Proposed Class Exemption for the Provision of Investment Advice

This document contains a notice of pendency before the Department of Labor (Department) of a proposed class exemption from certain prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA, or the Act), and from certain taxes imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Code). If granted, the proposed exemption would permit the provision of investment advice described in section 3(21)(A)(ii) of the Act by a fiduciary adviser to a participant or beneficiary in an individual account plan or individual retirement accounts (and certain similar plans), the acquisition, holding or sale of a security or other property pursuant to the investment advice, and the direct or indirect receipt of fees or other compensation by the fiduciary adviser (or any employee, agent, registered representative or affiliate thereof) in connection with such transactions. The proposed exemption, if granted, would affect sponsors, fiduciaries, participants and beneficiaries of participant-directed individual account plans, as well as providers of investments and investment advice-related services to such plans. DATES: Written comments on the proposed exemption should be submitted to the Department of Labor on or before October 6, 2008.