The Principal Expands Investment Fiduciary Services
The fiduciary services will be provided by Wilshire Associates Incorporated. The new services will enhance current support by providing a level of fiduciary protection for selection and monitoring of investment options for retirement plans.
All financial professionals will have the option of making these Wilshire-supplied services available to their clients, including RIAs, who may wish to supplement their current services to clients.
The 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services:
• Include coverage across multiple plan types;
• Complement the due diligence process already in place for hiring and monitoring managers of Sub-Advised Investment Options available through The Principal; and
• Are flexible, allowing the fiduciary to choose from services which address the following areas of concern: Broad Range Requirement under 404(c); Qualified Default Investment Alternatives and Prudent monitoring on an investment-by-investment basis.
The financial protection available through Wilshire covers plan sponsors. A level of indemnification protection through Principal Life Insurance Company may extend to financial professionals whose clients use ERISA 3(21) and/or 3(38) fiduciary services provided by Wilshire.
In addition, to further assist financial professionals and their clients, The Principal also created a new fiduciary guide that explains in practical terms what it means to be a fiduciary under Section 3(21) or an investment manager under Section 3(38).