home about us our services prairie post events newsroom
human resources
institutional investment
wealth management
research and publishing
Events > Past Events
PAST EVENTS

SHRM 2008

June 22nd - 25th 2008

We’ll be in booth #2955 at SHRM, please stop by—we’d love to hear about your business, give you a chance to meet us and talk about how we can help your company.

 

Click Here for More Information About This Event

 

 

PSCA Midwest Regional Conference

April 17

Chicago, IL

National and regional conferences provide education and networking among industry leaders. Come join Mark Olsen as he explains what one company chose to do when maintaining the current status of their DB Plan would cripple the organizations' ability to continue their philanthropic mission in: A Bright Future Starts With Change.

 

Click Here for More Information About This Event

 

 

Mid-America DC

April 27-28
Best Practices for Employers Managing DC/401(k) Plans

Presented in conjunction with: PENSIONS & INVESTMENTS

The discussion will focus on emerging options-such as annuities, guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit offerings, commingled trust funds, separate accounts, target date funds, alternative investments, managed accounts, new developments in plan design, participant communications, investment line-ups, fiduciary responsibilities, compliance/governance, and more.

Gary Silverman will be presenting the investment philosophy he employs when building sustainable and effective portfolios.  This will lead into a discussion of differing indexing methods employed by various mutual funds.

·     What’s the greater risk to your portfolio today: inflation or recession? How do you invest a portfolio when the answer to that question is not very clear?

·     What’s the outlook for global growth over the short and long terms and how does that effect investment decisions?

·     How should I view investment risk?

·     Is passive (index) investing always better than active? Where and when?

·     Active managers have different strategies. Is all passive investing the same? (Hint: the answer is no).

Gary will share his insights into these and other questions and discuss how Blue Prairie Group manages portfolios in an increasingly complicated and inter-linked world.

 

Click Here for More Information About This Event

 

 

"403(b) Best Practices Update" Webinar

Presenters: Matt Gnabasik, Managing Director and Chris Cannova, Consultant

 

Please join us for a complimentary Webinar geared to plan sponsors (especially finance directors and human resource leaders) on best practices in managing your 403(b) retirement plan.  We'll review key components of the recent revisions to the regulations on 403(b) plans and tell you how to prepare for the 1/1/2009 effective date.  Learn about current trends in 403(b) plan design, how to lower plan costs and how and why you must fulfill your fiduciary duty to monitor fees charged to your employees. Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. CST.

 

Click Here for More Information About This Event

 

 

4th Annual Target Date/Lifecycle Funds Summit

February 28-29, 2008

The 3 West Club, New York City

Discover the latest products, projections and opportunities in this booming market! Come listen to Matt Gnabasik speak at the ONLY conference dedicated to the target date/lifecycle funds industry!

 

Click Here for More Information About This Event


 

P&I Defined Contribution Conference
March 2-4, 2008

Palm Beach Gardens , FL

The P&I Defined Contribution Conference is designed to help industry professionals stay up to speed on legislation, regulation, plan compliance, best practices
in plan design and the latest in investment products and strategies. Come join Matt Gnabasik and Mark Olsen as they speak about case studies on benchmarking & analyzing fees to ensure that you get what you pay for.

 

Click Here for More Information About This Event

 

 

Plansponsor - Future of Asset Allocation Conference

March 4-5, 2008

Newport Beach, CA

PLANSPONSOR and PLANADVISER are pleased to present a one-and-a-half-day conference for plan sponsors and advisers on the future of asset allocated funds in the 401(k)/defined contribution world.

More details to follow!

 

Click Here for More Information About This Event

 

 

Western Pension and Benefit Conference Monthly Luncheon

Denver, CO

March 11, 2008

401k / Excess Revenue Issues Luncheon

More details to follow!

 

Click Here for More Information About This Event

 

 

Chicago Bar Association

March 11, 2008

This program will provide current an relevant information to attorneys that focus on Employee Benefits, Corporate and Business Law, Financial Investment Institutions and Services, Federal Income Tax, and Securities Law and also for in-house counsel and other consultants.

 

Click Here for More Information About This Event

 

Family Matters Reception

Several members of Blue Prairie Group had the opportunity to attend the Family Matters reception Thursday, February, 28th 2008 of which they are a sponsor. The Family Matters reception is a bi-annual recognition event of the Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center at DePaul who is a not-for-profit law center that offers a stipend to young attorneys who have the chance to dedicate two years to helping families in need on a pro-bono basis.

 

Human Resources from the Ground Up: Setting Up Your HR Department

September 20, 2005, Lorman Education Services
Linda Jelinek, Senior Consultant from Blue Prairie Group spoke on the following topics:
Defining HR's role in the organization

Taking inventory on existing practices

Documenting HR processes

Developing a short and long term business plan

Click here for the presentation

click here for the text

 

Chicago Software Association Human Resources Roundtable

July 27, 2004, Lakeview Technology, Oakbrook Terrrace, IL 60181
Jan Chirchirillo, Senior Consultant from Blue Prairie Group spoke at Chicago Software Association's Human Resources Roundtable about the following issues:
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY

Health and Welfare Plan Management for Mid-Sized Employers Conference

February 29 - March 3, 2004
Jar Chirchirillo spoke in Orlando in late February on the renewal process for Health Welfare plans.

INFRE (International Foundation of Retirement Education)

January 25 - 27, 2004, Phoenix, AZ
Matthew Gnabasik and Sue Pedigo gave a speech, "Developing the Keys to Successful Communication" at the Retirement Education Conference.

 
INSTITUTIONAL RETIREMENT AND INVESTMENT CONSULTING

Webinar: Excess Revenue: 101

Wednesday, March 7, 2007   

10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Central Time

 

Place: Your Desktop

Presenter: Matt Gnabasik

Managing Director, Blue Prairie Group     

 

Webinar highlights:

Understanding total plan costs.

Understanding revenue sharing and how to recognize it in your plan.

Strategies to return excess revenue back to your plan.

 

 

Fiduciary Education: Best Practices for 401(k) Plan Committees

Thursday, February 15, 2007 

7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

University Club of Chicago
76 East Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603

Fiduciary Education: Best Practices for 401(k) Plan Committees, and “How to Understand and Negotiate the Cost of Your Retirement Plan,” will be presented by Matthew Gnabasik. This will include what a fiduciary is, what the duties
include and some common pitfalls. Matt will cover the topic of “excess revenue” and show sponsors how once they understand the economics of the retirement
industry, they can better negotiate lower total plan costs for the benefit of plan participants.

 

 

Webinar:

Excess Revenue: 101

 

Thursday, November 16, 2006   

9 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. Central Time

Place: Your Desktop

Presenter: Matt Gnabasik

Managing Director, Blue Prairie Group     

 

Webinar highlights:

Understanding total plan costs.

Understanding revenue sharing and how to recognize it in your plan.

Strategies to return excess revenue back to your plan.

 

 

SHRP Full Day Conference
 

October 11, 2006
DePaul University

8th Floor Conference Center

1 East Jackson

Chicago
 

"The 401(k) Success Paradigm: Best Practices and the Pension Protection Act in a Larger Context"
 

-- Matt Gnabasik, Managing Director, Blue Prairie Group

Please click here for more details.

CFDD's 2006 Advisor Conference

CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY IN THE RETIREMENT INDUSTRY:

Positioning For Change

 

October 3-5, 2006 (Tuesday-Thursday)

The Fairmont Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

CAPITALIZING ON THE TREND TO FREEZE/TERMINATE DB PLANS:

Issues & Opportunities

10:15 a.m. Wednesday, October 4, 2006, Regent Room

 

-- Matt Gnabasik, Managing Director, Blue Prairie Group

 

Please click here for more details.

 

 

LUNCH AND LEARN:

 

FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY AND PENSION PROTECTION ACT OF 2006

Who this is for:  401(k) sponsors and 401(k) plan committee members
What it's about: Best Practices for Fiduciaries AND the Pension Protection Act  (details below)
When:                Monday, August 28, 11:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Where:               Sears Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive
                           Schiff Hardin Conference Center, 66th floor
                           Chicago, IL 60606
Map


A complimentary lunch will be served.
 

Topics to be covered:

Who qualifies as a fiduciary
Basic fiduciary standards
How to understand and control plan expenses

AND

The New Pension Protection Act of 2006

What is the impact for DC Plan Sponsors
 

Speakers:

 

Matt Gnabasik
Managing Director
Blue Prairie Group

 

Ed Spacapan

Partner

Schiff Hardin, LLP


Attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Rocco Dibruno's book geared to our seminar topics:
 

"Best Practices for 401(k) Plan Investment Committees"
by Rocco DiBruno

 

 

LUNCH AND LEARN: FIDUCIARY EDUCATION
 

Who this is for:  401(k) sponsors and 401(k) plan committee members
What it's about: Best Practices for Fiduciaries (details below)
When:                Tuesday, May 16, 11:30 to 1 p.m.
Where:               Marriott Suites Hotel
                           Two Parkway North
                           Deerfield, IL 60015

A complimentary lunch will be served.

Topics to be covered:

Who qualifies as a fiduciary
Basic fiduciary standards
How to set up and manage an effective investment committee
How to understand and control plan expenses
 

Speakers:

 

Matt Gnabasik
Managing Director
Blue Prairie Group

John Blaze
Regional Vice President
Thornburg Investment Management


 

Seminar:

Overseeing Institutional Assets: Effective Processes, Good Results

Blue Prairie Group's Institutional Investment Services Group and ShoreBank are pleased to co-sponsor an educational event for the benefit of Executive Directors and Board members of organizations with responsibility for institutional assets.  

With equity market returns forecast to be below historical levels, private donations at record lows and an ever-increasing focus on proper fiduciary oversight, there has never been a greater need for a disciplined approach to the stewardship of your organization's assets. 

Please join us on April 19 for a morning of best practices delivered by experienced professionals from the institutional investment management industry.

Date:             Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Time:              from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Venue:           Lake Room, University Center

                      525 S. State Street

                      Chicago, Illinois 60605

Price:             Complimentary

Agenda:         Please click here.

 

Area Map        Parking Information

 

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Sue Wang at sue.wang@blueprairiegroup.com or 312-376-8437.   

 

 

Webinar:

Excess Revenue: What, Where, Whose and How

 

Thursday, April 6, 2006    

10 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. Central Time

Place: Your Desktop

Presenter: Matt Gnabasik

Managing Director, Blue Prairie Group     

 

Webinar highlights:

Understanding total plan costs.

Understanding revenue sharing and how to recognize it in your plan.

Strategies to return excess revenue back to your plan.

 

 

Webinar:

Excess Revenue: What, Where, Whose and How

 

Wednesday, March 22, 2006    

10 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. Central Time

Place: Your Desktop

Presenter: Matt Gnabasik

Managing Director, Blue Prairie Group     

 

Webinar highlights:

Understanding total plan costs.

Understanding revenue sharing and how to recognize it in your plan.

Strategies to return excess revenue back to your plan.

Webinar:

Considering the Roth 401(k) or 403(b)?

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Join Blue Prairie and The Principal Financial Group for a Webcast where we will discuss the issues that will help a plan sponsor if they are considering adopting the new Roth feature. Some of the questions we will address include:

How do the Roth provisions differ from a traditional 401k provisions?
Are the new Roth provisions a good option for your retirement plan?
How will the after-tax Roth contributions effect payroll processing?
How should the new Roth feature be communicated to participants?

If you are interested and would like to learn more about the Roth 401(k) and 403(b), then please join us for a forty-five minute presentation on January 26th at 10:00am.

Show Number: 283843

To pre-register, click here and put in "283843" as the show number.

To see the outline, please click here.         

"Retirement Plan Trends: Key Issues Facing Plan Sponsors Today"

Wednesday, November 16 2005, Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC) Conference Center, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, 19th floor, Chicago; Blue Prairie Group, Winston & Strawn and MCHC are jointly presenting a seminar "Retirement Plan Trends: Key Issues Facing Plan Sponsors Today."

to Register

the agenda                         Speakers' bios

 

"How to Grow Your Retirement Plans Business Part III: Marketing Advisory Services Instead of Product"

October 4 & 5, 2005, Center For Due Diligence, The Fairmont Chicago, 200 North Columbus Drive, Chicago, Illinois.
Matt Gnabasik, Managing Director from Blue Prairie Group will speak on the topic: "Developing A Referral Program & Maximizing Center of Influence".

Click here for the Presentation

 

Plan Governance and Fiduciary Liability:
Managing and Reducing Fiduciary Liability

December 1, 2004, University Club of Chicago, Chicago, IL Seminar Topics:
Can you "outsource" your fiduciary liability? What is the right number of investment options? How do you build a relationship with your provider? How do you get negotiating power over fees?
SEMINAR OUTLINE

 

ASPA

February 22 - 24, 2004, Orlando, FL
Matthew Gnabasik participated in a panel discussion on
"Fees + Expenses: What is Reasonable? What is Legal?"
ASPA

12th Annual Defined Contribution/401(k) Conference (East Coast)

February 8 - 10, 2004, Orlando FL
Matthew Gnabasik spoke in Orlando at the 12th Annual Defined Contribution/401(k) Conference.
International Business Forum Direct Link

Copyright © 2005 Blue Prairie Group, LLC. All rights reserved.