fiduciary Archives - Word on Benefits

Fiduciary Basics for Governmental Plans

Amanda Wilke, CEBS

20 Aug 202420 Aug 2024

Plan sponsors have a responsibility to protect the interests of employee and retiree participants in their benefit plans. Government plan sponsors for 457 and 401(a) defined contribution (DC) retirement plans should be aware of fiduciary basics and the latest trends to protect […]

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Three DOL Developments for Retirement Plan Sponsors

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

09 Jul 202409 Jul 2024

So far in 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) has released proposals for plan administrators to populate a missing participant database and automatic portability of retirement plan accruals when employees change jobs. The DOL also finalized a retirement security rule package and […]

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How the DOL’s Proposed Fiduciary Rule Would Affect Retirement Plans

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

17 Jan 202418 Apr 2024

The definition of a fiduciary under ERISA, a rule originally written in 1975, has fluctuated in the past decade. Fiduciary investment advice rules have had a long history filled with ups, downs and mixed support. On October 31, 2023, the U.S. Department of […]

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Legal & Legislative Reporter: Appellate Court Reverses and Remands Denial of Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Tim Hennessy

19 Oct 202320 Oct 2023

Every month, the International Foundation releases the Legal and Legislative Reporter, a compilation of new employee benefits-related case summaries. Below is a summary we thought you’d be interested in. Content provided by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. The U.S. Court of Appeals for […]

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Three Trustee Actions During Market Volatility

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

10 Apr 202310 Apr 2023

Recent bank failures and resulting market volatility have captured headlines in recent weeks, and many individual investors reacted quickly. However, when it comes to fulfilling their fiduciary duty in the face of unexpected news, trustees should remain calm to avoid costly investment […]

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Legal and Legislative Reporter: Fiduciary Duties Breached

Guest Contributor

10 Jan 202310 Mar 2023

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Protecting Pensions and ESG Risks

Tim Hennessy

04 Aug 202204 Aug 2022

As the global impact of climate change grows, environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors have become a core consideration for pension funds. ESG issues and concerns can no longer be relegated to debates among pension fiduciaries about values investing or investment returns […]

Employee Benefits

Five Reasons Why Cryptocurrencies Can Present Serious Risks to 401(k) Fiduciaries and Participants

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

28 Apr 202228 Apr 2022

On March 10, 2022, the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) released compliance guidance that cautions plan fiduciaries to exercise extreme care before they consider adding a cryptocurrency option to a 401(k) plan’s investment menu for plan participants. The guidance […]

Employee Benefits ERISA Investments Multiemployer Regulatory Retirement U.S.

Know Your Plan Custodian: What Does a Benefits Plan Custodian Do?

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

24 May 202120 May 2021

As the safekeeper of plan assets, custodians are among the service providers that multiemployer benefit plan trustees have a fiduciary duty to monitor. Yet plan custodians are not discussed as often as other service providers—especially those referred to as the A-Team: the […]

Employee Benefits Investments Retirement U.S.

Who Is an ERISA Fiduciary Now, and What Should One Be Doing?

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

28 Sep 202028 Sep 2020

The definition of a fiduciary under ERISA has fluctuated in the past decade. In 2016, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a rule redefining the meaning of the term fiduciary as it applies to investment professionals by replacing the five-part test originally […]