The Fiduciary

Book excerpt: For any company or person considering or currently serving in the capacity of an ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) fiduciary, author Christian D. Rahaim's The Fiduciary: An In-depth Guide to Fiduciary Duties-From Studebaker to Enron, is an invaluable resource. The Fiduciary contains essential material-from the evolution of the fiduciary concept to its adaptation in ERISA and its continued evolution in the workplace. The clear and concise chapters build the framework for the reader to develop an understanding of the content, operations, and issues with the fiduciary obligation, such as: An overview of pension plans Responsibilities of a fiduciary Investment management for defined contribution and benefit plans Plan fees and expenses Administration and compliance Christian Rahaim relies on more than twelve years of human resource management experience to guide employers through the processes related to employee benefits and fiduciary responsibilities. Citing the classic example of the Studebaker Corporation and the high-profile debacle of Enron, he details major factors that should be considered in fiduciary roles. The Fiduciary is an employers' guide for updated information on the increasingly controversial, legislated, and litigated topic of employee benefit plans.