Big Ideas, Real Impact
Should Plan Sponsors Conduct an RFP — or Is Benchmarking Enough?
Should Plan Sponsors Conduct an RFP — or Is Benchmarking Enough?
One of the most common questions plan sponsors ask when evaluating benefit plan service providers is simple:
Do we need to run a full RFP, or is benchmarking sufficient?
The answer is rarely absolute. What matters most is not the specific tool used, but whether the review process is thoughtful, impartial, and defensible.
What Should Trigger a Fiduciary Review — and Why Waiting Can Create Risk
Fiduciary reviews shouldn’t be driven by problems alone. Learn the key events that should trigger a review — and why proactive action protects plan sponsors.
What a Defensible Fiduciary Process Actually Looks Like for Plan Sponsors
Many plan sponsors know they are fiduciaries — but don’t know what a defensible process looks like. Learn the practical elements regulators and courts expect to see.
How Often Plan Sponsors Should Review Service Providers — and Why Timing Matters
Many plan sponsors aren’t sure how often they should review benefit plan service providers. Learn what fiduciary standards expect — and how to avoid common timing mistakes
Broker Compensation and Fiduciary Risk: What Plan Sponsors Need to Understand Now
Broker compensation structures can create fiduciary risk plan sponsors rarely see. Learn how commissions, incentives, and transparency requirements are changing expectations.
Why Relying on Non-Fiduciaries Creates Risk — Even When Everyone Is Acting in Good Faith
Plan sponsors often rely on brokers and consultants who are not fiduciaries. Learn why that reliance creates risk — and what sponsors are expected to manage themselves.
Why Benefit Brokers Are (Usually) Not Considered Fiduciaries — and Why That’s Becoming a Problem
Many plan sponsors don’t realize they are fiduciaries under federal law. Learn what fiduciary responsibility actually means — and why understanding it early matters.
Benchmarking Fees vs. Evaluating Providers: Why Both Matter — and Why Sponsors Confuse Them
Fee benchmarking alone won’t satisfy ERISA requirements. Learn the key differences between benchmarking and provider evaluation — and why both are essential for compliance.
What Attorneys Wish Their Clients Understood About Fiduciary Duty
ERISA attorneys see fiduciary risk long before their clients do. Here are the five things plan sponsors often misunderstand — and what attorneys wish they knew.
The Parallel Paths: Why Health Benefit Plans Are Entering the Same Litigation Cycle as Retirement Plans
Health benefit plans are entering the same litigation cycle that reshaped retirement plans. Learn the warning signs — and what plan sponsors must do now.
How Vendor Relationships Can Create Hidden Fiduciary Risk — Even When Performance Is Strong
Strong vendor relationships can still create fiduciary risk. Learn why familiarity, loyalty, and convenience may undermine compliance — even when performance is solid.
Why Your Internal RFP May Not Hold Up in Court
Most plan sponsors assume that their internal RFP process is “good enough.” They compare a few vendors, pull together a committee, and settle on a partner they trust. But under ERISA, “good enough” doesn’t hold up.
The #1 Reason ERISA Attorneys Refer Us — And What They Know That You Don’t
ERISA attorneys don’t refer vendors lightly. Learn why so many trust Culpepper RFP to protect their clients from fiduciary risk — and what they see long before plan sponsors do.
When Silence = Risk: How Fiduciary Gaps Hide in Plain Sight
ERISA attorneys don’t refer vendors lightly. Discover why so many rely on Culpepper RFP to protect their clients — and what they know that plan sponsors often overlook.
What Plan Sponsors Can Learn from Fiduciary Litigation Headlines
The latest ERISA lawsuits aren’t about fraud — they’re about process. Learn what today’s headlines reveal about your risk exposure and how to avoid becoming one.