Multiemployer Plan Administration Course Outline

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Multiemployer administrators and administrative staff need the critical knowledge and skills necessary for managing and administering health, retirement, and other benefit plans. Having a solid understanding of the basics of multiemployer benefit plan administration is more important than ever. Gather with your peers for this two-day course to learn and network while gaining insights and understanding of how to run your plans. Take a deep dive into the fundamentals of multiemployer plans with instructors who are experts in the field. Walk away with a more solid understanding of the basics as well as strategies to use at your fund for managing benefits for your members.

Day 1

1. Introductions/Course Overview
2. Labor and Taft-Hartley History
   1. Understand the basics of labor unions and the role of labor-management relationship as a basis for work and employee benefits.
   2. Identify how multiemployer plans came to exist.
   3. Review Taft-Hartley Act of 1947.
   4. Describe multiemployer plans.
   5. Recognize common types of multiemployer employee benefit plans, including both Taft-Hartley and non-Taft-Hartley plans.
3. Multiemployer Plan Regulators (ERISA, DOL, HHS, IRS)
   1. Identify the roles of the Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in regulating multiemployer plans.
   2. Understand ERISA and its impact on benefit plans.
   3. Recognize the roles of the different multiemployer plan regulators.
4. Administrative Models and Roles
   1. Define the types of benefit plan administration: in-house/salaried, third-party.
   2. Understand roles and responsibilities under the different administrative models.
   3. Understand key roles and responsibilities of trustees, service providers, and other stakeholders.
5. Governance
   1. Develop knowledge of governance principles to ensure compliance and ethical administration.
   2. Recognize the importance of creating and using written policies in a benefits plan.
   3. Develop written policies for several major aspects of plan management.
   4. Review the function of trustee committees to conduct the business needs of the multiemployer benefit plan.
6. Trustee Relationships
   1. Learn how to support trustees in fulfilling their responsibilities through effective communication and reporting.
   2. Review trustee board meeting structures. Understand the importance of meeting minutes for trustees and administrative staff.
   3. Understand the cycle of the trustees on the board from onboarding a new trustee through succession planning to depart from the board.
7. Health Plans
   1. Understand the structure and management of multiemployer health plans.
   2. Recognize the related regulations that govern multiemployer health plans.
   3. Review participant relationships and communications.
   4. Review of employer relationships and contributions.
8. Retirement Plans
   1. Understand the structure and management of multiemployer defined benefit and defined contribution plans.
   2. Recognize the related regulations that govern multiemployer retirement plans.
   3. Review participant relationships and communications.
   4. Review of employer relationships and contributions.
9. Other Plans
   1. Explore non-health and retirement multiemployer plans, such as apprenticeship or training funds.

Day 2

1. Administrative Investment Basics
   1. Recognize the principles of investment fund management as they apply to multiemployer employee benefit plans.
2. Accounting for Plan Administration
   1. Understand the basics of the benefit plan audit and its importance to the health of the multiemployer employee benefit plan.
   2. Plan for and understand the purpose of a payroll audit.
   3. Understand how establishing good internal control systems help multiemployer plans maintain compliance with regulations.
3. Vendor & Plan Professional Management
   1. Describe the roles of multiple types of plan advisors.
   2. Follow the steps of hiring professional advisors.
   3. Monitor professional advisors appropriately.
   4. Evaluate the roles of vendors and external professionals in plan administration.
4. Legal/Legislative Environments
   1. Apply knowledge of legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure compliance and minimize risk in multiemployer plan administration.
5. Case Study
   1. Apply knowledge from the course to a real-world multiemployer plan scenario.