With the late-2019 passage of the SECURE Act getting most of the attention in the retirement plan space, other regulatory and judicial developments since last summer have been overshadowed somewhat. But these developments nonetheless raise important considerations for plans, sponsors and service providers. Join us for a survey of regulatory and judicial developments to stay up-to-date. Topics include:

• Supreme Court update

• Litigation trends on defined benefit actuarial assumptions, 401(k) and 403(b) fees, and mandatory arbitration for ERISA claims

• PBGC: interest rate and mortality regulations

• IRS: uncashed checks ruling; final hardship regulations; end of the 403(b) remedial amendment period

• DOL: proposed electronic disclosure regulations; audit activity

Bethany Bacci is a law partner with Stoel Rives. Bethany counsels public and private employers on employee benefit program compliance and design. This includes qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, health and welfare programs, fringe benefit programs, and executive compensation arrangements. In an evolving regulatory environment, Bethany partners with clients to stay on top of legal developments and current industry trends, such as pension de-risking and self-funding health benefits. She represents plan sponsors in devising, negotiating, and implementing changes to employee benefit programs to address tax qualification issues, align plan design with business objectives, and mitigate risk through use of the IRS and Department of Labor correction procedures. Bethany has extensive experience assisting clients in corporate transactions with identifying potential liabilities, analyzing opportunities for synergy and creating employee communication strategies. She regularly handles plan spinoffs and mergers. Bethany serves as a member of Stoel Rives' Pro Bono Committee and represents pro bono clients through the Stoel Rives night clinic run in partnership with Multnomah County Legal Aid. Bethany is active with the Taxation Section and Health Care Law Section of the American Bar Association and is a member of the board of directors for the Northwest Catholic Counseling Center and Pet Peace of Mind.

Registration is free for members and $50 for non-members.

Professional accreditation credits include: AIF, ASPPA, CFP, CLE Oregon State Bar, CPE for CPAs, CEBS, ERPA, JBEA, NIPA, and SHRM.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming WP&BC Portland events!

Spring Social / WP&BC Portland 40th Anniversary Celebration
Sponsored by Deschutes Investment Consulting
April 21, 2020, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, location TBA

WP&BC Spring Conference 
May 21, 2020, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Oregon Convention Center

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