The Principal Expands Investment Fiduciary Services

 

The Principal Financial Group expanded its investment fiduciary support to include ERISA 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services. 

 

The fiduciary services will be provided by Wilshire Associates Inc. The new services will enhance current support by providing a level of fiduciary protection for selection and monitoring of investment options for retirement plans.

All financial professionals will have the option of making these Wilshire-supplied services available to their clients, including RIAs, who may wish to supplement their current services to clients.

Never miss a story — sign up for PLANADVISER newsletters to keep up on the latest retirement plan adviser news.

The 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services:

• Include coverage across multiple plan types;

• Complement the due diligence process already in place for hiring and monitoring managers of Sub-Advised Investment Options available through The Principal; and

• Are flexible, allowing the fiduciary to choose from services that address the following areas of concern: Broad Range Requirement under 404(c); Qualified Default Investment Alternatives and Prudent monitoring on an investment-by-investment basis.

The financial protection available through Wilshire covers plan sponsors. A level of indemnification protection through Principal Life Insurance Company may extend to financial professionals whose clients use ERISA 3(21) and/or 3(38) fiduciary services provided by Wilshire.

In addition, to further assist financial professionals and their clients, The Principal also created a new fiduciary guide that explains in practical terms what it means to be a fiduciary under Section 3(21) or an investment manager under Section 3(38).

 

Penn. Company to Restore $34K to 401(k) Plan

Monocacyfabs Inc., of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has been ordered to restore $34,000 to its 401(k) plan.

A lawsuit brought against the company and plan trustees, Michael Poole and Jean Shipley, resulted from an investigation by the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), which found that from January 2007 to June 2010, the defendants failed to remit employee contributions and also remitted certain contributions to the plan late and without interest, according to the Lehigh Valley Express-Times.  

“The defendants failed to meet their fiduciary obligations as plan trustees by not acting in the best interest of plan participants,” Norman Jackson, acting director of EBSA’s Philadelphia Regional Office which conducted the investigation –  said in a news release.

Never miss a story — sign up for PLANADVISER newsletters to keep up on the latest retirement plan adviser news.

«