8:30 - 8:35 Welcome

8:35 - 9:20 Retirement Session: Awakening the Super Saver in Pursuit of Retirement Readiness

Americans are $6.6 trillion underfunded for retirement, as reported in a 2012 U.S. Senate estimate.  What can be done to help American workers save enough to retire comfortably? Drawing inspiration from successful Public Service Announcements and campaigns in the past, Stig Nybo of Transamerica Retirement Solutions will discuss the contextual drivers and strategies needed to change individual beliefs and behaviors and help Americans fundamentally shift course on retirement readiness.  Retiring with dignity is endangered; this session outlines a path back from the brink.

Mr. Nybo is President of Pension Sales and Distribution at Transamerica Retirement Solutions and also serves on the board of the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, a non-profit, private foundation. He has authored “Transform Tomorrow: Awakening the Super Saver in Pursuit of Retirement Readiness,” as well as articles in retirement industry trade publications and the national press. Mr. Nybo graduated from California State University at San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary through the Center for Fiduciary Studies.

9:20 - 9:30 BREAK

9:30 - 10:15 Emerging Issues Session: Employee Handbooks: The Do’s and Dont’s of Managing Employee Benefits during a Leave of Absence and After Termination

Employers continue to struggle with complex, changing, and overlapping federal and state laws relating to employee issues.  Barbara Tanzillo and Kathryn Curry of GCA Law Partners will discuss the importance of a legally compliant employee handbook and common issues that may arise in the employment relationship.  They also will explain how employee handbooks can be essential tools for assisting in the successful resolution of these issues and minimizing legal risks.

Ms. Tanzillo is a partner at GCA Law Partners LLP. Her practice focuses on employment counseling and litigation matters.  Ms. Tanzillo graduated from Harvard Law School and is one of the two managing partners of GCA.

Ms. Curry is also a partner at GCA and specializes in counseling and representing individual and corporate clients regarding employer-sponsored welfare benefit plans subject to the ERISA.  Ms. Curry received a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley and graduated summa cum laude from Santa Clara University Law School.

10:15 - 10:25 BREAK

10:25 - 11:10 Legal Session: Legal Update

Bill Berry will provide an update on key legal developments affecting employee benefit plans, with a focus on recent judicial decisions and regulations and other guidance concerning tax-qualified plans and health and welfare benefits. 

Mr. Berry is a compensation and benefits senior counsel in the San Francisco office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.  He has a broad practice in the area of employee benefits, including qualified retirement plans, nonqualified deferred compensation, welfare benefits, employee benefit aspects of sales and acquisitions of businesses, and public pension plan matters. Mr. Berry has been a frequent lecturer on employee benefits and related individual tax and fiduciary topics for the American Law Institute-American Bar Association; California Continuing Education of the Bar; the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans; the Practicing Law Institute; the Western Pension and Benefits Council and other organizations.

11:10- 11:20 BREAK

11:20 - 12:00 Health & Welfare Session:  Healthcare Reform - What Was Delayed, What Wasn’t and How It Impacts Business Planning?

While the pay-or-play mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was delayed, many ACA provisions have not been. It is important for employers to understand what still will be required in 2014 and how to plan for 2015.  In this session, Renee Bosley will provide an ACA update as well as strategies to consider for managing cost and risk in the new environment of employee benefits. 

Ms. Bosley is Vice President of Employee Benefits for Leavitt Group.  She specializes in Healthcare Reform compliance and provides compliance audits, financial impact analysis, cost containment strategies, negotiation and full benefits administration support.  Prior to working in the insurance industry, Ms. Bosley ran an international non-profit organization where she was responsible for business oversight and strategic planning.  She frequently speaks on healthcare reform to groups and individual businesses and offers guidance on how to plan in this ever-changing environment.