SOLUTIONS FOR THE UNION WORKPLACE SPECIALTY INSURANCE | INVESTMENTS Lessons for Governmental Fund...

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SOLUTIONS FOR THE UNION WORKPLACE SPECIALTY INSURANCE | INVESTMENTS Lessons for Governmental Fund Trustees from the Financial Crisis and How to Protect Yourself Daniel Aronowitz President, Ullico Casualty Company

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3 May 2011 NCPERS Annual Conference 2011 Lesson #1: Indemnification Gaps Governmental plan trustees often have two dangerous misconceptions: –That ERISA fiduciary standards do not apply to them; and –That they are protected by sovereign immunity The reality: –Governmental trustees are held to high fiduciary standards similar to the federal ERISA duties; and –State law contains significant limits on indemnification protections for governmental fiduciaries 3

Transcript of SOLUTIONS FOR THE UNION WORKPLACE SPECIALTY INSURANCE | INVESTMENTS Lessons for Governmental Fund...

Page 1: SOLUTIONS FOR THE UNION WORKPLACE SPECIALTY INSURANCE | INVESTMENTS Lessons for Governmental Fund Trustees from the Financial Crisis and How to Protect.

SOLUTIONS FOR THE UNION WORKPLACE

SPECIALTY INSURANCE | INVESTMENTS

Lessons for Governmental Fund Trustees from the Financial Crisis

and How to Protect Yourself

Daniel AronowitzPresident, Ullico Casualty

Company

Page 2: SOLUTIONS FOR THE UNION WORKPLACE SPECIALTY INSURANCE | INVESTMENTS Lessons for Governmental Fund Trustees from the Financial Crisis and How to Protect.

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Introduction

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Lesson #1: Indemnification Gaps• Governmental plan trustees often

have two dangerous misconceptions:– That ERISA fiduciary standards do not apply to

them; and– That they are protected by sovereign immunity

• The reality:– Governmental trustees are held to high

fiduciary standards similar to the federal ERISA duties; and

– State law contains significant limits on indemnification protections for governmental fiduciaries

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Indemnification Gaps

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Lesson #2: You are a Target• Governmental trustees are

increasingly a target of fiduciary claims:– Imprudent investments, including real estate

and alternative investments– Breaches of fiduciary duty in selecting and

monitoring a service provider– Social investing– Insufficient funding– Dishonesty claims/Pay to Play

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You are a Target

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Lesson #3: Delegate Fiduciary Responsibility Whenever Possible

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Delegate Fiduciary Responsibility Whenever Possible

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Lesson #4: Lower Your Expectations

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Lesson #5: Due Diligence Matters

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Lesson #6: Don’t be a Turkey – Protect Yourself

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Purchase ComprehensiveFiduciary Liability Insurance

• Critical policy features:– Claims-Made Coverage – Do You Have Full

Prior Acts Coverage?– What is the Date of Your Prior and Pending

Litigation Exclusion?– Do You Have Coverage for Administration

ErrorsIn Addition to Fiduciary Duties?

– Do You Control Your Defense?– Do You Have the Right to Select Defense

Counsel?– Do You Have Severability of the Application

and Exclusions to Protect “Innocent” Trustees?12

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• Critical policy features continued:– Do You Have to Pay a Claim Deductible Out

of Your Own Pocket? – When Will You Be Reimbursed?– How Much Insurance Should Your Fund Buy?– What Claims are Covered? DOL Audits?– How Can You Lock in Coverage for Potential

Claims?– What Penalty Coverage Do You Have? CAP;

502(c); HIPAA?– Does Your Policy Require a QPAM for Real

Estate Investments?

Purchase ComprehensiveFiduciary Liability Insurance

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Questions

Daniel AronowitzPresident

1625 Eye Street, NW

Washington, DC 20006

202.682.4992

[email protected]

John V. O’BrienVice President, Marketing

1625 Eye Street, NW

Washington, DC 20006

202.962.2980

[email protected]

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