A common and risky compliance issue for retirement plan sponsors is insufficient ERISA fidelity bond coverage. Experts explain some of the consequences, including the risk of being held personally liable for losses. Exposure Risks for Plan Sponsors Failure to have...

Every person who "handles funds or property" of an employee benefit plan must be covered by an ERISA Fidelity Bond  unless they fall under an ERISA Act exemption. But exactly how much fidelity bond coverage does one need? In general,...

If your business offers a 401(k) or another retirement plan, you have taken on a legal responsibility along with the employee benefit: retirement plans are regulated by the high standards of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). One piece...

The playbook for ERISA lawsuits is undergoing a major rewrite. Moving past standard fights over high fees and poor fund performance, plaintiffs’ lawyers are now targeting the underlying machinery of plan administration—from actuarial formulas and forfeiture distribution to day-to-day operations....

When you sponsor an ERISA-regulated retirement plan, it's easy to get buried in compliance details and litigation risk management — and lose sight of what actually matters: making sound decisions and monitoring results. Here's a closer look at what that...

What every small business owner sponsoring a retirement plan needs to know about personal risk If you run a small business and sponsor a 401(k) for your employees, you may assume that your modest plan size keeps you under the...

Compiled with guidance from accountants, attorneys, and ERISA compliance experts If you sponsor a workplace retirement plan — a 401(k), profit-sharing plan, or similar arrangement — you carry one of the most consequential legal obligations in employment law. Embedded within...

When you sponsor a calendar-year retirement plan, July brings more than just summer barbecues—it brings the high-stakes responsibility of filing Form 5500 by the July 31 deadline. While most plan sponsors rely on third-party administrators (TPAs) to prepare this report,...

When you sponsor a retirement plan (like a 401k), you are trusted to safeguard the life savings of employees. That’s why a federal law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) specifically requires you (and anyone handling plan funds) to...

When you sponsor a retirement plan for employees, such as a 401k, you exercise discretion whenever you make decisions about the plan’s management. That’s why, under the Employee Retirement Income and Security Act, you are considered a fiduciary, and can...