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71st Annual Employee Benefits Conference

71st Annual Employee Benefits Conference Preconferences
Sunday, November 9 - Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Honolulu, HI

Arrive in Honolulu a bit early for the preconference sessions, offering a wide variety of subjects impacting your fund management. Challenge yourself to dig in, learn something new, and take your fund to the next level. 

Trustee Education

New Trustees Institute - Level I: Core Concepts

Two and a half-day workshop
Saturday, November 8, 

Sunday, November 9, 2025

Monday, November 10, 2025
Registration code: 25N8

This foundational curriculum will provide you with an understanding of your role, your responsibility as a fiduciary, and an overview of the technical aspects of serving as a trustee on a health, retirement or other ERISA plan. Learn best practices, legal requirements and the current issues that the benefits industry faces.

New for 2025: This course starts on Monday, November 8 for the 2025 program! This makes it easier to attend the main Annual Employee Benefits Conference!

See the New Trustees program page for full details.

Trustees Institute - Level II: Concepts in Practice

Two-day workshop
Saturday, November 8
Sunday, November 9, 2025

Registration code: 25N9

Build on your knowledge of being a multiemployer trustee by attending the Trustees Institute—Level II: Concepts in Practice. This institute is for trustees with three or more years of experience, expanding on the concepts provided at the New Trustees Institute—Level I: Core Concepts. Discover best practices, identify possible solutions and recognize critical issues by attending this interactive program.

Note: Registration is limited and fills up quickly, register early.

See the Trustees Level II page for full details.

Trustees Masers Program (TMP)

Two-day workshopSaturday, November 8, 2025 andSunday, November 9, 2025, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Registration code: 25D2


The Trustees Masters Program (TMP) is the pinnacle event for advanced-level trustee networking and education. Designed by trustees and practitioners in the field for trustees who have five or more years of experience, TMP is for serious-minded trustees who want to think and act more boldly, systematically and proactively. The curriculum builds on trustees’ existing knowledge base and experience through peer exchange and group exercises over an intense two days.

Check out the program page for full details. 

If you have already completed the program, consider the TMP Advanced Leadership Summit on Sunday, November 9.

TMP Advanced Leadership Summit 

One-day workshop
Sunday ONLY, November 9, 2025 8:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Registration code: 25D3

The TMP Advanced Leadership Summit is an exclusive program for trustees who have earned the TMP Certificate of Attendance and commemorative pin. The Summit offers an opportunity to further examine relevant topics critical to a fund’s overall strategy. What will trustee leadership look like in the future? What are the challenges and prospective solutions for forward-thinking organizations? The topic focus of the TMP Advanced Leadership Summit changes each year to reflect the most essential issues facing trustees today. Attendees of the Summit will earn two tickets toward the main conference certificate of attendance.

Check out the program page for full details.

Note: Registration is limited, register early.

Two-Day Enrichment Workshop

Health, Wealth and Happiness—Planning Your Path to a Successful Retirement

Two-day program
Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9, 8:00a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
Registration code: Attendee only PC53; Attendee plus spouse/guest PC55

Securing a healthy and successful retirement requires a holistic approach that goes beyond just having enough money. This workshop will explore tools and resources to design the “life” side of your next chapter and to boost and protect your retirement income. Attendees of all ages are encouraged to attend.

$1,080 through September 29, 2025 and $1,300 after September 29, 2025 for members.

Spouses/Guests may also attend this workshop at a reduced price!
Attendee plus spouse/guest registration:
$1,175 through September 29, 2025 and $1,395 after September 29, 2025 for members.
Registration code: PC55

One-Day Enrichment Workshops | Attend One or Both Days

Enrichment Workshops are $540 per day through September 29, 2025 and $650 per day after September 29 for members.

Cybersecurity and Social Engineering Fraud

Saturday, November 8, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
Registration code: PC01

Fraud can happen at any time, in any place. You are responsible for having the tools necessary to prevent cyberattacks, data breaches and claims fraud. Join this one-day preconference to learn how to spot social engineering fraud, learn about tools and tests to be implemented to avoid fraud, review and implement the right insurance coverage, and more!

Working With Your Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Saturday, November 8, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. 
Registration code: PC02

This is an opportunity to gain insights into how pharmacy benefit managers work. Learn about core fundamentals in contracting and key considerations in balancing cost and access for your members.

  • Understand the importance and impact of pharmacy networks and emerging “cost plus” trends.
  • Investigate pricing mechanisms and tradeoffs between affordability and access.
  • Explore the range of clinical programs to consider as contract add-ons.
Navigating Challenging Conversations: Breakthrough Conflict™

Saturday, November 8, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. 
Registration code: PC03

Even with the best of intentions, many of us communicate automatically, often making blunders that take a toll on our professional and personal lives. This program introduces attendees to concrete, tangible skills to:

  • TEACH people how their behavior is a problem without making them feel defensive.
  • RAISE difficult issues that simultaneously solve problems and strengthen relationships. 
  • TRANSFORM the organization’s culture from avoidance to positive engagement.
  • CREATE trust through conflict.
Trustee and Administrator Succession Planning Workshop

Saturday, November 8, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
Registration code: PC04

Building and maintaining a positive board culture takes intention and effort. This process can be more challenging when faced with board turnover, especially if it is unexpected.  In this workshop, you will learn a step-by-step approach to succession planning, including how to find new trustees and plan for administrator changes. You will learn:

  • How to amend trust agreements and/or collective agreements to support succession planning for trustees and administrators
  • How to address bias and culture on existing boards
  • How to onboard new trustees and administrators.
Mental Health First Aid® at Work

One-day program
Saturday, November 8, 2025 or Sunday, November 9, 2025, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (choose one only).
Registration code for first session: PC05
Registration code for second session: PC09

Mental Health First Aid® (MHFA) at Work is a high-impact, skills-based training program that teaches workers how to offer help to a person who may be developing or is suffering from a mental health concern or crisis. Attendees will be introduced to the unique challenges and needs of the individual who may experience the symptoms of mental illness.

  • Identify the impact of mental health challenges and recovery on the well-being of adults in the workplace.
  • Explain and practice the five-step MHFA action plan (ALGEE).
  • Discuss appropriate methods of self-care for individuals in the workplace.

Note: Register early—Seating is limited to 30 attendees per day.

Attorneys Only—Ethics and Diversity in Employee Benefits

Sunday, November 9, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
Registration code: PC06

Join us for four hours of continuing legal education credits in Ethics of Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias training for benefit attorneys. This critical education will cover representation matters, contracts and relationships, disclosures and DEI litigation. Be sure to include your CLE request on the registration form with your state and BAR license number.

Persuasion and Influence

Sunday, November 9, 2025, 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
Registration code: PC07

Organizational leaders recognize the imperative of being convincing advocates for issues of critical importance, able to present their vision persuasively in order to have their ideas and recommendations implemented and supported. This program reveals concrete and lasting skills to:

  • DISCOVER ways to be a dynamic speaker. 
  • INFLUENCE people by using all three modes of persuasion. 
  • DISCOVER the science of persuasion. 
  • HARNESS the power of storytelling.
Understanding and Engaging Today’s Workforce

Sunday, November 9, 2025, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Registration code: PC08

Something has changed out there! You feel it wherever you go. Every business is short-staffed. People are less patient. Having a mediocre customer services experience is the best you can hope for. Is it really true that nobody wants to work or go into the office? We are clearly dealing with a different world as it relates to work—our own work and the work of others who we rely on. This workshop will examine the changing workforce and help you understand how to evaluate and implement positive change in your own work environment. Topics include:

  • Demographics of today’s workforce
  • Changing norms, expectations and desires
  • Creating positive culture in the office and on the job site
  • Building a strategy for change.