A Fiduciary Framework for Managing Employer Healthcare Programs
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 from 8:00 am – 11:30
In today’s regulatory environment, employers are no longer shielded from liability when it comes to managing their healthcare plans. This interactive workshop equips HR and benefits professionals with a practical fiduciary framework rooted in ERISA and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Through real-world lawsuit analyses, peer discussions, and a hands-on fiduciary self-assessment, attendees will learn how to identify compliance gaps, strengthen plan governance, and reduce legal risk. Participants will explore actionable strategies for improving plan design, vendor management, and cost control while safeguarding participant outcomes. Whether you’re new to fiduciary oversight or refining an existing process, this session delivers clarity, tools, and confidence. Leave empowered to protect your organization—and your employees—with informed, compliant decision-making.
In this pre-conference event participants will:
- Define fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA, know how to use the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and understand how they apply specifically to employer-sponsored health plans.
- Identify common fiduciary failures through real-world case analysis and apply a structured framework to evaluate plan oversight, vendor accountability, and legal exposure.
- Conduct a self-assessment of your organization’s current fiduciary practices, and develop an action plan to improve governance, compliance, and plan performance.
Presented by
Donovan Ryckis
CEO
Ethos Benefits
Chelsea Ryckis
President
Ethos Benefits
Staying Above the Fray: Essential Resiliency Skills for Challenging Times
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm
This pre-conference workshop offers both an introduction and refresher in the personal dynamics of self-care and resiliency skills that are considered foundational aspects of personal wellness and health, content that all health benefits professionals should practice and promote. Specific content includes Healthy Boundaries, Head/Heart Coherence, digital wellness, Neuroplasticity, Dynamic Sleep Habits and Positive Adaptation Skills. Participants will gain refinement of personal skills with both professional insights/wisdom and experiential content.
In this pre-conference event participants will:
1. Identify four key aspects of Wellness Self-Care
2. Describe the term coherence as it relates to neuroplasticity and mental health
3. Identify 5-10 tips for promoting healthy personal resiliency skills
Presented by
Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Paramount Wellness Institute
Boulder, Colorado