PSNC Talking Points

August 1, 2010 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Even the most diligent registrant at the recent PLANSPONSOR National Conference (PSNC) would have been hard-pressed to keep up.

 

This year, in addition to event recordings, we’ve put together a brief reference guide to accompany your review of the sessions.  On the pages that follow, you will find a list of talking points, links to relevant content on www.plansponsor.com, and – in the case of the “Five Things You Need to Know About…” track, an actual list of the five things, as identified by those panels. 

You’ll also find (at the very end) our list of “10 Things You’re (Probably Still) Doing Wrong. 

For those of you who were in attendance at PSNC, I hope you find these materials a useful resource as you review the recordings.  For those of you not able to join us in 2010, I hope it will inspire you to register for next year’s event.   

Thanks, as always, for your continued support!

Featured Speaker:

Professor Teresa Ghilarducci, Bernard and Irene Schwartz Chair of Economic Policy Analysis at the New School for Social Research

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/100226-annual-report-middle-class.pdf p. 28

See also “The Plot to Kill the 401(k)” at http://www.plansponsor.com/magazine_type3/?RECORD_ID=42562

IMHO: Conspiracy Theories at https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25041618/OpinionsArticle.aspx_.jpg?Id=4294984300

Professor Ghilarducci’s blog:  http://chronicle.com/blogAuthor/Brainstorm/3/Teresa-Ghilarducci/85/

Princeton University Press: Does Teresa Ghilarducci want to “steal our 401(k)s?”  at http://press.princeton.edu/blog/2010/07/21/does-teresa-ghilarducci-want-to-steal-our-401ks/

 

PD: Automatic Enrollment

See also http://www.plansponsor.com/PLANSPONSOR_2009_Ultimate_Buyer_s_Guide__Automatic_Options__Crest,_Fallen_.aspx

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990385

http://www.planadviser.com/Perspective-Insights_into_Automatic_Enrollment.aspx

 

WN: Target-Date Funds

What is the single most important question in evaluating or selecting a target date fund product/portfolio series?

What is an appropriate benchmark? Or benchmark process in determining how well your product/ portfolio is performing?

What are some challenges in helping participants understand TDFs?

How significant to the overall success of the products are the actual underlying investments?

To vs. Through…which is better and why?

See also https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442456087

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990084

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990003

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294989964

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990070

 

FF: Fixing 403(b) Mistakes

What parts of the new regulations are most likely to trip you up?

Issues with “legacy” vendors

What plan sponsors should have done, and what can they do if they didn’t comply with the new regs

Issues plan sponsors can face when moving to a new solution or terminating a plan

Confusion surrounding the non-ERISA safe harbor for 403(b)s.

See also http://www.plansponsor.com/Revisiting_the_403b_nonERISA_Safe_Harbor.aspx

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442459076 

FT: Retirement Income Solutions

Evaluating the current market – “in” versus “after” plan options

Pre-Retiree Risks: Hidden Dangers

Evaluation of Effectiveness:  What to Look for

Fiduciary Considerations When Adding an In-Plan Solution

Legislative and regulatory issues/concerns

How to educate communicate benefits to participants

Portability and liquidity issues

See also https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294989927

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442459075

 

AA: Building a Better RFP/RFI

Set goals – know what is important

Make sure you understand current processes to use transition opportunity to move to “best practices” for admin processes and plan design.

Find out whatthe vendor can do to help participants achieve better outcomes (i.e.   What do they offer in education services:   meetings, flyers, webinars, support on their website, asset allocation tools

What can they show in reporting they do to management on the plan and also how easy are participant statements understood.

 

See also https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442456268

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442456909

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294989862

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294989849

  

FF: Best practices for plan fiduciaries

 What it means to be a fiduciary

Best practices as a plan sponsor for the plan

Best practices as a plan sponsor for participants

Best practices as a plan sponsor – for you (the plan sponsor)

 

See also https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294989863

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294989862 

 

 

PD: Cash Balance plans

See https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442457521

http://www.plansponsor.com/PLANSPONSOR_2009_Ultimate_Buyer_s_Guide__Cash_Balance__Chill_Winds.aspx

 

WN: Fee Disclosure

Three Key Steps to Best Practices on Monitoring DC Plan Fees; benchmarking, understanding revenue sharing, getting to required revenue

Disclosure to participants – how/should it be done

Differences with regard to fee benchmarking or disclosure between 401(k) and 403(b)

 

See also https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442456911

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990006

 

FF: Benchmarking the fund menu

Reviewing the core menu – how and how often?

Evaluating target date funds

Specialty and custom funds

DB perspective

Are we asking the right questions?

See also https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442456640

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442457125

 

 

PD: Roth 401(k)

What is Roth 401(k)?

How are Committees thinking about it?

What are pros and cons of intra-Plan vs extra-Plan conversions?

See also http://www.plansponsor.com/Fidelity_Finds_Confusion_about_Roth_Conversion_Rules.aspx

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990080

 

AA: Building a Better 403(b) Menu

How consolidating to a single provider can help in gaining optimal pricing efficiencies.

The importance of conducting an annual fee/benchmarking study to make sure the investments still fulfill sponsor goals and participant needs.

Conduct a thorough due diligence when selecting target-date or model portfolio options.

Make sure you review fixed income options to ensure adequate exposure in this investment category.

Ensure adequate exposure to investments outside of the U.S.

What else you can do to investment choices that can provide a better 403(b) plan

See also https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442457125

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990061

 

WN: Liability-Driven Investments

Surplus risk

Measuring liabilities

Dynamic LDI policies

Adapting to dynamic LDI

See also https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442459086&magazine=6442459249

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990044&magazine=4294970155

FT: Five Things You Need to Know About...QDIAs (qualified default investment alternatives).

Don’t need to have a QDIA to get 404(c) protection

Notices are important.

You can use a money market option for the first 120 days.

Keep QDIA in perspective – for non auto enroll plans, the impact of QDIA can be relatively minimal.

Who can manage a QDIA

 

See also:  https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442459005 

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990071

 

 

Outside the Box(es)

Defining new investment choices

New choices as core options and in TD funds

Custom and ready-made TD funds

Caveats and lessons learned

 

See also https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442456628

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990068

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990285

 

FT: NQDC

When you should use NQDC

How to get the most value of out your NQDC plan

Why this is a great time to offer NQDC

How what you learned with 401(k) can help

Leveraging your consultant’s skill/time

See also https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442459087&magazine=6442459249

 

FF: Bonding/Fiduciary insurance

It is a litigious world out there.  There are many types of litigation and claims being brought, and new theories are being devised all the time as ways to sue plan fiduciaries.  This really could happen to you, and the potential exposure is both significant and personal.

All fiduciaries should consider acquiring fiduciary liability coverage, and should carefully consider the amount of such coverage. 

There are some legal issues with regard to fiduciary insurance, particularly if the plan is an ESOP and the plan sponsor is wholly or majority owned by the ESOP. 

Such policies are often brokered and sold in conjunction with D&O or EPL coverages, which is fine, but be wary of combined limits.

See also https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442456914

https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=6442456916

FT: Revenue-Sharing

 

See also https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990048&magazine=4294970155

 

FF: 10 Things You’re (Probably Still) Doing Wrong…

See https://si-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/plansponsor-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/25040257/MagazineArticle.aspx_.jpg?id=4294990078

10 Things You’re (Probably) Still Doing Wrong

Fail to correctly analyze plan expenses to determine if they are legitimately payable from trust assets.

Fail to understand the protection offered under section 404(c) and incorrectly think it extends to the duty to prudently monitor the investment offerings under the plan. 

Heedlessly relying on skimpy investment policy statements.

Not following provisions of your plan document.

Not complying with the QDIA notice requirement

Not doing enough Due Diligence on selecting and monitoring this fund option(s).

Not knowing (or making an effort to ascertain) if your plan fees are reasonable. 

Failing to separate officer responsibilities from plan fiduciary responsibilities of plan committee members

Governance failures

Not seeking the help of experts when you lack the expertise to make fiduciary decisions impacting the plan.

 

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