---
title: "D&O vs Fiduciary Liability: What’s the Difference?"
description: "D&O addresses management claims; fiduciary liability addresses alleged mishandling of employee benefit plans."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/insurance-faq/directors-officers/do-vs-fiduciary"
page-type: "faq-question"
updated-at: "2026-09-25"
---

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# D&O vs Fiduciary Liability: What’s the Difference?

D&O addresses management claims; fiduciary liability addresses alleged mishandling of employee benefit plans.

D&O addresses management claims; fiduciary liability addresses alleged mishandling of employee benefit plans.

The relevant question is what duty the person was performing. Corporate oversight or management may fall under D&O, while discretion over plan administration or assets can create ERISA fiduciary exposure. DOL says fiduciary status depends on function, and D&O forms may exclude ERISA-related claims. Side A/B/C distinctions do not substitute for a fiduciary-liability grant covering the plan and fiduciaries. Check the D&O exclusion, fiduciary policy’s definition of plan and insured, claim and loss terms, and any shared aggregate across a management-liability package. Confirm the plan and each relevant committee or trustee are included.

## Related Questions

- [Does D&O Cover Breach of Fiduciary Duty?](https://spot.insure/insurance-faq/directors-officers/do-cover-fiduciary-duty)
- [Does D&O Cover Employment Claims?](https://spot.insure/insurance-faq/directors-officers/do-cover-employment-claims)
- [D&O vs Management Liability: What’s the Difference?](https://spot.insure/insurance-faq/directors-officers/do-vs-management)
- [D&O vs E&O: What’s the Difference?](https://spot.insure/insurance-faq/directors-officers/do-vs-eo)

## Related Coverage

- [Directors and officers](https://spot.insure/coverage/directors-officers)

## Sources

1. [Glossary of Business Insurance Terms](https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/glossary-of-business-insurance-terms). The Hartford; Directors and Officers Liability Insurance; Errors and Omissions Insurance; Employment Practices Liability Insurance; Fiduciary Liability Insurance; General Liability Insurance; Management Liability Insurance; Underwriting. Accessed 2026-09-25.
2. [Private Company Directors and Officers Liability Coverage](https://asset.trvstatic.com/download/assets/pdo-3001.pdf/d66bd58e63c911ee99d14294a32ecb95). Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America; I.A–C p.1; III.A–E pp.1–2; III.J–M pp.2–3; IV Exclusions pp.3–4; VI Defense and Settlement pp.6–7; form version PDO-3001 Ed. 01-09. Accessed 2026-09-25.
3. [ERISA Fiduciary Advisor](https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/ebsa/fiduciary/q4a.htm). U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration; Who are the plan’s fiduciaries?. Accessed 2026-09-25.

More answers: [Directors and Officers (D&O) Insurance FAQ](https://spot.insure/insurance-faq/directors-officers).

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