Selection of Annuity Providers for Individual Account Plans, 52021-52025 [E7-17743]

Agencies

• Employee Benefits Security Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 12, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52021-52025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17743]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 176 / Wednesday, September 12, 2007 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 52021]]



DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration

29 CFR Part 2550

RIN 1210-AB19


Selection of Annuity Providers for Individual Account Plans

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Proposed regulation.

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SUMMARY: This document contains a proposed regulation that, upon 
adoption, would establish a safe harbor for the selection of annuity 
providers for the purpose of benefit distributions from individual 
account plans covered by title I of the Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act (ERISA). Also appearing in today's Federal Register is an 
interim final rule amending Interpretive Bulletin 95-1 to limit the 
application of the Bulletin to the selection of annuity providers for 
defined benefit plans. The proposed regulation, upon adoption, will 
affect plan sponsors and fiduciaries of individual account plans, and 
the participants and beneficiaries covered by such plans.

DATES: Written comments on the proposed regulation should be received 
by the Department of Labor on or before November 13, 2007.

ADDRESSES: To facilitate the receipt and processing of comments, the 
Department encourages interested persons to submit their comments 
electronically to www.regulations.gov (follow instructions for 
submission of comments) or e-ORI@dol.gov. Persons submitting comments 
electronically are encouraged not to submit paper copies. Persons 
interested in submitting comments on paper should send or deliver their 
comments to: Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Employee 
Benefits Security Administration, Room N-5669, U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Attention: 
Annuity Regulation. Comments received will be posted without change, 
including any personal information provided, to www.regulations.gov and 
https://www.dol.gov/ebsa, and also available for public inspection at 
the Public Disclosure Room, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 
U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-1513, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet A. Walters or Allison E. 
Wielobob, Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Employee Benefits 
Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 
20210, (202) 693-8510. This is not a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Background

    In 1995, the Department issued Interpretive Bulletin 95-1 (29 CFR 
2509.95-1) (the IB), providing guidance concerning the fiduciary 
standards under Part 4 of Title I of ERISA applicable to the selection 
of annuity providers for purposes of pension plan benefit 
distributions. In general, the IB makes clear that the selection of an 
annuity provider in connection with benefit distributions is a 
fiduciary act governed by the fiduciary standards of section 404(a)(1), 
including the duty to act prudently and solely in the interest of the 
plan's participants and beneficiaries. In this regard, the IB provides 
that plan fiduciaries must take steps calculated to obtain the safest 
annuity available, unless under the circumstances it would be in the 
interest of the participants and beneficiaries to do otherwise. The IB 
also provides that fiduciaries must conduct an objective, thorough and 
analytical search for purposes of identifying providers from which to 
purchase annuities and sets forth six factors that should be considered 
by fiduciaries in evaluating a provider's claims paying ability and 
creditworthiness.
    In Advisory Opinion 2002-14A (Dec. 18, 2002) the Department 
expressed the view that the general fiduciary principles set forth in 
the IB with regard to the selection of annuity providers apply equally 
to defined benefit and defined contribution plans. The opinion 
recognized that, the selection of annuity providers by the fiduciary of 
a defined contribution plan would be governed by section 404(a)(1) and, 
therefore, such fiduciary, in evaluating claims paying ability and 
creditworthiness of an annuity provider, should take into account the 
six factors set forth in 29 CFR 2509.95-1(c).
    The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the PPA) (Pub. L. 109-280, 120 
Stat. 780) was enacted on August 17, 2006. Section 625 of the PPA 
directs the Secretary to issue final regulations within one year of the 
date of enactment, clarifying that the selection of an annuity contract 
as an optional form of distribution from an individual account plan is 
not subject to the safest available annuity standard under Interpretive 
Bulletin 95-1 and is subject to all otherwise applicable fiduciary 
standards. Consistent with section 625 of the PPA, the Department is 
amending Interpretive Bulletin 95-1, also published in today's Federal 
Register, to limit its application to defined benefit plans.
    Given that the fiduciary standards in Interpretive Bulletin 95-1 
would not apply to the selection of an annuity contract as an optional 
form of distribution from an individual account plan, the Department is 
proposing the adoption of this regulation that, in the form of a safe 
harbor, provides guidance concerning the fiduciary considerations 
attendant to the selection of annuity providers and contracts for 
purposes of benefit distributions from individual account plans. An 
overview of the proposed regulation follows.

B. Overview of Proposal

Scope of the Proposal

    Paragraph (a) of Sec.  2550.404a-4 provides that the scope of the 
proposed regulation is to provide guidance concerning ERISA's fiduciary 
standards applicable to the selection of annuity providers for the 
purpose of benefit distributions from an individual account plan and 
benefit distribution options made available to participants and 
beneficiaries under such plans. Paragraph (a) also includes a reference 
to Sec.  2509.95-1 for guidance concerning the selection of annuity 
providers for defined benefit plans.

[[Page 52022]]

Application of General Fiduciary Standards

    Paragraph (b) of Sec.  2550.404a-4 provides that selecting an 
annuity provider in connection with a benefit distribution, or a 
benefit distribution option made available to plan participants and 
beneficiaries, is a fiduciary act governed by the fiduciary standards 
of section 404(a)(1) of ERISA, pursuant to which fiduciaries must 
discharge their duties with respect to the plan solely in the interest 
of the participants and beneficiaries. Section 404(a)(1)(A) provides 
that the fiduciary must act for the exclusive purpose of providing 
benefits to the participants and beneficiaries and defraying reasonable 
plan administration expenses. Section 404(a)(1)(B) requires a fiduciary 
to act with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the 
prevailing circumstances that a prudent person acting in a like 
capacity and familiar with such matters would use.

Selection of Annuity Providers and Contracts

    Pursuant to paragraph (c) of Sec.  2550.404a-4, a fiduciary will 
have acted prudently in selecting an annuity provider and contract for 
purposes of benefit distributions, or benefit distribution options made 
available to participants and beneficiaries under the plan, if the 
conditions of that paragraph are satisfied. The specific conditions of 
this safe harbor are set forth in paragraph (c)(1)(A)-(F) of the 
proposal.
    Consistent with the requirements applicable to the selection of 
service providers generally, paragraph (c)(1)(A) requires the fiduciary 
to engage in an objective, thorough and analytical search for the 
purpose of identifying and selecting providers from which to purchase 
annuities. Any such process must avoid self dealing, conflicts of 
interest or other improper influence, and should, to the extent 
feasible, involve consideration of competing annuity providers.
    Paragraph (c)(1)(B) requires that the fiduciary responsible for the 
selection of the annuity provider appropriately determine whether he or 
she has the expertise or knowledge to meaningfully evaluate the annuity 
provider consistent with the requirements of the regulation. In those 
instances where the fiduciary appropriately determines that he or she 
has such expertise or knowledge, the fiduciary is not required to 
engage an independent expert (i.e., an expert independent of the 
annuity provider) to evaluate the annuity provider.
    Paragraph (c)(1)(C) requires that the fiduciary appropriately 
consider information sufficient to assess the ability of the annuity 
provider to make all future payments under the annuity contract. 
Paragraph (c)(1)(D) requires that the fiduciary appropriately consider 
the cost of the annuity contract in relation to the benefits and 
administrative services to be provided under the contract. Paragraph 
(c)(1)(E) requires that the fiduciary appropriately conclude that, at 
the time of the selection, the annuity provider is financially able to 
make all future payments under the annuity contract and the cost of the 
annuity contract is reasonable in relation to the benefits and services 
to be provided under the contract.
    Paragraph (c)(1)(F) requires that, for annuity providers selected 
to provide multiple annuities over time, the fiduciary periodically 
review the appropriateness of the conclusion described in paragraph 
(c)(1)(E), taking into account the factors described in paragraph 
(c)(1)(C) and (D). However, paragraph (c)(1)(F) does not require the 
fiduciary to review the appropriateness of an annuity provider with 
respect to an annuity contract after it is purchased for an individual 
participant or beneficiary.
    Paragraph (c)(2) provides additional guidance regarding how the 
fiduciary can meet the requirements of paragraphs (c)(1)(C) and (D). 
For example, paragraph (c)(2)(C) requires consideration of the annuity 
provider's experience and financial expertise. Paragraph (c)(2)(D) 
requires consideration of the annuity provider's level of capital, 
surplus, and reserves available to make payments under the annuity 
contract. Paragraph (c)(2)(E) requires that the fiduciary consider 
whether an annuity provider's rating (as determined by an appropriate 
rating service(s)) demonstrate or raise questions regarding the 
provider's ability to make future payments under the annuity contract. 
And, paragraph (c)(2)(G) requires that the fiduciary consider the 
availability of additional protections through state guaranty 
associations and the extent of their guarantees. In this regard, the 
type of information that the fiduciary should consider is information 
that is available to the public and easily accessible through such 
associations as well as state insurance departments. If known facts 
call into question the ability of a state association offering 
guarantees to meet its obligations under the guarantee, it would be 
incumbent on the fiduciary to weigh that information when selecting an 
annuity provider.
    Lastly, paragraph (c)(2)(H) requires consideration of any other 
information that the fiduciary knows or should know would be relevant 
to an evaluation of paragraphs (c)(1)(C) and (D). Such information 
would include that information which may not otherwise be described in 
paragraph (c)(2) or information surrounding events which, because of 
timing, may not yet have been reflected in those factors. For example, 
if a fiduciary learned through public indicators, such as the news 
media, that a corporate event affecting an annuity provider could call 
into serious question the provider's ability to make future payments 
under its contracts, or if the provider publicly stated that it was 
unlikely to survive the event in a manner that would ensure its ability 
to meet its financial commitments, the fiduciary would have an 
obligation to consider that information in evaluating paragraphs 
(c)(1)(C) and (D).

C. Request for Comments

    The Department invites comments from interested persons on all 
aspects of the proposed regulation. To facilitate the receipt and 
processing of comments, EBSA encourages interested persons to submit 
their comments electronically to www.regulations.gov (follow 
instructions for the submission of comments) or e-ORI@dol.gov. Persons 
submitting comments electronically are encouraged not to submit paper 
copies. Persons interested in submitting comments on paper should send 
or deliver their comments to: Office of Regulations and 
Interpretations, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Room N-
5669, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210. Attention: Annuity Regulation. All comments will 
be available to the public, without charge, online at 
www.regulations.gov and https://www.dol.gov/ebsa, and at the Public 
Disclosure Room, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room N-1513, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC, 20210 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Monday-Friday).

D. Effective Date

    The Department proposes to make the regulation effective 60 days 
after the date of publication of the final rule in the Federal 
Register.

E. Regulatory Impact Analysis

Executive Order 12866 Statement

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735), the Department must 
determine whether a regulatory action is ``significant'' and therefore 
subject to

[[Page 52023]]

review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Section 3(f) of 
the Executive Order defines a ``significant regulatory action'' as an 
action that is likely to result in a rule (1) having an annual effect 
on the economy of $100 million or more, or adversely and materially 
affecting a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the 
environment, public health or safety, or State, local or tribal 
governments or communities (also referred to as ``economically 
significant''); (2) creating serious inconsistency or otherwise 
interfering with an action taken or planned by another agency; (3) 
materially altering the budgetary impacts of entitlement grants, user 
fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients 
thereof; or (4) raising novel legal or policy issues arising out of 
legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth 
in the Executive Order. For purposes of Executive Order 12866, the 
Department has determined that it is appropriate to review the proposed 
regulation contained in this document, which, upon adoption, will 
provide, in the form of a safe harbor, standards for the selection of 
annuity providers by fiduciaries of individual account plans, in 
conjunction with the amendment to Interpretive Bulletin 95-1, also 
appearing in today's Federal Register, that, consistent with 
Congressional intent, establishes that the standards of the Bulletin no 
longer apply to individual account plans. These regulatory actions 
together implement section 625 of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. 
Having considered these regulatory actions in the aggregate, the 
Department believes that these actions are not economically significant 
within the meaning of section 3(f)(1) the Executive Order. The actions, 
however, have been determined to be significant within the meaning of 
section 3(f)(4) of the Executive Order, and the Department accordingly 
provides the following assessment of the potential benefits and costs. 
As elaborated below, the Department believes that the benefits of the 
regulation will justify its costs.
    There is growing concern that, with increases in life expectancy, 
many retirees may outlive their retirement savings. In this 
environment, annuities offer one means by which retirees may ensure a 
lifetime income.\1\ While a number of possible factors may influence a 
plan sponsor's decision not to offer an annuity distribution option as 
part of its plan, an often cited factor is concern about the fiduciary 
liability attendant to selecting the ``safest available'' annuity, as 
required by Interpretive Bulletin 95-1.\2\ The Department believes that 
many of those plan sponsors that viewed fiduciary liability attendant 
to compliance with the ``safest available'' annuity standard as the 
primary impediment to including an annuity option in their plan will be 
more willing to consider the addition of such an option with the 
amendment of Interpretive Bulletin 95-1 and the establishment of 
fiduciary standards, in the form of a safe harbor, for the prudent 
selection of annuity providers for individual account plans. Providing 
such a safe harbor to plan sponsors is unlikely to discourage plans 
that currently offer an annuity option from continuing to do so, and it 
may encourage more plans to offer an annuity alternative. This will 
give more participants the opportunity to annuitize their retirement 
savings, while not impeding them from choosing other distribution 
options.
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    \1\ See GAO-03-810 Private Pensions: Participants Need 
Information on Risks They Face in Managing Pension Assets at and 
during Retirement (July 2003) at https://www.gao.gov/htext/
d03810.html. Also see Report of Working Group on Retirement 
Distributions & Options (November 2005), Advisory Council on 
Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, at https://www.dol.gov/
ebsa/publications/AC_1105A_report.html.
    \2\ Such factors may include burdens attendant to administering 
qualified joint and survivor annuity options and spousal consent 
requirements, complexity of communications, need for participant 
education, lack of participant interest. See GAO-03-810 Private 
Pensions: Participants Need Information on Risks They Face in 
Managing Pension Assets at and during Retirement (July 2003) at 
https://www.gao.gov/htext/d03810.html. Also see Report of Working 
Group on Retirement Distributions & Options (November 2005), 
Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, at 
https://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/AC_1105A_report.html.
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    The proposed regulation could affect demand for annuities in two 
ways: by lowering the price of annuities, and by encouraging more plans 
to offer annuities by providing a safe harbor. Current research on 
annuities suggests that individual demand is largely price inelastic, 
which implies that a lower price would not result in a significant 
increase in individuals choosing an annuity. Holding the propensity of 
eligible individuals electing annuities constant but increasing the 
number of plans offering annuities, however, would result in an 
increase in the total number of individuals electing annuities.
    The Department estimates that in response to the safe harbor, the 
share of participants offered an annuity option for their withdrawal 
would increase by 1 percentage point, from 25 to 26 percent,\3\ while 
the share of eligible participants electing an annuity would remain at 
6 percent.\4\ The resulting total amount transferred into annuities by 
DC participants annually would be $2.41 billion, $93 million of which 
would be attributable to the regulation.\5\ While the estimated annual 
effect of this regulatory action is not considered ``economically 
significant,'' it is sensitive to assumptions regarding average 
separation rates, election rates and account balances.\6\ The 
Department invites comments from interested persons on the 
appropriateness of these assumptions.
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    \3\ Form 5500 data reports the number of participants in a DC 
plan that use insurance for at least one method of benefit payouts. 
This information was used to estimate the share of participants 
currently offered an annuity option for withdrawal, 25 percent in 
2003.
    \4\ Hewitt Associates. ``Survey Findings: Trends and Experiences 
in 401(k) Plans, 2005''.
    \5\ Estimate based on the average total balance of DC 
withdrawals as reported in Fidelity Investments', ``Building 
Futures: How Workplace Savings are Shaping the Future of 
Retirement,'' A Report on Corporate Defined Contribution Plans: 
2006.
    \6\ The reported analysis used separation rates reported in, 
Poterba, James, Steven Venti and David A. Wise. ``Demographic 
Change, Retirement Saving and Financial Market Returns: Part I,'' 
December 19, 2005. An alternative analysis, using withdrawal rates 
reported in Fidelity Investments', ``Building Futures: How Workplace 
Savings are Shaping the Future of Retirement,'' A Report on 
Corporate Defined Contribution Plans: 2006 generated an increase of 
$158 million.
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Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) (RFA) imposes 
certain requirements with respect to Federal rules that are subject to 
the notice and comment requirements of section 553(b) of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.) and that are likely 
to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Unless an agency certifies that a proposed rule will not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities, section 603 of the RFA requires that the agency present an 
initial regulatory flexibility analysis at the time of the publication 
of the notice of proposed rulemaking describing the impact of the rule 
on small entities and seeking public comment on such impact. The 
Department has considered the likely impact of the proposed regulation 
on small entities in connection with its assessment under Executive 
Order 12866, described above, and believes this rule will not have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. See 
foregoing analysis.

[[Page 52024]]

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rulemaking is not subject to the requirements of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Sec.  301 et seq.) because it does not 
contain ``collection of information'' requirements as defined in 44 
U.S.C. Sec.  3502(3). Accordingly, this proposed regulation is not 
being submitted to the OMB for review under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    For purposes of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 
104-4), the proposed regulation does not include any Federal mandate 
that may result in expenditures by State, local, or tribal governments, 
or impose an annual burden exceeding $100 million on the private 
sector.

Federalism Statement

    Executive Order 13132 (August 4, 1999) outlines fundamental 
principles of federalism and requires Federal agencies to adhere to 
specific criteria in the process of their formulation and 
implementation of policies that have substantial direct effects on the 
States, the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. This proposed regulation does not have 
federalism implications because it has no substantial direct effect on 
the States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Section 514 of ERISA provides, with 
certain exceptions specifically enumerated, that the provisions of 
Titles I and IV of ERISA supersede any and all laws of the States as 
they relate to any employee benefit plan covered under ERISA. The 
requirements implemented in the proposed regulation do not alter the 
fundamental provisions of the statute with respect to employee benefit 
plans, and as such would have no implications for the States or the 
relationship or distribution of power between the national government 
and the States.

List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 2550

    Annuities, Employee benefit plans, Fiduciaries, Pensions.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department proposes 
to amend Chapter XXV of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations as 
follows:

PART 2550--RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY

    1. The authority citation for part 2550 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1135; sec. 657, Pub. L. 107-16, 115 Stat. 
38; and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2003, 68 FR 5374 (Feb. 3, 
2003). Sec. 2550.401b-1 also issued under sec. 102, Reorganization 
Plan No. 4 of 1978, 43 FR 47713 (Oct. 17, 1978), 3 CFR, 1978 Comp. 
332, effective Dec. 31, 1978, 44 FR 1065 (Jan. 3, 1978), 3 CFR, 1978 
Comp. 332. Sec. 2550.401c-1 also issued under 29 U.S.C. 1101. 
Sections 2550.404c-1 and 2550.404c-5 also issued under 29 U.S.C. 
1104. Sec. 2550.407c-3 also issued under 29 U.S.C. 1107. Sec. 
2550.408b-1 also issued under 29 U.S.C. 1108(b)(1) and sec. 102, 
Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp. p. 332, 
effective Dec. 31, 1978, 44 FR 1065 (Jan. 3, 1978), and 3 CFR, 1978 
Comp. 332. Sec. 2550.412-1 also issued under 29 U.S.C. 1112. Sec. 
2550.404a-4 also issued under sec. 625, Pub. L. 109-280, 120 Stat. 
780.

    .2. Add Sec.  2550.404a-4 to read as follows:


Sec.  2550.404a-4  Selection of annuity providers for individual 
account plans.

    (a) Scope. This section provides guidance concerning the fiduciary 
standards under part 4 of title I of the Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. 1104-1114, applicable to the 
selection of an annuity provider for the purpose of benefit 
distributions from an individual account plan or benefit distribution 
options made available to participants and beneficiaries under such a 
plan. For guidance concerning the selection of an annuity provider for 
defined benefit plans see 29 CFR 2509.95-1.
    (b) In general. When an individual account plan purchases an 
annuity from an insurer as a distribution of benefits to a participant 
or beneficiary, the plan's liability for the payment of those benefits 
is transferred to the annuity provider. The selection of an annuity 
provider in connection with a benefit distribution, or a benefit 
distribution option made available to participants and beneficiaries 
under the plan, is governed by the fiduciary standards of section 
404(a)(1) of ERISA. Pursuant to ERISA section 404(a)(1), fiduciaries 
must discharge their duties with respect to the plan solely in the 
interest of the participants and beneficiaries. Section 404(a)(1)(A) 
provides that the fiduciary must act for the exclusive purpose of 
providing benefits to the participants and beneficiaries and defraying 
reasonable plan administration expenses. In addition, section 
404(a)(1)(B) requires a fiduciary to act with the care, skill, prudence 
and diligence under the prevailing circumstances that a prudent person 
acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use.
    (c) Selection of annuity providers and contracts. (1) With regard 
to a fiduciary's selection of an annuity provider for purposes of 
benefit distributions from an individual account plan or benefit 
distribution options made available to participants and beneficiaries 
under such a plan, the requirements of section 404(a)(1)(B) of ERISA 
are satisfied if the fiduciary:
    (i) Engages in an objective, thorough and analytical search for the 
purpose of identifying and selecting providers from which to purchase 
annuities;
    (ii) Appropriately determines either that the fiduciary had, at the 
time of the selection, the appropriate expertise to evaluate the 
selection or that the advice of a qualified, independent expert was 
necessary;
    (iii) Gives appropriate consideration to information sufficient to 
assess the ability of the annuity provider to make all future payments 
under the annuity contract;
    (iv) Appropriately considers the cost of the annuity contract in 
relation to the benefits and administrative services to be provided 
under such contract;
    (v) Appropriately concludes that, at the time of the selection, the 
annuity provider is financially able to make all future payments under 
the annuity contract and the cost of the annuity contract is reasonable 
in relation to the benefits and services to be provided under the 
contract; and
    (vi) In the case of an annuity provider selected to provide 
multiple contracts over time, periodically reviews the appropriateness 
of the conclusion described in paragraph (c)(1)(v) of this section, 
taking into account the factors described in paragraph (c)(1)(iii) and 
(iv) of this section. For purposes of this paragraph, a fiduciary is 
not required to review the appropriateness of an annuity provider with 
respect to an annuity contract purchased for an individual participant 
or beneficiary.
    (2) For purposes of paragraphs (c)(1)(iii) and (iv) of this 
section, a fiduciary shall consider information pertaining to the 
following:
    (i) The ability of the annuity provider to administer the payments 
of benefits under the annuity to the participants and beneficiaries and 
to perform any other services in connection with the annuity, if 
applicable;
    (ii) The cost of the annuity contract in relation to the benefits 
and administrative services to be provided under such contract, taking 
into account

[[Page 52025]]

the amount and nature of any fees and commissions;
    (iii) The annuity provider's experience and financial expertise in 
providing annuities of the type being selected or offered;
    (iv) The annuity provider's level of capital, surplus and reserves 
available to make payments under the annuity contract;
    (v) The annuity provider's ratings by insurance ratings services. 
Consideration should be given to whether an annuity provider's ratings 
demonstrate or raise questions regarding the provider's ability to make 
future payments under the annuity contract;
    (vi) The structure of the annuity contract and benefit guarantees 
provided, and the use of separate accounts to underwrite the provider's 
benefit obligations;
    (vii) The availability and extent of additional protection through 
state guaranty associations; and
    (viii) Any other information that the fiduciary knows or should 
know would be relevant to an evaluation of paragraphs (c)(1)(iii) and 
(iv) of this section.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 31st day of August, 2007.
Bradford P. Campbell,
Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 
Department of Labor.
 [FR Doc. E7-17743 Filed 9-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P