Elena Barone Chism of Investment Company Institute to Speak at Knowledge Congress’ LIVE Webcast

NEW YORK - Feb. 10, 2014 - PRLog -- The Knowledge Group/The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, the leading producer of regulatory focused webcasts, has announced today that Elena Barone Chism, Associate Counsel - Pension Regulation, Investment Company Institute will speak at a 2-hour webcast entitled “401(k) and 403(b) Investments: What's New for 2014 and Beyond? LIVE Webcast. This two-hour event is scheduled on February 20, 2014 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET.

For further details and updated list of speakers, please visit:

http://www.knowledgecongress.org/event_2014_401_403_Investments.html

Event Synopsis:

The investment of 401(k) and 403(b) plan assets can be a source of material risk for plan sponsors and plan fiduciaries. The selection and retention of investment options and platform providers is subject to ERISA’s stringent fiduciary rules.  Fiduciaries in the 401(k) and 403(b) plan universe face ever-increasing scrutiny with respect to their investment decisions, and often find these decisions, and the processes employed in reaching them, being challenged by plaintiff’s attorneys, labor organizations and/or government regulators.  Whether or not the challenges are warranted in any particular situation, the costs, which might include litigation expenses, adverse publicity for the plan sponsor and service providers, diminished morale for the sponsor’s employees, can be staggering.  The ability of plan sponsors and fiduciaries to identify and understand key issues arising in connection with the investment of 401(k) and 403(b) plan assets is a critical step in navigating the investment process and mitigating risk.

The Knowledge Group is assembling a panel of distinguished thought leaders and practitioners to help plan sponsors and plan fiduciaries understand and navigate the 401(k) and 403(b) plan investment landscape in year 2014 and beyond. The speakers will walk you through the most important issues in the mix in a two-hour LIVE webcast.

Key topics include:

- 401(k) and 403(b) Investments: an Overview

- Fiduciary Rules and How They Apply to 401(k) and 403(b) Investments

- Impact on Firms, Plan Fiduciaries, Sponsors and Participants

- Up-to-the-minute regulatory updates

- Best Practices and Strategies for Compliance

- Other issues surrounding 401(k) and 403(b) Investments, including company stock, brokerage windows and life time income

About Elena Barone Chism

Elena Barone Chism is Associate Counsel – Pension Regulation for the Investment Company Institute. Her responsibilities include advocating for the Institute's membership on retirement security issues and assisting members and Institute staff in understanding tax and ERISA rules that affect defined contribution plans, IRAs, and similar savings vehicles.

Prior to joining the Institute, Ms. Chism was in private practice at the Groom Law Group, where she advised clients on the design and operation of tax-qualified retirement plans and executive compensation arrangements. She also assisted employers with defined benefit plan funding challenges, employee benefits issues arising from corporate acquisitions and divestitures, and qualified domestic relations orders.

Ms. Chism received her J.D. with honors from the George Washington University Law School, where she was Articles Editor of The Environmental Lawyer. She received a B.A., with distinction, from Duke University.

About the Investment Company Institute

The Investment Company Institute is the national association of U.S. investment companies, including mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and unit investment trusts (UITs). ICI seeks to encourage adherence to high ethical standards, promote public understanding, and otherwise advance the interests of funds, their shareholders, directors, and advisers. Members of ICI manage total assets of $16.3 trillion and serve more than 90 million shareholders.

About The Knowledge Group, LLC/The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series

The Knowledge Congress is a series of live webcasts produced by The Knowledge Group, LLC, which examine trends, regulatory, and technology changes across a variety of industries. Its mission is to produce unbiased, objective, and educational live webcasts that examine industry trends and regulatory changes from a variety of different perspectives. The goal is to deliver a unique multilevel analysis of an important issue affecting business in a highly focused format.

The organization brings together the world's leading authorities and industry participants through informative two-hour webcasts to study the impact of changes and emerging trends. Hear from leading government officials/regulators, key thought leaders, and industry experts objectively analyze the latest trends and issues and their impact on industries.  For further details, please visit the organization’s website: www.knowledgecongress.org