Alabama

 According to Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), every fiduciary of an employee benefit plan and every person who handles funds of such plan shall be bonded in an amount equal to 10% of the funds handled (subject to a maximum of $500,000 or $1,000,000 when employer securities are included). If the plan includes non-qualifying assets, the bond amount is the greater of 10% of plan assets being handled or the value of the non-qualifying assets, whichever is greater (subject to limits stated above).

• Qualifying assets include items that are held by a financial institution such as a bank, insurance company, mutual funds, etc.
• Non-qualifying assets are those not held by any financial institution including tangibles such as artwork, collectibles, and real estate.

If the money manager who works directly for the retirement plan mismanages funds, the bond will hold that individual liable for losses. The bond amount can then be used to reimburse individuals for funds lost as a result of the fiduciary’s financial mismanagement. As such, a fiduciary’s bond amount must be reviewed and updated annually as the plan’s assets change.

ERISA surety bonds are not required for SEC-registered brokers and dealers that are subject to fidelity bond mandates of their own regulatory agency or organization.

A company who hires housekeepers, maid services, or residential cleaning services, may wish to have this bond in place to cover any acts of dishonesty or theft possibly made by that employee.  With this bond in place, you not only will protect your business, but also your customers from losses that may incur as a result of theft committed by unethical employees.