Greetings and Happy Holidays from your ABC!!

It’s that time of year again when we step back to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year, look ahead to the goals of the upcoming year, and assess what we can do better to serve you, the ABC members. The ABC and ASPPA are geared up to provide you with timely and informative educational opportunities in many different formats, including national conferences, local workshops, webcasts, audio conferences, and bulletins. We welcome you to be a part of these exciting events!

BENEFITS CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH 2011 (BCOS)
The BCOS will be held on May 12-13, 2011 at the Doubletree Hotel in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. The BCOS is one of the rare opportunities for you to see, hear, and ask questions of representatives from the national offices of the IRS and DOL without the added time and expense of traveling out of town. For more information about the BCOS or other conferences offered by ASPPA, please visit the ASPPA website at www.ASPPA.org. Mark your calendar now for this important conference.

ABC Workshops
The 2011 slate of ABC Programs should be nothing less than fabulous again this year, thanks to the exemplary efforts of our Programs Committee, led by Katrina Moody. The speakers this year will feature both nationally known experts and local favorites, and the topics will cover many of the issues that you face every day, from the intricacies of controlled groups to the triggers for excise taxes. The Program Committee has reached out to nationally known speaker Nick White to present a DOL grab-bag on fiduciary issues (including fee disclosure and the new definition of a fiduciary) in February, and will bring back your local favorite, Lorraine Dorsa, to address the recently released regulations for cash balance plans.

The ABC also has 2 special events planned for you this year:
ERPA Study Group. In June, our very own Ilene H. Ferenczy will lead the first annual ERPA Study Group! The program will be designed to prepare you to take and pass the ERPA exam. For more information regarding the ERPA exam, please visit www.ASPPA.org or www.erpaexam.org.

ERISAPalooza with Sal Tripodi. The ABC will close out the 2011 educational year with none other than the Rock Star of Pensions, Sal Tripodi! Nicknamed ERISAPalooza by some of our members, Sal is geared up to bring you an engaging and entertaining review of the latest “must-know” developments for retirement plan professionals.

For up-to-the-minute information on the ABC programs check us out at www.atlantaabc.com or on the ASPPA website at www.asppa.org/Main-Menu/partners/ABCs/ABCList/atlanta.aspx.

Sincerely,
Gina Farmer, J.D.
2010 President