Williams-Linzey, et al vs. Empower Summary

1. ERISA’s three-pronged functional “fiduciary” definition[1] states that “a person is a fiduciary with respect to a plan to the extent:

(i) he exercises any discretionary authority or discretionary control respecting management of such plan or exercises any authority or control respecting management or disposition of its assets,

(ii) he renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation, direct or indirect, with respect to any moneys or other property of such plan, or has any authority or responsibility to do so, or

(iii) he has any discretionary authority or discretionary responsibility in the administration of such plan.

2. An ERISA fiduciary shall discharge his duties with respect to a plan solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and their beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the plan.

A fiduciary also must act prudently “with the care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent man acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use.”[2]

[1] 29 U.S.C. § 1002(21)(A)

[2] 29 U.S.C. § 1104(a)(1)(B)

Click here for the full summary.