2018 SPARK

EDUCATION

PROGRAMS

2018 SPARK Education Program

Copyright © 2018, The SPARK Institute, Inc.

All rights reserved.

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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.

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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

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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.

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“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

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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

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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.

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 - 2018

Trends in DC Investment Menu Design

ERISA Fiduciary Requirements and DOL Regulations

All courses have the same robust components.

AVAILABLE COURSES

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THE SPARK EDUCATION CENTER

Available through the SPARK website at www.sparkusa.org

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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.

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.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 • 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 – 2018* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $300* . . . . . . . . . .$250*• 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

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These basic and specialty courses may be used to prepare for the SPARK accreditation exams.

SPARKMember

Ask about all access pricing for SPARK Member Companies.

Volume discount pricing available upon request

The SPARK Institute, Inc.Phone 860-658-5027

education@sparkinstitute.org

www.sparkinstitute.org

Version - 1/2018