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Piecing It Together: The Benefits Puzzle
OCTOBER 11, 2001
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| 8:15 - 8:45 a.m. |
Check-In and Continental Breakfast |
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| 8:45 - 9:00 a.m. |
Welcome |
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James W. Brown III, NYEBC President
Brian Kopp, Rochester Conference Planning Board Chairman |
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| 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. |
CITE IT: LEGAL UPDATE |
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Robert W. Wild, Nixon Peabody LLP
Mr. Wild will present an informative overview of recent legislation, new regulations, and other legal developments affecting the benefits community. |
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| 10:00 - 10:15 a.m. |
Break |
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| 10:15 - 11:15 a.m. |
MORNING BREAK-OUT SESSION 1 |
Choose one of the following two presentations:
- MEASURE IT: BALANCING COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Michael Burniston, William M. Mercer, Incorporated
William Tompkins, American Express
Assuring the return on each dollar invested in people is critical in today's economy. This session will look at the importance of measuring and understanding total compensation and benefits, how to assure you are allocating your compensation and benefits dollars in support of your business strategy, and how compensation and benefits influence your ultimate business performance.
- SHHHH! (PRIVACY/CONFIDENTIALITY)
Cathy A. Heffer, BlueCross BlueShield of the Rochester Area
Legislation such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, (HIPAA), has created confidentiality concerns that will make future communication trickier among the players in a health system: insurers, employers, hospitals, physicians and patients. Any federal or state patient's rights legislation will only compound the problem. Ms. Heffer will review the requirements, and what can be done to comply with them.
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| 11:25 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. |
MORNING BREAK-OUT SESSION 2 |
Choose one of the following two presentations:
- CLICK, CLICK://EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATIONS GO ONLINE
John Bales, Watson Wyatt Worldwide
Michael F. Gazdo, Jr., Watson Wyatt Worldwide
Are you ready to communicate benefit information to your employees online? What are the pros and cons, advantages and pitfalls? How "big" do you need to be? Who is out there to help? What approach should you take, and how does it fit in with your business's goals? Mr. Bales and Mr. Gazdo will address these questions and offer some examples from their client portfolio.
- CHANGE IT: TRANSFORMING A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Albert Charbonneau, Rochester Health Commission
Not too long ago, Rochester was considered nationally to be a model community for health care. This session will provide a case study of how one community is taking a collaborative approach to improve health care cost and quality in an attempt to return Rochester, once again, to a national model. Learn about the 12 initiatives currently underway resulting from the Rochester Health Care Forum.
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| 12:25 - 1:40 p.m. |
Lunch |
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| 1:40 - 2:40 p.m. |
AFTERNOON WORKSHOP SESSION 1 |
Choose one of the following four presentations:
- SHARE IT! COMPENSATING EMPLOYEES WITH STOCK
Linda Chapman, Choice One Communications, Inc.
Brian Kopp, Nixon Peabody LLP
Stock based compensation programs have become an increasingly important element of employee pay. This session will discuss the different types of stock related awards, such as nonqualified options, incentive stock options, restricted stock awards, and phantom stock awards. It will also provide practical advice on some of the issues that arise when you implement a program.
- WATCH IT! HIDDEN ERISA TRAPS
Ken Diller, Excellus Benefit Services, Inc.
Who cares whether or not your company recently declared an extraordinary dividend? What could go wrong if your company makes a retirement plan contribution using securities instead of cash? Come review or discover in this session, the importance of monitoring PBGC Reportable Events, Prohibited Transaction Rules, and other traps for the unwary retirement plan sponsor.
- AFFORD IT? RETIREE HEALTH CARE - WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?
Jay Giess, William M. Mercer, Incorporated
Barry Schilmeister, William M. Mercer, Incorporated
Concerned about the cost of retiree health care? Cash flow? P & L? Balance Sheet? This session will explore state of the art approaches for managing this important benefit.
- DIGEST IT: THE NEW CAFETERIA PLAN REGS
Patricia Obstarczyk, Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine & Huber, LLP
If your company has a flex plan (including flexible spending accounts), then this workshop is for you! Understand the rules governing mid-year cafeteria plan election changes, and what you need to do to comply with the final regulations issued in January 2001.
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| 2:40 - 2:55 p.m. |
Break |
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| 2:55 - 3:55 p.m. |
AFTERNOON WORKSHOP SESSION 2 |
Choose one of the following three presentations:
- SELF FUND IT? MAKING AN INFORMED CHOICE ON YOUR MEDICAL BENEFITS
Jake Flaitz, William M. Mercer, Incorporated
Kathy Howell, William M. Mercer, Incorporated
Self-funding has long been an alternative to conventional insurance arrangements. Given today's increasing costs, heightened regulatory and statutory activities, and the threat of expanded legal recourse for consumers, this session will help you explore whether the self-funded approach is a viable alternative for your company.
- GOOD NEWS! EGTRRA HELPS NOT-FOR-PROFITS
Robert P. Ring, TIAA-CREF
The legislation under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 has exciting changes for not-for-profits including the repeal of the maximum exclusion allowance (MEA) calculation for 403(b) plans, and the repeal of the coordination rule under 457 plans - executives will now be able to defer into a 457 plan and a 403(b) plan. Learn more about these and other exciting EGTRRA improvements.
- REVAMP IT! IMPACT OF THE EGTRRA ON RETIREMENT PLANS
Charles H. McLauchlin, Excellus Benefit Services, Inc.
The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 implemented the most sweeping changes in retirement plan legislation since the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Come hear how this new law may impact your current retirement plans, and discover what new opportunities it provides.
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