Fiduciary Evaluation Tool Launched

May 14, 2012 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The Board Institute, Inc. released The Fiduciary Board Index. 
 

The Index allows boards of directors to both assess the strengths of their investment policies and highlight areas for improvement. The content of this evaluation and education tool was developed in collaboration with fi360, CEFEX and Cambridge Fiduciary Services, LLC. The new product complements the existing suite of board tools offered by The Board Institute.

The Fiduciary Board Index module provides an objective, online tool to help boards evaluate their performance and understand the board’s duty in fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities for managing employee retirement plan investments. The Index delivers benefits to all boards of directors with responsibility for oversight of employee retirement plan investments and their investment committees. 

“Many investment committees for corporate retirement plans complain of ‘fiduciary fatigue,'” said Rich Lynch, COO of fi360. “Expanded funding requirements, increased ERISA regulation, disruption of the capital markets, a multitude of new investment products and fiduciary breach litigation all serve to challenge even the most sophisticated institutions, thereby adding to their fiduciary burden. As a result, the need to measure and demonstrate sound investment practices, governance and oversight has never been greater.”

The Index helps companies demonstrate best practices in the face of increased media and shareholder focus on investment losses. It is completed anonymously by board members, and, at their discretion, those who work closely with the Investment Committee. It is built on a software engine and provides scores, variances, ranges of responses, best practices and individual comments to improve their investment fiduciary processes. The secure questionnaire takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Results are immediate, validated by leading survey experts and available online or in print.   

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