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2017 SPARK
EDUCATION
PROGRAMS
2017 SPARK Education Program
Copyright © 2017, The SPARK Institute, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Page 1
SPARK training programs have been
delivered to 5,803 individuals in a
classroom setting, and 2,756 individuals
in an online environment – for a total of
8,559 industry professionals from
74 companies completing courses
offered through the SPARK program.
Leverage SPARK education to:
• Enrich the learning for new hires in entry level jobs (e.g. call centers, processing centers, programmers)
• Keep staff up-to-date with industry topics and trends – help your staff develop a broader ‘outside-in’ view to enrich their customer interactions
• Jump start learning for higher level professionals who do not have an extensive retirement industry background (e.g. technology staff, marketing staff, sales support staff, operational design staff, employee communications staff)
Take advantage of SPARK member discounts
SPARK offers certification and
training programs that provide
the retirement plan industry
with effective, relevant and
timely education programs
that meet the needs of SPARK
members.
Page 1
SPARK EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Benefits to SPARK Members
There are two primary components in the current educational offering:
Basic, Specialty and Advanced Training
Online delivery can be supplemented with webinar or classroom support
Courses designed to:
• Help those new to the retirement industry gain a foundational understanding of the business
• Help those more experienced update their knowledge and explore more advanced topics
Courses updated twice annually
Designations and Accreditation
Designations achieved through online courses and comprehensive exams
Designations maintained through a robust annual CE program
Accredited by an independent third party
“SPARK is an industry leader in the Retirement Plan Industry and your certifications are widely recognized by the individuals I deal with day in and day out.”
SPARK Certified Professional
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Page 2
SPARK recognizes individual proficiency in the retirement savings plan industry with two professional designations:
The SPARK Accredited Retirement Plan Consultant (ARPC) designation is awarded to sales and marketing professionals who have met the eligibility requirements and successfully completed an examination.
SPARK
SPARK
Achieving the designation is best accomplished through a series of SPARK courses and successful completion of a comprehensive exam.
Maintaining a designation is contingent upon successfully completing continuing education requirements on an annual basis.
SPARK
SPARK
The SPARK Accredited Retirement Plan Specialist (ARPS) is earned by administrative and recordkeeping professionals who have met the eligibility requirements and successfully completed an examination.
DESIGNATIONS
A SPARK designation:
• Verifies knowledge
• Demonstrates professionalism
• Enhances credibility
• Demonstrates proficiency
In addition to the knowledge and skills gained through SPARK’s professional designation programs, earning a SPARK designation also provides:
• The right to publish the designation on business cards, stationery and other professional documents
• Verification of the designation on the SPARK websites
• Electronic semi-annual updates to the program materials
• A copy of the quarterly SPARK Journal
Since the SPARK designations were first awarded in 2004, a total of 768 ARPS, and 1,124 ARPC designations have been awarded across over 160 companies.
Page 2 Page 3
“Your program is good for training a person to think in a qualified plan way.”
“Top notch educational materials”
“The last module we had to complete in 2014 was the best so far -- relevant and effective.”“The certification is important when working with partners in the retirement plan business. It shows a commitment to a niche part of the investment industry.”
“Certification enhances my credibility when working with clients and their advisors.”
ARPS’s (37 respondents)
• 62.1% agree or strongly agree that the SPARK designation and CE program is important to their customers or managers.
• 78.4% agree or strongly agree that the SPARK designation and CE program keeps them up to date on industry issues.
TESTIMONIALS FROM ACCREDITED PROFESSIONALS
Page 4
RESULTS FROM OUR RECENT SURVEY1:
ARPC’s (46 respondents)
• 89.1% agree or strongly agree that the SPARK designation and CE program is relevant to their job.
• 82.6% agree or strongly agree that the SPARK designation and CE program keeps them up to date on industry issues.
1Web survey conducted by SPARK in
March, 2015
SPARK
SPARKSPARK
SPARK
BASIC - Designed to teach the fundamental concepts of the retirement plan industry:
Retirement Plans and Industry Overview
Plan Features and Design
Participant Communications, Education, and Advice
SPECIALTY - Content which builds on the basic courses and specializes in administration and recordkeeping and/or sales and marketing:
Plan Activity and Accounting
Plan Investments and Accounting
Plan Reporting and Compliance
Retirement Plan Market and Sales Process
All courses have the same robust components.
Easy Online Navigation
Learning Activities
Learning Objectives Exams
Email Support from
Facilitator
Available Courses
BASIC - Designed to teach the fundamental concepts of the retirement plan industry:
Retirement Plans and Industry Overview
Plan Features and Design
Participant Communications, Education, and Advice
SPECIALTY - Content which builds on the basic courses and specializes in administration and record keeping and/or sales and marketing:
Plan Activity and Accounting
Plan Investments and Accounting
Plan Reporting and Compliance
Retirement Plan Market and Sales Process
ADVANCED - Focused on in depth reviews of current topics and issues in the retirement plan industry. Two new courses developed annually.
ERISA Fiduciary Issues
Employee Communications Issues
ERISA 403(b) Plans and Regulations
Retirement Plan Fee Reporting and Disclosure Requirements
Understanding Multiple Employer Plans (MEPS)
Retirement Income Products in DC Plans
A Closure Look at Investments
Retirement Plan Market and Industry Issues
ADVANCED - Focused on in depth reviews of current topics and issues in the retirement plan industry. Two new courses developed annually.
Employee Communications Issues
ERISA 403(b) Plans and Regulations
Retirement Plan Fee Reporting and Disclosure Requirements
Understanding Multiple Employer Plans (MEPS)
Retirement Income Products in DC Plans
A Closer Look at Investments
Retirement Plan Market and Industry Issues - 2016
Trends in DC Investment Menu Design
ERISA Fiduciary Requirements and DOL Regulations
All courses have the same robust components.
AVAILABLE COURSES
Page 4 Page 5
THE SPARK EDUCATION CENTER
Available through the SPARK website at www.sparkusa.org
Page 6
Each course begins with a similar introduction that helps the student navigate the course and access help and resources.
Each course has specific learning
objectives
Students are informed as to how long each course should take to complete.
Students can track their progress
through the course outline
Students are provided access to support
resources and a glossary of terms.
THE SPARK EDUCATION CENTER
Each course begins with a similar introduction that helps the student navigate the course and access help and resources.
Page 6 Page 7
.
.
Many courses have engaging interactive tools that help the student dive as deep as they wish to go into a given subject.
Interactive tools make learning
engaging.
Students can dive deeper to learn more.
Many courses have engaging interactive tools that help the student dive as deep as they wish to go into a given subject.
THE SPARK EDUCATION CENTER
Page 8
Online exams and reviews give real time feedback to students.
Each exam shows how much time is left
to complete.
Exam answers are simple and complex
multiple choice selections
Online exams and reviews give real time feedback to students.
ONLINE EXAMINATIONS
Page 8 Page 9
.
End of course exams provide detailed review opportunities and certificate awards are sent immediately to the student’s email address.
Scoring is available immediately online.
Passing an exam immediately results
in a certificate of completion.
Details of right and wrong answers are available immediately online
End of course exams provide detailed review opportunities and certificate awards are sent immediately to the student’s email address.
CERTIFICATE AWARDS
Page 10
.
Each student can always see their online course curriculum as well as a catalog of all courses available. Each course can be launched directly from the curriculum page.
The status of any exam can be seen by rolling over the ! box
Course status and due date are always
available.
Each student can always see their online course curriculum as well as a catalog of all courses available. Each course can be launched directly from the curriculum page.
ONLINE COURSE CURRICULUM
Page 10 Page 11
.
ABG of Illinois
ADP Retirement Services
AllianceBernstein
Allianz
American Express
American Funds
Ameritas
Ascensus
AXA
BB&T
BlackRock
BNY Mellon
BOK Financial Corporation
CapTrust Financial Advisors
Ceridian
Charles Schwab
Columbia Funds Management
CUNA Mutual Group
DST
Empower
Fidelity Investments
Great West
HighTower
Invesco
Janus
John Hancock Retirement Plan Services
J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services
Lincoln Financial Group
Lockton
LPL Financial
Mainstay Funds
Manulife
MassMutual Financial Group
Mercer
Merrill Lynch
MFS Investment Management
Morgan Stanley
Nationwide Financial
Natixis Global Asset Management
New York Life Investment Management
Nuveen Investments
OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc.
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
Paychex
PNC Bank
Prudential Retirement
Putnam Investments
Raymond James Financial Services
Ridgeworth Investments
Security Benefit
SEI Investments
SunTrust Bank
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
The Hartford
The Newport Group
The Principal Financial Group
The Standard
The Vanguard Group
TIAA
Transamerica Retirement Services
T. Rowe Price
UBS Financial Services
Verisight, Inc.
Voya Financial
Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement and Trust
Wellspring Advisor Group
SPARK wishes to thank all the companies who have given such great support to the program since its inception.
SPARK MEMBER SUPPORT
Page 12
BASIC Price • Retirement Plan and Industry Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $225. . . . . . . . . . .$200• Plan Features and Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $325. . . . . . . . . . .$300• Participant Communications, Education and Advice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125. . . . . . . . . . .$100 Package of 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $600. . . . . . . . . . .$500
SPECIALTY• Plan Activity and Accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125. . . . . . . . . . .$100• Plan Investments and Accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125. . . . . . . . . . .$100• Plan Reporting and Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125. . . . . . . . . . .$100• Retirement Plan Market and Sales Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125. . . . . . . . . . .$100
These advanced courses may be used to meet continuing education requirements for SPARK and other industry designations.
ADVANCED – all courses offer 5 continuing education credits unless otherwise noted • Employee Communications Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150. . . . . . . . . . .$125• ERISA 403(b) Plans and the Final Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150. . . . . . . . . . .$125• Retirement Plan Fee Reporting and Disclosure Requirements . . . . . . . $150. . . . . . . . . . .$125• Understanding Multiple Employer Plans (MEPs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150. . . . . . . . . . .$125• Retirement Income Products in Defined Contribution Plans . . . . . . . . . $150. . . . . . . . . . .$125• A Closer Look at Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150. . . . . . . . . . .$125• Retirement Plan Market and Industry Issues – 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150. . . . . . . . . . .$125• Trends in DC Investment Menu Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150. . . . . . . . . . .$125• Strengthening the Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan System . . . . . $150. . . . . . . . . . .$125• ERISA Fiduciary Requirement and DOL Regulations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $300*. . . . . . . . . . $250* *Course offers 10 continuing education credits
Certifications
• Application Fee (waived with purchase of online courses) . . . . . . . . . . $350. . . . . . . . . . .$350• Nonrefundable Exam Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150. . . . . . . . . . .$150
PROGRAM FEE SCHEDULE
Online Courses
Page 12 Page 13
These basic and specialty courses may be used to prepare for the SPARK accreditation exams.
SPARKMember
The SPARK Institute, Inc.Phone 860-658-5027
Fax 401-429-6135education@sparkinstitute.org
www.sparkinstitute.org
Version - 1/2017
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