The Presentation: 

Mergers and Acquisitions present a host of challenges and questions in the retirement plan arena. The many variations on the word “acquisition” don’t really help provide clarity for the practitioner. This session will review many of the issues and provide practical solutions.

• Service crediting
• Minor differences have major consequences
• 415 issues
• Coverage and nondiscrimination testing
• HCE status

Our Speaker: S. Derrin Watson

S. Derrin Watson is an independent ERISA attorney and educator in Santa Barbara, California with over 36 years of experience in dealing with retirement plans. In addition to his solo practice, Derrin is Of Counsel to the Ferenczy Benefits Law Center.

Previously, he worked with FIS with their Relius line of educational programs and products. There he assisted in drafting qualified, 403(b), 457(b), 409A, and other plan documents and forms, and taught and wrote extensively about all aspects of retirement planning.

Before that he was the tax partner of a law firm in Beverly Hills. He spends much of the year traveling to present seminars, and in 2016 delivered over 75 web seminars.

Derrin is a Senior Editor of the Journal of Pension Benefits and has authored the “Who’s the Employer” column on the BenefitsLink web site.

His varied experiences range from doing standup comedy (yes, even about ERISA) to serving as a Mormon missionary in Iran, to editing and writing books and newsletters on a variety of topics.  He enjoys punctuating his ERISA presentations with original parodies.

Continuing Education: 

• 2 CE for AIF Certification 
• 2 CE for ASPPA certifications
  
• 2 CEC for NIPA certifications
  
• 2 CPE for CEBS
  
• 1.75 hours MCLE for California attorneys
  
• 2 hours for California CPAs
  
• 2 hours for Certified Financial Planners 
• 2 hour for ERPA and Enrolled Agents 
• 2 CE JBEA certifications

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors