ERISA is a federal law that sets minimum standards for retirement plans in private industry. ERISAqualified plans offer robust protection from creditors because you can't set them up yourself.The annual report of employee welfare and pension plans may be filed with the Department of Labor (DOL) in compliance with Section 103 of ERISA. A 401k can help you attract new talent, retain valued employees and save for retirement yourself. Learn how to set up a 401k for your business. ERISA requires employers that sponsor defined benefit plans to fund the pension benefits that plan participants earn each year. This GRIST provides a basic primer on ERISA's preemption of state laws, including various exceptions, exclusions and court rulings. Plans that do not adhere to the rules laid out in ERISA are nonqualified. You must terminate employment to be eligible to receive pension benefits from CCPF. CHECKLIST. Sued the company and plan fiduciaries, alleging a series of ERISA violations.