January 22, 2009 12pm - 1:00pm
Log on, call in
and learn about …
Estate Planning for
Benefits
TBD
October 29, 2008 12pm - 1:00pm
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and learn about …
Same Sex Benefits – Domestic Partnerships
The landscape
of rights to employee benefits and resulting tax treatment afforded to
same-sex couples and other “domestic partners” has changed
dramatically over the last few years and seems certain to continue to
evolve. States such as California and even some cities have adopted
“domestic partner” and “civil union” measures designed to insure
treatment of parties to these relationships in the same manner as
spouses. Further complicating the picture, in May 2008, the
California Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples may no longer be
excluded from civil marriage. The ever-changing rights afforded to
same-sex couples and other “domestic partners” presents a host of
challenging issues to benefit plan sponsors and an absolute morass for
multi-state employers.
This webinar
identifies the benefit challenges caused by current laws regarding
same-sex marriage and offers real world solutions to complex
compliance problems. Our speakers will provide guidance on defining
eligibility and coverage for same-sex couples and will explore
restrictions and opportunities for extending the tax-advantaged
treatment and the protections of retirement plans, health coverage,
and other employee
benefits.
Speakers: Connie
Hiatt has over 20 years experience as an attorney specializing
in employee benefits and executive compensation. Prior to joining
Altman & Cronin, Connie was the head of the employee benefits group at
the law firm of Hanson Bridgett. Connie has diverse experience in the
benefits area including extensive experience in the design and
implementation of pension and profit sharing plans (and related
compliance with the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA), executive
compensation, sales and acquisitions of businesses, public pension
plans, and health and welfare plans. Connie is a frequent speaker and
author on employee benefit matters and executive compensation
matters. Connie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill and received her law degree from the College of William
and Mary.
Tonie L. Bitseff
is an attorney with Thelen LLP in San Francisco. She works in
the firm's Compensation and Benefits department, where she focuses her
practice in the areas of ERISA, pension and welfare benefits,
compensation, and taxation. She provides representation and counsel to
ERISA plans and employers regarding health benefits, welfare benefits,
pension plans, and other employee benefits. Tonie is a graduate of
the University of Washington, and earned law degrees from the Seattle
University School of Law (J.D. magna cum laude) and University of
Washington School of Law (LL.M.) A frequent speaker on employee
benefit topics, Tonie specializes is Welfare, 401(k), defined benefit
and cafeteria plan drafting, implementation and amendment. Her areas
of expertise include WFTRA, domestic partner coverage, and other
issues regarding dependent coverage.
Past Webinars:
February 19, 2008 12pm - 1:30pm
Click here to download the powerpoint
presentation
Major changes on the
horizon for 403(b) plans….. Not-for-profit organizations need to
be ready!
In July of 2007, the first
comprehensive 403(b) regulation changes in over forty years were
passed. This has the potential to considerably increase the
administrative challenges 403(b) plan sponsors face today.
Attend this webinar to learn;
· The
intent of the regulations
· What
additional compliance will apply to 501(c)(3) organizations
· What
the effective dates are for these changes
· How to better
prepare yourself (or your clients) to comply with the new regulations
Bio:
R. Scott Harrison Jr., QKA, AIF,
Regional Sales Dir.
AUL Retirement Services, a OneAmerica Financial Partner
Scott is a Retirement Plan Consultant
specializing in employer sponsored 403(b), 457(b), and 401(k) plans.
Covering the
Southern California region, Scott joined AUL in 1999. Scott is a
16-year veteran of the defined contribution industry, beginning his
career in 1992 with a Third Party Administrator in San Diego,
California. He holds the Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA)
designation from the American Society of Pension Professionals &
Actuaries (ASPPA) and the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIFâ)
designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies. His licenses
include the Series 7, Series 63, and Life & Disability. Scott is
a graduate of San Diego State University with a degree in Business
Administration, emphasis in Real Estate.
In addition to being a member of ASPPA, he is a
member of the Western Pension & Benefits Conference (WPBC). Both
the organizations offer programs of continuing education for qualified
plan consultants.
October 4, 2007 12pm - 1:30pm
Click here to download the powerpoint
presentation
Deferred
Compensation Plans and the Final Section 409A Regulations
Mr. Swift will walk
through the important differences between the final regulations issued
under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the 409A proposed
regulations. In addition, he will discuss the impact these final
regulations will have on various employer-sponsored compensation
arrangements as well as navigate you through the major exceptions,
corrections and application of Section 409A. Mr. Swift recently
presented on this topic at the 2007 Western Benefits Conference in San
Francisco.
Bio:
Marvin S. Swift, Jr., Esq.
Snell & Wilmer, LLP
Marvin is a
partner at Snell & Wilmer, LLP in the Phoenix Office of the firm’s
Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group. Marvin
joined the firm in 1992 and prior to joining the firm he practiced in
the Washington DC office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. Marvin’s
practice focuses exclusively on counseling employers (including
tax-exempt employers) in all aspects of employee benefits matters.
His specialty within the Group is in the area of executive
compensation and includes: counseling employers in tax, securities,
and accounting issues related to various equity-based compensation
arrangements; designing and advising employers and executives
regarding executive employment, bonus, severance, change in control,
and consulting agreements; and designing and advising employers
regarding issues related to nonqualified deferred compensation
arrangements, including the impact of Section 409A, ERISA and
securities law considerations.
Mr. Swift is a
graduate of the TC Williams School of Law at the University of
Richmond where he served as the associate editor of the Law Review and
graduated with honors. He is a frequent lecturer and has authored
many articles on employee benefits issues.