Meeting today’s standards as a plan fiduciary can be a daunting task for plan sponsors. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) defines a fiduciary as any person who exercises any discretionary control or authority over plan management or plan assets, has authority or responsibility for the administration of the plan, or provides investment advice to the plan for compensation or has authority to do so.

Legislation and case law is consistent in its message to qualified plan sponsors – there is a fiduciary duty to prudently diversify and monitor a portfolio – to show evidence that a prudent investment process is followed. Alliance Benefit Group fiduciary consulting services are designed to properly guide plan sponsors through the process in order to comply with current requirements. In addition, Alliance Benefit Group will sign on as a co-fiduciary status in relation to the management and monitoring of plan investments.

Our investment management process employs a five step process designed to provide an integrated approach to the choosing and monitoring of plan investments. No one step can be effectively implemented without drawing upon the information developed in the previous step.

Steps in our investment management process include:

• Analyze Current Position

• Design Optimal Portfolio

• Formalize the Investment Policy Statement

• Implement Policy

• Monitor and Supervise