Designation of a Named Fiduciary

By Joseph A. Garofolo

ERISA §§ 402(a)(1) and (2) require a plan to designate, or provide a procedure for designating, one or more named fiduciaries “who jointly or severally shall have authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the plan.”  The designation of a named fiduciary or fiduciaries can become important in 401(k) plan fiduciary breach and other ERISA litigation because it effectively forecloses the person or persons so designated from arguing that they are not fiduciaries with attendant duties.

But how specific does the designation of a named fiduciary have to be?

Fortunately, the Department of Labor provided early interpretive guidance, now codified in 29 C.F.R. § 2509.75-5, relating to this issue.  This guidance, issued in 1975, answers three basic questions relating to the designation of named fiduciaries.

First, the Department indicated yes in response to the question of whether the designation of a committee by position or by individual satisfies the requirements of ERISA § 402(a).

Second, with regard to a collectively bargained plan, the Department explained that ERISA § 402(a) is satisfied if a “joint board is clearly identified as the entity which has authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the plan.”  29 C.F.R. § 2509.75-5, FR-2.  The Department continued that each member of the joint board would be a named fiduciary under such a situation.

And, third, the Department confirmed that a plan may name a corporation/plan sponsor as the named fiduciary.  The Department indicated that the plan instrument designating the corporation “should provide for designation by the corporation of specified individuals or other persons to carry out specified fiduciary responsibilities under the plan, in accordance with section 405(c)(1)(B) of the Act.”  29 C.F.R. § 2509.75-5, FR-3.

Early Department of Labor interpretative guidance is often a good place to start when seeking clarification regarding fundamental fiduciary responsibilities.