A: An ERISA bond is basically another form of insurance for employee benefit plans. The bond is taken against those who control the plan funds (otherwise known as a fiduciary). Though definitions vary, in most instances a fiduciary is a person who exercises some amount of power and control over the plan. In an ERISA qualified pension plan, the investment manager, investment advisors, and trustee are all considered fiduciaries. The ERISA bond ensures that plan participants are protected against losses due to fiduciary fraud, dishonesty, or otherwise criminal behavior. However, unlike standard insurance, the ERISA bond is not necessarily meant to cover full losses. It will only cover up to the pre-calculated payout amount.
A: No. The existing insurance is most likely what is referred to as ‘errors & omissions’ insurance. E&O insurance specifically protects against fiduciary mistakes, and, depending on the plan, may protect against neglect. E&O insurance doesn’t overlap with ERISA bond coverage. Remember, ERISA bonds protect against fiduciary fraud or dishonest acts. Your pension plan can and should be covered by both E&O insurance and an ERISA bond.
A: Technically, yes. ERISA regulations demand that generally all employee benefit plans be covered by an ERISA bond. Interestingly, however, ERISA regulations do not outline any penalties for fiduciaries that choose not to purchase ERISA bonds for their plan.
A: If there’s a loss as a result of fraud, dishonesty, theft, or some other criminal act, then the fiduciaries will have to pay out-of-pocket for the losses. In other words, they will become personally liable for the losses. Losses will therefore be accounted for in most cases, unless the fiduciary doesn’t have the personal assets to cover the losses.
A: ERISA bonds have several requirements as outlined by the statutory provisions of ERISA Section 412:
A: No. In fact, the premiums for ERISA bonds tend to be relatively low cost. The price depends on the total plan assets, but most insurance companies charge from between $100 and $300 per year for ERISA bond coverage.
A: ERISA contains a number of civil and criminal provisions. ERISA bonds specifically cover criminal acts by the fiduciaries. These acts include, but aren’t necessarily limited to:
A: No, an ERISA bond isn’t always necessary, though having one is encouraged. In some cases, there’s an existing corporate fidelity bond arrangement in place, so an ERISA bond may simply be redundant. Corporate fidelity bonds, like ERISA bonds, cover dishonest, fraudulent, and criminal behavior by plan fiduciaries.
