WESTERN PENSION & BENEFITS CONFERENCE (WP&BC) – Webcast
The WP&BC Governing Board in Sacramento sponsored a 100-minute webcast with Ilene Ferenczy as the presenter on December 12. The webcast cover Ethics, and included scenarios of common problems with discussions of possible solutions.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PENSION ADMINISTRATORS (NIPA) – Webcast
On December 11, Ilene Ferenczy conducted a webcast for the NIPA membership on “Ethics and Professional Responsibility.”
ASPPA VIRTUAL CONFERENCE – Washington, DC
Ilene Ferenczy traveled to DC to be part of the panel for the popular ASPPA-sponsored, semi-annual Virtual Conference on December 6. She presented Session 3: Ethics – Do’s and Don’ts for Those Administering Plans. She was also a part of the “Ask the Experts” concluding session.
DC-2 TRAINING WORKSHOP – Atlanta, GA
On November 15-16, Alison Cohen and Ilene Ferenczy co-taught an intensive two-day course designed to prepare attendees to take the Defined Contribution Administrative Issues – Compliance Issues (DC-2) exam. The course was sponsored by the ASPPA Benefits Council of Atlanta. The DC-2 exam takes a deeper dive into the 401(k) rules and requirements to which students were introduced in DC-1. This course is required for any candidate seeking the Qualified Plan Administrator (QPA) designation and develops the skills of anyone administering 401(k) in a way that is practical and immediately useful. Alison and Ilene spent two five-hour sessions reviewing the materials that participants need to know to successfully pass the DC-2 exam.
ASPPA REGIONAL CONFERENCE – Cincinnati, OH
The annual Cincinnati conference for regional practitioners was held this year on November 12-13. Ilene Ferenczy was again one of the speakers and presented “What TPAs Can Learn From ERISA Litigation” and “Expanding Your Horizons: Best Practices-Idea Sharing at its Finest.” In addition, she was a panelist during the “Ask the Experts” general session.
ASPPA BUSINESS COUNCIL OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST – Seattle, WA
Ilene Ferenczy traveled to Seattle on November 8th to present three sessions during a full-day workshop for the regional members. She did a two-hour session on “Ethics,” a one-hour session on “Litigation Updates,” and provided the keynote address, “State of the Retirement Industry in 2019.”
ASPPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE – National Harbor, DC
Ilene Ferenczy and Alison Cohen attended this annual national conference during October 21-24. Ilene presented a session on “Limiting Your Business Liability,” and two sessions on EPCRS: “EPCRS Self- Correction Case Studies – Part I” and “EPCRS Self- Correction Case Studies – Part II.” In addition, Ilene was a panelist in the “Ask the Experts” session. Alison presented “Ethics: Doing What’s Right Even When It’s Tough.” Alison and Ilene both participated in the always popular “Current Events” session featuring a host of pension notables in the format of Hollywood Squares.
Ilene also stayed on at National Harbor after the conference to attend a national meeting of the NAACI.
ASPPA WEBCAST
On October 3rd, ASPPA hosted a one-hour webcast for the national membership. Ilene Ferenczy presented “3(16) Services: Should I or Shouldn’t I?”
FIS ADVANCED PENSION CONFERENCE – Chicago, IL
During September 5-7, Ilene Ferenczy was one of the main presenters at this semi-annual conference. Two of the sessions were conducted by Ilene alone, “Whoops, They Did It Again! Correcting the Errors Clients Make Again and Again,” and “How to Keep Your QDRO From Becoming a QUAD-DOH!” Two additional sessions, “Keeping Current” and “Fiduciary Regulation Update,” were co-presented. In addition, Ilene once again participated on the “Ask the Experts” panel and was a participant in the ever-popular “Pension Jeopardy” contest.
INDIANA CERTIFIED EMPLOYEE BENEFIT SPECIALISTS (CEBS) – Indianapolis, IN; and ASPPA BENEFITS COUNCIL (ABC) OF NORTHERN INDIANA – Fort Wayne, IN
Ilene Ferenczy traveled to central Indiana for two full-day training sessions to practitioners of two different professional organizations on August 15th and 16th. On August 15th , she was in Indianapolis speaking to the CEBS group, and on the following day she was in Fort Wayne to address the ABC members there. Her topics for both sessions were: “Keeping Current: Washington Update,” “Ethics,” “Covering Coverage – From A to Z,” “Controlled Service Groups,” and “Automatic Enrollment: The Not-So-Easy Button.” Seven hours of CE credit were available to participants of the CEBS session. Ilene provided 8 hours of CE credit to the ABC Fort Wayne attendees, by including an additional fun topic, “Pension Jeopardy.”
CLEARVIEW ADVISORY FIDUCIARY SUMMIT – Atlanta
Clearview Advisory hosted a Fiduciary Summit on July 9 at SunTrust Park. Ilene Ferenczy provided an overview of recent and pending lawsuits and plan expenses to the participants.
ASPPA BENEFITS COUNCIL ATLANTA WORKSHOP – Atlanta, GA
On June 21, Ilene Ferenczy and Derrin Watson teamed up to provide a two-part workshop for Atlanta area practitioners, hosted by the Atlanta ABC. The session was available for four hours of CE credit and covered both Ethics and a Washington Update.
ASPPA WEBCAST
On June 12, Alison Cohen conducted a webcast for the national membership of ASPPA as a follow-up to the webcast she presented on March 22. This second presentation discussed “EPCRS Case Studies from the Darkside.”
NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS (NCACPA) – Greensboro, NC
Ilene Ferenczy addressed the NCACPA’s annual conference attendees during their June 5 gathering in Greensboro. Her topic was “What Plan Sponsors Should Know About the “F” Word (Fiduciary).” She also participated as an industry expert on the Q&A Panel to close out the conference.
ERISAPEDIA & FERENCZY BENEFITS LAW CENTER WEBCAST
On May 30, and repeated on May 31, Derrin Watson presented a free webcast on “Coming to Grips with Qualified Business Income.”‘ CE credit was available. For information on upcoming free webcasts, go to http://www.erisapedia.com/webcasts.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PENSION ADMINISTRATORS ANNUAL FORUM & EXPO – Las Vegas, NV
During May 20-23, Ilene Ferenczy and Alison Cohen were part of the faculty at this annual training conference for pension practitioners. Ilene presented a general session for the entire participant group on “What’s New in Washington,” and Alison presented separate breakout group sessions on “EPCRS – Part I: The Joy of Self-Correction”; “EPCRS – Part II: The Agony of VCP”; “Let’s Get Ethical”; and “Ethics in the Real World.” Ilene moderated for Alison’s sessions.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ACTUARIES & CONSULTANTS, INC. SPRING MEETING – St. Petersburg, FL
Ilene Ferenczy joined other members of this national organization at their bi-annual meeting in St. Petersburg on May 14-16. In addition to a business meeting, there were presentations on topics such as outsourcing, selling a practice, cash balance plans, and others. Ilene spoke to the group about the importance of written service contracts.
PENSION FINANCIAL SERVICES/NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL ADVISORS SEMINAR – Atlanta, GA
On May 10, Ilene Ferenczy and Alison Cohen co-presented a lunch seminar hosted by PFS and Nationwide for local area financial advisors. Two topics were covered: “The Impact of the New Tax Law,” and “The Role of the Advisor in Plan Compliance.”
ASPPA EASTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE – Philadelphia, PA
Ilene Ferenczy was one of the presenters at this annual conference for pension practitioners from all over the eastern part of the US during April 26-27. She discussed “Mergers and Acquisitions – And How the Plan Is Always the Forgotten Stepchild in the Transaction,” in addition to “Correcting 401(k) and 403(b) Errors,” and participated on the “Ask the Experts panel.
PENSIONS ON PEACHTREE – Atlanta, GA
Ilene Ferenczy, Alison Cohen, Derrin Watson, and Aaron Moody joined the professionals at FIS to present an information-packed two days of benefits insight and training on April 23-24. The conference was held in the Marriott Century Center in Atlanta, which gave easy access for the participants to a welcome reception on Sunday evening at the Ferenczy Benefits Law Center office just across the street from the hotel. In addition to CE credit, participants enjoyed a relaxed atmosphere, personal access to benefits gurus, and a tasty BBQ at Ilene’s home.
ERISAPEDIA/FERENCZY BENEFITS LAW CENTER WEBCASTS
On April 10 , Ilene Ferenczy teamed up with Derrin Watson to present a repeat of their March 27th 100-minute free webcast on “Ethics Doesn’t Have to Be Boring.” CE credit was available for this webcast. For more information on future free webcasts co-sponsored by ERISApedia and our firm, contact support@erisapedia.com.
ASPPA WEBCAST
Alison Cohen conducted a webcast for the national membership of ASPPA on March 22 at 2:00 pm ET on “Understanding EPCRS Basics.” A follow-up webcast is scheduled for June 12, on “EPCRS Case Studies.”
WESTERN PENSION & BENEFITS CONFERENCE – Orange County, CA; and San Diego, CA
On March 15, Alison Cohen traveled to the west coast to present a Breakfast Forum session in Orange County, and a Lunch & Learn session in San Diego, to two different WP&BC chapters. Both presentations were on the topic of “Nightmare on TPA Street,” a discussion of real-life EPCRS case studies and the necessary means by which to correct various retirement plan problems.
ERISAPEDIA WEBCAST
On February 27, Ilene Ferenczy presented a webcast in conjunction with Tim McCutcheon of ERISApedia on “Covering Coverage from A to Z” regarding coverage rules under IRS §410(b). The webcast had originally been scheduled for February 13 but there were technical difficulties with the provider on that date and the webcast had to be aborted. CE credit was available.
INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION OF CERTIFIED EMPLOYEE BENEFIT SPECIALISTS – Atlanta, GA
On February 14, Alison Cohen provided an entertaining Lunch and Learn presentation on the ins and outs of Automatic Enrollment to the local membership of the Atlanta CEBS chapter.
FIS ADVANCED PENSION CONFERENCE – Orlando, FL
FIS once again sponsored their semi-annual conference for pension practitioners during February 7-9. Ilene Ferenczy, Alison Cohen, and Derrin Watson were all a part of the faculty, covering such topics as what’s going on in Washington, the status of the final fiduciary regulations, plan takeovers, lost participants, auto-enrollment, EPCRS, IRS and DOL investigations, and others. All three were also part of the “Ask the Experts” panel, and participants in the popular “Pension Jeopardy” game.
INTERVIEW WITH ROBIN HENSLEY IN DAILY REPORT – Atlanta, GA
In an article published in the Daily Report on February 2, Ilene Ferenczy discussed how she measures success. In the profile, Ferenczy explains that, until a few years ago, she felt that the progress of the firm didn’t necessarily reflect her experience and knowledge of this complex area of the law: “It felt like we were walking around lost in the desert.” This changed with the creation of a document she calls a “success tracker,” which provides a real-time snapshot of all the firm’s essential metrics. The success tracker delineates how much time the firm invests in each area and the return in income. As a result, Ferenczy is able to adjust staffing and make the firm more profitable and efficient for clients. “We have made a lot of changes solely because we are looking at numbers that make sense and that we can control,” she told the publication. The success tracker also adjusts traditional accounting processes to accommodate a law firm. “If this month’s collections are behind, is it because invoices were sent late, or is it a seasonal downturn? The success tracker has quick answers to such questions,” she shared. With the financial situation under control, Ferenczy says she has more time to do what she does best – serve her clients by being an effective lawyer. For the full article, subscribers to the Daily Report may click here.
ASPPA LOS ANGELES ADVANCED PENSION CONFERENCE – Los Angeles, CA
ASPPA sponsored an advanced pension conference for Los Angeles-area practitioners on January 25-26. Ilene Ferenczy presented “Timing and Implementation of Plan Amendments,” and also mediated another speaker’s session.
SUNTRUST BANK CONFERENCE – Atlanta, GA
SunTrust Bank sponsored an employee benefits training conference for their local employees on January 23 and they engaged Ilene Ferenczy to present a two-hour session on “Keeping Current: What’s Been Happening in Legislation, Regulation, and Litigation?” to bring their personnel up-to-date on current benefits issues.
NIPA BUSINESS MANAGERS CONFERENCE – Scottsdale, AZ
Ilene Ferenczy traveled to Scottsdale during January 13-15 to present a session on “How Important Are YOU to Your Clients?”, and supervise a “deep dive” roundtable discussion on the same topic later in the day. While in the area Ilene also visited and providing training sessions to two firm clients.