Day 1
Retirement on the Horizon
Employee Financial Wellness
Day 2
Day 3
Print Agenda

Day 1

  1. 7:30 – 8:50 a.m.

    Breakfast and Registration

  2. 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

    Plan Sponsor Introductions
    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.

  3. 9:00 – 9:10 a.m.

    Opening Remarks

  4. 9:10 – 10:00 a.m.

    Oh, What a Year It’s Been!
    Representatives from the retirement plan ecosystem talk about developments across the industry, including changes under the Trump administration, what’s in flux and what the future might hold.

  5. 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

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

  6. 11:00 – 11:15 a.m.

    Break

  7. 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 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 committees and procedures to achieve excellent plan governance.

  8. 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

    Sponsored Mainstage

  9. 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

    Lunch

  10. 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

    Immersive Workshop 1: Retirement on the Horizon

    Immersive Workshop 2: Employee Financial Wellness

    (See separate workshop tab for the agenda above)

  11. 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

    Cocktail Reception

  12. 6:30 p.m.

    Excellence in Retirement Awards

Retirement on the Horizon Workshop

  1. 2:00 – 2:10 p.m.

    Opening Remarks

  2. 2:10 – 3:00 p.m.

    Retirement Income Strategies
    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. Learn how to determine what will work best for your employee base and what due diligence will fulfill your fiduciary duties.

  3. 3:10 – 4:00 p.m.

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

  4. 4:00 – 4:10 p.m.

    Break

  5. 4:10 – 5:00 p.m.

    Transition to Take-Off
    Discover how phased retirement can help employees make a smooth transition to retirement and help plan sponsors create a smooth transition of knowledge. Hear from retirees about the experience of entering their encore and the way they managed the nonfinancial aspects of doing so.

  6. 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

    Cocktail Reception

  7. 6:30 p.m.

    Excellence in Retirement Awards

Employee Financial Wellness Workshop

  1. 2:00 – 2:10 p.m.

    Opening Remarks

  2. 2:10 – 3:00 p.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.

  3. 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    Considering Financial Wellness in Retirement Plan Design
    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.

  4. 4:00 – 4:10 p.m.

    Break

  5. 4:10 – 5:00 p.m.

    Financial Wellness Show and Tell
    Plan sponsors and others demonstrate strategies they’ve used successfully to help employees with financial wellness needs.

  6. 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

    Cocktail Reception

  7. 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.

    Legislation Implementation
    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.

  4. 9:10 – 10:00 a.m.

    Sponsored Mainstage

  5. 10:00 – 10:30 a.m.

    Break

  6. 10:30 – 11:20 a.m.

    Breakouts

    1. Navigating Plan and Provider Changes
      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.
    2. Annuities, Private Equity and Crypto, Oh My!
      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.
    3. DB Plan Maintenance
      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?
  7. 11:25 – 11:55 a.m.

    Breakouts

    1. Communication and Engagement Workshop
      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.
    2. QDIA Evolution
      Learn about trends and changes in qualified default investment options and what to consider when making a selection for your participant base.
    3. Fixing Common Mistakes
      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.
  8. 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

    Lunch

  9. 1:00 – 1:30 p.m.

    Retirement Plan Trivia

  10. 1:30 – 2:20 p.m.

    Sponsored Workshops

  11. 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.

    Breakouts

    1. TBD
    2. TBD
    3. TBD
  12. 3:00 – 3:30 p.m.

    Break

  13. 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.
    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, 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.
  14. 4:35 – 5:25 p.m.

    Sponsored Mainstage

  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
    Meet with similar plan sponsors to share your experiences and insights and learn from others.

  3. 9:00 – 9:10 a.m.

    Opening Remarks

  4. 9:10 – 10:10 a.m.

    AI: The Future is Now
    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.

  5. 10:10 – 10:30 a.m.

    Break

  6. 10:30 – 11:20 a.m.

    To Retirement and Beyond
    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. Experts will discuss phased retirement programs, helping employees prepare mentally for no longer working full-time and how to educate employees about Social Security and Medicare.

  7. 11:20 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

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

  8. 12:00 p.m.

    To-Go Lunch