Employee Benefit Plan Virtual Conference
Begins: Ends:
(Check-In 8:30am EST)
Virtual
8.00 Credits
Member Price $359.00
Non-Member Price $519.00
Overview
You could pay $0 for this course!
This course qualifies for reimbursement through the State Workforce Training Express Fund. Firms/companies with fewer than 100 staff will receive 100% of the cost of training reimbursed. You must register for this course and apply for reimbursement through the Workforce Training Express Fund website a minimum of three weeks before the start date of the course to be eligible. The course code for this program is C-1856. To learn more click here or contact Julia Ekelund at jekelund@mscpaonline.org.
MassCPAs is excited to bring back our ERISA Conference this spring! Based on feedback from our members, this year’s conference will be presented virtually over two half-days, and is ideal for CFOs and staff, auditors and tax practitioners, plan sponsors and service providers and any professionals working with or managing employee benefit plans. We’ll cover essential information you need to guide your businesses and clients.
Sponsored by:
Tuesday, May 21
General Session
8:55am - 9:00am EDT Welcome and Opening Remarks
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
9:00am - 9:30am EDT A&A Update
Megan Brooks, PwC LLPMegan Brooks
Megan Brooks is an assurance director at PwC LLP in the asset and wealth management practice, serving clients relating to employee benefit plans, registered investment companies, collective investment products, hedge funds and other financial services companies. Additionally, she is a designated employee benefit plan specialist within the PwC LLP employee benefit plan audit practice. Brooks also spent two years in the PwC LLP Sydney, Australia office with a client base including an ASX-listed investment manager, a global investment manager, registered investment products and superannuation funds
Jake Parente
Jake Parente is an assurance senior manager in the Asset and Wealth Management Practice at PwC’s Boston office. A designated employee benefit plan specialist within PwC’s Employee Benefit Plan Audit Practice, he serves clients relating to employee benefit plans, registered investment companies, collective investment products and other financial services companies. In addition, Parente has served many employee benefit plan clients, including 11-k and non-11-k, full scope and limited scope audits, and defined contribution and defined benefit plans, in a variety of industries, including asset management, higher education, insurance, biotechnology and computer technology.
In this session, we’ll cover various accounting and auditing updates and reminders, including new auditing standards that are effective for financial statement audits ending on or after December 15, 2023. Additionally, we’ll touch on AU-C 703 challenges and reminders, actuarial mortality improvement updates, plan terminations and key reminders for investment accounting.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
9:40am - 10:30am EDT SAS 145 Update
Jason Eddy, Grant Thornton LLPJason Eddy
Jason Eddy, CPA, is the practice leader for Grant Thornton LLP’s National Employee Benefit Plan Practice, where he is responsible for providing services to complex employee benefit plan engagements across the U.S. He has extensive experience in dealing with reporting and disclosure issues related to benefit plans and serves as a technical resource for his firm on employee benefit plan auditing, accounting and reporting issues. Eddy has over 20 years of experience leading large employee benefit plan engagement teams and also performing both peer reviews and internal inspections for other employee benefit plan engagements.
Corey Kohnle
Corey Kohnle is a director in the New England Employee Benefit Plan Practice with over eight years of public accounting experience. Kohnle’s responsibilities on engagements have included the supervision and review of work performed by senior associates and junior staff; leading communications between the audit team, firm specialists and clients; reviewing financial statements for conformity with U.S. GAAP and identifying control deficiencies, as well as preparing recommendations for improvement to management. Corey’s auditing experience includes investments, contributions, benefit payments, claims, post-retirement benefit obligations, asset transfers, plan mergers, plan spin offs, annuity buyouts and ERISA compliance. She has led and performed financial statement audits for various industries, with a variety of employee benefit plans, including full scope audits and ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) audits of 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit plans and health and welfare plans as well as 11k audits.
In this session, we’ll dive into SAS 145, understanding the entity and its environment, and assessing risks of material misstatement and its associated impact on audits of employee benefit plans. We’ll also discuss relevant tools and resources which can be used to help implement this new auditing standard.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
10:40am - 11:50am EDT Job SECUREity for Plan Auditors – An Analysis of SECURE 2.0 Act
David BeckDavid Beck
David Beck, CPA, QPA, ERPA, is a principal at PASI, LLC, with over 20 years of experience in the retirement plan industry. With a strong foundation forged through six years in public accounting, including four years auditing employee benefit plans, Beck transitioned seamlessly into his current focus: providing compliance services for retirement plans. His comprehensive knowledge extends beyond 401(k) plans to encompass 403(b) plans and various nonqualified deferred compensation plans (457(b)/(f) and 409A). A sought-after speaker, Beck frequently presents at the Connecticut Society of CPAs Annual Employee Benefits Conference and plays a pivotal role as the practice lead for 403(b) plans and all related matters, while actively contributing to the Employe Benefits committee responsible for organizing the event.
SECURE 2.0 introduces a range of intriguing (yet complex) mandatory and optional provisions. In this session, we’ll explore the mandatory provisions most pertinent to larger plans, along with optional provisions that have sparked significant interest among plan sponsors, like matching student loan payments.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT Technology Session
Brian Tankersley, K2 EnterprisesBrian Tankersley
Brian Tankersley, CPA, CITP, CGMA, leverages over 30 years of professional experience as a consultant for K2 Enterprises, specializing in accounting technology. A prominent figure in the industry, Tankersley is a frequent speaker at continuing education courses and contributes to multiple accounting media outlets. His nationally recognized blog on accounting and technology serves as a valuable resource for professionals, and he has been honored eight times as one of the “Top 25 Thought Leaders in Public Accounting Technology” by Cygnus Business Media. With a wide-reaching impact, he has presented in 48 states and been a guest speaker for various accounting organizations in Canada. Tankersley’s expertise extends to major national accounting technology conferences, including AICPA TECH+/Practitioners Conference, The Sleeter Group’s Solutions Conference, Sage Summit, CCH Connections and Thomson Reuters Synergy User Conference.
As technological advancements continue to reshape the landscape of financial audits, it is crucial for auditors to stay updated with the most effective tools and practices. In this session, we’ll deep dive into cutting-edge technologies enhancing employee benefit plan audits. We’ll explore data analytics, automated testing and secure communication platforms, aiming to boost efficiency and effectiveness. We’ll also cover practical applications to enhance audit quality, reduce errors and ensure regulatory compliance.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
1:00pm - 1:05pm EDT Closing Remarks
This session is available to registrants only.
Wednesday, May 22
General Session
8:55am - 9:00am EDT Opening Remarks
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
9:00am - 9:50am EDT Department of Labor (DOL) Update
Michael AuerbachMichael Auerbach
Michael Auerbach, CPA, is chief accountant for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), where he is responsible for managing resources and implementing various comprehensive, nationwide enforcement programs relating to certain provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Auerbach also provides ERISA-related accounting and auditing technical expertise within the EBSA and is the liaison to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and other professional organizations. Auerbach provides executive oversight and leadership for the EBSA fiduciary oversight program for the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the largest defined contribution plan in the world, with assets of in excess of $800 billion and 6.5 million participants.
In this session, we’ll delve into the latest enforcement initiatives at the EBSA’s Office of the Chief Accountant. We’ll explore common mistakes made by plan administrators and auditors, as well as the findings from the DOL’s recent Audit Quality Study.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
10:00am - 10:50am EDT Legal and Regulatory Update
David Guadagnoli, Sullivan & Worcester LLPDavid Guadagnoli
David Guadagnoli is a tax partner in the Boston office of the law firm of Sullivan & Worcester LLP. Guadagnoli is a graduate of the Boston University School of Law and has an MBA and an LLM in Tax, also from BU. Guadagnoli specializes in employee benefits and represents employers, individuals and advisors on a wide variety of employee benefit issues. He is well versed in all aspects of retirement plans including nondiscrimination testing issues, plan recordkeeping and conversion issues, fee analysis and fiduciary issues, IRS and DOL audits and the use of self-correction and agency-approved correction programs. Guadagnoli is a regular speaker and commentator at seminars and conferences.
Amy Sheridan
Amy Sheridan is a partner in the Tax Department of Sullivan & Worcester’s Boston office. She concentrates her practice in the employee benefits and executive compensation area and is experienced in addressing documentation and compliance issues for welfare plans (including federal health care reform and HIPAA privacy and security requirements), qualified retirement plans and individual retirement accounts. Additionally, Sheridan designs and reviews nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, including for compliance with Internal Revenue Code Sections 409A and 457A.
While things have been quiet on the legislative front, treasury, labor and the IRS continue to scramble to issue guidance reflecting both SECURE and SECURE 2.0 Act changes. In this session, we’ll review provisions relevant to 2023-year audits and filings and update you on the latest guidance and trends, including the shifting IRS position on missed restatements and new developments on the forfeiture front.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
11:00am - 11:50am EDT Plan Corrections
David Guadagnoli, Sullivan & Worcester LLPDavid Guadagnoli
David Guadagnoli is a tax partner in the Boston office of the law firm of Sullivan & Worcester LLP. Guadagnoli is a graduate of the Boston University School of Law and has an MBA and an LLM in Tax, also from BU. Guadagnoli specializes in employee benefits and represents employers, individuals and advisors on a wide variety of employee benefit issues. He is well versed in all aspects of retirement plans including nondiscrimination testing issues, plan recordkeeping and conversion issues, fee analysis and fiduciary issues, IRS and DOL audits and the use of self-correction and agency-approved correction programs. Guadagnoli is a regular speaker and commentator at seminars and conferences.
While the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) remains unchanged since 2021, there’s been significant activity. Congress endorsed plan correction and self-correction through amendments to the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA in the SECURE 2.0 Act. In this session, you’ll hear from a seasoned practitioner experienced in EPCRS, DFVC and VFCP, guiding sponsors through the complexities. We’ll spotlight practical approaches sponsors are adopting for plan correction in this evolving landscape.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
12:00pm - 12:50pm EDT Peer Review Update
Beth ThoresenBeth Thoresen
Beth serves as Director – Peer Review Operations for the AICPA where she is responsible for technology, communications, support, administration of the Peer Review Program and administration of the National Peer Review Committee. Beth also works with the State Boards of Accountancy. Prior to joining the AICPA in 2010, she was Director of Service Delivery for Railinc, Association of American Rail Roads, where her responsibilities included managing strategic customer, committee relationships and customer satisfaction. She has also served as the Director of Product Support & Operations for SciQuest, a procurement and software as a service business automation software company. Beth is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.
In the community, Beth serves on the board for (501C3) Threshold Retreat & Farm, is a founding member of Winston-Salem Women for Good, and is an active liaison and volunteer for AFS Intercultural Programs, who has hosted several exchange students from various countries.
Justin Long
Justin is a manager in the Peer Review Program for the AICPA. Prior to joining the AICPA in 2015, he was a Senior Manager with FORVIS (formerly Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP), where he directed and managed audit and accounting engagements for various size clients working with governmental entities (including single audits), not-for-profits, and healthcare entities. Justin has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Justin also serves on the Finance Committee for The Poe Center for Children’s Health in Raleigh, NC assisting the entity through their single audit process and previously serving as the Chair of the Finance Committee.
In this session, we’ll share an update on current happenings in peer review, including the enhancing audit quality initiative, changes to program administration, as well as the latest with EBP.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
12:50pm - 12:55pm EDT Closing Remarks
This session is available to registrants only.
- Jaimie Adelizzi - Johnson O'Connor (Wakefield, 01880)
- Joshua Adler - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Sean Alexander - Daniel Dennis & Company LLP (Dedham, 02026)
- Michelle Amaral - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Pranita Amarasinghe - Greater Boston Food Bank (Boston, 02118)
- Bedros Aprahamian - AAFCPAs (Westborough, 01581)
- Robin Aronson-Katzman - Miller Wachman LLP (Boston, 02114)
- Danielle Arsenault - PKF O’Connor Davies (Woburn, 01801)
- Karla Baquerizo - Daniel Dennis & Company LLP (Dedham, 02026)
- Kevin Barthel - tonneson + co (Wakefield, 01880)
- Courtney Beliveau - Bollus Lynch LLP (Worcester, 01604)
- Saul Berelowitz - DunlapSLK (Chalfont, 18914)
- Sharon Blazejowski - MP P.C. (Springfield, 01144)
- Jill Blumen - Walter Shuffain (Westwood, 02090)
- Kevin Bonnett - G.T. Reilly & Company (Milton, 02186)
- Andrew Brown - Downey & Company LLP (Braintree, 02184)
- James Burokas - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Anthony Caruso - Worthington, Hughes & Hoar PC (Woburn, 01801)
- Jasmine Chen - Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Amy Christian - Lombardi, Clairmont & Keegan (Pittsfield, 01201)
- Abby Cleggett - Daniel Dennis & Company LLP (Dedham, 02026)
- Jordan Cohen - Johnson O'Connor (Wakefield, 01880)
- Andrew Cowan - Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Andrea Crowley - Lee and Crowley (South Boston, 02127)
- Ryan Crowley - Lee and Crowley (South Boston, 02127)
- Nicholas Czernicki - Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull & Bitso li, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Jagdish Dave - Ardito Toscano & McCollum PC (North Andover, 01845)
- Nicole Davie - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Katie Deknikker - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Jeffrey Dickson - Katz Nannis + Solomon, PC (Waltham, 02453)
- Sean Donlan - Johnson O'Connor (Wakefield, 01880)
- Bradley Dumais - Johnson O'Connor (Wakefield, 01880)
- Jill Dunn - Pozerski Hatch & Company, P.C. (Rockland, 02370)
- Tara Ellis - King McNamara Moriarty LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Sydney Emery - O'Connor Maloney & Company, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Giuseppe Femia - G.T. Reilly & Company (Milton, 02186)
- Derek Fitzgerald - R A Hall & Co LLC (Boston, 02109)
- Lindsay Francoeur - QRGA, LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Richard French - PKF JND, P.C. (Boston, 02109)
- Jay Gildea - Damiano, Burk & Nuttall CPA's Certified Public Accountants P C (Lincoln, 02865)
- George Gillmore - Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull & Bitso li, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Eric Hall - R A Hall & Co LLC (Boston, 02109)
- Joseph Hastry
- Wendi Haynes - Livingston & Haynes PC (Wellesley, 02482)
- Ben Hoffman - AAFCPAs (Westborough, 01581)
- Yasmine Hubby - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- David Hurwitz - QRGA, LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Theresa Hussey - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Shawn Huxley - AAFCPAs (Westborough, 01581)
- Janelle Iannone - QRGA, LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- James Johnston - Bollus Lynch LLP (Worcester, 01604)
- John Keegan - Lombardi, Clairmont & Keegan (Pittsfield, 01201)
- Sandy Keegan - AAFCPAs (Westborough, 01581)
- Thomas Kirwin - Sullivan Bille PC (Andover, 01810)
- Linda Kramer - G.T. Reilly & Company (Milton, 02186)
- Nicholas LaPier - LaPier, Dillon & Associates, P.C. (West Springfield, 01089)
- Mariann Lindquist - Nardella & Taylor CPAs LLP (Lexington, 02421)
- Emily Lissner - E.J. Callahan & Associates, LLC (Wakefield, 01880)
- Richard Lombardi - Lombardi, Clairmont & Keegan (Pittsfield, 01201)
- Justin Long
- Jeremy Lowell - O'Connor Maloney & Company, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Hayley MacDonald - Daniel Dennis & Company LLP (Dedham, 02026)
- Alfred Magid - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Kevin Maguire - Bollus Lynch LLP (Worcester, 01604)
- Eric Mahoney - Daniel Dennis & Company LLP (Dedham, 02026)
- Nicholas Maida - Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Matthew Makarski - Pozerski Hatch & Company, P.C. (Rockland, 02370)
- Tiffany Mangiameli - Johnson O'Connor (Wakefield, 01880)
- Dennis Marasca - The Rivers School (Weston, 02493)
- Valquiria Marcal - Daniel Dennis & Company LLP (Dedham, 02026)
- Gary Marini - Peck Associates PC (Wellesley Hills, 02481)
- Stephen Mason - PKF JND, P.C. (Boston, 02109)
- Mary May - tonneson + co (Wakefield, 01880)
- Michele McGunagle - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- John McNamara - Sullivan Bille PC (Andover, 01810)
- Amanda Meade - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Alex Mellen - AAFCPAs (Westborough, 01581)
- Matthew Michienzi - LGA, LLP (Woburn, 01801)
- Jeanne Mickel - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- David Miller - Miller Wachman LLP (Boston, 02114)
- Michael Minton - PKF JND, P.C. (Quincy, 02169)
- Thomas Moretti - PKF JND, P.C. (Boston, 02109)
- Katelynn Mrozowski - Edelstein & Company LLP (Boston, 02110)
- Thomas Muldoon - AAFCPAs (Westborough, 01581)
- Monica Needle - King McNamara Moriarty LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Donna Neely - QRGA, LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Christine Niland - QRGA, LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Tina Novo - Sullivan Bille PC (Andover, 01810)
- Christopher O'Brien - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Sarah Oldham - AAFCPAs (Westborough, 01581)
- Jill Olson - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Philip Pacino - Greene Rubin Miller & Pacino (Boston, 02135)
- Tyler Peich - LaPier, Dillon & Associates, P.C. (West Springfield, 01089)
- Rebecca Pierce - PKF JND, P.C. (Quincy, 02169)
- Laura Pizzimenti - Bollus Lynch LLP (Worcester, 01604)
- Richard Powell - Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull & Bitso li, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Thomas Quin - QRGA, LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Rachel Retos - Johnson O'Connor (Wakefield, 01880)
- David Reynolds - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Caitlyn Rodrigues - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Barbara Rowell - Sullivan Bille PC (Andover, 01810)
- Anthony Rozevicius - O'Connor Maloney & Company, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Michael Ryan - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- John Sartucci - PKF JND, P.C. (Quincy, 02169)
- Adam Shaker - LGA, LLP (Woburn, 01801)
- Stephen Snow - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Ryan Sturgis - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- James Sullivan - Britt & Company CPA LLC (Dedham, 02026)
- Susan Sullivan - Miller Wachman LLP (Boston, 02114)
- Daniel Sullivan - Johnson O'Connor (Wakefield, 01880)
- Jeffrey Swanberg - Bollus Lynch LLP (Worcester, 01604)
- Tampson Tavares - PKF JND, P.C. (Boston, 02109)
- Steven Thebodo - O'Connor Maloney & Company, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Karina Tomlinson - Johnson O'Connor (Wakefield, 01880)
- Jamie Tong-Chow - tonneson + co (Wakefield, 01880)
- Tracy Vaughan - Goulet Salvidio & Associates PC. (Worcester, 01605)
- Tom Ventullo - Manzi & Associates, LLC (North Andover, 01845)
- Davide Villani - AAFCPAs (Westborough, 01581)
- Natasa Vucetic
- Lucia Walker - New England Interstate WPCC (Lowell, 01852)
- Dorothy Whalen
- Daniel Will - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Brooke Williams - MP P.C. (Springfield, 01144)
- Mark Wojcicki - Bollus Lynch LLP (Worcester, 01604)
- Anastasiya Yelina - Katz Nannis + Solomon, PC (Waltham, 02453)
- Steven Zuidema - PKF JND, P.C. (Boston, 02109)
Non-Member Price $519.00
Member Price $359.00