Trustee Essentials Training 2026 (formerly TEDS)
Registration is open
Registration closes May 8.
The Trustee Essentials Training (formerly known as the Trustee Educational Seminar, or TEDS) is designed to provide new trustees and public pension plan staff with the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills needed to make informed decisions and effectively fulfil their fiduciary duties.
This interactive, expert-led program covers the fundamentals of investing, actuarial science, board policies, and plan governance. The Trustee Essential Training is conveniently held each May, immediately before NCPERS Annual Conference & Exhibition.
Who Should Attend?
- New Trustees (0-4 years of experience) – start your trustee journey by mastering the fundamentals so you’ll be prepared to effectively fulfill your fiduciary duty.
- Plan Administrators – sample the Trustee Essentials Training to see if it can be integrated into your onboarding process for new trustees and staff.
- Pension Staff – be better prepared to do your job as a key implementer of policies and critical fund initiatives.
Please note: Your organization must be a current member of NCPERS to participate. To verify your status, please contact membership@ncpers.org.
What Will I Learn?
The 2026 agenda is currently in development, but you can view the 2025 agenda here to get a preview of what’s to come. Topics that will be covered include:
- Plan governance and fiduciary duty fundamentals
- Actuarial valuations and understanding your actuarial funding policy
- Navigating your investment role as a trustee, including asset allocation and investment basics
You'll walk away with new skills and new connections. With dedicated receptions and interactive learning experiences, it's easy to get to know your peers from across the country. By attending NCPERS Trustee Essentials Training, you can also earn Continuing Education (CE) hours.
Put Your Skills to the Test with the Asset Allocation Challenge
Wrap up your Trustee Essentials Training experience by putting your skills to the test during the always-popular Asset Allocation Challenge. In this interactive, hands-on game, attendees are grouped into teams and tasked with building a successful investment portfolio, applying the principles they’ve learned throughout the program. It’s a fun, competitive way to test decision-making, strategy, and collaboration — culminating in one winning team and a deeper understanding of effective asset allocation strategies to apply long after the competition wraps up.
Continuing Education Credits (CE)
By attending the Trustee Essentials Training, you may earn up to 12 Continuing Education (CE) hours applicable toward your Advanced Fiduciary (AF) recertification and, where applicable, state-mandated continuing education requirements. Earned CE credits are automatically recorded in your NCPERS membership account following the event and are available for download as a CE report.
NCPERS is an accredited Minimum Educational Training (MET) for Texas public retirement systems, as recognized by the State Pension Review Board. This accreditation does not constitute an endorsement by the Board of the MET program’s quality.
SATURDAY, MAY 16
6:30 AM–2:00 PM REGISTRATION
6:30 AM–8:00 AM BREAKFAST
8:00 AM–1:15 PM DAY 1 - GENERAL SESSION
8:15 AM–9:00 AM Plan Governance: Roles of Trustees and Staff
In this session, trustees will gain a comprehensive understanding of plan governance, focusing on the distinct roles and responsibilities of trustees and staff. This session will empower trustees to effectively collaborate with staff, ensuring sound governance and enhancing the overall success of their pension plans.
SPEAKER: Steven Cottle, Segal Marco
9:00 AM–9:45 AM Navigating Your Investment Role as a Trustee
Becoming a trustee can be exciting and terrifying at the same time. Serving as a fiduciary is a tremendous responsibility as you are now tasked with making decisions that have a direct impact on the lives of fund beneficiaries. This session will explore fundamental concepts that can help guide you in your role as a Trustee and serve as a framework for an investment program of any size.
SPEAKER: Jennifer Mink, Investment Performance Services, LLC
9:45 AM–10:00 AM REFRESHMENT BREAK
10:00 AM–11:00 AM Investments 101: Fixed Income & Public Equities
This session introduces trustees to the fundamentals of fixed income and public equities. Participants will learn about bond types, valuation methods, yield metrics, and interest rate sensitivity. The course also covers key risks, investment strategies, and how managers align portfolios with client goals. Additionally, trustees will gain a foundational understanding of stocks, market capitalization categories, active vs. passive strategies, and selecting benchmarks for evaluating performance.
SPEAKER: Elijah Reese, Aon
11:00 AM–12:00 PM AI for Pension Trustees: Practical Applications, Risks, and Roadmap
This session introduces artificial intelligence in a way that is practical, relevant, and grounded in fiduciary responsibility. It will explore how trustees can evaluate, understand, and responsibly use AI tools to support governance, strengthen decision-making, and enhance oversight.
SPEAKER: Darren Dang, Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS)
12:00 PM–12:15 PM REFRESHMENT BREAK
12:15 PM–1:15 PM Investments 201: Alternatives
What is an alternative investment? This session will define what makes an investment alternative as well as discuss subsets of alternative investments such as hedge funds and private equity, among others. Additionally, tips and methods for navigating the alternative asset manager due diligence process will be shared.
SPEAKER: Rhett Humphreys, NEPC, LLC
4:00 PM–5:30 PM UNIVERSITY NETWORKING RECEPTION
SUNDAY, MAY 17
7:00 AM–2:00 PM REGISTRATION
7:00 AM–8:00 AM BREAKFAST
8:00 AM–1:15 PM DAY 2 – GENERAL SESSION
8:00 AM–8:45 AM The Nuts & Bolts of Fiduciary Duties
This session will explore what it means to be a good fiduciary from the perspective of legal issues that can arise including: plan governance, privilege issues, conflicts of interest, regulatory matters, open meetings, and public records.
SPEAKER: Nicole Giambarrese, Ice Miller
8:45 AM–9:30 AM Back to Basics: Actuarial Valuations
This session will cover the fundamental concepts of actuarial valuations. An overview of actuarial assumptions, different actuarial cost methods, commonly employed policies/practices that impact contribution rate development, and explanations of terms regularly used in an actuarial valuation report will be discussed.
SPEAKER: Thomas Lyle, Gabriel Roeder Smith & Company
9:30 AM–9:45 AM REFRESHMENT BREAK
9:45 AM–10:30 AM Ethics: A Practical Guide for Trustees
Stepping into a trustee role comes with significant responsibility and, at times, difficult judgment calls. This session is designed for trustees and staff who want to build a strong ethical foundation. Participants will explore core fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest, transparency, and accountability, with an emphasis on how to apply these principles in everyday decision-making.
SPEAKER: Brad Ramirez, Segal
10:30 AM–11:15 AM The Current State of Public Pensions: A Review of the 2026 NCPERS Public Retirement Systems (PRS) Study
Dive into the current state of public pensions with this insightful session, offering a comprehensive review of the 2026 NCPERS Public Retirement Systems (PRS) Study. Trustees will examine the study's key findings and implications, gaining valuable perspectives to inform their decision-making and strategic planning for pension fund sustainability.
SPEAKERS: Hank Kim, NCPERS & Mathew Eckel, NCPERS
11:15 AM–11:30 AM REFRESHMENT BREAK
11:30 AM–1:00 PM Asset Allocation Challenge
- Ashley Alson, Northern Trust
- Kitty Martin, Northern Trust
- Brendan McMahon, Northern Trust
- Patricia Somerville-Koulouris, Northern Trust
1:00 PM–1:15 PM What’s Next? Continued Learning
Discover the path forward for continued learning in pension fund governance with this session, which will spotlight the NCPERS Advanced Fiduciary Institute.
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Fund/Stakeholder Attendee Registration
Registration Ends 5/8/26 at 11:59 PM PDT
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$520.00
Price will increase to $720.00 on
5/1/26
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Registration by Mail
To register by mail, please download, complete and mail the registration form to:
NCPERS
1201 New York Avenue, NW
Suite 850
Washington, DC 20005
Registration Changes
All requests to modify a registration must be submitted by emailing registration@ncpers.org or by calling 202-601-2445.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to registration@ncpers.org by April 30. Cancellations received by this date are eligible for a refund, less a $100 administrative fee. Cancellations received after January 16 are not eligible for a refund.
Refund Policy
Refunds will be issued only for written cancellation requests received by January 16 and will be processed less a $100 administrative fee. All refunds will be issued to the original form of payment. No refunds will be issued after April 30.
Substitution Policy
Substitutions are permitted at no additional cost at any time prior to the event. The original registrant is responsible for providing the substitute’s complete contact information. All substitution requests must be submitted in writing to registration@ncpers.org.
Service Provider Events and Invitations Policy
Service providers may not schedule or host client events that conflict with NCPERS educational sessions, refreshment breaks, or official receptions. Client events may only be hosted in partnership with organizations that are current NCPERS members. Hosting client events that include non NCPERS member organizations is expressly prohibited.
Service providers seeking co-hosts for client events are encouraged to partner with CorPERS members. A list of eligible CorPERS members is available, and additional potential partners may be identified through the Service Provider Member Directory.
Requests to have event invitations distributed to registered event attendees must be submitted in advance by contacting events@ncpers.org.
Health And Safety
NCPERS prioritizes the well-being of attendees and staff. We encourage respect for personal choices regarding masks and physical contact, adherence to any local or venue guidelines, and staying home if unwell. Thank you for helping us create a safe and welcoming environment.
Complaint Resolution
NCPERS is dedicated to providing a positive, engaging, and valuable experience for all attendees of our educational programs. We welcome feedback and take all complaints seriously as part of our ongoing commitment to improving our programs and services.
Attendees are encouraged to share their concerns by contacting us at info@ncpers.org.
All complaints will be reviewed promptly, and we will provide a response within two (2) business days.
Caesars Palace Las Vegas
3570 S Las Vegas Blvd, Paradise, NV 89109
Phone: (866) 227-5938
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Experience the energy and elegance of Caesars Palace, one of Las Vegas’s most renowned destinations for meetings and events and the host venue for NCPERS University programs and the Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE).
Caesars Palace offers a world-class setting designed for both productivity and connection, making it the perfect venue to celebrate NCPERS’ 85th anniversary. Between sessions, attendees can enjoy luxury accommodations, award-winning dining, and the vibrant atmosphere of the Las Vegas Strip, all just steps away.
The NCPERS Room Block is closed.
Please call reservations for availability
and pricing: 1-866-227-5938
NEARBY HOTEL OPTIONS
The following hotels are the closest to Caesars Palace and may have some availability:
- The Cromwell (roughly a 5-minute walk)
- Bellagio (roughly a 5-minute walk)
- Flamingo Las Vegas (roughly a 5-minute walk)
- Harrah’s Las Vegas (roughly a 5-minute walk)
- Cosmopolitan (roughly a 10 mins walk)
- Vdara Hotel (roughly a 10 mins walk)
Resort Fee
A daily resort fee of $45 per room, per night, plus applicable occupancy tax, will be charged in addition to the room rates listed above. The resort fee includes:
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Unlimited local phone calls. Long-distance and international calls are not included.
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Daily access for up to two guests to the fitness center. Spa access is not included.
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In-room internet access for up to two devices per room, per day. Property-wide roaming may be available for an additional fee.
Room Block Limited Availability
Rooms at the group rate are limited and may sell out before the deadline. Booking within the NCPERS block helps NCPERS meet its contract requirements and helps keep overall event costs down.
Hotel Policies
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations are permitted up to 48 hours prior to arrival for reservations made under Caesars’ current policy; cancellations inside 48 hours forfeit the first night room and tax deposit.
Transportation
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is the closest airport to Caesars Palace, located approximately 5.6 miles away. Rideshare services and taxis are readily available.
Housing Scam Warning
NCPERS does not partner with third-party housing bureaus. If you are contacted by a company offering discounted rooms or requesting payment to “secure” your reservation, do not provide any information. Book only using the link and phone number provided on this page.
Registration Information
