A growing trend among 401(k) plans is the addition of a plan benefit specifically for employees with student loan repayments who may not, as a result, be in a position to save for retirement on an equal footing with their fellow employees without student loan debt.  This specialty session will cover the considerations associated with adding such a provision, including the design structure of this type of benefit, determination of eligibility, coverage and nondiscrimination testing.  In addition, our presenters will discuss the the IRS’s recent private letter, which addresses a student loan repayment benefit feature as it relates to the contingent benefit rule.

Eide Bailly
7001 E. Belleview Ave.
Ste. 700 
Denver, CO 80237-2733

A complimentary box lunch will be served.

About Our Presenters

Sarah Bhagwandin, Counsel at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, practices employee benefits law, counseling clients on the design, implementation and ongoing administration of tax-qualified retirement plans, welfare plans, fringe benefit plans and executive compensation. She is also a member of the firm’s Association Health Plans team. Ms. Bhagwandin’s clients include public and private companies, governmental agencies and religious and other nonprofit organizations. She is a frequent speaker on a broad range of topics, including health care reform, fiduciary duties and liability, and the HIPAA privacy and security rules.

Adrienne Robertson is Senior Director, Client Compliance & Consulting Services, for Transamerica’s retirement services business, and is based in their Denver office. Adrienne has more than 25 years of experience in the retirement services industry. Her expertise is in ERISA and employee benefits plans, including fiduciary concerns; operational compliance; plan design strategy; merger, acquisition and controlled group issues; and recordkeeping and administrative considerations. Adrienne has previously worked at Alvarez & Marsal in their Denver-based benefits consulting group, Sherman & Howard LLC in Denver, and Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Philadelphia.  Prior to that, she was in-house counsel at the Vanguard Group. Her ASPPA certifications include the Certified Pension Consultant and Qualified Pension Administrator; she has served on ASPPA’s Education and Examination Committee, and is currently a member of ASPPA’s Government Affairs Committee. She holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Widener University School of Law, and a Bachelor of Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.