Pensions and ERISA (BUSI K0426)

Description

Great change is taking place in the United States with regard to pensions, health plans, insurance and investment products. An aging population — and disruptive innovation such as outsourcing and the Internet — has changed both the dynamics of the workforce and the benefits workers receive. Actuaries, attorneys, benefit consultants, investment professionals, human resource professionals, business leaders and labor leaders of the future must not only be able to interpret the financial numbers, they must understand all aspects of pensions, The Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"), and the taxation rules impacting benefits.

This 14-session course will be an in-depth review of qualified plans, will cover a number of welfare benefit arrangements under ERISA (such as life insurance, medical, disability, severance etc.), and will touch on nonqualified deferred compensation plans. To be successful in the benefits field — or as a business or labor leader — will require an understanding of the pension rules, reporting requirements, taxation rules and the government agencies (Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor and Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation) responsible for oversight of such arrangements. Other topics covered will include SEPs, Simple Plans, 403(b) plans and 457 plans.

Pensions and ERISA is offered as a continuing education, noncredit course open to non-matriculating students. 

Instructor

Professor John Vitucci has 27 years of experience working with Fortune 500 corporations and investment banks. He was a senior partner at Deloitte Tax LLP, where he worked for 24 years. His key responsibilities have included leading National and Northeast Regional Benefits practice and working with numerous client service teams in planning, advising, and implementing various corporate initiatives. Prior to his career with Deloitte, he was employed with the Internal Revenue Service as a pension specialist. He is currently President of Pension Equity Advisors, LLC and is an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University.

Admission Requirements

Students in the Pensions and ERISA class are expected to have 2+ years of work experience related to pensions or employee benefits.

Spring 2013 Tuition

Total tuition for this course is $2,978.00, including fees, which provide students access to the university's libraries, gymnasium, computer labs, and other resources. All course work readings, delivered as an interactive e-book, are also included. To receive a full refund, students must drop the class on or before February 1.

Apply

Application Materials

1. Completed Online Application form.
   Choose "Noncredit Professional Education" under Student Category.

2. A résumé submitted through the online application system.

Submitting the Application

1. Applicants will automatically be registered for the class upon submission of the application.

2. There is no application fee. 

3. Applicants will receive an email upon submission of the application detailing the next steps required to prepare for the start of class

*Officers of the University must apply to the Postbaccalaureate Studies program and enroll in the for-credit section of this class in order to take advantage of their tuition benefit.  For more information regarding tuition benefits please visit the University’s Human Resources website.

*In order to qualify for a visa, international students must be registered for 12 or more credits. The Noncredit Professional Education program is a noncredit program.  As such, it does not meet the visa requirements.  It is not possible for international students to study in the Noncredit Professional Education program using other types of visas.

Contact

Students seeking application guidance should contact the Office of Admissions:

Office of Admissions
School of Continuing Education
203 Lewisohn Hall
2970 Broadway, Mail Code 4119
New York, NY 10027-6902
212-854-9666
ce-info@columbia.edu

Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.