The Department of Labor (DOL) issued final participant fee disclosure regulations that apply to participant-directed individual account plans, including those that intend to comply with ERISA Section 404(c). Their purpose is to provide uniform disclosure to participants about fees and expenses of a plan’s investment options.

The final rules were effective on December 20, 2010, for plan years beginning on or after November 1, 2011. For calendar year plans, compliance is required on January 1, 2012.

Disclose plan-related information

Plan administrators must disclose basic plan information, including a list of investment options and when and how partici- pants may give investment instructions. Administrative expenses for plan services that may be deducted from all individual accounts must be described, as well as actual charges that may be deducted from certain participants’ accounts, such as loan origination fees.

Actual charges assessed to individual accounts must be disclosed on at least a quarterly basis, either through a confirmation statement or regular quarterly plan account statements.

Investment-related information must be provided

For each investment option, performance data (such as the average annual total return for 1-, 5- and 10-year periods) and a comparison of returns to a benchmark must be disclosed.  Fees and expenses information for each option’s operating expenses is also required. Further, a website address where participants can get specific additional investment information must be announced. A glossary of investment terms must also be included.

Initial disclosures are required within 60 days after the date the rules apply to the plan (by February 29, 2012 for calendar year plans), and annually thereafter.

Resources for new disclosure rules

DOL’s Fact Sheet: http://tinyurl.com/ DOLFeeFinalRule

DOL’s Model Comparative Chart: http://tinyurl.com/ DOLFeeModelNotice

Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America’s detailed summary: http://tinyurl.com/PSCAFeeDisclosure