Step by step instruction on how to plan, conduct and successfully complete a Set for Life Online SFUniversity Financial Literacy (3rd Party ERISA compliant) saas educational program to employees that have a pension or 401kretirement plan.
While ERISA does not require that plan sponsors provide either investment education or investment advice, it may be practically and legally advisable to provide at least investment education. From a practical perspective, better educated participants should make better investment decisions, resulting in greater job satisfaction and financial security. From a legal perspective, the law is not clear on the fiduciary responsibilities of plan sponsors in permitting participants to direct investments. For example, in making the decision to permit participant investment direction, must the plan sponsor consider the investment experience and acumen of its employees? In selecting the specific investment options to be offered, must the plan sponsor consider the investment sophistication of the employees? ERISA does not give a clear answer to these questions. Arguably, however, the answer to the first question is a fiduciary decision. The answer to the second question is clearly a fiduciary decision. As a result, plan sponsors should seriously consider providing investment education (and perhaps advice) to raise the level of investment knowledge of its employees to the appropriate point for selecting among the offered investment options.