Advanced Trustees and Administrators Institute

Understanding where the economy is and what might be coming down the road is key to your success in overseeing your pension and health and welfare assets, managing your work and workers, and planning for the future. This session will give you insights on key economic indicators and how they might impact the interest rate environment and investment opportunities around the globe. Topics include:

• The health of the U.S. economy
• The path for inflation
• The labor market
• The Federal Reserve and interest rates
• AI and equity market valuations.

This session will provide insight into government policies on issues related to employee benefit plans. Discussion will consider the short- and long-term impact on plans. Potential topics include:

• Legislative Process—How “gridlock” has spurred more employee benefit policy-making through regulations
• Health Policy—Affordable access to care, cost and quality transparency, initiatives to control drug costs
• Retirement Policy—Defined benefit plan reforms, 401(k) investments (e.g. ESG, cryptocurrency, private equity)
• Implications for trustees, administrators and plan sponsors.

This session will feature an overview of legislative and regulatory activity relating to employee benefit plans, including:

• Status of recent and proposed legislation and regulations
• Updates from EBSA, the DOL, and IRS agencies
• Implications for trustees and administrators.

While not for every fund, OCIO models have been used successfully by many funds to outsource their investment management. This session will explore how this model works in practice and address:

• Defining an OCIO
• Risk, pros and cons of outsourcing investment management
• Monitoring and accountability
• Implications for trustees.

This session will dive into the administrative issues related to 401(k) plans. Discuss the policy, practice and current issues relating to:

• IRS vs. DOL regulations
• Compliance
• Educating employers and plan participants
• Fees.

Constructing a portfolio of investments to meet the future obligations of the fund and the needs of the participants is complex at best. Discerning and reacting to market data and performance requires constant education and engagement. Keep abreast of what’s happening as you consider:

• Benchmarking investment data
• Investment vehicles—What’s hot
• Risk, return and timing
• Portfolio management
• Investment policy statement.

There have been many high-profile legal cases that have garnered attention in the employee benefits industry. The risk of litigation has certainly risen over time. Learn the status of current litigation and what you should be doing as it relates to:

• Investments
• 401(k) plans
• Prescription drugs.

GLP-1 drugs are one of the hottest class of drugs on the market today. This session will consider the pros and cons of GLP1-1 drugs from the perspective of patients and plans. Topics include:

• Outcomes
• Unintended consequences
• Cost
• Coverage options.

This session is focused on best practices for funding your benefit plan, including:

• Reserve strategies and policies
• Benchmarking
• Stop-loss coverage
• Best practices
• Unique issues for health, retirement and apprenticeship funds.

One of your fiduciary responsibilities is to be educated. This session will help you understand how to be deliberate about your learning, including how to:

• Get the most out of your education
• Plan your path of education
• Know the many member benefits you have available to you
• Free resources.

Benchmark your own retirement plannings approach as you discuss best practices in:

• Preparing for and transitioning to retirement
• Switching from accumulation to decumulation
• Health care in retirement
• Government benefits
• Resources for smaller plans.

The mental health crisis in the U.S. permeates all aspects of life and often shows up in the work environment. Having a comprehensive approach to providing support and benefits for mental health is crucial to your plan participants.

• The role of telehealth
• Peer support and EAP services
• Dealing with shortage of providers
• Educating members.

Industry funds and scholarship funds are common in the Taft-Hartley world, but these funds operate differently than your traditional health or pension trust fund. This session will give you guidance relating to:

• Setup
• Funding
• Uses
• Reporting.

Representatives from benefits software providers have been invited to discuss issues of common concern with trustees and administrators. This session will feature a facilitated discussion on best practices, lessons learned from implementation, outstanding issues and future opportunities.

As artificial intelligence is taking hold in the business world, it is important to understand how it can be used in our industry. This session will address:

• Efficient use in administration
• Policies you should have
• Compliance issues
• Cybersecurity concerns
• Use of AI by your vendors and participants
• Best practices.

From new cancer treatments to specialty PBMs, there are many new developments in health care. Learn what’s in the pipeline and how it may impact your plans and participants. Learn about:

• Promising treatment modalities
• Design trends
• Technology
• Pharma developments.

With the volume of cyberattacks occurring daily, protecting your assets is a never-ending task. Benchmark your cybersecurity program as you learn about:

• DOL guidance
• Training employers and participants
• Unique issues for pension, health and apprenticeship funds
• Penetration testing.

Your funds have a lot of money, which makes them a target for fraudsters. Learn about the latest techniques and revisit the more common methods that fraudsters are using to make your fund a victim. Take away an understanding of:

• Types of fraud
• How to find fraud
• Internal controls
• What to do when you find fraud.

Insurance is one of the primary risk management strategies you have in your toolkit. This session will review common coverages, options, benchmarking and compliance.

• Fiduciary liability
• General liability
• Cyber liability
• Stop loss
• E&O coverage

This session will feature a discussion of issues of interest to administrators today. Come prepared to share your experience and contribute to the dialogue on decision making structures, improving efficiency, resources for small fund offices and customer service. Plus, bring your own ideas for topics to be discussed.

Bring your ideas and issues for discussion. This panel discussion will focus on best practices for trustees, addressing:

• Your role as a trustee
• What trustees can and can’t do
• Having difficult conversations
• Exercising your oversight role
• Audience situations.

This session will focus on the connection that healthy choices, good nutrition and support programs have with improving the wellness of your members.