|
The NAST Treasury Management Conference meets annually and features
sessions on banking, cash management & investments,
college savings,
debt management, unclaimed property, and
financial literacy.
Descriptions of sessions held during the 2009 conference are listed
below. Click on a speaker's name to view their presentation. (More
presentations will be posted throughout the week of May 18)
| |
Banking, Cash Management & Investments
|
Transaction Security
Are banks use of 128 bit encrypted technology with SSL
as far as your security concerns go? Go beyond the surface
security concerns to the types of attacks that are seen with
botware, spyware, and other new threats as well as new
technologies for authenticating transactions.
Speaker:
Seth Geftic, Sr., Product Marketing
Manager, Identity Protection and Verification RSA
|
Transparency on the Web
Learn how Treasurers and Agency heads can disseminate
information and educate citizens about state finances using the
web.
Speaker:
Hon. Shane Osborn,
Nebraska State Treasurer
|
Due Diligence Requirements for Short-Term
Investments
Discuss the heightened importance of due diligence in the Post-Madoff
Era, paying particular attention to Legal and Operational due
diligence.
Speakers:
Charles Dufresne,
of Counsel, Sadis & Goldberg LLP
Amy Michaliszyn,
Senior Vice President, Federated Investors
Laura Glenn,
Portfolio Manager, Georgia Treasury
|
Collateralization
Discuss the process of perfecting collateral in the event that
the holder/bank defaults. The timeliness of collecting through
the Federal Reserve is uncertain; learn what options are
available to your state or agency.
Moderator:
Hon. David Lemoine, Maine State Treasurer
Speakers:
Barbara L. Fava, Managing Director, PFM Asset
Management, LLC
John L. Whitlock, Esq., Edwards Angell Palmer &
Dodge LLP
Timothy P. Fitzgerald, VP Collateral Management
Services, Bank of New York Mellon
Rich Makarick, Bank of New York Mellon
|
Transaction Account Guarantee Program
Find out how the Transaction Account Guarantee Program and other
guarantee programs work. If a participating bank fails, how does
someone get their funds? Do they stand in line with other
depositors on a first come first serve basis? Do they, as a
public entity, get preferential treatment in recouping losses?
Find out how Treasurers are answering these questions and more.
Speaker:
Thomas Cameron,
Executive Director, Short Duration Fixed Income, UBS Global
Asset Management
|
Transparency
Movement
Challenges & Best Practices in Achieving Transparency
Speakers:
Catharine Ryan, Global Investments Product
Manager, Citi Global Transaction Services
Mali Bartlett, Associate for the Global Custody
Product Team, Citi
|
Linked Deposit Programs
Explore Linked Deposit programs which give business owners
access to capital to start or enhance their business with the
help of low-interest rate loans, including consumers and
community development. Hear about Illinois’ Green energy program
that encourages energy efficient development and improvements by
offering low-interest loans to borrowers who finance their
purchase or installation of renewable energy equipment at
participating financial institutions.
Speaker:
Bill Browne,
Director, Illinois Economic Opportunity
|
Preservation of Capital and Liquidity Risk
Management
This presentation will help investors better understand the
various dimensions of cash management that are critical to
meeting the objectives of money markets funds, namely capital
preservation and liquidity. The discussion will focus on the
investor-money fund relationship, the credit review and the
portfolio constructions process and the role of the various
liquidity facilities established by the Federal Reserve and
Treasury.
Speakers:
Michael Morin, Money Market Institutional Portfolio
Manager for Fidelity Management & Research
Peter Rizzo, Senior Director, Standard and
Poor’s Fund Ratings & Evaluations (additional topics can be found under Debt Management
below) |
| College Savings |
Legislative and Regulatory Responses to
Current Market Conditions
In response to changing market dynamics, the U.S. Treasury and
IRS recently issued guidance liberalizing, for calendar year
2009 only, the once per calendar year limitation on changes in
investment direction. Additionally, the stimulus legislation
passed by Congress and signed by the president included a
temporary, two-year provision to recognize computers as
qualified higher education expenses for 2009 and 2010 only. Does
this current financial climate, coupled with regulators and
legislators attempts to respond to those market conditions,
provide opportunities for moving CSPN’s legislative proposals
forward? Will 2009 be the year that the 529 community sees
re-proposed income tax regulations issued by the IRS and the
Treasury Department? Hear from our panel of experts how this
ever changing environment provides both potential opportunities
and pitfalls for 529 Plans.
|
State of the States
This popular showcase is a CSPN tradition that encourages all
states to highlight their best and most innovative initiatives
as they strive to make 529 plans affordable, available, and
attractive to all families who have college dreams for their
children. Effective responses to the current economy and market
conditions will also be shared.
Moderator:
Joan Marshall, Executive Director, College Savings
Plans of Maryland & Vice-Chair, CSPN
|
It’s Quarter-end…Do You Know Where Your
Investments Are?
Boards and administrators who oversee 529 plans have fiduciary
responsibilities to their investors. Good governance and
oversight procedures allow them to at least appear to satisfy
those duties. This is especially true in the area of investment
performance, where 401(k) plans and pension system have
long-standing and rigorous oversight standards in place. In
contrast, not every 529 plan has an investment policy and
monitoring procedures in place. Given our industry’s rapid
growth, it seems to be time to ensure that plans nationwide have
these practices as a matter of good governance. This panel will
look at governance issues related to investments, it will
discuss the development of investment policy statements and
monitoring procedures, and it will address whether there is a
“best practices” to be established for 529 plans.
Moderator:
Andrea Feirstein, Managing Member, AKF
Consulting LLC
Speakers:
Ed Ferko, Senior Manager, Vanguard Education
Markets Group
Michael Fisher, Managing Member, Neosho
Advisors LLC
Mary Morris, Executive Director, Virginia
College Savings Plan
|
Implementing Your Investment Policy –
Investment Manager Searches (including minority-owned firms)
Offering account owners best-in-class investment options becomes
even more important in difficult economic times. Each 529 plan
administrator or board must focus on the investments and
investment managers most appropriate for their investors –
emerging markets, socially responsible funds, green funds,
emerging investment managers, minority-owned and local firms –
many choices are available. This panel will explore best
practices for investment option and investment manager searches
in the current market, focusing on the tools needed to
effectively implement your 529 plan investment policy.
Speakers:
Greg Bauer,
CFA, Vice President, Callan Associates
Mark Friedberg, CFA,
Managing Director, Wilshire Associates
Jennifer
Lindenmayer, Principal, Director of Client Services,
Income Research & Management
|
Leveraging the Power of Social Marketing/Web
Based Advertising
New media and marketing opportunities can be difficult to
understand and navigate, with new avenues and initiatives
constantly coming to light. We will explore how to leverage
digital channels such as the Web, mobile devices, social
networks and other emerging media to engage people and build
awareness. We will also take an in-depth look at social
networking opportunities and the behaviors of the users from a
leader in the industry.
Panelists:
Ella Chinitz, Senior Consultant, Customer
Insights Group, Razorfish
Maureen Schumacher,
Director, Google
Terri Walter,
Global Vice President, Emerging Media Group, Razorfish
|
I Didn’t Say That, Did I??
An expert media and communications trainer will lead an
interactive session on how to effectively communicate in front
of the media. Focus will be on dealing with bad news including
such topics as: how to prevent being misquoted, how not to be
taken out of context, how to level the playing field in Q&A, how
to deal with an aggressive or hostile interviewer, how to answer
the really tough questions, and how to recover from your
misstatements. A second focus will be on how to have your
message reported.
Moderator:
Betty Lochner, Director, Washington Guaranteed
Education Tuition
Speaker:
Rick Dent, President, PR Strategies, Inc.
|
Maintaining the Gold Standard –
What Every Plan Administrator and Program Manager Needs to Know
About Disclosure Principles
This session will focus on the most recent updates to the CSPN
Disclosure Principles, providing insights and tips to
implementing the principles for your Plan. This session will
also provide a refresher of each of the key elements of the
Disclosure Principles including suggested content and
presentation priority.
Moderator:
Mary Anne Busse, Great Disclosure
Panelists:
Cynthia Comer, VA College Savings Plan
Pamela McNulty, TIAA-CREF
|
College Access and Affordability - A New
Perspective
This session will offer a perspective on college access and
affordability from outside the 529 industry. We will hear from a
public university official on the challenges of state funding,
maintaining affordability and access, and how universities can
partner with their state’s 529 plan. We will also explore
current public opinion research on college costs and access, as
well as how to leverage financial innovations, like 529 plans,
to serve the financial service needs of the lower income
families.
Speakers:
Sandy Baum, College Board
Shelley Nickel, University System of Georgia
|
Operational Issues in 529 Plans
How to meet account owners’ needs when 529 operational processes
can be complex. Most 529 plans responded to CSPN’s Survey of the
States last fall which addressed a variety of operational
issues. This session will explore operational processes best
practices which exist and whether they could be applied to
industry-wide. Topics will include: rollovers, customer service,
unique situations, such as death of an account owner, and mutual
fund industry standards.
Speakers:
John Andrus, Utah Educational Savings Plan
Peter Angus, UPromise
Jeff Coghan, Hartford Life
Auvida Gillyard, Senior Manager, Contact
Center, The Vanguard Group |
| Debt Management |
The Current State of the Market
and What Lies Ahead (also part of Banking
track)
This session will provide insight into the current and future
economic landscape and discuss the potential implications for
state investment portfolios and debt financings. Topics include: pricing challenges, yield
environment, method of sale discussion, and market access.
Speaker:
Chris Mier, Economics & Municipal
Strategy, Loop Capital Markets
|
Using Federal Stimulus Dollars to
Finance Projects (also part of Banking track)
The federal stimulus package has resulted in states
receiving assistance from the federal government in myriad
forms. This session will overview aspects of the federal
stimulus and outline the government’s intent for each program.
Learn about potential roadblocks and the advantages associated
with using federal stimulus dollars.
Speaker:
John J. Cross III, Associate Tax Legislative
Counsel, Office of Tax Policy, U.S. Department of Treasury
Brian Sigritz, Staff Associate, National
Association of State Budget Officers
|
Using Federal Stimulus Dollars to
Finance Projects, Part 2: Case Studies
This session will overview of some of the ways states
and other large issuers have taken advantage of the federal
stimulus provisions to finance projects. Case studies on Build
America Bonds and Qualified School Construction Bonds will
provide insight into the challenges and benefits issuers have
experienced through these financings.
Speakers:
Kym Arnone, Barclays Capital
Marvin Markus,
Managing Director, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
James Lansing, Head of Sales and
Trading, J.P. Morgan
|
How are States Utilizing Financings to
Provide Budgetary Relief
Learn about what states are doing to help provide
budgetary relief and garner feedback from the rating agencies
about the potential rating impacts of these actions. This
session will also serve to provide an update on the timetable
for the global ratings conversion.
Speakers:
Edith Behr, Vice President, Senior Credit Officer, Moody's Investors
Service
Robin Prunty, Senior Director, Standard &
Poor's
Laura Porter, Senior Director,
Fitch Ratings
|
Pooled Financing Programs and Bond Banks
(also part of Banking track)
This session will explore the universe of pooled
financing programs, which have been utilized by states for a
host of different applications including economic development.
Learn about their various applications, their underlying
structures, and how they could benefit your state.
Speakers:
Michael Diperna, Managing Director, R.W. Baird
Jim Wiemken, Managing Director, Standard & Poor's
|
Who Buys Municipals? How to Successfully
Market and Sell to Today’s Investor
The buyer universe has been ever changing. Understand
the larger universe of municipal investors and the market
dynamics behind why and when they are buyers. Learn what you
can do to help position yourself to take advantage the largest
possible investor universe when you come to market.
Speaker:
Todd Fraizer,
Senior Managing Consultant, Public Financial Management
Brendan Troy, Director, Merrill Lynch
|
EMMA: What You Need to Know
A representative from the Municipal Securities
Rulemaking Board will discuss its Electronic Municipal Market
Access (www.emma.msrb.org) system
and cover the highlights of what municipal bond issuers and
their agents need to know as EMMA becomes the designated
repository for continuing disclosure. EMMA currently provides
free access for investors to municipal securities data
and primary market documents such as official statements, and is
an important educational resource for investors. The session will
include a demonstration of current features and
content of EMMA and preview the continuing disclosure submission
process.
Speaker:
Ernesto Lanza, General Counsel, MSRB
|
Innovative Financing Vehicles in Today’s
Market
Innovative financings had become increasingly popular prior to
the liquidity and credit crisis. This session will provide
participants with an update about the current status of
innovative financing structures in fields such as
transportation.
Speaker:
Michael Ablowich, Managing Director, Public
Resources Advisory Group
David Rush, Executive Director, Public Finance,
Co-Head of Transportation Group, Morgan Stanley
|
| Unclaimed Property |
Committees and Task Forces in Action
Committee and task forces are integral to the development of
best practices and policy recommendations that carry out the
association’s mission. Substantive discussions will include the
current status of education, uniformity & standardization, the
States National Database, and security. The following will be
covered: 1) Overview of what has been accomplished in the last
year; 2) Items currently in progress; and 3) Open discussion of
what members would like to see accomplished going forward.
Facilitator:
John Gabriel, Director of Unclaimed Property, Tennessee
Treasury
|
Outreach Series 1: Bunches and Batches in
Owner Location
Experienced state administrators will examine existing and
possible methods used to locate owners. Topics will include
locating large group of people at one time and working with
smaller sets. What works best? Come to the session prepared to
share ideas and brainstorm for solutions.
Facilitator:
Alex Kauffman, Deputy Treasurer, Nebraska
|
Outreach Series 2: Innovative and Alternative
Methods in Owner Location
Unclaimed property colleagues will continue the session series
to focus the types of tools, techniques, and resources that
states can make use of to deliver even more money back into the
hands of rightful owners. An emphasis will be placed on the
effective application of existing and new knowledge to meet the
needs of unclaimed property programs in this vital area.
Facilitator:
Alex Kauffman, Deputy Treasurer, Nebraska
|
Internal Controls and Fraud Prevention in
Claims
As unclaimed property awareness increases, unfortunately
criminals also get the message. Learn from experts who will
outline how actual fraud schemes have been conducted and tell
you how to strengthen your internal controls to stop fraud
before it starts.
Moderator:
Laywon Boatner, Area Manager, Texas Comptroller
of Public Accounts
Speakers:
Patrick T. Carter, Director, Delaware Division of Revenue
Lynden Lyman, Senior Advisor, ACS
|
Is Loading Holder Reports Heavier Than You
Imagined?
Participants in this session will discover how the internet can
be utilized for holders to upload their reports directly into
state databases with minimal lifting from staff.
Moderator:
Kathy Janes, Director,
Oklahoma Unclaimed Property
Speaker:
Ken Wagers, Senior Vice President, ACS
|
Automated Review and Putting Claims on the
Fast Track
The increased volume of claims is compelling state unclaimed
property divisions to develop and implement efficient and secure
procedures to process low to moderate-complexity claims.
Experienced administrators will examine criteria, verification,
and risk assessment. Gain a complete understanding of how this
process could work for your state.
Moderator:
Rick Sweet, Assistant Bureau Chief, Florida
Unclaimed Property
Speaker:
Patti Wilson, Operations Manager, Washington Department
of Revenue
|
Resolving Difficult Claims Series 1
Time-consuming claims can grind your process to a halt.
Experienced personnel will combine discussion with presentations
to work out solutions to the most vexing types of cases. Best
practices will be provided that you can take home and put to
work.
Facilitator:
Carolyn Atkinson, Esq., Assistant General Counsel, West
Virginia Treasury
|
Resolving Difficult Claims Series 2
Attendees will continue to discover solutions to paying the most
complicated types of claims. Cases examined will include bearer
bond claims, traveler / official check claims, when to use
affidavit/indemnity agreements, surety bonds, requiring the
estate to be reopened, garnishments/bankruptcies, dissolved
business, UGMA, locator claims, paying claims to someone out of
the country, community property, IRA’s and others.
Facilitator:
Carolyn Atkinson, Esq., Assistant General Counsel, West
Virginia Treasury
|
Proper Reporting of Individual Retirement
Accounts
Trillions of dollars are invested in IRAs by approximately 50
million owners. The Baby Boomer Generation is beginning to
collect – and some of them are missing. Industry experts will
address the challenges and requirements of complying with state
laws for this type of unclaimed property.
Moderator:
Ron Henson, Louisiana First Assistant State
Treasurer
Speakers:
Lynden Lyman, Senior Advisor, ACS
Weiyen M. Jonas, Vice President and Associate
General Counsel, Fidelity Investments on behalf of Securities
Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA)
Joan Dowd, Chief Compliance Officer, Boston
Financial Data Services
|
Securities Reporting Roundtable
Representatives from major stakeholders will participate in an
open forum with the NAUPA membership to offer their insights and
exchange ideas in addressing the complex issues regarding the
reporting and payment of securities.
Moderator:
Rob Scott, Unclaimed Property Division Manager, Arkansas
State Auditor
Panelists:
Joan Dowd, Chief Compliance Officer, Boston
Financial Data Services
Securities Industry and Financial
Markets Association (SIFMA)
Weiyen M. Jonas, Vice President and Associate
General Counsel, Fidelity Investments
Shareholder Services Association (SSA)
Karen V. Danielson, Manager, Shareowner Services, The
Coca-Cola Company
Joan M. DiBlasi, Senior Manager, Shareholder Services,
AFLAC Incorporated
Securities Transfer Association (STA)
David Becker, Chief Compliance Officer, BNY Mellon
Shareowner Services
Paul Griffith, Head of Transaction Processing,
Computershare
|
|
Financial Literacy |
Keys to Developing a Financial Literacy
Program for your State
More states are reaching out to provide their citizens with key
information to help individuals and families toward a sound
financial future. Learn about the strategies and program ideas
to help reach people with financial information they can use.
Moderator:
Hon. Kelly Schmidt, Chair, NAST Foundation &
North Dakota State Treasurer
Speaker:
Kevin Smith, Director, Illinois Financial
Education
|
Promoting Financial Literacy in a Time of
Declining Resources
It is difficult for Treasurers and staff to implement effective
financial literacy programs without partnerships and resources
-especially in a fast-changing environment of economic downturn
and financial volatility. This session will acquaint you with
financial and partnership resources from non-profit, government
and private sources. Learn how partnerships can develop and
strengthen your programs--and how to keep from having to
reinvent the wheel.
Moderator:
Kevin Smith, Director, Illinois Financial
Education
Speakers:
Don Blandin, President & CEO, Investor
Protection Trust
Kathryn Edmundson, Director Adult Program
Division, SIFMA Foundation
|
Meeting Financial Literacy Needs of Underserved
Communities
The Federal Reserve System can be a great resource and partner
for State Treasurers and staff looking to meet the financial
literacy needs of their states. Learn more about how the
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta works to meet the financial
literacy needs of underserved communities in the Sixth Federal
Reserve District which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia and
portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee--and how such
efforts strengthen an entire region. This session, combined
with others in the financial literacy track, suggests best
practices related to outreach and customization of programs to
meet the financial literacy needs of particular communities or
target audiences.
Speaker:
Tim Smith, Community Relations Officer, Federal
Reserve Bank of Atlanta
|
Working with Financial Education Programs for
Children and Youth, Part 1
Understanding best approaches to financial education
for children and youth is a critical component of an effective
financial literacy strategy. This session focuses on best ways
to work with state-based Jumpstart Coalitions, organizations
dedicated to improving the financial literacy of kindergarten
through college-age youth by providing advocacy, research,
standards and educational resources to prepare youth for
life-long successful financial decision making.
Speaker:
William Cheeks, Regional Director, Southeastern
States, Jumpstart Coalition
|
Working with Financial Education Programs for
Children and Youth, Part 2
Case Study: The Stock Market Game gives students the chance to
invest a hypothetical $100,000 in an online portfolio to help
them learn economic and financial concepts they will use for the
rest of their lives. Learn how to make the most of classroom
financial educational partnership programs to serve the needs of
kids in your state.
Speakers:
Atlanta/Georgia Stock Market Game Partnership Team
Melanie Mortimer, Executive Director, SIFMA
Foundation
Dr. David V. Martin, Executive Director,
Georgia Council on Economic Education
|
Bringing Financial Literacy Programs in the 21st
Century, Part 1
Learn how behavioral economics research helps us understand how
thinking and emotions affect individuals’ economic and financial
decision making--including why and how people sometimes make
seemingly illogical or irrational decisions when spending,
saving, investing or borrowing money. Such research can help you
improve the effectiveness of your financial literacy programs
and maximize chances that people will make good financial
decisions.
Speaker:
Doug Shadel, Washington State Director, AARP
|
Bringing Financial Literacy Programs into the 21st
Century, Part 2
Investigate how partnerships and new information, media
and technology platforms can serve as a catalyst to profoundly
improve financial education programs in the 21st century. Learn
how evaluating programs can improve results and increase public
and private support for your efforts to improve the financial
well-being of your states’ residents.
Speakers:
Brent Neiser, Director of Strategic Programs and
Alliances, National Endowment for Financial Education
Kathryn Edmundson, Director, Adult Program
Division, SIFMA
Foundation
|
|
