AO 2002-14A (12/18/02). Excerpt: It is the view of the Department that it is appropriate for the fiduciary of a defined contribution plan in selecting an annuity provider to take into account the costs and benefits to the participant or beneficiary of competing annuity products. Consistent with the IB, however, a lower cost cannot justify the purchase of an unsafe annuity even when the annuity would pay a higher benefit amount to the participant or beneficiary.  MORE >>