69th National Conference to Focus on "The Voice of the Plan Sponsor"

    CHICAGO, IL, February 23, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The 2016 Plan Sponsor Council of America's National Conference has been scheduled for May 3-4 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. As the independent voice of the retirement plan industry, the PSCA National Conference provides regulatory and legislative insights from Washington and will focus on timely issues including Financial Wellness, Women and Finances, and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, among other topics.

With a theme of "The Voice of the Plan Sponsor, Add Yours...," topics and sessions will focus on the latest trends and best practices on financial wellness, education, compliance, investments and plan design, and will help sponsors to strengthen, refine, and amplify their voice through workshops, roundtables, and panel discussions. PSCA conferences engage and promote interaction among plan sponsors, service providers, and retirement plan advisors in a variety of settings.

"As the leading association for sponsors of work-based retirement plans, our agenda includes the thought leaders shaping policy and advancing the interests of America's retirement savers," said Steve McCaffrey, Board Chairman for the Plan Sponsor Council of America. "I urge every plan sponsor to attend the conference to stay connected to the community that is advocating for the free-enterprise approach to preserving retirement security for current and future retirees."

The keynote speaker at PSCA's 69th Annual National Conference will be the Hon. David M. Walker, Senior Strategic Advisor, PwC, Former U.S. Comptroller General. His presentation may be a wake-up call for plan sponsors, addressing if and how reforms to Social Security and Medicare could impact employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Other sessions include:
- Financial Wellness Panel: You've heard a lot about why you should offer financial wellness initiatives in your workplace. Now hear how to integrate financial wellness into your existing wellness program, or create a new offering.
- Washington Update: PSCA's Vice President of Washington Affairs, Rich McHugh, will provide the latest from Washington that will impact DC plans.
- Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Sessions: Bruce McNeil, Partner, Littler Mendelson PC, will provide a nuts-and-bolts overview of NQDC plans in a general session. Breakout workshops will include Basics of NQDC, an Ask-the-Experts discussion panel, and Approaches to Managing NQDC Risk.
- Fiduciary Rule Panel: Hear the latest on how the rule will affect everyone working in the retirement industry, moderated by Rich McHugh.
- Women and Finances Panel: Given the unique needs and circumstances many women confront in retirement, an expert panel led by Donna McFarland, Founder and President of Symphonic Marketing, will share ideas about workplace solutions and strategies that help women become financially secure.
- Ask the Experts ERISA Attorney Panel: Hear the latest on compliance from attorneys who will discuss hot topics, then take audience questions. This is your chance to get legal opinions from top-notch ERISA attorneys, moderated by Marjorie Mann, Senior Attorney, NextEra Energy, Inc.
- Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Investing: Matt Orsagh, CFA, CIPM, Director, Capital Markets Policy, CFA Institute., will discuss Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Considerations in Investing: What is ESG and Why Does It Matter?
- Plan Sponsor-Only Roundtables: Share issues and concerns with peers with no providers present.

PSCA also has announced it will honor Nancy Webman, who retired as editor of Pensions & Investments in 2015, with the organization's Lifetime Achievement Award. Webman will receive the award, which honors individuals for their contributions to the growth of the defined contribution industry, in Nashville May 2.

Information on Registration is available on PSCA's website. An early registration rate of $500 for members and $700 for non-members is available to plan sponsors through March 4; registration will be $750 for members and $950 for non-members after that date.

In addition to the Annual National Conference, PSCA will hold City Events, half-day mini-conferences in cities throughout the country.

Said Tony Verheyen, Executive Director for PSCA, "For plan sponsors unable to attend the national conference or looking to get more involved in PSCA locally, our City Event Symposiums provide opportunities to hear from industry experts and network with local peers."

City Events will be held in:
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Denver, Colorado
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Boston, Massachusetts
- New York City
- Tampa, Florida
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Los Angeles, California
- Chicago, Illinois
- Seattle, Washington
- Austin, Texas
- Houston, Texas
- San Francisco, California
- Kansas City, Kansas

More information and a full list of locations is available on PSCA's Web site under City Events.

About the Plan Sponsor Council of America
The Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) is a diverse, collaborative community of employee benefit plan sponsors, working together on behalf of more than six million employees to solve real problems, create positive change, and expand on the success of the employer-sponsored retirement system. With more than 1,000 members representing employers of all sizes, we offer a forum for comprehensive dialogue. By sharing our collective knowledge and experience as plan sponsors, PSCA also serves as a resource to policymakers, the media and other stakeholders as part of our commitment to improving retirement security for millions of Americans. For more information, visit www.psca.org.

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