NEW BOOK
The Intelligent Fiduciary
Best practices for navigating ERISA’s fiduciary responsibilities
Every decision you make carries legal weight. This authoritative guide gives pension plan fiduciaries the clarity, frameworks, and confidence to fulfill their duties — and defend every choice they make.
THE STAKES
Fiduciary duty is not a formality.
It is a legal obligation.
Pension plan fiduciaries face an increasingly complex web of ERISA requirements, DOL regulations, and evolving litigation risk. Good intentions are not a defense. Documented, deliberate, defensible decisions are.
This book bridges the gap between professional intent and legally sound practice — written for the advisors and sponsors who are ultimately responsible.
Day 1
your obligations begin the moment you accept the role
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
PRAISE FOR THE INTELLIGENT FIDUCIARY
What colleagues are saying
“Anyone with fiduciary oversight duties will be better prepared after reading this book.”
“A thoughtful guide that transforms complex fiduciary concepts into actionable principles. Essential reading for professionals who take stewardship seriously.”
“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.”
About the Author
Carol Buckmann
Employee Benefits & ERISA Attorney
Carol Buckmann is an experienced Employee Benefits & ERISA attorney with decades of practice advising employers, fiduciaries, and plan sponsors on retirement plan governance, compliance, and fiduciary risk management.
She counsels clients on a wide range of complex ERISA matters, including pension plans, fiduciary responsibilities, and employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) issues. Known for her practical, business-oriented approach, Carol helps organizations navigate regulatory requirements while strengthening plan governance and decision-making frameworks.
Carol is the Chair of the firm’s Fiduciary and Plan Governance Practice, where she focuses on helping fiduciaries understand and meet their obligations under ERISA.
Prior to founding Cohen & Buckmann, she was Counsel at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and spent more than two decades as ERISA Counsel at Sullivan & Cromwell.