10:45 – 11:10 am BREAKOUT SESSIONS

SESSION A – What’s new in advisor distribution

Ron Bush, Principal, Brightwork Partners, LLC

This session will cover the latest trends in advisor distribution, including shifts in channel affiliation, the dramatic move to fee based compensation, the growing dominance of RIA advisors in the retirement services market and the expected impact of DOL fiduciary regulations on advisor business models. Also to be addressed: trends in provider turnover and the main drivers of that turnover today along with the criteria advisors use in evaluating current and prospective providers – no, cost is no longer the most important consideration.

SESSION B – Preventing loan defaults to save billions for participants

Eric Weber, EVP, Sales and Marketing, Custodia Financial
George White, EVP, Operations, Custodia Financial

Leakage from defined contribution plans is an industry concern affecting the retirement of millions of participants each year. In fact, according to a recent industry study, loan defaults cost participants billions of dollars each year in lost retirement assets. What’s more, the fees and penalties incurred are often a complete surprise to the participants involved. Join us for an informative discussion to better understand sponsor fiduciary responsibilities and how to prevent loan defaults and improve participant outcomes.

SESSION C – Roundtable on implementation and operation of state-sponsored retirement savings plans

Steve Mitchell, Managing Consultant, BridgePoint Group
John Scott, Government Performance, The Pew Charitable Trust

In 2017, Oregon and Illinois will begin implementation of their state-sponsored retirement savings programs for private sector workers, and several other states are expected to follow soon after. These plans, also known as ‘Secure Choice’ plans, are auto-IRA payroll deduction programs that would require worker participation if the employer – usually of a certain size – does not offer a plan of its own. In this session, John and Steve will lead a discussion to get your input on how such plans might work in practice and what implementation, operational and communication issues you think state policymakers should be aware of as they move forward with similar initiatives. This session will be discussion-based and requires active engagement from all attendees.

11:40 – 12:30 pm Trends in Fees: Stop the Race to the Bottom

Tom Kmak, CEO and Co-Founder, Fiduciary Benchmarks

Service providers are being challenged to reduce DC plan costs while simultaneously increasing their investment in services, communications and technology to help their clients. In addition, increasing litigation and the new fiduciary regulation may accelerate this “race to the bottom.” In many ways, the industry has trained clients to think that fees are the issue when it is in the best interest of all parties to make sure that fees are always considered in conjunction with quality, service and value. This session with Thomas will show how “proper” fee discussions can be a win-win-win for plan sponsors, participants and their service providers and how previously unfulfilling discussions can be transformed into conversations that prove your value proposition and build trust with your clients.

12:30 – 1:30 pmLunch

1:30 – 2:20 pm Data Security: Threats & Protections for DC Industry

Greg Montana, CEVP, Chief Risk Officer, FIS (moderator)
David Levine, Principal, Groom Law Group, Chartered
Badhri Parthasarathy, Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer, Broadridge
Gregory Touhill, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications, Department of Homeland Security

Data security and cyber threats are a fast growing concern in the Defined Contribution Industry. SPARK members invest large portions of their technology budgets to protect plans and participant data. In this session you will hear from Home Land Security on the growing threat to data security and how cyber criminals are attempting to attack members’ systems. You will also learn about the legal and fiduciary risks member organizations have if a breach occurs. Finally, you will hear how some member firms go about protecting their data from cyber threats.

2:20 – 2:50 pm Break with Exhibitors – Sponsored by T. Rowe Price

2:55 – 3:45 pm BREAKOUT SESSIONS

SESSION A – Industry insights as firms have approached the DOL rule

Shelli VanDeMark Kendig, Practice Director, BridgePoint Group
Jody Meth, Practice Director, BridgePoint Group

It’s been nearly two months since the DOL released the final fiduciary ruling, and the industry has actively transitioned from planning to execution. Join BridgePoint’s Jody Meth and Shelli VanDeMark Kendig for an informative discussion of early insights from working across the landscape of asset managers, broker-dealers and recordkeeping providers. The team will share the varied approaches of firms, emerging best practices, and commentary about future program elements that are not yet at the forefront of consideration.

SESSION B – Leverage the power of menu design & managed accounts to encourage better participant outcomes

Josh Cohen, Head of Institutional Defined Contribution, Russell Investments
Andrew Scherer, Director of Defined Contribution, Russell Investments’ Private Client Services business

Imagine that you could provide customized target date funds for participants, which reflect their individual demographic and market experiences. You can. In this session, Josh and Andrew explain how combining a streamlined core menu of multi-manager stock, real asset and fixed income funds with a personalized adaptive strategy can help DC participants improve their likelihood of meeting their retirement income goals.

3:50 – 4:50 pm DOL Fiduciary Rule Impact On Plan Advisors & Their Clients

Julia Binder, Head of Strategic Marketing Research, DST kasina
Rich Hochman, Managing Director, DST Compliance Services
Chris Robino, ERISA attorney, Boston Financial

The DOL recently finalized its regulations on “Conflicted Advice” and “Who is a Plan Fiduciary.” The regulations were originally drafted after enactment of ERISA in 1974, when most employers had traditional defined benefit plans. With the change to 401(k) plans, the new regulations have vastly expanded the definition of “fiduciary” and have forever changed how investment advisers work with both plan sponsors and participants. The panel will address how the rules and roles have changed and the impact on different industry service providers.

5:00 – 7:00 pm Reception with Exhibitors – Sponsored by J.P. Morgan Asset Management

7:00 – 8:00 am Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors – Sponsored by BridgePoint Group

8:00 – 8:15 am Opening Remarks

Tim Rouse, Executive Director, SPARK Institute

8:15 – 9:00 am Keynote Address – Helping Americans Retire: The Role We Play

Jamie Ohl, President, Retirement Plan Services, Lincoln Financial Group

Recent studies show that while savers are more optimistic about their ability to retire, they may not be saving enough to have the retirement they envision. Ohl believes the industry has an opportunity to take action and drive positive outcomes.Whether this is by helping plan sponsors better understand how their employees make financial decisions, emphasizing with participants that auto features aren’t a “set it and forget it” option or leveraging the proven success of in-person communications, we have the power and the responsibility to shape the retirement landscape

9:20 – 10:10 am BREAKOUT SESSIONS

SESSION A – Understanding the DC consultant market

James Bentley, Senior Vice President & National Retirement Sales Manager, PIMCO

Hear what leading DC consultants are recommending to their plan sponsor clients and how it will affect your business. In this session, James will review highlights of the firm’s national consultant survey. He will discuss their recommendations regarding such key issues as the use of managed accounts, core investment menu structures, participant re-enrollment, active vs. passive investment management and income replacement strategies.

SESSION B – In-plan retirement income solutions – has their time arrived?

Marc Pester, SVP, Prudential Retirement

Behavioral research clearly demonstrates that participants with the benefit of in-plan guaranteed income solutions exhibit higher deferral rates and more prudent investment and spending behaviors. Given this opportunity for better participant outcomes, why have certain segments of the DC plan market (e.g., corporate) resisted adoption? How will recent regulatory changes impact market acceptance and a re-evaluation of your firm’s income strategy?

SESSION C – Roundtable on implementation and operation of state-sponsored retirement savings plans

Steve Mitchell, Managing Consultant, BridgePoint Group LLC
John Scott, Government Performance, The Pew Charitable Trust

In 2017, Oregon and Illinois will begin implementation of their state-sponsored retirement savings programs for private sector workers, and several other states are expected to follow soon after. These plans, also known as ‘Secure Choice’ plans, are auto-IRA payroll deduction programs that would require worker participation if the employer – usually of a certain size – does not offer a plan of its own. In this session, John and Steve will lead a discussion to get your input on how such plans might work in practice and what implementation, operational and communication issues you think state policymakers should be aware of as they move forward with similar initiatives. This session will be discussion-based and requires active engagement from all attendees.

10:15 – 10:45 am Break with Exhibitors – Sponsored by Congruent

10:45 – 11:35 am Consultant Panel

Doug Murray, Executive VP, National Director of Institutional Sales, Wells Fargo (moderator)
Muriel Knapp, Principal, Mercer
Julian Regan, Vice President and Principal, The Marco Consulting Group
Ben Taylor, Vice President and Defined Contribution Consultant, Callan’s Fund Sponsor Consulting Group
Mike Volo, Senior Partner, Cammack Consulting

In this session you will hear from a panel of Plan Sponsor Consultants, each focusing on different market segments. Our consultants will discuss trends in the industry and what regulations like the new fiduciary rule means to plans sponsors. They will also provide the audience with insights into what plan sponsors want and need from their service providers. Time will be made available for the audience to ask questions of these consultants.

11:35 – 11:55 am Break / Check-Out

11:55 – 12:45 pm Washington Regulatory Update

Sean Cunniff, Specialist Leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP
Chris Gaston, Senior Policy Director, Davis & Harman LLP
Mike Hadley, Partner, Davis & Harman LLP

This session covers the latest on the new rules with fiduciary standards, state run retirement plans and other topics.