(NEW YORK, N.Y., October 9, 2006) - Now there's a reliable resource for 401(k) and 403(b) plan administrators that shows them how to meet their fiduciary responsibilities and avoid fiduciary liability. Aspen Publishers' brand new ERISA Fiduciary Compliance: A Practical Guide to Participant-Directed Investments is a one-of-a-kind, process-oriented looseleaf book designed to guide administrators though the ins and outs of working with plan investment providers. Aspen Publishers is part of Wolters Kluwer Law & Business (www.aspenpublishers.com).
"Many plan administrators are not aware that they have fiduciary liability with regard to the performance of their plan, but under ERISA, a plan administrator cannot delegate fiduciary duty," notes ERISA Fiduciary Compliance: A Practical Guide to Participant-Directed Investments author Michael Snyder. "What they can do is understand their responsibilities and adopt policies and procedures to meet them."
Designed to help administrators stay fully compliant with all federal and state regulations, ERISA Fiduciary Compliance: A Practical Guide to Participant-Directed Investments examines the concepts of fiduciary responsibility and liability and how these apply to retirement plan investments.
Step-by-step Treatment, Valuable Tools
ERISA Fiduciary Compliance takes users step-by-step through the process of choosing and monitoring investment providers. They see how to prepare RFPs, choose the best plan provider, run investment committee meetings, review investments, fulfill their oversight responsibilities and avoid fiduciary liability. Along the way, they learn how to: determine if an investment advisor/broker is providing the best available funds; decide when to change investment options; manage crucial decisions; stay in compliance; avoid lawsuits; and understand what's really going on in the plan and what the real fees are.
In addition, ERISA Fiduciary Compliance adds valuable tools to let employers see exactly how their individual funds are performing, including sample forms, checklists and evaluation guides. These features alone can save significant time and expense. With detailed explanations of how to effectively benchmark an organization's retirement plan investments, this singular resource provides straightforward guidance on how to put an assessment system in place to evaluate plan performance in a timely manner - with confidence and ease.
About the Author
Michael B. Snyder is of counsel with Harris Beach LLP. Snyder previously served as Eastman Kodak Company's Director of Benefits Strategy, developing and implementing long-term retirement, savings, bonus and health care plans. Snyder has also published more than 200 articles in various trade publications.
Founded in 1856, Harris Beach LLP, a Rochester, N.Y.-based law firm, serves hundreds of clients in the employee benefits area. The firm's clients include Fortune 500 corporations, privately held companies, emerging technology business, financial institutions, health care providers, educational institutions, not-for-profit organizations and foundations, state and local governments and authorities, and individuals.
Availability and Pricing
For more information or to order, call 1-800-638-8437 or visit www.aspenpublishers.com. ERISA Fiduciary Compliance: A Practical Guide to Participant-Directed Investments is available as a single loose-leaf volume for $249. Subscribers automatically receive updates, revisions, supplements and/or new editions on a 30-day risk-free trial basis. Upon receipt, they have 30 days in which to purchase or return. They may cancel this automatic supplementation program at any time simply by notifying Aspen Publishers.
About Wolters Kluwer Law & Business
Wolters Kluwer Law & Business is a leading provider of research products and software solutions in key specialty areas for legal and business professionals, as well as casebooks and study aids for law students. Its major product lines include Aspen Publishers, CCH, Kluwer Law International and Loislaw. Its markets include law firms, law schools, corporate counsel and professionals requiring legal and compliance information. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, a unit of Wolters Kluwer, is based in New York City and Riverwoods, Ill.
Wolters Kluwer is a leading multinational publisher and information services company. The company's core markets are spread across the health, corporate services, finance, tax, accounting, law, regulatory and education sectors. Wolters Kluwer has annual revenues (2005) of €3.4 billion, employs approximately 18,400 people worldwide and maintains operations across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its shares are quoted on the Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. For more information, see www.wolterskluwer.com.