C-ELBW study plan

Map the ERISA Title I and Internal Revenue Code qualification requirements for retirement plans into a single outline distinguishing statutory, regulatory, and interpretive authority

Explain fiduciary status categories (named, functional, co-fiduciary) and identify which plan roles trigger each category in three hypothetical fact patterns

Distinguish the six prohibited transaction exemptions most commonly tested and state the conditions that must be satisfied for each

Compute a basic excise tax exposure under IRC section 4975 for a corrected prohibited transaction

Apply ERISA fiduciary duties of loyalty and prudence to a documented investment selection and monitoring scenario

Trace the minimum funding, vesting, and accrual rules applicable to defined benefit and defined contribution plans and note where they diverge

Identify prohibited transaction categories involving parties in interest and disqualified persons and explain the affiliation tests

Analyze fiduciary breach remedies including surcharge, equitable relief, and co-fiduciary liability

Diagram the ACA market reform, employer shared responsibility, and reporting obligations and note which apply by employer size

Outline HIPAA portability, privacy, and nondiscrimination rules and identify the plan documents each requires

Sequence COBRA notice, election, and premium obligations from a qualifying event through expiration

Apply the coverage and nondiscrimination tests (ratio percentage, average benefit, ADP/ACP, top-heavy) to sample plan data

Calculate and interpret ADP, ACP, and top-heavy results and select the appropriate correction method for each failure

Assemble the annual reporting and disclosure calendar mapping each Form 5500 schedule and participant notice to its deadline and triggering event

Distinguish reportable event, summary annual report, and fee disclosure requirements by plan type

Draft the participant-level disclosure checklist for a mid-year plan change

Apply IRC section 409A deferral election timing, distribution event, and documentation rules to three compensation arrangements

Identify 280G parachute payment triggers and compute the excess parachute payment in a worked example

Explain the current status and practical effect of section 162(m) deduction limits on executive pay design

Classify common fringe and employer-provided benefits by tax treatment and inclusion in income

Walk an adverse benefit determination through the ERISA claims procedure, including timing, appeal, and exhaustion requirements

Evaluate the standard of review applied to claim denials and identify the documentation that supports each side

Explain withdrawal liability computation, payment options, and the statutory and plan-based defenses available to an employer

Distinguish single-employer, multiple-employer, and multiemployer plan rules for funding and insolvency

Apply the ethics and practice standards governing conflicts of interest, competence, and client confidentiality to four short scenarios

Compare the IRS and Department of Labor correction programs and select the appropriate program for five described failures

Summarize recent legislative and regulatory developments and state their practical effect on plan administration

Identify which recent changes require plan document amendments and by when

Complete two full-length timed practice exams under exam conditions and score each by domain

Rework every missed question to identify the underlying rule gap rather than the answer

Drill the weakest three domains using condensed flashcards until recall exceeds 85 percent

Rehearse the exam-day time allocation and question-triaging strategy