts

1. Personalization of Participant Advice and Education
   (Symphony Ballroom)
   Panelists will discuss how participants are wanting more personalization of investment and savings advice. Learn how personalization can be implemented and how it can improve participant outcomes.

   Moderator
   Joseph Cravotta, Manager of Institutional Service, Partner, Henderson Brothers Financial Partners

   Panelists
   Nikki Pirrello, Chief Operating Officer, DCIIA
   Julie Varga, Senior Vice President, Product and Investment Specialist, Morningstar Retirement

2. The ABCs of CITs
   (Griffin Ballroom [FGH])
   Why has there been a resurgence of collective investment trust use in defined contribution retirement plans? Why did they go out of style in the first place? Speakers will help you understand these investment vehicles, how they differ from mutual funds, and what that means for CIT selection and benchmarking.
   

   Moderator
   Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media

   Panelists
   Eric Hansen, Founder, Hartmann Astor Investment Consulting, an LPL Financial firm
   Marianne Sullivan, Vice President, Projects & Research, DCIIA Retirement Research Center

3. Best Bang for Your Buck
   (Harpeth I & II)
   Legislators and regulators have been focused on helping Americans with their financial wellness, opening the door to new savings vehicles for different financial needs. But there is only so much money to go around. Between retirement savings, health savings accounts, student loan repayments, emergency savings, Trump accounts and more, how do plan sponsors decide what to make available to employees? More critically, how do plan sponsors decide where to contribute for their employees? Speakers will offer a decisionmaking framework.

   Moderator
   Mark Olsen, Managing Director, PlanPILOT

   Panelists
   George Fraser, Founder and Chief Revenue Officer, GIGMATCH
   Felix Okwaning, Managing Director – Enhanced Plan Design, Principal

Break

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Breakouts

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

   Moderator
   Kim Cochrane, Director, Client Services, HUB International MidAtlantic

   Panelists
   Kyle Cotrufello, Program Manager, Global Financial & Retirement Benefits, Google
   Kiley E. Jones, Director of Human Resources, Prestage Farms, Inc.
   Heather Stempien, Employee Engagement and Benefits Director, Healthesystems
   Sara Udulutch, Employee Benefits Director, National Federation of Independent Businesses

2. Benchmarking Investments and Fees
   (Griffin Ballroom [FGH])
   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
   Brea Dantin, Retirement Plan Consultant, Shepherd Financial

   Panelists
   Benjamin L. Grosz, Partner, Ivins, Phillips & Barker
   Jim Lyday, Managing Director, Regional Growth Leader, World Investment Advisors

3. Applying a Fiduciary Standard to Health Care Benefits
   (Harpeth I & II)
   Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, all plan sponsors are now required to attest that their fees for health care plans, including pharmacy benefits, 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
   Jamie Greenleaf, Co-Founder, Fiduciary in a Box

   Panelists
   Doug Bermudez, Managing Director, Strategic Retirement Partners
   Jake Mattinson, Partner, McDermott Will & Schulte LLP

Retirement Plan Trivia
(Symphony Ballroom)
Test your retirement plan knowledge, with a chance to win prizes.

Music City Before Dark
(Exhibit Hall – Griffin Ballroom)
Kick off your evening at Music City Before Dark with Nashville-inspired bites and good music in the exhibit hall. Swing by for a drink, soak in the atmosphere, and connect with colleagues before heading out for the night.

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Breakfast
(Exhibit Hall – Griffin Ballroom)

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Plan Sponsor Idea Exchanges
Meet with similar plan sponsors to share your experiences and insights and learn from others.

Opening Remarks
(Symphony Ballroom)

Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media

AI: The Future is Now
(Symphony Ballroom)
Learn how artificial intelligence is being used and will be used in the administration of retirement plans and financial wellness programs. Hear about the challenges and opportunities it will pose.

Presenter
Spencer X. Smith, Founder, AmpliPhi

Break

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To Retirement and Beyond
(Symphony Ballroom)
You’ve provided a savings vehicle, but what more does it take to get employees truly prepared for retirement? Help them with understanding the financial, physical and mental challenges it will bring. Hear from retirees about the experience of entering their encore and the way they managed the nonfinancial aspects of doing so.

Moderator
Rebecca Moore, Managing Editor of Custom Content, ISS Media

Panelists
Tom Irvin, retired from The Buntin Group
Phyllis Klein, retired from CAPTRUST

Your Questions Answered
(Symphony Ballroom)
Questions attendees submitted upon registration will be answered by a group of experts.

Moderator
Amy Resnick, Executive Editor, PLANSPONSOR

Panelists
Doug Prince, Retirement Plan Advisor, CEO, MJ Retirement
Spencer F. Walters, Partner, Ivins, Phillips & Barker

To-Go Lunch

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