Retirement Policy in a Pandemic

Way More than Six Feet Apart

The Presentation:

Generally retirement policy has benefitted from a spirit of bi-partisanship, but the pandemic has created a rift in DC.  We will discuss the flood of retirement legislation and guidance that employers have had to navigate in 2020, starting with the SECURE Act, the most significant reforms in over a decade, and the need for DOL guidance.  We will take a look at the CARES Act relief legislation and the needs that retirement sponsors still face.  We also will discuss several significant final and proposed regulations and their impact on plans.  Finally, we will look ahead to what the remainder of this year has in store and  the impact of election 2020.   

Takeaways

• Analysis of the SECURE and the pending guidance related to PEPs, lifetime income disclosures, and annuities
• CARES Act relief and opportunities for other legislation
• A dive into the DOL’s rules on electronic disclosure, fiduciary investment advice, ESG investing, and private equity
• Looking ahead to future legislation, regulations and the impact of election 2020

The Speaker:

Sam Henson, JD, SVP – Director of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, Lockton

In his daily role, Sam oversees ERISA compliance, DOL/IRS activities, and the legislative landscape for more than 50,000 employers and 7,000 Lockton consultants.  He is a nationally featured speaker and author on numerous fiduciary topics, having appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Plan Sponsor, Benefits Magazine, Benefits Quarterly, Insurance News, and Business Insurance.  Prior to joining Lockton, Sam spent almost 10 years with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, where he conducted more than 150 civil and criminal investigations of employee benefits plans, service providers, and fiduciaries.  Sam also supervised enforcement efforts for benefit plans funded by prevailing wage laws under the Service Contract Act and Davis-Bacon Act.  He was the 2011 recipient of the Secretary of Labor’s Exceptional Achievement Award.  Sam is the 2019 ISCEBS Governing Council President.  He also serves on the Policy Board and is Chair of the Retirement Task Force of the American Benefits Council, serves on the Board of Directors of DCIIA, the Corporate Board of the IFEBP, and is a member of the American Bar and ASPPA.  Sam earned his Juris Doctorate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and holds CEBS – Fellow, RPA, GBA, and ASPPA - APM designations. 

Continuing Education: 2 CE - AIF, ASPPA,CEBS,CFP,CPA, CRPS, ERPA, MCLE, NIPA