Attorneys within our employee benefits practice group specialize in all types of employee benefit programs for colleges, universities and other higher education clients.
We have helped numerous institutions modernize their 403(b) compliance process, plan documents, and plan decision making process. We regularly complete risk assessments, governance reviews, and compliance audits to assist higher education institutions in light of recent government audit activity and excessive fee litigation. We attend fiduciary committee meetings to train fiduciaries and assist with documenting due diligence especially through reviewing meeting minutes and materials. We assist church and governmental colleges and universities in understanding how the rules apply to their retirement plans and have extensive experience with church plan and governmental 457(b) plan operations, design, and governance.
We specialize in executive compensation programs available to tax exempt employers including 457(b) and 457(f) plans. We also consult on employment agreements, Form 990 reporting, and the Code Section 4960 tax on excess executive compensation as we assist institutions in providing competitive compensation to their key staff and faculty.
We also work with institutions and their consultants on health and welfare arrangements, including fully-insured and self-funded medical plans, health reimbursement accounts, cafeteria plans, flex plans, and voluntary benefits. We regularly draft and maintain wrap plans, assist in adding new arrangements like health savings accounts, and design new and existing phased retirement, early retirement and post-retiree health plans.
