Field Assistance Bulletins

Field Assistance Bulletins (or FABs) are written by the Office of Regulations and Interpretations to the Director of Enforcement and Regional Directors to provide guidance in response to questions that have arisen in field operations. FABs may also include transition enforcement relief that permits employers, plan officials, service providers and others time to respond to new laws or regulations.

**2006**
Document Number	Subject	Issue
Field Assistance Bulletin 2006-01	The Distribution To Plans Of Settlement Proceeds Relating To Late Trading And Market-Timing	What are the duties and responsibilities under ERISA of independent distribution consultants (IDCs), plan service-providers and fiduciaries with respect to the allocation and distribution of mutual fund settlement proceeds to plans and plan participants?

**2004**
Document Number	Subject	Issue
Field Assistance Bulletin 2004-03	Fiduciary Responsibilities Of Directed Trustees	In the context of publicly traded securities, what are the fiduciary responsibilities of a directed trustee?
Field Assistance Bulletin 2004-02	Fiduciary Duties and Missing Participants in Terminated Defined Contribution Plans	What does a plan fiduciary need to do in order to fulfill its fiduciary obligations under ERISA with respect to: (1) locating a missing participant of a terminated defined contribution plan; and (2) distributing an account balance when efforts to communicate with a missing participant fail to secure a distribution election?
Field Assistance Bulletin 2004-01	Health Saving Accounts	Whether Health Savings Accounts established in connection with employment-based group health plans constitute "employee welfare benefit plans" for purposes of Title I of ERISA?

**2003**
Document Number	Subject	Issue
Field Assistance Bulletin 2003-03	Allocation of Expenses in a Defined Contribution Plan	What rules apply to how expenses are allocated among plan participants in a defined contribution pension plan?