Are you the decision-maker for your company’s retirement plan? In legal-speak, that’s known as a fiduciary , and it’s a heavy responsibility. In fact, you’re probably aware that you’re personally liable for your decisions, and you’ve probably heard all the horror stories about lawsuits against companies like yours and people like you. You may also be facing immense pressure from your employees and coworkers, who are trusting you to make decisions about their retirement future. Meanwhile, you’re being bombarded by hordes of slick salespeople spouting confusing technical jargon. But the “f-word” isn’t a responsibility you should fear. It’s one you should embrace! That’s where The Fiduciary Formula comes in. This simple, easy-to-understand guide teaches you how to build a retirement plan your company can be proud of. Covering everything from plan design, fees, and investments to participant support and provider management, The Fiduciary Formula is your roadmap for making successful decisions for your company and the people you care about. "The evolution of financial science has improved the lives of real people, and Josh Itzoe has helped to channel this spirit by advocating for evidence-based investing in retirement accounts. His contributions continue in his new book, The Fiduciary Formula , a comprehensive guide that will help fiduciaries in their quest to continuously improve outcomes for 401(k) plan participants." -- David Booth , founder and executive chairman of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP "I have admired Josh for many years. He is a pioneer in our industry, and at the forefront of helping retirement plan fiduciaries understand their responsibilities and navigate the complexities of ERISA. Anyone serving as a retirement plan fiduciary would be well served by reading this book. Your company, your participants, and your fellow committee members will be happy you did." -- Fielding Miller , CEO and co-founder of CAPTRUST " The Fiduciary Formula is an insightful and timely book that provides practical guidance for overseeing and managing a retirement plan in a changing world. If you are a fiduciary, read this book! It will help you make sound decisions for your organization and your employees." -- Ann Schleck , principal at InspiredMeetings by Ann Schleck and former National Practice Leader for Defined Contribution Plans at Deloitte "Josh Itzoe has crafted an easily digested guide that corporate leaders would be wise to read. They can thank him later when they avoid the risk, expense, and headaches that other plan sponsors will sadly endure. I especially enjoyed Josh's explanation of the conflicts of interest that are sometimes hard to see." -- Greg Long , former managing fiduciary of the U.S. Government's Thrift Savings Plan "A "fiduciary" (fi*du*ci*ar*y) is a person or institution that has the power to act on behalf of another in situations that require the utmost trust, honesty, and loyalty. They are legally bound to provide the "highest standard of care." They must always act in the beneficiary's best interest, even if doing so is contrary to their own. For a financial advisor, this may mean recommending a product that results in reduced or no compensation because it is the best option for the client." However, in the financial services industry, the distinction between fiduciary advice and "product distributor" is neither recognized nor understood by the public. It's unfortunate, but true, that people do not know how to identify financial advice that is truly in their best interest. More than half of investors believe their advisor is operating much like their accountant, attorney, or doctor, and falsely believe all advisors are legally required to always act in their clients' best interests. That means these obligations extend beyond the first meeting. A fiduciary will continually monitor a client's investments and financial situation and adhere to best practices of conduct for the duration of the relationship. Josh Itzoe has been an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) Designee since 2007. He mastered the four-step process detailed in his AIF® Designation training and through his work he embodies fiduciary excellence: organizing clients' portfolios for success, formalizing an investment strategy, conducting due diligence and implementing the strategy, and monitoring fees, results and providers. The Fiduciary Formula is brilliant because it is elegant in its simplicity and is easy to understand and implement. Josh is correct, there is no perfect corporate retirement plan but using the Fiduciary Formula you can optimize your plan for successful outcomes." -- Matthew Wolniewicz , president of Fi360 Josh Itzoe is a co-founder, partner, and chief strategy officer at Greenspring Advisors, a registered investment advisor (RIA) and the 2018 PLANSPONSOR Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year-Small Team. He is also the host of the Fiduciary U podcast and creator of FeeMetr