NIPA Webcasts and Recordings

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Webcast Recordings

The contact person on the webcast recording order form will receive two (2) NIPA Continuing Education Credits if they did not participate in the original LIVE webcast. These exclusive Webcasts are approximately 100 minutes in length. Please Note: The webcast recording and instructions will be sent via email within 5-7 business days after receipt of payment. For questions, please contact NIPA Headquarters at 800.999.6472 or nipa@nipa.org.

Nondiscrimination and Coverage Testing- Back to Basics
Presented by Karen Smith, FSA, EA, JD, Nova 401(k) Associates
Thursday, May 13, 2010
11:00 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. CT

To be considered "qualified" for tax-favored status, a retirement plan must satisfy numerous requirements. One of these requirements is that the amount of contributions or benefits provided by the plan must be nondiscriminatory under IRC §401(a)(4). In addition, such contributions or benefits must be available to a nondiscriminatory number of employees, as determined under IRC 410(b). Register for this Webcast for a valuable refresher on the basics of nondiscrimination testing and coverage testing. This Webcast provides a thorough review of testing fundamentals for defined contribution plans, with a special emphasis on:

• Who is a highly compensated employee;
• Which contributions must be tested for nondiscrimination under 401(a)(4);
• Satisfying 401(a)(4) using a "safe harbor" approach and identifying allocation methods that are safe harbors;
• Permitted plan provisions that do not affect reliance on the safe harbor approach;
• Determining if the definition of compensation is nondiscriminatory;
• Identifying who is included in the 410(b) minimum coverage test;
• Understanding the difference between employees excluded from participation, and excludable employees for coverage testing purposes;
• Who is in the benefiting group and what does it mean to "benefit" under the plan;
• Satisfying 410(b) using the ratio percentage test or the average benefits test;
• Relationship between nondiscrimination testing and coverage testing;
• Document issues, including identification of testing methods and fail safe language;
• Correcting nondiscrimination and/or coverage testing failures; and
• Real life case studies that demonstrate the practical application of these rules.

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Effective Use of the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System
Presented by Avaneesh K. Bhagat, Program Coordinator, Employee Plans Voluntary Compliance. TE/GE Division, IRS & Stephen W. Forbes, J.D., LL.M., Vice President, Relius Education
Thursday, April 20, 2010
11:00 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. CT

The IRS' correction program - Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) - helps plan sponsors protect participant benefits and keep their plans within the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. This program will focus on key substantive and procedural considerations in utilizing EPCRS and the speakers will discuss:

• Steps administrators can take to ensure its clients maintain the requisite practices and procedures to be eligible to use EPCRS;
• Important considerations in choosing between the use of the self-correction procedure and submission under the voluntary compliance program;
• Use of the streamlined application procedures found in Revenue Procedure 2008-50;
• Common operational errors for which there are  no recommended corrective actions under Appendix A and how the general correction principles should be applied; and
• The mistakes frequently made with respect to Voluntary Correction Program submissions and how they can be avoided.

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EFAST2...So Far
Presented by Janice M. Wegesin, CPC, EA, JMW Consulting, Inc.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
11:00 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. CT

The EFAST2...So Far Webcast will provide:

• Experiences with EFAST2 so far and what you can expect;
• Tips for analyzing error and warning messages resulting from your data entry;
• Form changes of which you should be aware;
• The status of Form 5500-EZ and Form 8955-SSA; and
• How to handle late and amended filings, regardless of the year involved. 

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2009 401(k) Testing Issues
Presented by Karen Smith, FSA, EA, JD
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
11:00 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. CT

Are you ready for the 2009 401(k) testing challenges? Join Karen Smith, FSA, EA, JD, President of Nova 401(k) Associates on December 15, 2009 for a valuable review of 401(k) Testing procedures. Testing for the 2009 plan year is likely to contain many challenges. Economic factors have impacted both participant deferral rates as well as employer contributions. Attend this session for a thorough review of ADP and ACP testing fundamentals with special emphasis on how to deal with:

• Formerly Safe Harbor Plans;
• Top Heavy Minimums;
• Recharacterizing deferrals as catch-up;
• Shifting deferrals to match for testing purposes;
• Using alternative definitions of compensation, QNECS and QMACs;
• Corrective distributions - timing, income and reporting;
• Impact on auto-enroll, EACA and QACA

The time is right – get your testing knowledge refreshed and be prepared for testing challenges we are likely to face this year!

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Ethics: What ERPAs and Pension Administrators Need To Know
Presented by Michael P. Coyne, J.D.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
11:00 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. CT

What does it mean for a retirement plan professional to act ethically?  TPAs and advisors need to seriously consider this question in light of the roles they fill.  Being ethical isn't the result of reading about ethics or even attending an ethics seminar!  Ethics involves making ethical decisions every day, in every context, based on an ethical standard of conduct.  While it seems obvious to avoid conduct that is dishonest, deceitful or fraudulent, sometimes we find ourselves in circumstances that are not so clear cut, and “doing the right thing” is hard to determine.  In today's webcast, Mike Coyne will discuss how ethical decision-making isn't always easy when facing ethically challenging situations.  Mike will cover:

• How to maintain high professional standards in retirement plan matters;
• How to avoid conflicts of interest, as well as if such conflicts arise, how to resolve them;
• Circular 230 and the role of the Office of Professional Responsibility in enforcing it;
• Circular 230 provisions that are most relevant to enrolled retirement plan agents (ERPAs);
• The types of conduct that may result in discipline under Circular 230; and
• Real life ethically challenging situations that give rise to potential problems, and ways to avoid these problems.

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Current Hot Topics and Solutions for Today's Retirement Plan Challenges
Original Date: November 19, 2009

2009 has brought a unique set of challenges to the retirement plan industry.  Before the year ends, hear Bob Kaplan discuss a variety of retirement plan “hot topics” that practitioners face in 2009 and beyond.  Bob will focus on the impact the economy has had on administering retirement plans, the affect of recently issued guidance, as well as provide the status of pending regulations.  Attend this interactive webcast to learn about the following hot topics:

• Required Minimum Distributions
• Illiquid Assets in Defined Contribution Plans
• Safe Harbor Relief for Nonelective Contributions
• Post-Severance Compensation Issues (including unused vacation and paid time off)
• Status of Fee Disclosure Regulations
• Status of Participant Advice Regulations; and
• Other New IRS or DoL Releases.

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DB Plan Designs for 2009 and Later: Cash Balance and DB(k) Plans
Original Date: October 20, 2009
Description: Cash balance (CB) plans are growing in popularity among all types of businesses, regardless of size. Those businesses that want to ramp up their retirement savings to levels well beyond those allowed in a traditional DC plan have begun to see the value of the cash balance design. In addition, beginning next year, the DB(k) plan offers businesses an attractive new design option. In this 100-minute Webcast, learn the tools you will need to explain, implement and administer a well-designed CB plan and DB(k) plan. Joan Gucciardi, MSPA, CLU, CPC, MAAA and Norman Levinrad, FPSA, CPC cover:

• A brief primer on CB plans
• How CB plans are tested
• How different CB designs work
• DB(k) plan design and operation for 2010 and later

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Is Your Firm Prepared to Manage EFAST2 and the 2009 Form 5500 Changes?
Original Date: August 20, 2009
Description: NIPA is pleased to offer a very timely webcast on the new EFAST2 filing requirements for 2009 plan years and the forms that will be used. Janice M. Wegesin, CPC, discusses changes your firm may have to make to its procedures and make suggestions about how to best manage the new electronic filing process, and provide valuable insight into new information the Department of Labor is gathering from these filings.

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Strategies for TPAs that Ignite Growth in People and Profits. Where do we go from here?
Original Date: August 5, 2009
Description: In the midst of a severe economic downturn, NIPA members are facing a difficult operating environment and severe pressure margin pressure.  In this interactive workshop, Marc Emmer, President of Optimize Inc. a California based Management consulting firm, will provide insight on how to optimize business results, while seizing the opportunities ahead.

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Qualified Plans in a Challenging Economy
Original Date: June 24, 2009
Description:
Are you uncertain how to handle issues with qualified retirement plans in an ever-changing industry and during our current challenging economy?

In these tough times, TPAs and consultants have been inundated with questions. Clients are looking for ways to cut costs. Plan sponsors want to know how they can reduce or eliminate plan contributions, and some want to shut down their plans. Plan participants are struggling financially and are asking (and, in some cases, demanding) to withdraw their retirement plan funds.

NIPA and Wolters Kluwer Law & Business (CCH, TAG and Aspen Publishers) want to help administrators and business owners better manage their plan needs in a tough economic climate and an ever-changing industry.

Through this timely webcast presented by Stephen Canter, QPA of Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, you will gain knowledge on various topics that continue to confront plan sponsors, TPAs and consultants due to the economic downturn such as stopping Safe Harbor contributions, cutting back on the company match, plan loan issues, hardship withdrawals, required minimum distribution waivers, full and partial plan terminations due to lay-offs, and much more.

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Managing Partcipant Disclosures- A Review of Current Disclosure Requirements and How to Best Meet Them
Original Date: June 17, 2009
Description:
Are Your 401(k) Disclosures and Delivery Methods Up-to-Date?
NIPA helps administrators and business owners in managing their workflow and business practices with its Webcast presented by Cheryl Morgan, CPC, QKA.

How to adapt your forms and procedures to this Post-PPA environment
Cheryl discusses what's new in a wide-range of the processes that are essential to TPAs/consulting firms - from plan installations and enrollments, to plan terminations and distributions, to participants and beneficiaries.

This is not just another routine disclosure update; although, samples of post-PPA disclosures will be provided. As a consultant to the retirement plan industry, Cheryl shares with you the top-ten procedural changes that will enhance your plan communications and produce the most beneficial results for you and your employer/plan sponsor clients.

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The Latest on EGTRRA Restatements and Plan Termination Review
Original Date: March 18th, 2009
Description: This webcast will cover two important ends of the spectrum - plan document issues for ongoing plans and plan termination procedures.  Many of us are in the thrust of EGTRRA Restatements.  This portion of the webcast will provide practical tips for updating documents.  A sign of the times is also an increase in plan termination requests.  The second portion of the webcast will provide a review of procedural elements involved in Plan Terminations.

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Succession Planning for a TPA Business
Original Date: February 5, 2009
Description: This webcast focuses on exit strategies for business owners, including finding the right buyer for your business, determining a fair value, and preparing before speaking to buyers. The presentation provides practical advice that applies to both sides of the transaction so that you can benefit most from a deal.

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Trashing Your Timesheets - An Alternative to Time and Charges
Original Date: June 19, 2008
Description:The billable hour is dead. Customers do not buy time, and thus professionals do not sell hours. The advantages of Value Pricing over hourly billing have been empirically proven in the marketplace professional knowledge firms around the world. This webinar will further your knowledge of the most complex of the Four Ps of marketing: Price.

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Compensation: Client Consulting Regarding DC Plan Interim Amendments - What You Need to Know About the Treatment of Post-Severance Pay
Original Date: April 17, 2008
Description: The final Section 415 regulations have thrown a wrench in our thinking about what compensation may be counted - and for what purposes. Cheryl will dissect the rules as they relate to defined contribution plans and help you understand.

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Automatic Enrollment & QDIAs - New Rules, New Opportunities
Original Date: December 5, 2007
Description: Automatic enrollment arrangements and qualified default investment alternatives (QDIA) -- two provisions of the Pension Protection Act that not only bolster 401(k) plan participation and retirement savings, but also provide protection and relief for plan sponsors. Join our speakers as they discuss automatic enrollment and QDIAs in light of recent IRS and DOL guidance.

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Quarterly Participant Statements and Other Employee Notices Under PPA
Original Date: March 20, 2007
Description: PPA handed us new requirements for quarterly benefit statements delivered to participants beginning in 2007. Cheryl will help you understand what the law says, what DOL has told us so far, what we need to know, and how to best consult with your clients on the additional disclosures that must be provided with the first benefit statements for the March 31, 2007 quarter ending. She also will discuss modifications that should be made to 402(f) notices and how to incorporate the "right to defer distribution" language into your distribution packages. Get this valuable information now so you can stay ahead of the game!

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