Pension Consultant study guide
Pension Consultant · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Pension Consultant (CPC) is a professional credential offered by ASPPA, the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries, a non-profit professional society. ASPPA lists the CPC among its credentials alongside the QKA, QP3, QKS, QKC, CBS and QPA designations, positioning it as part of a career roadmap for retirement plan professionals. The CPC is aimed at experienced practitioners who advise on retirement plan matters rather than only administer them: consultants, third-party administrator principals, actuaries-in-training and benefits attorneys who need working fluency across plan design, compliance and funding. Because the CPC sits at the consulting end of ASPPA's ladder, candidates are expected to reason across plan types rather than apply a single checklist. The Pension Consultant study guide has 4 sections and about 1,298 words.
01Pension and Retirement Plan Consulting
Pension and retirement plan consulting questions test the advisory judgment behind plan decisions: how to benchmark a plan, run a provider RFP, set a fiduciary governance calendar, and improve participant outcomes without creating new compliance risk. Expect scenarios involving a plan committee, a recordkeeper, an investment adviser, and a sponsor with turnover or acquisition issues.
336 words, about 2 min02Qualified Plan Design and Compliance
Qualified plan design and compliance tests your ability to apply IRC qualification rules to real plan designs: coverage, nondiscrimination, contribution limits, vesting, top-heavy minimums, distributions, and safe harbors. The exam favors fact patterns where one failed test drives a correction.
342 words, about 2 min03ERISA and Regulatory Requirements
ERISA and regulatory requirements test fiduciary status and process, reporting and disclosure, prohibited transactions, claims, and the line between ERISA and IRC rules. Scenarios often turn on a vendor arrangement or a participant notice.
281 words, about 1 min04Actuarial and Funding Concepts for Defined Benefit Plans
Actuarial and funding concepts for defined benefit plans test the link between plan formulas, actuarial assumptions, funding targets, and contribution rules. Expect calculations and questions about funding shortfalls, benefit restrictions, and PBGC premiums.
339 words, about 2 min