Introduction to Employee Benefit Plans   Updated

This course is an introduction to employee benefit plans that begins with a historical recount of the perceived inadequacies in the pre-ERISA laws relating to the participation, funding, and vesting for retirement plans, as well as fiduciary responsibilities and liabilities for both retirement and welfare plans. These early rules were seen as narrowly focused and did not cover many aspects of retirement plans. As a result, ERISA was enacted to correct the failings of these rules. The course expands on the introduction by looking at the rules associated with qualified plans that let a person turn his back on income (defer) by contributing the amounts to a qualified plan and thereby defer the tax to the future. Finally, the course focuses on the reporting and auditing requirements for employee pension plans and employee welfare plans with respect to ERISA, IRC, and DOL. This course has been evaluated for impacts from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the SECURE Act of 2019, the CARES Act of 2020, and the American Rescue Act of 2021. In addition, although most of the rules pertaining to this material have not changed over the past year, the same cannot be said about the thresholds and limitations, which are annually adjusted for inflation. This course is most beneficial to professionals new to Employee Benefit Plans who may be at the staff or entry level in the organization but also for a seasoned professional with limited exposure to Employee Benefit Plans.

By proceeding to the examination, you acknowledge and confirm that you have completed the required coursework.