Final answer:
Investment diversification rights in an ESOP apply to participants who are at least 55 years old and have participated in the plan for at least 10 years. Early retirement eligibility, marital status, or being 65 years of age are not the conditions for these rights. Option a. who is at least age 55 and has been a participant in the plan for at least 10 years is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to investment diversification rights of a participant in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Specifically, it asks about the conditions under which such rights apply. To accurately address the question, it's important to realize that these conditions relate to eligibility based on age and length of participation in the plan.
Certain diversification rights do indeed apply to a participant in an ESOP who is at least age 55 and has been a participant in the plan for at least 10 years. These regulations provide an opportunity for individuals to diversify their retirement portfolio as they approach retirement age, allowing them to transfer some of their ESOP holdings into other investments, which can help reduce risk. It is not dependent on early retirement eligibility, marital status, or being exactly 65 years of age.
Therefore, when discussing investment diversification rights under an ESOP, the correct option in the final answer is: a. who is at least age 55 and has been a participant in the plan for at least 10 years.