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Benefit Practice Areas
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Fiduciary Audits
ERISA Expert Witness
Independent Investment Advice
Fiduciary Education
Investment Policy Statements
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Perform fiduciary audits
By auditing your plan just as the U.S. Department of Labor
would, we can give you the peace of mind of knowing that your plan is in
compliance. If we discover violations, you can self-correct and avoid the twenty
percent penalty the Department of Labor might assess.
Click here for compliance tool.
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Assist you and your legal representatives during investigations
If your plan is investigated, we can help you with the
process. By reacting quickly, you may be able to avoid significant penalties.
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ERISA Expert Witness
We often provide support to attorneys who are representing
employee benefit plans or plan fiduciaries. We have served as consulting experts
as well as trial experts for employee benefit litigation in state and federal
courts.
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independent investment advice
By retaining an independent investment advisor to
provide advice concerning plan investments, the fiduciaries are following a
prudent fiduciary process, which helps control their fiduciary liability.
Bruce Ruud & Associates, LLC is a registered investment advisor and can
provide such advice.
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Provide fiduciary education
Fiduciaries are required to act as "prudent" investors and
administrators, but most have little experience in those roles. We teach them
about their responsibility, authority and liability. We provide an overview of
the applicable laws and regulations, explain the most common violations and
explain the prudent fiduciary process. Clearly, an educated fiduciary is less
likely to commit a fiduciary breach. Click here for compliance tool.
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Create an Investment Policy Statement
An Investment Policy Statement is a roadmap for the
fiduciaries to follow and reduce or perhaps, avoid fiduciary liability. It tells
them how to select investments, how to monitor them and importantly, how to
decide to sell or replace an investment option. Given the recent market
volatility, this is an essential tool for plan fiduciaries.
Click here for compliance tool.
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