Seminars and Webinars

More than 1,000 retirement plan professionals, including ERISA attorneys, actuaries, CPAs and third party administrators, have attended our seminars and webinars.

Throughout the year, we provide a number of seminars and webinars on a variety of employee benefit and qualified plan topics, including both live seminars in Orlando, and easy-to-access webinars provided over the Internet. We also conduct private, onsite seminars designed and customized to meet your educational needs.

Our upcoming seminars and webinars are:

This summer, come join us at 2pm ET on Tuesdays or 1pm ET on Fridays for a fun and informative look at current topics in employee benefits and qualified plans. Offered in a series of live web seminars, the Summer CE Series covers a variety of topics in 60 minute segments. Attend individually, or, with our All Seminar Package, each person in your office can attend from their desk or attend together from your conference room for one low group price. If you are not able to attend on the scheduled day and time, we will be recording these seminars so you can attend a recorded session.

All Seminar Package - Register to attend all of our 2010 Seminars. Our All Seminar Package provides a combination of live web seminars and interactive self-study modules to complete at least 16 hours of CE for $495.

Michelle, GINA, CHIPRA and MHPAEA - How These Four Acts Recently Amended Cafeteria Plans, originally presented on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 2pm ET and Friday, June 25, 2010 at 1pm ET. In this recording of our live web seminar, we explore the four Acts which recently amended cafeteria plans – the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), and Michelle’s Law. We discuss the impact on plan documents that each Act made, along with the deadlines to timely adopt amendments for each Act, and the notice requirements for each Act, including the DOL’s Model CHIPRA Notice. This seminar is 60 minutes long and is designed to meet ASPPA’s and NIPA’s requirements for 1 CE credit. We have also applied with the IRS for 1 ERPA CPE credit for this program.

They’re Back – the Re-Proposed Regs on Participant Investment Direction and Plan Fees , originally presented on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 2pm ET and Friday, July 16, 2010 at 1pm ET. In this recording of our live web seminar, we discuss the recent proposed guidance on participant investment direction and plan fees issued pursuant to ERISA section 408(b)(2) between plan vendors and the plan, including fees being paid both directly and indirectly for those services. We compare and contrast this proposed guidance with the proposed guidance on participant investment direction and plan fees that was published on Jan. 21, 2009 and withdrawn on Nov. 20, 2009. We review the Fiduciary Adviser Disclosure Model Notice along with new ERISA Code sections 4975(d)(17), 4975(f)(8), new Internal Revenue Code section 408(b)(14), and new Labor Regs 2550.408g-1 and 2550.408g-2. Finally, we discuss Field Assistance Bulletin 2007-1 issued by the DOL. This seminar is 60 minutes long and is designed to meet ASPPA’s and NIPA’s requirements for 1 CE credit. We have also applied with the IRS for 1 ERPA CPE credit for this program.

Cross-Testing and 401(a)(4): The Who, What and Why of Allocation by Individual Classification , originally presented on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 2pm ET and Friday, July 30, 2010 at 1pm ET. H.R. 4126, the Retirement Fairness Act of 2009, introduced on November 19, 2009 and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, has re-ignited the discussion of whether cross-testing allocations of non-elective contributions should be permitted. While Congress is talking restricting or prohibiting cross-testing, the IRS has been broadening the types of plans which can utilize allocation by individual classification and the way plans can classify employees for cross-testing purposes. This live web seminar discusses the history of cross-testing and Internal Revenue Code section 401(a)(4), recent IRS guidance on applying Treas. Reg. 1.401(a)(4)-8 to individual classification and classification by individual names, and the language of H.R. 4126. This seminar is 60 minutes long and is designed to meet ASPPA’s and NIPA’s requirements for 1 CE credit. We have also applied with the IRS for 1 ERPA CPE credit for this program.

Standardized or Non-Standardized – What to Think About When Choosing a Prototype , originally presented on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 2pm ET or Friday, August 13, 2010 at 1pm ET. With the next generation of defined contribution prototypes on the horizon, now is the time to discuss the differences between standardized prototypes and non-standardized prototypes as defined by Rev. Proc. 2005-16. In this live web seminar, we discuss the definition of a prototype plan and the choices available in each type of plan for eligibility and compensation exclusions. We also discuss the differences between Internal Revenue Code sections 415(c)(3) and 414(s) compensation, the designed-based safe harbors described in Treas. Reg. 1.401(a)(4), and the allocation formulas permitted in standardized prototype plans and non-standardized prototype plans. Finally, we discuss issues to consider when amending or modifying a prototype plan. This seminar is 60 minutes long and is designed to meet ASPPA’s and NIPA’s requirements for 1 CE credit. We have also applied with the IRS for 1 ERPA CPE credit for this program.

Professionalism for Retirement Plan Professionals , originally presented on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 2pm ET or Friday, August 20, 2010 at 1pm ET. Each Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent is required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education credits, including 2 hours of ethics or professional conduct, each year of an enrollment cycle. This live web seminar is designed to provide 1 credit hour of professional conduct. We will discuss what Circular 230 is, what constitutes practice before the IRS, and who can practice before the IRS, including the differences between unrestricted and restricted practice before the IRS. We will also discuss the functions of the IRS’ Office of Professional Responsibility, conduct which could result in censure, suspension or disbarment from practice before the IRS, and the sanctions for violating Circular 230. This seminar is 60 minutes long and is designed to meet ASPPA’s and NIPA’s requirements for 1 CE credit. We have also applied with the IRS for 1 ERPA CPE credit for this program.

Ethics for Retirement Plan Professionals , originally presented on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 3pm ET or Friday, August 20, 2010 at 2pm ET. This live web seminar is designed to provide 1 hour of ethics for retirement plan professionals. In this fast-paced and humorous live web seminar, we will discuss the ethical requirements of Circular 230 as it applies to retirement plan professionals and practice before the IRS, including client’s omissions, responding to IRS’ requests for records, diligence as to accuracy, the applicable standards with respect to documents and amendments, and what the sanctions are for violating Circular 230. This seminar is designed to provide 1 hour of ethics for retirement plan professionals, including ERPAs. This seminar is 60 minutes long and is designed to meet ASPPA’s and NIPA’s requirements for 1 CE credit. We have also applied with the IRS for 1 ERPA CPE credit for this program.

HEART Act Amendments In-Depth and Due by December 31, 2010 , originally presented on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 2pm ET or Friday, August 27, 2010 at 1pm ET. The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 (HEART Act), Public Law 110-245, added Internal Revenue Code section 401(a)(37), new Internal Revenue Code section 414(u)(9), and made several changes which affect plan documents, resulting in the IRS requirement that plans adopt a HEART Act amendment by the end of the plan year which began on or after January 1, 2010. This live web seminar discusses the impact to plan documents made by the HEART Act and the deadline to adopt an amendment incorporating the changes made by the HEART Act. This seminar is 60 minutes long and is designed to meet ASPPA’s and NIPA’s requirements for 1 CE credit. We have also applied with the IRS for 1 ERPA CPE credit for this program.

The DOL's New Fee Disclosure Regs: Maximum Impact , originally presented on Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 2pm ET. On July 16, 2010, the Dept. of Labor released a new Interim Final Rule on Reasonable Contract or Arrangement under Section 408(b)(2) – Fee Disclosure which are effective on July 16, 2011. In this live web seminar, we discuss who is a covered service provider pursuant to the regulation, which plans are required to comply with the regulation, and the reporting and disclosure requirements contained in the regulation. We will also discuss the requirement contained in Section 9066 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) for issuing an information return (Form 1099) for all payments made after December 31, 2011 aggregating $600 or more in a calendar year. This seminar is 60 minutes long and is designed to meet ASPPA’s and NIPA’s requirements for 1 CE credit. We have also applied with the IRS for 1 ERPA CPE credit for this program.

How Much is Enough – Meeting the Meaningful Benefits Requirement of Treas. Reg. 1.401(a)(26)-3 , originally presented on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 2pm ET and Friday, September 24, 2010 at 1pm ET. Treas. Reg. 1.401(a)(26)-3 requires that plans provide “meaningful benefits”. In this live web seminar, we discuss what meaningful benefits are, along with the guidance issued by the IRS on meaningful benefits, the requirements of Internal Revenue Code section 401(a)(26) and the specific language of Treas. Reg. 1.401(a)(26)-3. Finally, we explore the meaning of both the Paul Schulz memorandum on meaningful benefits and the Carol Gold memorandum on meaningful benefits, along with the meaning of the clarification to the Carol Gold memorandum issued by the IRS in 2005. This seminar is 60 minutes long and is designed to meet ASPPA’s and NIPA’s requirements for 1 CE credit. We have also applied with the IRS for 1 ERPA CPE credit for this program.

Speaker:    Suzanne L. Wynn, Esq., LLM Tax.

Continuing Education Credits:

Each live web seminar is designed to meet the continuing education requirements of the National Institute of Pension Administrators (NIPA) and the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA). Please contact us at seminars@qualifiedpensionconsulting.com for additional information on continuing education credits.

Technical Requirements to Attend:

You will need a phone and an Internet connection. The speaker audio portion will be via your telephone and the illustrations, graphics and text will be viewed via your computer through the Internet.

Satisfaction Guaranteed:

If you are not completely satisfied with our live web seminars, we will provide you with a credit toward attending another live web seminar sponsored by QPC. Please contact us at sales@qualifiedpensionconsulting.com with your comments, suggestions, or complaints.