LEONARD L. GAROFOLO
Email: lgarofolo@erisaconsultinggroup.com

"If those responsible for plan compliance take proper precautions, the vast majority of potential ERISA violations can be prevented. Even after violations occur, ERISA and Internal Revenue Code penalties can be mitigated if such violations are promptly corrected." - Leonard L. Garofolo, Principal, ERISA Consulting Group and former Regional Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Pension & Welfare Benefits Administration.

Mr. Garofolo spent almost 25 years at the U. S. Department of Labor directing a professional staff of auditors, investigators, and attorneys charged with enforcing ERISA and companion provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. For more than four years, Mr. Garofolo has provided expert advice and consultation to plan officials and service providers on employee benefit plan compliance issues. He has provided expert consultation services to fiduciaries, accountants, attorneys, plan administrators, and participants of pension and welfare benefit plans. He has served as a special plan investigating committee member, rendered advice on adequate consideration issues in the context of plan investments, provided advise on plan internal accounting and administrative controls, and many other ERISA and Internal Revenue Code compliance and regulatory issues.

His expertise includes:
  • Reviewing investment transactions
  • Reviewing plans for compliance with the fiduciary and reporting and disclosure standards of ERISA
  • Assisting plan officials in obtaining benefits from plan insurers for participants and beneficiaries
  • Selecting,evaluating,and monitoring plan service providers
  • Evaluating the adequacy of plan internal controls and record keeping

Before founding ERISA Consulting Group, Mr. Garofolo served as Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA) from 1983 to 1998. As Regional Director, he was responsible for enforcing the provisions of Title I of ERISA in a geographic area covering seven western states (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and California).

As Regional Director at the Department of Labor, Mr. Garofolo reviewed, approved, and issued investigative findings involving ERISA violations; determined the appropriateness of voluntary compliance and monetary restitution to employee benefit plans; approved the initiation of civil litigation; and recommended criminal prosecution for violations, when appropriate. Mr. Garofolo was responsible for coordinating all Department of Labor ERISA related activities with the Departments of Justice and Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and other federal and state departments or agencies.

He has been a speaker and panelist at numerous pension and welfare plan meetings, seminars, and conferences sponsored by plan practitioners and associations. These include the American Bar Association, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Western Pension and Benefits Conference, Mountain States Pension Conference, California Bankers Association, and San Francisco Securities Traders. He has also taught advanced ERISA classes at California State University, Fullerton.

Mr. Garofolo has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Georgia. He graduated cum laude from Pace University in New York, with a Bachelor in Business Administration with majors in business law and accounting. He has an Associate Degree in Applied Science in accounting from Westchester College in New York. He has also attended Atlanta Law School and completed numerous government and private sector courses relating to employee benefit plans, labor relations, real estate, tax law, and management. He is a licensed real estate broker in the State of California.

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