"While employee benefits are an indispensable element of an employer's total rewards package, employers face myriad complex administrative tasks upon establishing an employee pension or welfare benefit plan. In general terms, this book is designed to familiarize employers with the responsibilities and liabilities of plan fiduciaries under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). This third edition provides updates on: U.S. Department of Labor guidance on participant investment education Rules governing qualified default investment alternatives Proposed Department of Labor rules on vendor-level fee disclosure to plan sponsors Final rules governing payment to service providers on Form 5500 The status of class action claims involving 401(k) fee disclosures to plan participants Changes to the rules governing self-directed participant accounts. ERISA Basics is essential reading for each member of the board of directors, or any officer who may be exposed to fiduciary liability under an employer's pension and welfare benefits plan."