RPA 1

RPA 1–Pension Plans and Other Retirement Income Programs

 This is a required course for the RPA and CEBS designations.

The main focus of this course is on employer-sponsored retirement programs. Among the topics covered are the challenges facing individuals in preparing for retirement, the role and impact of employer-sponsored programs, the legislative environment in which they operate, the various types of programs available and the advantages and disadvantages of each, design considerations and issues relating to administration, communication, financial and investment management of plan assets for multi-employer plans and single employer plans.

Study Materials

• Study Manual (5th edition), $135.00
• Text: The Handbook of Canadian Pension and Benefit Plans (12th edition), by Jennifer Greenan, B.Sc., LL.B, CCH Canadian Limited, North York, Ontario, 2002, $99.00

See Study Materials for details on how to order study materials.

Note:The Readings Update September 2007, March 2007, September 2006, March 2006, September 2005 and March 2005 are required reading for this course. Please use the order form or e-mail cancebs@ifebp.org to order your free copy.

Enrichment Reading:
Canadian Pensions and Retirement Income Planning, Third Edition
Pension Law
Penfacts: A Guide to Pensions in Canada

Assignment Topics

1. Canada's Retirement Income Programs
2. Government-Administrated/Sponsored Programs
3. Employer-Sponsored Programs
4. Terms and Conditions of Employer-Sponsored Pension Plans
5. Governance Part 1: Overview of Pension Plan Governance, Administration and Communication
6. Governance Part 2: Financial Management
7. Governance Part 2: Continued: Financial Management
8. Governance Part 3: Investment Management
9. Regulation: Registration of Pension Plans Under the Income Tax Act and Taxation of Retirement Savings
10. Regulation Continued: Pension Standards Legislation
11. Special Provisions Relating to Multi-Employer Pension Plans
12. Special Situations Affecting Pension Plans: Plan Terminations
13. Special Situations Affecting Pension Plans: Surplus and Reorganizations
14. Individually-Sponsored Programs and Other Employer-Sponsored Programs
15. Other Employer-Sponsored Programs Continued