Note Worthy
Welcome to Note Worthy, a new section designed to keep you in the know about upcoming events by PLANADVISER and sister publication PLANSPONSOR, as well as informed about Web site changes and ongoing research. This year, PLANADVISER and PLANSPONSOR are adding two new events to their conferences calendars, while continuing with their annual awards dinner and previous four conferences.
The Future of Asset-Allocation Funds
In just a couple of weeks, on March 4 and 5 in Newport Beach, California, we will be hosting our first conference dedicated solely to the world of asset-allocated funds in the defined contribution world. Our agenda runs the gamut of issues regarding asset allocation solutions, target- and risk-based offerings, and managed accounts. We will be dealing with some of the regulatory issues (including qualified default investment alternatives), as well as issues like benchmarking, glide paths, and the trade-offs between open architecture and proprietary platforms. The conference will be a timely and informative discussion of the issues that every adviser and plan sponsor should consider when selecting such funds for a plan’s investment lineup, as well as information about interpreting the final QDIA regulation. If you still have time in your schedule, you can check out the agenda and register online at http://ww2.plansponsor.com/assetallocation.
Building a Better 403(b)
Many 403(b) plans are undergoing significant changes as they come into compliance with the latest rules from the Internal Revenue Service. K-12 school districts, hospitals, universities, and nonprofits are strengthening their efforts to transform 403(b)s into plans that can serve as more than just supplemental savings vehicles. If you work in the 403(b) space—or are planning to—this conference will provide you with detailed discussions of current trends, as well as a road map to upcoming developments. Join us April 9 and 10 for PLANSPONSOR’s first 403(b) Summit, at the Ritz Carlton at Amelia Island, Florida. The conference Web site provides all the information you need: http://ww2.plansponsor.com/403bsubmit.
Save the Dates
Those two new events are in addition to PLANSPONSOR’s flagship conference, Plan Designs, designed for plan sponsors, advisers, and providers, scheduled for June 18 through 20 in Chicago. PLANADVISER’s National Conference, for advisers only, will be held September 15 through 17 in Orlando, Florida. This year, PLANSPONSOR will again host its DB Summit, though it has been moved to October in Rye Brook, New York.
Awards Dinner
Another annual event is the PLANSPONSOR/PLANADVISER Annual Awards for Excellence event, scheduled for April 3. This will be an extra special event this year, because we’ll be announcing the winner of the PLANSPONSOR Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year and Retirement Plan Adviser Team of the Year, as well as recognizing finalists and those who appeared on our most successful adviser list. Also honored that night will be PLANSPONSOR’s corporate, public, and non-profit sector Plan Sponsors of the Year, as well as Lifetime Achievement Award winners. Additionally, since this is the 15th anniversary of PLANSPONSOR, 15 “legends” of the past 15 years will be acknowledged.
Advisers are invited to join us at all of our upcoming events. Contact Carol Popkins at cpopkins@plansponsor.com for further information about any of the events described here. We hope to see you there!