2018 SPARK EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Transcription

1 2018 SPARK EDUCATION PROGRAMS

2 2018 SPARK Education Program Copyright 2018, The SPARK Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

3 SPARK EDUCATION PROGRAMS 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. 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. Benefits to SPARK Members 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 Page 1

4 EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES 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 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 Page 2

5 DESIGNATIONS SPARK recognizes individual proficiency in the retirement savings plan industry with two professional designations: SPARK SPARK 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 Page 3

6 TESTIMONIALS FROM ACCREDITED PROFESSIONALS 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. RESULTS FROM OUR RECENT SURVEY 1 : SPARK SPARK 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. 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. 1 Web survey conducted by SPARK in March, 2015 Page 4

7 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 recordkeeping 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 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 Trends in DC Investment Menu Design ERISA Fiduciary Requirements and DOL Regulations All courses have the same robust components. Support from Facilitator Learning Objectives Exams Learning Activities Easy Online Navigation Page 5

8 THE SPARK EDUCATION CENTER Available through the SPARK website at Page 6

9 THE SPARK EDUCATION CENTER 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. Page 7

10 THE SPARK EDUCATION CENTER 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. Page 8

11 ONLINE EXAMINATIONS 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. Page 9

12 CERTIFICATE AWARDS End of course exams provide detailed review opportunities and certificate awards are sent immediately to the student s 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. Page 10

13 ONLINE COURSE CURRICULUM 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. Page 11

14 SPARK MEMBER SUPPORT SPARK wishes to thank all the companies who have given such great support to the program since its inception. 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 Page 12

15 PROGRAM FEE SCHEDULE Volume discount pricing available upon request Online Courses These basic and specialty courses may be used to prepare for the SPARK accreditation exams. BASIC Price Retirement Plan and Industry Overview...$ $200 Plan Features and Design...$ $300 Participant Communications, Education and Advice...$ $100 Package of 3....$ $500 SPECIALTY Plan Activity and Accounting...$ $100 Plan Investments and Accounting....$ $100 Plan Reporting and Compliance...$ $100 Retirement Plan Market and Sales Process....$ $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*...$250* * Course offers 10 continuing education credits Certifications SPARK Member Application Fee (waived with purchase of online courses)...$ $350 Nonrefundable Exam Fee...$ $150 Ask about all access pricing for SPARK Member Companies. Page 13

16 The SPARK Institute, Inc. Phone Fax Version - 1/2018