Resources to help fiduciaries
As a retirement plan professional, you’re also a plan fiduciary under ERISA. John Hancock supports your role and efforts with an extensive collection of fiduciary resources—all to help you make more prudent decisions. Great outcomes start with fiduciary skill. John Hancock can help.
-
Duty to act for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits and paying the reasonable expenses of the plan
-
Duty to act in accordance with the plan document
.
-
Duty to avoid engaging in prohibited transactions
-
Duty to disclose required information to employees
-
Duty to diversify plan investments
-
Duty to monitor the performance of service providers and investment options
Fiduciary responsibility—an employer’s guide
A valuable resource for plan sponsors, financial professionals, and consultants, this guide covers ERISA basics, fiduciary responsibilities, and ways to limit exposure.
More hands-on tools to support your fiduciary practice
Understanding the role and responsibilities of a plan fiduciary
Hear Head of DC Consulting Chris Frank and Senior ERISA Consultant Ted Pirrera cover the fundamentals of ERISA, the fiduciary duties ERISA creates for plan professionals, and strategies for navigating through the fast-changing regulatory environment.
Overview of the proposed RMD rules
Our experts provide an overview of proposed 401(a)(9) regulation changes with helpful examples and a Q&A session. Hear from Assistant Vice President and Associate Chief Counsel Tami Guimelli and Senior ERISA Specialist Robin Revzin as they break down the 275-page release by focusing on the important updates and share their insight on what these changes mean for account owners and their beneficiaries.
-
Management of plan operations
-
Service provider selection and monitoring
-
Investment selection and monitoring
-
Participant communication
Fiduciary hot topics
In this rapidly shifting fiduciary landscape, we want to help keep you up to date and informed. Here are some pieces on trending topics that you might find of interest.
-
Webinar
Live and archived: John Hancock’s legislative and regulatory updates
Our quarterly webinar series focusing on the legal and rule changes that affect retirement plan strategy, management, and administration is broadcast live online (with Q&A sessions) with past sessions available on demand.
-
Featuring:
Chris Frank
Head of Defined Contribution Consulting -
Featuring:
Tami Guimelli
Assistant Vice President and Associate Chief Counsel
-
The protection of participants’ accounts and data is a fiduciary duty under ERISA
-
These duties call for a cybersecurity management plan, as well as a thorough understanding of this plan and how it’s executed1
-
Recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor emphasizes the importance fiduciaries must place on cybersecurity2
-
Webinar
On demand: building layers of cybersecurity defense
Listen in on our discussion with Thom Shola, cyber officer for John Hancock, who shares his insight on the DOL’s cybersecurity guidance, John Hancock’s multilayered security, and tips to help protect yourself, your clients, and your business.
-
Featuring:
Thomas Shola
Assistant Vice President, IT Cybersecurity Officer
Viewpoints on fiduciary responsibilities and practices
These selected articles cover fiduciary issues exclusively or include content helpful in making prudent plan decisions.
-
See selected viewpoints
Investments and fees
Insight to help prudently manage plan investments and costs
-
See selected viewpoints
Legislative/regulatory
News on laws and rules that affect your fiduciary duties and action to take today
-
See selected viewpoints
Plan design
Information to help you take a responsible design approach
-
See selected viewpoints
Cybersecurity
Guidance on handling this crucial and ever-evolving fiduciary responsibility
1 “Cybersecurity Considerations for Benefit Plans,” U.S. Department of Labor Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, November 2016; “Cybersecurity and your 401(k) plan fiduciary duties,” retirement.johnhancock.com, 10/22/19. 2 "US Department of Labor announces new cybersecurity guidance for plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, recordkeepers, plan participants," dol.gov, 4/14/21.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive review of fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA. It highlights key issues that plan fiduciaries must be aware of. John Hancock is not in a position to provide you with legal advice concerning your plan or your role as plan fiduciary, and the information included here should not be taken as such. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, please consult your legal counsel.