ERISA Assets: QPAM and INHAM Audit Legal Requirements and Best Practices

Please join us for a timely and information webinar entitled "ERISA Assets: QPAM and INHAM Audit Legal Requirements: Navigating DOL Rules for Pension Asset Management Compliance" on August 29, 2012 from 1:00 PM EST to 2:30 PM EST. 

This CLE webinar will prepare counsel to advise asset manager clients regarding QPAM and INHAM audits as required by the Department of Labor. The panel will review the new exemption rules, who can conduct an audit, what the process entails, and how to showcase good practices with existing and prospective plan sponsors.

Description

An opportunity to manage part of the $17 trillion retirement industry assets is a key business strategy for many financial organizations. ERISA plans present a number of unique challenges due to the rules, regulations and increasing litigation brought against asset managers. Compliance is critically important.

In 2010, the U.S. DOL changed rules on activities asset managers can undertake if they manage ERISA assets. Entities like banks, insurance companies, hedge funds and SEC-registered investment advisors must have documented policies and procedures for types of trading, parties in interest and internal controls.

In addition, a regular audit of the activities of a Qualified Professional Asset Manager (QPAM) and/or in-house asset manager (INHAM) must be conducted by persons who are knowledgeable about ERISA and can render an objective assessment as to whether the exemption is justified.

Listen as our ERISA-experienced panel provides a guide to this recent mandate, why it is important, how to comply, and what an asset manager can learn from the audit process to mitigate litigation risk.

Outline

1. QPAM and INHAM Rules: Definition, Exemptions and Consequences of Not Getting Audit

2. Nature of the QPAM/INHAM Audit: Qualifications of Auditor, Components of Audit and Role of Counsel

3.Use of Audit: Regulatory Scrutiny, Correcting Deficiencies, Marketing Audit Results, Lessons Learned

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key questions:

• Who is a QPAM or INHAM?
• What determines when a QPAM or INHAM audit is required?
• What is the audit process like in terms of length of time it takes to complete, the documents needed, and the role of outside counsel and the QPAM or INHAM auditor?
• How can the QPAM or INHAM audit be used to mitigate suits about procedural prudence and fiduciary breach?

Following the speaker presentations, you'll have an opportunity to get answers to your specific questions during the interactive Q&A.

Faculty

Susan Mangiero, Managing Director
FTI Consulting, New York

She has provided testimony before the ERISA Advisory Council, the OECD and the International Organization of Pension Supervisors as well as offered expert testimony and behind-the-scenes forensic analysis, calculation of damages and rebuttal report commentary for various investment governance, investment performance, fiduciary breach, prudence, risk and valuation matters.

Terry Orr, Senior Managing Director
FTI Consulting, Dallas

He provides forensic and investigative due diligence services to companies and their counsel in a variety of industries. His twenty-five years of experience as an independent auditor of both public and private businesses includes the examination of numerous ERISA plans.

David E. Pickle, Partner
K&L Gates, Washington, D.C.

He represents clients in matters dealing with ERISA’s prohibited transactions and exemptions and ERISA’s fiduciary rules. He represents investment managers, financial institutions and plan sponsors in a variety of matters including investments and other transactions with ERISA plans and in litigation and government enforcement actions.

William A. Schmidt, Partner
K&L Gates, Washington, D.C.

He works in the areas of institutional investing and employee benefits, with particular emphasis on fiduciary responsibility matters under ERISA. He advises major financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies, registered investment advisers, and large employee benefit plans about ERISA restrictions relating to plan investments and to fee arrangements for investment management.

 

Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/PensionRiskMatters/~3/XY6FnvCeEWQ/

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