NEW RELEASE

THE INTELLIGENT FIDUCIARY

Best practices for navigating ERISA’s fiduciary responsibilities

Every decision you make as an ERISA plan fiduciary can have legal consequences. This authoritative guide gives pension and welfare plan fiduciaries the clarity, frameworks and confidence to fulfill their fiduciary duties well - and defend every choice they make.

THE STAKES

Fiduciary duty is not a formality. Fiduciary duties are often described as the highest in the law.

ERISA fiduciaries face an increasingly complex web of ERISA requirements, Department of Labor regulations, and evolving litigation risk. Good intentions are not a defense. Documented prudent decisions are.

Nobody is born knowing how to be an ERISA fiduciary. This book helps plan sponsors, plan committee members and advisors bridge the gap between good intentions and best practices.

INSIDE THE BOOK

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

01
You Might Already Be a Fiduciary
Nearly half of plan sponsors don't realize they've taken on this legal role, and ignorance is no defense.
02
Good Intentions Aren't Enough
Courts don't judge fiduciaries on hindsight; they judge whether a prudent, documented decision was made at the time.
03
Hiring a Vendor Doesn't Remove Your Risk
Most recordkeepers and advisers aren't taking your liability off your hands, even if it feels that way.
04
Cyber Threats and AI: The New Fiduciary Minefield
Protecting data and double-checking AI-generated work are quickly becoming legal obligations, not just IT concerns.
05
Lawsuits Have Expanded Beyond 401(k)s
Health plans, service contracts, and everyday vendor agreements are now prime litigation targets too.
06
Avoid Costly Missteps
Spot and sidestep prohibited transactions, common service-provider myths, and communication failures that have triggered real-world litigation.

THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN FOR

RESPONSIBLE PROFESSIONALS

If you oversee a pension plan — whether you advise on it, manage it, or sit on the committee — this is the guide your role demands.

  • Retirement plan consultants and advisors serving institutional clients

  • HR directors and benefits managers overseeing 401(k) and pension plans

  • Investment committee members at corporations, nonprofits, and public entities

  • Independent RIAs with retirement plan clients seeking fiduciary clarity

  • ERISA attorneys and plan administrators seeking a practical reference

  • Newly appointed trustees and plan sponsors accepting fiduciary roles

About the Author

Carol Buckmann

Employee Benefits & ERISA Attorney

Cohen & Buckmann, P.C. Carol Buckmann is a co-founding partner of Cohen & Buckmann P.C. and one of the country’s most respected voices in ERISA and fiduciary law. Over a career spanning  more than four decades, she has advised employers, fiduciaries, and industry leaders on some of the most complex issues in employee benefits, investment fund formation, pension compliance, and plan governance.

A frequent writer and speaker, member of Law360’s editorial advisory board for employee benefits, and a top attorney recognized by Chambers, Best Lawyers, and the National Law Journal, Carol brings both authority and clarity to this book. In The Intelligent Fiduciary, she offers readers the benefit of a trusted guide who has spent a lifetime helping others make sound decisions in a demanding field.

PRAISE FOR THE INTELLIGENT FIDUCIARY

What colleagues are saying

Anyone with fiduciary oversight duties will be better prepared after reading this book.
— Sandra Cohen, Managing Partner, Cohen & Buckmann, P.C.
A thoughtful guide that transforms complex fiduciary concepts into actionable principles. Essential reading for professionals who take stewardship seriously.
— Irene Bassock, Partner, Cohen & Buckmann, P.C.
The Intelligent Fiduciary provides a clear and practical framework for understanding the responsibilities that come with serving as a fiduciary. A valuable resource for anyone committed to making informed decisions.
— Gretchen Harders Pensions and Employee Benefits Practice Chair, Cohen & Buckmann, P.C.
YOU'RE INVITED

The Intelligent Fiduciary

Book Launch Celebration

Join us as we celebrate the release of The Intelligent Fiduciary, an essential new guide for retirement plan advisors, fiduciaries, attorneys, and plan sponsors. Spend an evening with industry colleagues as we commemorate this milestone and hear from the author.

September 16, 2026
New York City
Would you like to attend the Book Launch Event in NYC?
Complete the invitation below