Beyond the basics

It’s no secret that to attract, retain, and reward the very best employees, today’s companies must have well-designed compensation and benefits packages. But building a world-class compensation package requires you to help your clients navigate through many complex rules.

The 12th Annual Employee Benefits Update is your guide to the regulatory issues impacting the management and design of employee benefit plans. Key topics include:

• Exploration of the Department of Labor’s recently finalized conflict of interest rule
• Case law review of important ERISA and employee benefit decisions
• Overview of how new overtime rules affect benefit plans
• Advice for continuing benefit plans after a corporate transaction

A map for MEPs

Multiple Employer Plans (MEPs) are popular among small and medium-sized businesses, because they provide outside expertise in managing a 401(k) portfolio at low administrative cost.

Employers can choose between plans run by a private third party (open MEP) or a trade association (closed MEP). Learn the differences between open and closed MEPs as well as the advantages of each.
Despite their benefits, if even one MEP participant makes an error in the plan’s administration, the MEP can be invalidated and lose its tax benefits. Learn to identify potential problems before they occur, and get strategies to resolve mistakes.

Everything on executive compensation

Everything to do with executive compensation is here, beginning with overviews of the legal and tax ramifications of executive compensation in different types of transactions.

Hear in-depth discussion on recent litigation targeting “top hat” plans designed for select groups of management and highly-compensated employees. Recent rulings have held some employers liable for unexpected tax consequences in “top hat” plans. Get important drafting tips to help you create plans that leave less room for litigation.

In addition, dig deeper into deferred compensation plans, including new tax rules and audit guidance from the IRS.