Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2012-01: Citing Apprenticeship and Training Plans for Using Plan Assets for Graduation Ceremonies and Program Marketing

This document is about guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration on the appropriate use of apprenticeship and training plan assets. It clarifies that while expenses for modest graduation ceremonies and certain program outreach may be permissible if reasonable and consistent with the plan's educational objectives, expenses for items like sporting event tickets or charitable donations would generally not be appropriate uses of plan assets. The guidance aims to help plan fiduciaries fulfill their duties under ERISA to prudently manage plan assets.