Employee Benefit Plans Conference

8:55 a.m.

Conference Opens/Opening remarks from PICPA leadership

9:00 a.m.

2026 Cryptocurrency Regulatory Update

This session will provide an update on the current state of affairs relative to cryptocurrency regulation including the Genius Act, the pending Clarity Act legislation, IRS cryptocurrency taxation rules, and FASB ASU 2023-08 on cryptocurrency reporting. A review of key concepts will include blockchain technology, digital assets and stablecoins.

John Higgins
Founder & CEO
Higgins Advisory LLC

(Credit – 1 A&A)

9:50 a.m.

Break – 5 Minutes

9:55 a.m.

DoL Update

The Department of Labor Update session delivered a focused and forward‑looking briefing on the DOL’s latest priorities, enforcement trends, and regulatory initiatives.

Jennifer Keim
Senior Auditor, Division of Accounting Services
U.S. DoL Employee Benefit Security Administration

(Credit – 1 A&A)

10:45 a.m.

Break – 5 Minutes

10:50 a.m.

Building a Foundation for the Future

• Overview of ESOPs
• Profile of a good ESOP Candidate
• Financing an ESOP Transaction
• Post closing considerations

Shawn Ely
Managing Director
Lazear Capital

(Credit – 1 A&A)

11:40 a.m.

Break – 5 Minutes

11:45 a.m.

Legal Counsel/Corrections Program

The Legal Counsel/Corrections Program Update session provided attendees with a clear, practical overview of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing error correction in employee benefit plans.

Jose M.Jara
Counsel
Fox Rothschild LLP

(Credit – 1 A&A)

12:35 p.m.

Lunch

1:10 p.m.

Cyber Fraud in the Age of AI: What CPAs Need to Watch For

AI is making familiar fraud tactics more convincing, more polished, and harder to dismiss on first glance. This session will help CPA attendees understand how impersonation, payment fraud, malicious document requests, and account compromise are evolving, with a practical focus on where technical safeguards, workflow discipline, and human verification must work together. Participants will leave with a clearer framework for recognizing modern fraud patterns and strengthening the approval, verification, and escalation practices that reduce preventable loss.

• Recognize how AI is changing fraud risk inside everyday CPA firm workflows
• Learn where technical safeguards are not enough on their own
• Apply practical steps to strengthen verification, approvals, and internal process discipline

Justin Colantonio
Managing Partner
Total Technology Resources, LLC

(Credit – 1 Other)

2:00 p.m.

Break – 5 Minutes

2:05 p.m.

EBPAQC Update

• Advocacy efforts
• Ongoing audit quality initiatives
• EBPAQC tools and resources

Susan Hicks
Associate Director
AICPA

(Credit – 1 A&A)

2:55 p.m.

Break – 5 Minutes

3:00 p.m.

Secure Act Employer Provisions

• Understand the newest tax developments contained in in the Secure Act 2.0.
• Become knowledgeable about the new provisions modifying the administration of employer retirement plans.
• Learn about the expanded contribution and catch-up limits for individuals.

Allison McLeod
Attorney-at-Law- Taxation

(Credit – 1 A&A)

3:50 p.m.

Break – 5 Minutes

3:55 p.m.

PEPs (Pooled Employer Plans)

• History of Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs)
• How PEPs Have Changed the Retirement Industry
• Operational and Regulatory Challenges
• Future Outlook

Carolyn BryNildson
Director
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

Rachel Mahmood
Principal
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

Steve Chappell
Assistant Vice President, Retirement Plan Sales
The Standard

(Credit – 1 A&A)

4:45 p.m.

See you next year!