Fiduciary Liability Insurance
Getting the right protection has never been easier
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What Is Fiduciary Insurance?
If a fiduciary or trustee within your company is accused of mishandling employee benefits, you may face a lawsuit. This type of insurance provides financial protection during such times.
If a lawsuit goes to court, your company’s assets, as well as the personal assets of all accused fiduciary employees, are on the line.
Fiduciary insurance will not only pay the legal costs to protect both assets but can also provide reliable defense counsel. The most common form of fiduciary protection is a stand-alone fiduciary liability insurance policy. However, two other types of protection exist:
- Fidelity bonds: This bond is made to compensate plan holders in the instance that a fiduciary member has been dishonest when working with employee benefits. Fidelity bonds are required by law if you offer employee benefits.
- Employee benefit liability insurance: This policy will cover claims based on errors or omissions, like accidentally forgetting to enroll an employee in a benefits plan. It won’t cover all situations, however, so consider purchasing fiduciary insurance that offers complete protection.
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Who Can File a Fiduciary Lawsuit?
- Employees who participate in benefit plans
- The Department of Labor
- The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation
What Kind of Fiduciary Claims Can Be Filed?
There are a number of different types of errors and fraudulent behaviors that can lead to a fiduciary liability insurance claim, including:
- Administrative error
- Wrongful termination of a plan
- Conflict of interest
- Failure to adequately fund a plan
- Denial or change of benefits
- Improper advice or counsel
- Fraud, theft and embezzlement
What Is ERISA?
In 1974, the United States government passed the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which dramatically increased the amount of liability that fiduciary employees face.
Developed to protect those who participate in employer benefits, it also helped define an employee benefits plan and the responsibilities of fiduciaries and trustees.
Anyone who exercises any kind of control over any kind of benefit plan is regarded as a fiduciary. Even members outside of a company can act as fiduciaries. This includes organizations like:
- Law firms
- Accounting firms
- Professional administration firms
- Consulting and actuarial consulting firms
- Investment advisers
- Investment management companies
Who Needs Fiduciary Insurance?
If you have a small business with hourly employees who have no benefits options, you don’t need fiduciary insurance. However, any organization offering benefits that can potentially be mismanaged, whether due to negligence or intent, is a good candidate for fiduciary liability insurance.
Organizations that do not implement this protection may be exposed to a host of issues, particularly regarding retirement benefits.
Normally, an employee benefit liability insurance policy will cover mistakes, but if your fiduciaries offer advice on retirement investment, these activities fall into the area of professional liability.
If you have an employed trustee who offers investment advice, that person may be responsible for choosing a management company for benefit plans and the funds that are offered.
Those decisions can come under scrutiny in the event of a loss of retirement funds by an employee. Even an educational meeting can count as investment counsel.
It is important to note that whether or not your company is found at fault for a loss, the costs involved in your legal defense can be significant. With fiduciary insurance, however, these costs will be covered.
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Fiduciary Insurance Costs and Quotes
While the cost of an average plan will depend on the amount of assets you have, the number of participants, and other factors, fiduciary liability insurance can be an affordable product.
Plans can range anywhere from $600 to $2,600 per year, depending on your company's specific requirements, but policies can be issued for up to $20 million in coverage or more. At that point, premiums are based on a percentage of assets.
Even though this is an insurance product that provides a good amount of protection, it’s still important to shop around for the best rates. You can spend your valuable time trying to find the right fiduciary insurance policy for your company, or you can simply contact a local independent insurance agent in our network.
Member agents have access to a variety of policies from multiple insurance companies and can help you review competitive quotes from professional providers. It only takes a few moments to find an agent right in your area.