Fundamentals in Retirement Plans

Gain a broad understanding of everything you need to know about designing and administering a compliant retirement plan. Required and elective e-learning courses will outline the different plan structures available, legal and regulatory requirements, contribution and distribution rules, and the unique responsibilities of plan sponsors, fiduciaries, service providers and other decision makers.

Upon enrolling in the Fundamentals in Retirement Plans certificate, you will get access to five e-learning courses. To earn the certificate, you must complete two required courses and one elective course of your choice. You will retain access to the remaining two elective courses that you don’t choose to complete if/when you want.

Benefits of Earning Your Certificate

After successfully earning your Fundamentals in Retirement Plans certificate you will be able to:

• Describe the history and objectives of employer-sponsored retirement plans and how they are designed to serve the needs of both plan sponsors and employees
• Explain how defined contribution, defined benefit, hybrid, and nonqualified plans operate
• Detail specific IRC and ERISA requirements that various plans must meet to be qualified
• Identify tax advantages that a qualified retirement plan may receive
• Specify the minimum statutory requirements for employee communication and how a plan sponsor can expand on these to better educate its employees
• Describe the fiduciary responsibilities to prudently select and monitor both plan investments and vendors providing services to the plan.

Who Should Enroll

The Fundamentals in Retirement Plans certificate is best suited for:

• Individuals new to the employee benefits industry
• Experienced benefits professionals that are serving a new type of plan.

Following the successful completion of an online certificate in employee benefits fundamentals, students will be able to apply their knowledge in the field and gain valuable experience. Students will also be well-prepared to further apply their learning by attending face-to-face International Foundation programs and earning their Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation.

Required Courses

• Overview of Retirement Plans
• Retirement Plan Investments and Vendor Management

Elective Courses

• Defined Benefit Plans
• Defined Contribution Plans
• 401(k) Plans