NOTICE OF CHANGE FOR SEMINAR REGISTRATIONS:
To register for Relius Education seminars and conferences, please login or register for a new login account before proceeding. For more information, please see the Benefits of a Relius User Login Account. For assistance, please contact Client Services at 800-326-7235, and select Option 6.

Focused Topic 03: Coverage Testing with Related Employers
Presentor: Derrin Watson Recorded Date: 9/17/2013 Duration: 60 Min.

Description
This program was recorded during a live presentation on September 17, 2013.

Coverage Testing with Related Employers
Tuesdays with Derrin and Steve

The consequences of related employer (controlled group, affiliated service group) status are many, and often it can be very difficult to sort between them. But in plan design and testing, perhaps no related employer issue is more fundamental than coverage testing.

This seminar does not address whether a controlled group exists. Rather, it focuses on how the plan tests for coverage once you’ve determined it is part of a controlled group. Derrin Watson, the man who “wrote the book” on controlled groups, walks you through all the issues with clear analysis and detailed examples.

Topics include:

  • Service crediting
  • Testing mechanics
  • HCE status with related employers
  • Who’s in the “denominator” of your coverage fraction
  • Dealing with excludable employees with plans with varying eligibility requirements
  • Permissive plan aggregation
  • Average benefit percentage test with differing plans
  • Plan design considerations
  • Effect of the coverage transition rule
  • Multiple plans

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites or advance preparation for this program. However, the instructor assumes attendees have a basic understanding of coverage testing using the average benefit test and the ratio percentage test.

Level: Intermediate.

Instructional Delivery Method
Group - Internet-Based

Speaker: S. Derrin Watson, J.D., APM
Recipient of ASPPA's 2006 Educator of the Year Award

Objectives: After participating in this program, an attendee should be able to:

  1. Properly credit service between related employers
  2. Determine nonexcludable employees for coverage testing
  3. Apply exclusions for minimum age and service in related employer environments
  4. Maximize flexibility in related employer plan design
  5. Perform coverage testing in related employer situations
  6. Determine the make-up of the coverage fraction where a controlled group maintains more than one plan

Hardware System Requirements: 

  • Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Windows 7
  • Internet Explorer 4.01 or later, Netscape 4.08 or later, and set Internet browser to allow pop-up windows.
  • High-speed Internet connection.
  • Pentium 166+ MHz, 128MB RAM or more.
  • 1023 x 768 or higher display resolution.
  • Soundcard and Speakers.

Software Requirements:

Program related requests, questions, or concerns may be emailed to: relius.education@sungard.com.