DOL Announces Temporary Enforcement Policy in Response to Fifth Circuit Decision Invalidating New Fiduciary Rule

On May 7, 2018, the DOL issued Field Assistance Bulletin 2018-02 (?Ç£FAB 2018-02?Ç¥), in which it announced a temporary policy related to enforcement of its new fiduciary duty rule and related exemptions (collectively, the ?Ç£Fiduciary Rule?Ç¥) in advance of an expected order to be issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacating the entire Fiduciary Rule (for more information on the Fifth Circuit?ÇÖs decision to vacate the Fiduciary Rule, please see our prior blog post). Effective as of June 9, 2017, and until the DOL issues additional regulations, exemptions, or other applicable administrative guidance, the DOL will not pursue prohibited transaction claims against fiduciaries who provide investment advice so long as the fiduciary is working diligently and in good faith to comply with guidance previously issued by the DOL under the Fiduciary Rule, such as the best interest contract exemption or principal transactions exception. The DOL also announced in FAB 2018-02 that it is considering whether additional temporary or permanent prohibited transaction relief for investment advice fiduciaries is needed in light of the Fifth Circuit?ÇÖs decision. View FAB 2018-02.