ERISA Advisory Opinion - Socially Responsible Funds

This document is about an advisory opinion from the U.S. Department of Labor regarding whether a plan fiduciary's selection of a "socially-responsible fund" as a plan investment or a designated investment alternative for an ERISA Section 404(c) plan would, in itself, violate the fiduciary duties and responsibilities under Sections 403(c) and 404(a)(1) of ERISA. The Department concludes that such a selection would not, in itself, be inconsistent with ERISA's fiduciary standards, provided the requirements of Sections 403 and 404 are met.