VERBAs: Retirement Solution?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008.
Woman’s National Democratic Club,
1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036
Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Associations (VEBAs) have become the
latest hot button for funding retiree health care benefits. A VEBA is
essentially a trust designed to fund retiree benefits and is managed
by an administrative board or board of trustees. Employer and public
municipalities are looking for solutions to offload retiree costs and
the change in GASB rulings has brought a renewed focus on VEBAs.
Our speakers, Pat Peri and Hank Kim will speak to the viability of
VEBAs both in the private and in the public sectors. Pat Peri will
look at the history of VEBAs, their requirements and characteristics,
as well as operational and legal considerations, as he describes how
they came to play a vital role in the recent collective bargaining
agreement between the UAW and the Big Three auto customers. Hank Kim
works
closely with the public sector and he will be presenting on the
challenges and opportunities in determining if VEBAs are a solution
for unions and employers in funding retiree health care.
Pat Peri, Jr. CLU ChFC RHU, National Auto Account Consultant, Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan – Mr. Peri has an extensive
background in healthcare administration and financial planning with
over 20 years at BCBS of Western NY as well as 10 years at BCBS of
Michigan. He is also a member of the Western New York Chapter of LERA.
Hank H. Kim, Esq., Executive Director, NCPERS (National Conference on
Public Employee Retirement Systems) - Mr. Kim directs the day-to-day
operation of the largest public pension trade association in the
United States. His responsibilities include
strategic planning for NCPERS, promoting retirement security for all
workers through access to defined benefit pension plans, and the
expansion of NCPERS' role in the continuing debate on health care.
Please contact Lorenzo Di Silvio at
ldisilvio@americanrightsatwork.org or by phone at (202) 822-2127
x119 to make a reservation for this meeting. Please make your
reservation no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 22.
Reservations are on a “first-come, first-served’ basis, so please
reserve promptly. Note that your reservation serves as your assurance
that you intend to attend and pay for
your meal. An e-mail response is preferred.
Sign-in 11:45, luncheon 12:15, program 12:45. $20 for members with
reservations, $10 for student members, $25 or non-members and members
without reservations. Cash or check only. Checks should be made out to
‘D.C. LERA’.
