What to do to Protect Yourself as an Advisor or Plan Sponsor

Marcia S. Wagner, Esq.

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Introduction

I. Fiduciary Duties Under ERISA

II. Fiduciary Risks and Potential Liability

III. Fiduciary Protection

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I. Fiduciary Duties Under ERISA An ERISA plan must have at least 1 fiduciary.Typically, plan sponsor is the plan’s Named

Fiduciary.Plan’s advisor is also a fiduciary if advisor

provides investment advice.

Person is not a fiduciary if such individual or entity only performs ministerial functions.

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Definition of Fiduciary “Fiduciary” includes the following:

◦ Person with discretionary authority over management of plan.

◦ Person with authority over disposition of plan assets.◦ Advisors who provide investment advice for a fee.◦ Person with discretionary authority with respect to

plan administration.

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Definition of Investment Advice Person provides investment advice if:

◦ Advice on value or advisability of investments…◦ …is provided to plan on regular basis…◦ …under mutual understanding that advice will be…◦ …primary basis for investment decisions…◦ …and based on particular needs of plan.

Investment “education” is not fiduciary advice.

To be deemed an investment advice fiduciary, advisor must receive fee for services.

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Functional Test for Fiduciary StatusFunctional test

◦ Formal appointment is not required to become a plan fiduciary.

◦ Fiduciary-like conduct is sufficient to confer fiduciary status on a person.

Financial advisors can include RIAs or broker-dealers.◦ RIAs typically provide investment advice as plan

fiduciaries.◦ Many broker-dealers do not intend to provide

investment advice, but they can “accidentally” become functional fiduciaries.

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Fiduciary ResponsibilitiesFiduciary standard of care under ERISA.Must act solely in interest of plan

participants:◦ Exclusive purpose of providing benefits to plan

participants.◦ Carrying out duties prudently.◦ Following terms of plan document unless inconsistent

with ERISA.◦ Diversifying plan investments.◦ Paying only reasonable plan expenses.

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Focusing On Specific DutiesExclusive purpose of providing benefits

◦ Primary responsibility to act solely in interest of participants.

Carrying out duties prudently◦ Must manage plan assets with care, skill, prudence

and diligence…◦ …that a prudent person acting in a similar situation…◦ …and familiar with such matters would exercise.◦ Duty of prudence focuses on process.

Following terms of plan document◦ Must obey unless inconsistent with ERISA.

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Focusing On Specific Duties (cont’d)Diversifying plan investments

◦ Must diversify plan’s investments in order to minimize risk of large losses.

Paying only reasonable plan expenses◦ Must ensure fees paid to plan’s providers are

reasonable.◦ Separately, prohibited transaction rules also require:

(1) service arrangement must be reasonable, (2) services must be necessary, and (3) compensation must be reasonable.

◦ ERISA 408(b)(2) reg’s will require providers to deliver fee disclosures to plan sponsors (July 2011).

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Fiduciary Protection Under ERISA 404(c)ERISA Section 404(c)

◦ Plan sponsor is responsible for participant-directed investments unless plan complies with ERISA 404(c).

◦ Many plans fail to comply with ERISA 404(c) requirements operationally.

Conditions of ERISA Section 404(c)◦ Participant must exercise independent control. ◦ Plan menu must have broad range of investment

options.

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ERISA 404(c) ConditionsExercising independent control

◦ Participant must have reasonable opportunity to give investment instructions, and have enough information to make informed decisions.

Broad range of investment options◦ Participant must have reasonable opportunity to

materially affect investment return, choose from at least 3 options, and diversify investments.

Duty to select/maintain investment menu◦ Must manage investment options in accordance with

duties of prudence and diversification.

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II. Fiduciary Risk and Potential LiabilityFiduciary liabilities◦ ERISA permits participants to bring lawsuits against

fiduciaries who breach their duties.◦ Responsible fiduciary is personally liable for losses

resulting from breach of duties.◦ Other types of relief may be available from court.

DOL penalty for fiduciary breach◦ 20% civil penalty by DOL under ERISA 502(l).◦ DOL has discretion to reduce or waive penalty.

IRS may impose also impose excise taxes under prohibited transaction rules.

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Co-Fiduciary LiabilityERISA 405(a) imposes co-fiduciary liability on

Fiduciary #1 for a breach by Fiduciary #2 if: ◦ Fiduciary #1 knowingly participates in breach by

Fiduciary #2, ◦ Fiduciary #1 fails to discharge its duties, enabling

breach by Fiduciary #2, or ◦ Fiduciary #1 knows of breach by Fiduciary #2, but

does not make reasonable efforts to remedy.

Thus, a fiduciary who becomes aware of another fiduciary’s bad acts must take reasonable action.

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Breaches Prior To or After Being a Fiduciary

Ordinarily, fiduciary is not liable for breach committed before/after becoming fiduciary.

However, fiduciary must take steps to remedy breach if he or she becomes aware of breach.◦ Must take action if new fiduciary becomes aware of

a breach which occurred previously.◦ Co-fiduciary liability arises if no action is taken to

correct such breach.

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Liability Relating to Duty to Pay Reasonable Plan Expenses Only

Increased interest in 401(k) fees has resulted in lawsuits against employers and providers.

Types of claims made by participants in class action lawsuits:◦ Plan fiduciaries failed to monitor indirect

compensation from plan’s investment providers to other service providers (e.g., revenue sharing).

◦ Selection of inappropriate share class (i.e., use of “retail” instead of cheaper “institutional” share class).

◦ Fees not adequately disclosed to plan participants.

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Recent Developments in 401(k) Litigation

First generation of 401(k) fee lawsuits launched against plan providers.◦ Haddock v. Nationwide Financial Services Investment provider sued over its receipt of fees from

mutual funds offered under annuity contracts◦ Ruppert v. Principal Life Insurance Company Complaint that fiduciary standards breached by service

provider’s receipt of revenue sharing payments from mutual funds

◦ Phones Plus, Inc. v. Hartford Financial Services Complaint that The Hartford received revenue sharing

payments for services that it was already obligated to provide to its plan clients

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Second Generation of Fee Litigation Cases

The Main Thrust – dozens of lawsuits filed against plan sponsors.◦ Class actions brought on behalf of participants. ◦ First cases brought by small St. Louis litigation firm.◦ Defendants are large employers, company officers

and plan committees.

New Tactics – another round of lawsuits filed against plans sponsors and providers.◦ Allegations that revenue sharing payments to other

providers should have been used for benefit of participants.

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Recent Wins for DefendantsCourts generally reluctant to dismiss 401(k)

fee suits before factual findings are made.Exception: Hecker v. Deere◦ Deere & Company sponsors 401(k) plan

administered by Fidelity, with Fidelity funds and brokerage window.

◦ Suit filed against employer and Fidelity for (1) excessive fees in investment options, and (2) failure to disclose revenue sharing.

◦ 7th Circuit affirmed motion to dismiss (2009).◦ Court was influenced by plan’s brokerage

window providing access to 2,500 mutual funds.

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Hecker v. Deere (cont’d)Plaintiffs (with support of DOL) ask 7th Circuit

for rehearing, but petition is denied.◦ Court issues addendum clarifying that ERISA

404(c) protection does not automatically protect fiduciaries who select overpriced funds.

◦ However, Deere still implies that maintaining a liberal number of investment options can help.

◦ U.S. Supreme Court declines to review (2010).

Other defendants in other 401(k) fee cases have also successfully defended themselves.◦ Court opinions typically rely on Deere.

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Recent Wins for PlaintiffsBraden v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.◦ As 401(k) sponsor, Wal-Mart selects retail mutual

funds for plan’s menu.◦ District court dismisses plaintiffs’ claims.

Circuit court overturns dismissal by lower court (2009).◦ Given its large size ($10B), the Wal-Mart plan could

have selected institutional fund shares. ◦ Majority of plan’s funds charged 12b-1 fees. ◦ Poorly performing funds were retained. ◦ Revenue sharing payments made to trustee.

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Braden v. Wal-Mart (cont’d)Circuit court’s analysis◦ Wal-Mart offered limited menu only.◦ Plan fiduciary has duty to furnish material fee-

related information to participants.◦ Wal-Mart must demonstrate fees are reasonable.

Plaintiffs in other 401(k) fee cases have won monetary settlements.

Tibble v. Edison International (2010) is one of first 401(k) fee cases to go to trial.◦ Plaintiffs win on judgment, and court rules retail

funds were imprudently selected for plan menu.

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Implications of 401(k) Fee CasesUnclear whether cases will result in

significant recoveries for plaintiffs.Victories for plaintiffs could result in

exposure for many similar 401(k) plans.Additional lawsuits likely.

Litigation publicity will increase regulatory and legislative pressure.

Non-monetary settlement terms are likely to become “best practices” for plans generally.

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III. Fiduciary ProtectionERISA bond protects plan only. ◦ ERISA 412 requires bonding for every person who

“handles” plan funds.◦ Must cover 10% of plan assets, subject to $500,000

maximum ($1M if plan holds employer securities).◦ Exemption for broker-dealers.

Fiduciary liability insurance◦ Protects plan or fiduciaries.◦ Generally covers trustees, plan sponsor and their

employees.◦ May be purchased by plan or plan sponsor.

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Professional Liability Insurance Protects plan consultants and advisors.

◦ Also referred to as “E&O” insurance.

Coverage for certain claims typically excluded.◦ Claims arising out of impropriety of plan’s payment of

service fees.◦ Claims arising from late trading or market timing.◦ Claims arising from soft dollar or revenue sharing.

Exclusions can be modified by negotiation.

Dollar limits on policy coverage may apply.

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Contractual Limitation on Liability Limitation on liability provisions

Indemnification of service providers

DOL position in Adv. Op. 2002-08A◦ Contract must not limit provider’s liability for its fraud

or misconduct.◦ Limitation on liability for negligence may be

permitted.

Due diligence procedures◦ Assess reasonableness of relationship as a whole.◦ Document assessment in consideration of plan’s

potential risk of loss due to limitation on liability.

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Fiduciary Investment ReviewsInvestment Policy Statement (IPS)

◦ Written IPS can help demonstrate compliance with ERISA fiduciary standards.

◦ IPS should include clear standards.

Continuous monitoring◦ Investments should be reviewed regularly.◦ Plan fiduciaries must understand analysis.

Replace funds that do not meet criteria.◦ IPS can help with decision-making process.

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Fiduciary Investment Reviews (cont’d)Documentation of fiduciary reviews

◦ Documentation can help demonstrate fiduciary prudence.

Utilize independent investment expert.◦ Can provide valuable reports, analysis and

recommendations.◦ Fiduciaries should always consider whether advice is

conflicted.

Evaluating expense ratios/fees◦ Fiduciary review should take into account all fees and

expenses.

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Best Practices Arising from 401(k) Fee Litigation

Plan sponsors are beginning to adopt “best practices” with respect to 401(k) fees.◦ Plan fiduciaries are judged by their processes.◦ Financial advisors should be prepared to assist plan

sponsors implement best practices.

Developing process to understand fees.◦ Plan sponsors must make effort to learn how much

plan and participants are actually paying.◦ There are many types of indirect fees

(e.g., soft dollars, sub-transfer agency fees, 12b-1 fees, sales charges, revenue sharing and float).

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Best Practices Arising from 401(k) Fee Litigation (cont’d)

Comparing fees against benchmark◦ Establish objective process to assess

(1) qualifications of providers, (2) quality of services, and (3) reasonable of fees in light of services provided.

Benchmarking services◦ Can assist employer identify any “hidden” fees.◦ Equips employer with tool to be used as part of

prudent review process.◦ Provides competitive pricing information.

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Best Practices Arising from 401(k) Fee Litigation (cont’d)

Documenting reviews of providers and fees◦ Review of provider’s fees should be properly

documented.◦ Documentation should demonstrate thoughtful

process.◦ Solicit bids when considering a new provider, and

document bid process.

Conducting fiduciary audit◦ Hire independent third party to audit plan’s external

fiduciaries.

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Best Practices Arising from 401(k) Fee Litigation (cont’d)

Fiduciary manual◦ Helps plan fiduciaries better understand their

responsibilities under the plan.◦ Fosters ERISA compliance and can serve as a

reference guide for fiduciary duties.◦ Can serve as compliance tool for monitoring

providers.

Disclosure to participants◦ In light of pending rules and current litigation

environment, ensure meaningful fee disclosures are provided to participants.

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Fiduciary Relief Offered by Certain Platform Providers

Program intended to share or relieve investment responsibilities of 401(k) plan sponsor.◦ First Approach

(1) Independent firm prepares “premier” list of funds from provider’s platform; (2) Sponsor selects funds from pre-approved list; and (3) Independent firm agrees to serve as co-fiduciary;.

◦ Second Approach (1) Provider has model list of options from broad range of investment categories; (2) Sponsor must select funds for each category; (3) Provider guarantees compliance with certain aspects of ERISA prudence requirement.

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Fiduciary Relief Offered by Certain Platform Providers (cont’d)

Program provides some assurances to plan sponsor.

“Fine print” should be examined closely.Questions to ask platform provider:

◦ Standards for conduct?◦ Aspects of fiduciary duties/liability not covered?◦ When does relief apply?◦ Does sponsor ever have to indemnify provider?◦ Fees◦ Notice for removal of investment option from line-up

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ConclusionFiduciary protection is available from many

sources:◦ ERISA bond (protecting plan)◦ Fiduciary liability insurance (protecting sponsor)◦ Professional liability insurance (protecting advisor)◦ Contractual limitations on liability◦ Fiduciary investment reviews◦ Best practices arising from 401(k) fee litigation◦ Fiduciary relief offered by certain platform providers

What to do to Protect Yourself as an Advisor or Plan Sponsor

Questions and Answers

Marcia S. Wagner, Esq.

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