Friday, October 20
3:00PM – 6:00PM
Employee Benefits
Chair: Greta E. Cowart, Haynes and Boone LLP, Dallas, TX
3:00pm Opening Remarks by the Chair.
3:05pm The New World of Pension Funding. The program will cover proposed pension funding, and the fundamental provisions of the new rules in the Pension Protection Act of 2006, transition rules and the impact of the changes on employer’s funding obligations. Moderator: Dave Gordon, Clark Consulting, Los Angeles, CA. Panelists: Jason Bortz, Davis & Harman, Washington, DC; Donald E. Fuerst, Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Denver, CO; Harlan Weller, Government Actuary, Office of Assistant Secretary of Tax Policy, Department of Treasury, Washington, DC.
4:05pm Amendment Timing Issues. The program will cover the nuances of the different types of amendments, remedial, integral and discretionary and other issues under the new staggered remedial amendment period guidance as well as Title I implications affecting amendment timing. Moderator: Eleanor Banister, King & Spalding LLP, Atlanta, GA. Panelists: Joseph H. Grant, Director, EP Rulings and Agreements, IRS, Washington, DC; Martha Hutzelman, Kruchko & Fries, McLean, VA; Joy M. Mercer, Joy M. Mercer PC, Chatham, NJ.
4:50pm Non-Funding Qualified Plan Changes in the Pension Protection Act of 2006. The panel will discuss the other changes effecting qualified retirement plans and other benefits contained in the pension legislation, such as investment advice, changes to ERISA § 502(a)(3) and other changes. Moderator: John Utz, Utz & Miller LLC, Overland Park, KS. Panelists: Pam Baker, Sonneschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, Chicago, IL; Alan Tawshunsky, Assistant Chief Counsel (Employee Benefits) TE/GE, IRS, Washington, DC; Harlan Weller, Government Actuary, Office of Assistant Secretary of Tax Policy, Department of Treasury, Washington, DC; W. THomas Reeder, Acting Benefits Tax Counsel, Office of Benefits Tax Counsel, Department of Treasury, Washington, DC.
5:35pm Government Guest Reception and Cash Bar.
