Cynthia A. Van Bogaert, Partner
Employee Benefits
Cindy has assisted clients in all aspects of plans, including plan document, summary plan description, notice, and forms drafting, compliance, ERISA and fiduciary issues, plan investment issues, default investments, automatic enrollment, nondiscrimination testing and safe harbors, Form 5500, determination letter filings, Health Care Reform, QDROs, HIPAA privacy, COBRA, mergers, acquisitions, terminations, litigation, and a wide range of IRS and DOL filings, audits, voluntary compliance programs and other actions. She has helped clients resolve issues relating to eligibility, compensation, contributions, distributions, tax reporting, claims and appeals, and other administrative questions. She has worked with third party administration and other service provider issues.
Cindy is experienced with ESOPs, 401(k), profit sharing, money purchases, and defined benefit plans, including prototype arrangements. She advises on cafeteria and health plans, including health reimbursement arrangements, health savings accounts, health risk assessments, wellness plans, VEBAs and MEWAs. She works with life insurance, qualified transportation, disability, severance, and executive compensation arrangements such as nonqualified deferred compensation plans and split dollar insurance.
Before coming to Boardman, Cindy served as corporate counsel in employee benefits for Inland Steel Industries in Chicago, and was corporate counsel for the Administrative Management Group, a Chicago-area third-party plan administrator.
Education
- J.D. University of Wisconsin Law School
- B.S. University of Wisconsin-Madison (Mathematics), graduated with distinction, member of Phi Beta Kappa
- Studied in the MBA program at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
Leadership, Honors & Awards
- Co-chair of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Committee of the Employee Benefit Plans and Other Compensation Arrangements Group of the Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law of the American Bar Association
- Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel - Fellows are generally recognized by their peers for expertise in the field and intellectual excellence. Selection as a Fellow reflects the College Board's judgment that a nominee has made significant contributions to the advancement of the employee benefits field.
Writings, Seminars & Contributions
- Faculty member for the American Law Institute-American Bar Association
- Faculty member for the Employee Benefits Institute of America
- Co-author of 401(k) Plans published by Employee Benefits Institute of America
- Author of the 401(k) column on BenefitsLink, a national employee benefits Web site
- Speaker and instructor on benefits issues for HRWebAdvisor, Society for Human Resource Management, International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists, Madison Benefits Council, Wisconsin Retirement Plan Professionals, Ltd., IOMA (Institute of Management and Administration), Midwest Claim Conference, University of Wisconsin School of Business Small Business Development Center, State Bar of Wisconsin, Worldwide Employee Benefits Network and other groups
Board Member
- Served on the State of Wisconsin Employee Trust Funds Board (1998-2006)
- Past National President of the Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (WEB) (2000-2002); Past President of the Madison Chapter of WEB (1998-1999)
Other Memberships
- Legal Association for Women
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Wisconsin
- Dane County Bar Association
- Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (WEB)
- American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries
- Society for Human Resource Management
- International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
