D&K Breakfast Briefing Series: ERISA Fiduciary Overview and Employee Benefits Update

Davis & Kuelthau is teaming up with area experts from Merrill Lynch and Empower Retirement to provide employee benefits professionals, HR professionals, legal counsel, and business owners with the latest insights on ERISA fiduciary duties along with trends and best practices.

Davis & Kuelthau Employee Benefits Attorney, Katharine Shaw* will be presenting, Current Trends in Employee Benefits. She will address:

• Status of health care legislation
• Changes in 401(k) plan rules for approving hardship distributions and the use of forfeitures
• New ERISA rules for reviewing disability claims
• Remedial amendment period of 403(b) plans
• New life expectancy and interest rates for defined benefit plans
• Small employer HRAs

Michael Poludniak, of Merrill Lynch, is a Certified 401k Professional C(k)P® through The Retirement Advisor University® in collaboration with UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education. His presentation, Fiduciary Fundaments & Implementing ERISA Fiduciary Best Practices, will share best practices for fiduciary oversight and administration of qualified retirement plans with a special focus on changes impacting retirement plans. As regulations change the needs of the participant do not necessarily change in tandem; however, the administrative method to remain in compliance and effectively administer qualified retirement plans require ongoing due diligence and a document review process. These topics will be reviewed under the umbrella of what ERISA considers 'best practice'.

Matthew Rielley, Regional Vice President of Empower Retirement will present, Financial Wellness & Plan Success Metrics.