Lions, and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Retirement Plan Issues in a Pandemic

Western Pension & Benefits Council - Orange County Chapter

n this “pandemic economy” plan sponsors are having to make difficult corporate decisions which directly and indirectly impact their retirement plans. While none of these issues are new, they are on the rise and need to be on your radar and handled with care. Join us for an informative and timely session in which Sherrie Boutwell will discuss some of these issues, including:

• Corporate reorganizations, including mergers and acquisitions, and spin-offs
• Significant furloughs and layoffs, possibly resulting in partial plan terminations
• Full plan terminations, as a result of company dissolution or as a cost-saving measure
• Modification of employer/safe harbor contributions or complete freeze of plans
• Orphan plans as a result of plan sponsor bankruptcy/dissolution/abandonment/sale of business
• Increased loans and distributions/other fiduciary considerations
• Effect of 2020 election/additional stimulus or other legislation changes due to pandemic
• Impact on IRS and DOL enforcement and large plan audit considerations

Our speaker:  Sherrie Boutwell

Sherrie Boutwell has specialized for nearly thirty years in the areas of employee benefits law and ERISA, with an empha­sis on retirement and deferred compensation plans. She has provided legal counsel to employers, employees, plan fiduciaries (including plan trustees and administrators), financial institutions, government agencies and trade associations on a broad range of employee benefits matters.  Sherrie has represented clients before the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, arbitrators from the American Arbitration Association and the United States District Court with respect to employee benefits issues.  Sherrie has experience working with the unique deferred compensation issues that arise in the non-profit and governmental employer arena and also has many years of experience in the design and operation of non-qualified executive deferred compensation plans including the requirements under Section 409A of the Code. Ms. Boutwell obtained her J.D. from UCLA. 

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