§3(21) Co-Fiduciary vs. §3(38) Investment Manager

A fiduciary is someone who manages another party's assets and stands in a special relationship of trust, confidence, and/or legal responsibility. That person has a legal and ethical obligation to put the other party's interests first. For the retirement plan advisor, that means helping a client make decisions on behalf of their retirement plan’s participants and their beneficiaries best interests.

A retirement plan advisor can serve in either a §3(21) or §3(38) fiduciary capacity, and in some cases, both capacities. The needs and desires of the plan sponsor typically dictate the specific arrangement, which is predicated upon the subject of risk mitigation versus risk avoidance. Some plan sponsors want assistance with their fiduciary responsibilities but want to maintain discretion and control of their plan's investment menus. Others want to shift the fiduciary responsibilities to a third party due to their lack of expertise, and ultimately, fear of exposure to liability. 

Differences:  Any individual is a fiduciary under Section 3(21) if he or she exercises any authority or control over the management of the plan or the management or disposition of its assets; if he or she renders investment advice for a fee (or has any authority or responsibility to do so); or if he or she has any discretionary responsibility in the administration of the retirement plan.

Section 3(38) defines “investment manager” as a fiduciary due to their responsibility to manage the plan's assets. ERISA provides that a plan sponsor can delegate the responsibility (and thus, likely the liability) of selecting, monitoring and replacing investments to a §3(38) investment manager/fiduciary. A §3(38) fiduciary may only be a bank, an insurance company, or a registered investment advisor (RIA) subject to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

TYPE OF
INVESTMENT ADVISOR TO PLAN

 

QUESTION

 

   NON-FIDUCIARY  

 

   CO-FIDUCIARY  

ERISA §3(21)

 

   INVESTMENT MANAGER  

ERISA §3(38)

 

   BENEFITS TO PLAN  

SPONSOR


Will the advisor accept liability for selecting plan investment options?

 

NO

 

NO

 

YES


Helps reduce liability for selecting plan investment options.


Will the advisor accept liability for monitoring plan investment options?

 

NO

 

NO

 

YES


Helps reduce liability for monitoring plan investment options.


Will the advisor accept liability for replacing plan investment options?

 

NO

 

NO

 

YES


Helps reduce liability for replacing plan investment options.


Will the advisor accept liability for determining mapping strategies?

 

NO

 

NO

 

YES


Helps reduce liability for mapping strategies when mapping plan investment options.


Will the advisor state in writing their fiduciary status?

 

NO

 

MAYBE/

DEPENDS

 

YES


Helps reduce significant risk.


Does the advisor draft the Investment Policy Statement (IPS)?

 

NO

 

MAYBE/

DEPENDS

 

YES


Reduces plan investment risk significantly.


Is the advisor interested in reducing plan investment risk?

 

NO

 

MAYBE/

DEPENDS

 

YES


Reduces plan investment risk significantly.


Is the advisor interested in reducing plan investment costs?

 

NO

 

MAYBE/

DEPENDS

 

YES


Reduces plan investment risk significantly.


Can a plan sponsor transfer significant risk to the advisor?

 

NO

 

NO

 

YES


Helps reduce significant risk.


Can the advisor provide advice with accountability?

 

NO

 

MAYBE/

DEPENDS

 

YES


Receives advice with accountability.


Does the advisor have fiduciary discretion?

 

NO

 

NO

 

YES


Discretion determines fiduciary responsibility and liability.


Does the advisor provide documentation?

 

NO

 

MAYBE/

DEPENDS

 

YES


Receives a systemic documented process.

 

Similarities: Both §3(21) and §3(38) advisors accept fiduciary responsibility and adhere to ERISA §404(a)'s duty to serve solely in the interest of plan participants and both have to meet the “prudent man” standard of care. Plan sponsors retain the responsibility to select and monitor the advisor, regardless of their advisor's fiduciary status. Plan sponsors should consider the advisor's education, experience, skill and level of expertise, in addition to their desire to take on exposure to potential liability. Additionally, the advisor's broker/dealer permissions should be taken under consideration as well as the advisor's Errors & Omissions (E&O) liability coverage.

Remember, anyone can call themselves a fiduciary, but a fiduciary is determined by actions, not by title.