Navigating tomorrow’s global climate risks today
Experts agree that some climate change is inevitable. Leading businesses are taking action now to identify and mitigate these longer-term risks.
Fiduciary Liability Insurance from Zurich can be a vital part of reducing that risk. As one of the leaders in management liability products and services, we bring responsiveness in underwriting, claims, international capabilities, and customer service. Most importantly, we understand the scope of fiduciary liability risks and how they are evolving, so we’re ready to offer insurance solutions that meet the needs of your organization.
While Fiduciary Liability Insurance is essential for any business offering an employee health or retirement benefits plan, effective risk management encompasses much more than risk transfer. One of the best ways to avoid or minimize fiduciary risk is to take make informed and diligent decisions about plan administration, including establishing and documenting fiduciary processes and procedures and regular review and monitoring of investment options and plan performance. Zurich will work with customers to support their risk management objectives and, where applicable, suggest risk mitigation services.
While the trend toward growing liability risks for fiduciaries is widespread, Zurich understands every company is different. We work to provide customers with the coverages most appropriate for their business model and its associated fiduciary liability exposures. We offer stand-alone policies, as well as package insurance solutions for public and private companies that can help your organization protect against different types of fiduciary claims, including but not limited to:
Excessive fees
Lawsuits alleging that fiduciaries agreed to unreasonably high administrative costs and fees.
Prohibited transactions
Transactions between an employee benefit plan and certain individuals or entities that may give rise to engaging in self-dealing — acting in their own interest rather than the best interest of their clients.
Reporting requirements
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) requires benefit plans to file annual public reports available to plan participants and beneficiaries.
Imprudent investment options
Lawsuits alleging fiduciaries failed to properly administer retirement plans because the investment options they offered to participants included some that purportedly underperformed other similar options.
Experts agree that some climate change is inevitable. Leading businesses are taking action now to identify and mitigate these longer-term risks.
The 2024 SAMA Excellence Award recognizes Zurich’s global customer relationship management as outstanding, not only in the insurance sector, but across industries. It’s the second win for Zurich.
Zurich North America and WTW co-sponsor first-of-its-kind Risk, Growth, and Resilience Summit with Executives' Club of Chicago, featuring Ann Chai, Jane Rheem and Jarrett Kolthoff.
ERISA fidelity bonds are required by law (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, pursuant to ERISA Section 412) to help protect employee benefit plan participants and employees. They are required to be held by every fiduciary of an employee benefit plan, and every person who handles funds or other property of such a plan. Fiduciary Liability Insurance is not required by law, and it is intended specifically to help protect the fiduciaries of the business.
U.S. Department of Labor – Office of the Solicitor. “Division of Plan Benefits Security.” Accessed 03 October 2023.
Katz, Michael. “No Plan Safe From ERISA Lawsuits, Chamber of Commerce Warns.” Chief Investment Officer. 2 September 2021.
Zuss, Noah. “Law Firm Files Motion to Dismiss ERISA Complaint Targeting BlackRock Funds.” PLANSPONSOR. 12 October 2022.