2021 ERISA Facts

Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is known as one of the most complicated federal laws, but it is one of the most important laws regarding employee benefits. ERISA Facts provides simple explanations for 900 of the most common ERISA-related questions.

Anyone involved in the administration of ERISA-based retirement plans will benefit from this book; it’s the perfect resource for a wide range of employee benefits professionals, including ERISA attorneys, TPAs, CPAs, employee benefits consultants or specialists, corporate counsel, IFEBP members, and more.

Organized in a convenient question & answer format to help you find the information you need, ERISA Facts features:

• 900 easy-to-read questions & answers that comprehensively cover all aspects of ERISA requirements and practices
• Practical advice for any professional who is required to comply with ERISA rules, including in-house HR professionals and third-party advisers
• Detailed explanation of who is an ERISA fiduciary and what requirements fiduciaries must meet
• Breakdown of potential sources of fiduciary liability
• Class and Statutory exemptions explained
• Investment guidelines for ERISA-compliant plans
• Real-world advice on enforcement trends

New in the 2021 Edition:

• New DOL safe harbor for electronic transmission of disclosure materials
• COVID-19 related filing deadline extensions and updated COBRA election periods
• Updated contribution deadlines under the CARES Act
• Details on SECURE Act-mandated lifetime income illustrations for defined contribution plans, including required actuarial assumptions
• New information on disclosures of substance use disorder records to align With HIPAA
• Complete description of the new DOL Fiduciary standards designed to align with the SEC’s Regulated Best Interest

Topics Covered:

• Fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA
• Establishment and administration
• ERISA-regulated plan administration issues
• Health benefit and insurance issues (HIPAA, COBRA, etc.)
• Responsibilities related to plan investments fiduciary duties and liability issues
• Compliance and disclosure rules
• Prohibited transactions
• Detailed explanations of voluntary compliance programs
• Statutory, class, and individual exemptions
• Taft-Hartley plans (Multiemployer Plans)
• And More! See the “Table of Contents” section for a full list of topics

Additionally, the book includes complete information on disclosure requirements from the Employee Benefits Security Administration, IRS, Health and Human Services, and citations to key court cases and legislation. Department of Labor guidance on disclosure requirements is also provided.