Retirement Plan Fundamentals (RPF)
Webcourses

Registration
How do webcourses work?
How do I access the webcourses?
Continuing education credit
RPF examinations
RPF-1 webcourse topics and instructor
RPF-2 webcourse topics and instructors

ASPPA is pleased to offer webcourses for RPF-1 and RPF-2. Each webcourse consists of five sessions, each lasting approximately 1 hour. The webcourses are designed to help candidates prepare for the RPF examinations by addressing the most challenging topics on the examinations. The registration fee for each webcourse is $110. Access to the webcourses will be available until December 31, 2007 for registered participants.

It is expected that webcourse registrants preparing for an examination thoroughly study the topics covered in the required reading for the RPF examinations that is outlined in their respective syllabi. The webcourse sessions should not be used as a substitute for these materials.

Registration
Register online or download the registration form.

Please note: if you register online, you will receive immediate access to the presentation through your ASPPA online account. If you register via fax or mail, you will receive an e-mail containing instructions for accessing the webcourse within 2-3 business days following receipt of your registration. If registering by fax or mail, the webcourses will not be available in your account, they will be accessed through a link.

How do webcourses work?
Recorded webcourses are offered completely over the Internet, using Flash presentation software. To attend, a participant must have Internet access, a sound card and speakers for his or her computer. Presentation slides are available for download as PDF documents. Registered participants may only access the webcourse session presentations once. You will need the Flash plugin for your Internet browser.

How do I access the webcourses?
Webcourse registrants who register online will receive immediate access to the webcourse through their ASPPA online account. Once you log-in to your account, you will see a link on the left hand side of your screen. Choose the session you wish to view to download the slides and access the presentation. You will be taken to a screen where you will be asked to provide your name, company and e-mail address. Once you submit this information, the presentation will begin. You will only be able to access the session once.

Continuing Education Credit
Each webcourse session attended will earn you one ASPPA CE credit. Session 2 of the RPF-1 webcourse is worth 2 credits. If all sessions are viewed you can earn six ASPPA CE credits for the RPF-1 webcourse and five ASPPA CE credit for the RPF-2 webcourse. ASPPA will not issue any certification of attendance. Please report this CE activity under the self-reporting section.

RPF Examinations
For more information, to view the RPF syllabi, to register to take the RPF examinations please visit the RPF information page.

RPF-1 Webcourse Topics and Instructor
The RPF-1 webcourse is presented by Natalie Vaughn, CPC, QPA and corresponds with the RPF-1 Study Guide: Retirement Plan Fundamentals Part I.

Session 1: Chapters 1 and 2
Session 2: Chapter 3, 4 and 5
Session 3: Chapters 6, 7 and 8
Session 4: Chapter 9 and 10
Session 5: Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16

Topics covered include:

• Differences between a defined contribution and defined benefit plan
• Five-percent owner determination and IRC §318 attribution
• The concept of common control
• Roles and duties of plan fiduciaries, plan administrators and other service providers to a plan
• Parties-in-interest and prohibited transactions
• Calculation of an accrued benefit in a defined benefit plan
• Maximum benefit limits applicable to defined benefit plans
• Types of plan documents
• Documents necessary in plan implementation
• Fidelity bonding requirements
• HCE determination
• Key employee determination
• Statutory eligibility and participation requirements
• Calculation of a participant’s vesting percentage and vested benefit
• General requirements for plan qualification
• Form 5500 reporting requirements
• Required disclosures to participants
• In-service withdrawals
• Basic requirements and tax consequences of hardship withdrawals
• Participant loans
• Normal retirement age
• Involuntary distribution rules
• Required minimum distribution rules
• IRS and DOL programs available for correction of plan defects

RPF-2 Webcourse Topics and Instructors
The RPF-2 webcourse is presented by Sonya Wright, CFP®, QKA, RPA; Dennis D. Davis, Jr., SPHR, CEBS, QKA, QPA, CPC; Robert Long, APM, CLU, ChFC; and Miriam L. Dudiak, QPA, QKA. The material covered in the RPF-2 webcourse corresponds with the RPF-2 Study Guide: Retirement Plan Fundamentals Part II.

Session 1: Chapters 1, 2 and 3 (Sonya D. Wright, CFP®, QKA, RPA)
Session 2: Chapters 4, 5 and 6 (Sonya D. Wright, CFP®, QKA, RPA)
Session 3: Chapters 7, 8 and 9 (Dennis D. Davis, Jr., SPHR, CEBS, QKA, QPA, CPC)
Session 4: Chapters 10, 11, 12 and 13 (Robert Long, APM, CLU, ChFC)
Session 5: Chapter 14, 15 and 16 (Miriam L. Dudiak, QPA, QKA)

Topics covered include:

• Pro rata contribution allocation formula
• Rules regarding annual additions and the determination of the limit
• Top-heavy determination
• Ration percentage test
• Safe harbor 401(k) plans
• Daily valuation
• Differences between balance-forward and daily valuation methodologies
• Characteristics of efficient investments in daily valued plans
• Plan design and disclosure issues regarding ERISA §404(c)
• Ministerial functions
• Basic asset classes for mutual fund investments
• Fiduciary responsibilities regarding fee and expense disclosure
• Types of fees
• Recordkeeping processes for daily valued plans
• Participant initiated transfers in a daily valued plan
• Forward pricing, trade partners, transfer agent, omnibus level trading, trading deadlines, settlement date and fund position
• Roles of recordkeeper, trading partner, transfer agent, mutual fund company and investment manager
• Ethical concerns regarding the correction of trading errors in daily valued plans
• Conversion process and challenges of moving from balanced-forward methodology to daily valuation
• Blackout rules
• Differences between a Type 1 and Type 2 SAS 70 report
• Reports commonly prepared by service organizations for plan auditors
• Requirements for terminating defined contribution and defined benefit plans
• Involuntary termination of a defined benefit plan

Please Note: The statements and materials presented during ASPPA webcourses are solely the opinions of the speakers and do not represent the opinion or the position of ASPPA. ASPPA assumes no responsibility for the content of the statements and materials presented by speakers during ASPPA's webcourses.

Need More Information?
Questions? E-mail ASPPA Education Services at educasppa@asppa.org.