A Professional Designation: PPC™
DESIGNATION OVERVIEW

The Professional Plan Consultant™ designation is awarded to those who successfully complete The 401k Service Training Program™, and meet the additional requirements listed below.

This designation signifies a commitment to education and service excellence in the qualified plan industry. The 401k Service Training Program™ is the only course that sets service standards in the retirement plan industry and imparts professionals not only with the knowledge, but the tools needed to meet (and exceed) those standards. (Learn more about the tools.)

What are the requirements to become a PPC™?

To earn the PPC™ designation, a candidate must satisfy requirements involving the following:

Professional Experience — A successful candidate must have three years of financial industry sales, service, and/or support experience.

Coursework — A PPC™ candidate must attend either the instructor-led, multiple-day training session accredited by Robert Morris University or complete the ONLINE training program to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issues faced by plan sponsors, how to identify shortfalls in an employer-sponsored plan, and how to successfully address plan management issues.

Examination — Each candidate must sit for a 50-question, multiple choice examination held at the end of the training program, and obtain a passing score of 70% or better.

Signed Ethics Statement — Each PPC™ candidate must sign the Financial Service Standards Code of Ethics to verify that the individual pledges to maintain a high standard of conduct, competence, knowledge, professionalism, integrity, objectivity, and responsibility in the practice of his or her profession.

Continuing Education — On an ongoing basis, over a 24-month cycle, each PPC™ designee must complete a minimum number of continuing education hours (12) in a format allowed by FSS.

Submit accreditation application and pay designation dues — After completing the requirements above, successful candidates must submit a designation application and pay the annual designation dues of $245.00.

What are the benefits of being a PPC Designee?

The 401k Service Training Program™ and the PPC™ Designation provide professionals with much more than just knowledge. As a program graduate meeting the requirements for receiving the PPC™ designation, you will:

  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of how to address the service issues of plan set-up, management, and review. VIEW core curriculum topics.
  • Have access to a complete turn-key service process to simplify your retirement plan service model.
  • Have access to tools to educate your clients on the important fiduciary issues and be able to provide them with the resources necessary to help them comply with ERISA regulations.
  • Set yourself apart and build credibility as an industry professional with the PPC™ designation.
  • Receive listing on the 401k Service Solution™ website where plan sponsors go to get help with their plan.
  • Benefit from back-door marketing: FSS allocates a percentage of its revenue to market the PPC designation to plan sponsors to raise awareness and credibility of the credential and those who hold it.
  • Get referrals from plan sponsors looking for a certified PPC™ in your area.
  • Receive the PPC™ Advice Brochure—a powerful marketing tool explaining the Professional Plan Consultant™ designation and the benefits of working with a professional that has completed this course.
  • Receive a complete set of The 401k Service Solution™ education guides and gain exclusive access to the 401k Service Solution tools that include more than 200 individual templates: (subscriptions only available to active PPC designees)

    • An entire education resource library of material that includes education guides for professionals and plan sponsors on each critical issue and separate sets of fact sheets for ongoing education of both the plan sponsors and plan participants.

    • Interactive worksheets for identifying service opportunities and areas of plan management improvement, as well as for helping plan sponsors document their decision-making process.

    • Monitoring checklists for the ongoing management of the key issues-an area where many responsibilities often fall by the wayside.

    • Templates to provide the critical documentation of how a plan is meeting each issue, including recommended courses of action and additional resources that inform and add value.

    • A comprehensive Fiduciary Risk Management Kit including sample documents for investment committees, checklists, monitoring tools, and various educational pieces.

    • Marketing material that include brochures, PowerPoint presentations, ad slicks, press releases, prospecting ideas, and more.


    It's about the TOOLS!

Who is this program and designation for?
The PPC™ designation is most beneficial to individuals from the following professions:

  • Investment Advisors
  • Broker / Dealers
  • Plan Administrators
  • Consultants
  • CPA firms
  • Benefit Consulting Groups
  • Actuarial Firms
  • ERISA Attorneys
  • Plan / Fund Wholesalers and Distributors

Who is accrediting the course?
The course is accredited by Robert Morris University.

Robert Morris University, founded in 1921, is a private, four-year
institution offering more than 30 undergraduate degree programs and 18
master's and doctoral degree programs. The main campus is located on 230
acres in Moon Township, 17 miles from downtown Pittsburgh and 10 minutes
from Pittsburgh International Airport.


Is the course eligible for CFP Continuing Credits?
Financial Service Standards, LLC and Robert Morris University are both approved sponsors with the CFP Board. This program has been accepted for 12.5 continuing education credits by the CFP Board.  

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®,
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.


Is the course eligible for Continuing Professional Education Credits?
Robert Morris University is recognized as a program sponsor by the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy. The 401k Service Training Program is eligible for 12 CPE Credits in the subject of Advisory Services. This program is considered an intermediate to advanced level program for those professionals already familiar with basic investment concepts and having prior industry experience.

Is the course eligible for any other Continuing Education Credits?
This program satisfies requirements for PACE Recertification credit. Participants can earn 12.5 credit hours by attending the classroom program or 7 hours by completing the online program.

CIMA/CIMC can apply for non-IMCA continuing education hours for both the online and classroom programs. On 8/22/08, IMCA approved the classroom program for 12.5 non-IMCA CE hours and the online program for 7 non-IMCA CE hours.

On 9/9/08, FSS was approved by the state of Pennsylvania Insurance Department to present Pennyslvania Insurance continuing education courses and on 9/25/08, they approved the classroom program for 12 Pennsylvania insurance CE/PLE hours and the online program for 7 Pennsylvania insurance CE/PLE hours.

Is the credential Professional Plan Consultant listed on the FINRA site?
Yes, the credential is listed on the FINRA Site and you can view it by clicking here.

Retirement Credential Comparison Chart

To help you better understand the difference between the various retirement industry designations, Financial Service Standards has compiled similar data on the various designations from each sponsoring organization for an easy comparison of industry credentials.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE PRELIMINARY RETIREMENT CREDENTIAL COMPARISON CHART.

 

 

 

 

 




 
Learn More...

Code of Ethics
Continuing Education Requirements
Complaint Procedures
Agenda
Accessing the 401k Service Solution Tools
 
Questions?

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us.