CEBS: GBA/RPA EXAM REVIEW
2026/2027
ERISA - ANSWER-Employee Retirement Income Security Act 1974
SOC Reports - ANSWER-Service Organization Controls: for external vendors
SOC 1 - ANSWER-Internal Controls & Financial reports; used by auditors
SOC 2 - ANSWER-Security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy
controls;used by management, regulators, and others under an NDA
SOC3 - ANSWER-Same as SOC2, but available for public use.
Tribble V Edison - ANSWER-Landmark court case re fiduciary responsibility pertaining
to reasonableness of fees. Also, allowed 6 yr statute of limitations to be based on most
recent time fees were applied rather than when fund was added. Greater exposure for
plan sponsor.
SPD-renewals - ANSWER-Renew every 10 yrs, every 5 years if changes; provide to
ppts no later than 210 days after plan year in which changes were made ends.
QLAC - ANSWER-Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract; individual purchases contract.
Allows individual to delay withdrawing money from retirement account. Must start by
distributions by age 85; Amt of QLAC is not included in amount determined for an RMD
Plan document should include: - ANSWER-(a) The name(s) of the plan fiduciary(ies)
(b) Policies and procedures relating to plan administration
(c) Funding requirements
(d) A description of how benefit payments will be made
(e) Claims and appeals procedures
(f) Plan amendment and termination authority and procedures
(g) Method for distribution of plan assets upon plan termination
(h) A statement that plan assets can be used to pay reasonable costs of plan
administration.
Plan Document - ANSWER-No set requirements; include plan name, fiduciary, claims
review procedures; funding; eligibility
Summary of Material Modification (SMM) - ANSWER-Must be delivered within 210 days
after the end of the plan year, or within 60 days after a "material reduction" in benefits of
a group health plan. penalty up to $110/day for not delivering within 30 of
ppt/beneficiary's request
, Social Insurance-Fully Insured - ANSWER-40 credits/quarters of coverage
1 credit for each $x earned (2017-$1300)
Adjusted for inflation
Must be fully insured to be eligible for retirement benefits
Currently Insured - ANSWER-At least 6 credits in last 13 calendar quarters ending with
quarter of death, disability, or entitlement to retirement benefits.
Disability Insured - ANSWER-Two work tests: 1) recent work test; depends on age at
disability. and 2)duration of work test (doesn't require work within a certain period of
time)
FASB ASC 960 - ANSWER-Defined Benefit Plans; establishes the accounting and
financial reporting standards.
Under DOL
ERs can file one set
FASB ASC 960-which plans - ANSWER-All ongoing plans-Funded and Unfunded that
provide pension benefits
a) plans subject to ERISA
b) plans not subject to ERISA
c) plans without intermediary funding agencies or plans financed through trusts,
contracts of insurance or a combination thereof
DOES NOT APPLY to gov sponsored SS plans
FASB ASC 960-Acctg and Reporting - ANSWER-a) accrual basis, include statement of
net assets available at the end of the year and a statement of a change in assets
b) plan investments- FAIR value except for insur contracts
c) info on actuarial PV and sig changes
d) accumulated plan benefits one of three options:
-face of statement
-net assets available for benefits
-separate statements or in notes of fin statements
e) actuarial PV of accumulated plan benefits baed on EE earnings
2014 DOL Audit quality study - ANSWER-Almost 40% of benefit plan audits had
unacceptable major deficiencies
3 types of deficiencies/weaknesses - ANSWER-1)Internal Plan Processes
2)Regulatory requirements
3) Outside Service Providers
Deficiency-408(b)(2) - ANSWER-Lack of proper monitoring of service provider fees and
disclosures. Impt b/c a service provider is a party in interest. If not written down, they
are considered unreasonable
2026/2027
ERISA - ANSWER-Employee Retirement Income Security Act 1974
SOC Reports - ANSWER-Service Organization Controls: for external vendors
SOC 1 - ANSWER-Internal Controls & Financial reports; used by auditors
SOC 2 - ANSWER-Security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy
controls;used by management, regulators, and others under an NDA
SOC3 - ANSWER-Same as SOC2, but available for public use.
Tribble V Edison - ANSWER-Landmark court case re fiduciary responsibility pertaining
to reasonableness of fees. Also, allowed 6 yr statute of limitations to be based on most
recent time fees were applied rather than when fund was added. Greater exposure for
plan sponsor.
SPD-renewals - ANSWER-Renew every 10 yrs, every 5 years if changes; provide to
ppts no later than 210 days after plan year in which changes were made ends.
QLAC - ANSWER-Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract; individual purchases contract.
Allows individual to delay withdrawing money from retirement account. Must start by
distributions by age 85; Amt of QLAC is not included in amount determined for an RMD
Plan document should include: - ANSWER-(a) The name(s) of the plan fiduciary(ies)
(b) Policies and procedures relating to plan administration
(c) Funding requirements
(d) A description of how benefit payments will be made
(e) Claims and appeals procedures
(f) Plan amendment and termination authority and procedures
(g) Method for distribution of plan assets upon plan termination
(h) A statement that plan assets can be used to pay reasonable costs of plan
administration.
Plan Document - ANSWER-No set requirements; include plan name, fiduciary, claims
review procedures; funding; eligibility
Summary of Material Modification (SMM) - ANSWER-Must be delivered within 210 days
after the end of the plan year, or within 60 days after a "material reduction" in benefits of
a group health plan. penalty up to $110/day for not delivering within 30 of
ppt/beneficiary's request
, Social Insurance-Fully Insured - ANSWER-40 credits/quarters of coverage
1 credit for each $x earned (2017-$1300)
Adjusted for inflation
Must be fully insured to be eligible for retirement benefits
Currently Insured - ANSWER-At least 6 credits in last 13 calendar quarters ending with
quarter of death, disability, or entitlement to retirement benefits.
Disability Insured - ANSWER-Two work tests: 1) recent work test; depends on age at
disability. and 2)duration of work test (doesn't require work within a certain period of
time)
FASB ASC 960 - ANSWER-Defined Benefit Plans; establishes the accounting and
financial reporting standards.
Under DOL
ERs can file one set
FASB ASC 960-which plans - ANSWER-All ongoing plans-Funded and Unfunded that
provide pension benefits
a) plans subject to ERISA
b) plans not subject to ERISA
c) plans without intermediary funding agencies or plans financed through trusts,
contracts of insurance or a combination thereof
DOES NOT APPLY to gov sponsored SS plans
FASB ASC 960-Acctg and Reporting - ANSWER-a) accrual basis, include statement of
net assets available at the end of the year and a statement of a change in assets
b) plan investments- FAIR value except for insur contracts
c) info on actuarial PV and sig changes
d) accumulated plan benefits one of three options:
-face of statement
-net assets available for benefits
-separate statements or in notes of fin statements
e) actuarial PV of accumulated plan benefits baed on EE earnings
2014 DOL Audit quality study - ANSWER-Almost 40% of benefit plan audits had
unacceptable major deficiencies
3 types of deficiencies/weaknesses - ANSWER-1)Internal Plan Processes
2)Regulatory requirements
3) Outside Service Providers
Deficiency-408(b)(2) - ANSWER-Lack of proper monitoring of service provider fees and
disclosures. Impt b/c a service provider is a party in interest. If not written down, they
are considered unreasonable
