Benefit from our experienced, knowledgeable instructors and extensive curriculum without leaving the office. From learning the basics to gaining a comprehensive understanding of IRAs and HSAs, our workshops cover critical rules and operational issues. With instructor led training, an Ascensus trainer will come to your organization in person, or virtually and teach on a wide range of retirement and savings plan topics, delivering high-quality content in a flexible, cost-effective format to suit your training objectives. We can integrate your organization’s forms, policies, and procedures into the training. Our trainers can tailor the curriculum to the staff being trained and answer your specific questions in person or virtually.
IRA and HSA Workshops
Advantages
- You select the topics, time, and place to fit your needs.
- Instructors will help develop professional and technical skills on an individual basis.
- Professionally designed student guides and reference material available
Additional Courses and custom content also available contact us for details.
IRA Frontline Fundamentals is a half-day workshop that gives attendees a basic foundation of IRA knowledge. Exercises are included to help participants apply information to job-related situations. Attendees will leave this session able to confidently process basic IRA transactions. This is a beginner’s session; no previous IRA knowledge is assumed.
Course Topics May Include:
Establishing an IRA Fundamentals
- Define an individual retirement arrangement (IRA)
- Summarize the IRA opening document requirements
IRA Funding Fundamentals
- Compare and contrast Traditional and Roth IRA eligibility requirements
- Explain the regular contribution limit
- Distinguish the regular contribution deadine
- State the rules for prior-year contributions
IRA Distribution Fundamentals
- Identify federal income tax withholding requirements
- Recognize the exceptions to the early distribution penalty tax
IRA Portability Fundamentals
- Differentiate between a transfer and a rollover
- Distinguish between direct and indirect rollovers between IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement
plans
IRA Essentials gives attendees a solid foundation of IRA knowledge. Exercises are included throughout the day to help participants apply information to job-related situations. Attendees will leave this session able to work with IRA owners and process basic IRA transactions with confidence. This is a beginner’s session; no previous IRA knowledge is assumed. Attendees should bring a hand-held calculator.
Course Topics May Include:
Introduction and Establishing IRAs
- Identify the tax differences of a Traditional and Roth IRA
- Examine the process for establishing an IRA and the required documents
- Differentiate between the types of beneficiaries
IRA Funding
- Learn about the Traditional and Roth IRA eligibility requirements
- Identify the contribution limit and deadline
- Communicate contribution reporting deadlines
IRA Distributions
- Identify federal income tax withholding requirements
- Examine IRS penalties and penalty exceptions
- Summarize the tax consequences of IRA distributions
- Communicate distribution reporting deadlines
IRA Portability
- Differentiate between a rollover and a transfer
- Recognize rollovers between IRAs and employer- sponsored retirement plans
Who Should Attend?
You should attend this seminar if you
- need to learn the basics of Traditional and Roth IRAs or
- want an updated, general refresher on IRA rules.
Advanced IRAs builds on the attendees’ basic IRA knowledge to address some of the more complex IRA issues that their financial organizations may handle. This is an advanced session; previous IRA knowledge is assumed. The instructor uses real-world exercises to help participants apply information to job-related situations.
Course Topics May Include:
IRA Update
- Explain recent changes affecting IRA owners
- Discuss the current Roth modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) limits
- Recognize how recent changes may affect your financial organization
Required Minimum Distributions
- Calculate a required minimum distribution (RMD)
- Discuss the RMD rules and reporting requirements
Beneficiary Options
- Describe beneficiary distribution options
- Recognize the differences for spouse, nonspouse, and nonperson beneficiaries
- Explain beneficiary payment deadlines
Advanced Portability
- Summarize the restrictions on the movement between IRAs
- Recognize the options available when moving from an employer-sponsored retirement plan to an IRA
- Explain the result of violating the portability restrictions
Roth IRA Conversion Contributions
- Describe a conversion
- Explain the effect of withholding on a conversion
- Report a conversion
- Define the consequences of an ineligible conversion
IRA Legal Issues
- Recognize power of attorney (POA) issues
- Identify and resolve abandoned property issues
- Determine the correct process for paying IRA fees
- Explain the process of handling assets as a result of divorce
Who Should Attend?
You should attend this seminar if you
- an IRA administrator, personal banker, or member services personnel who has a working knowledge of basic IRA operations and wishes to expand your expertise and provide enhanced customer service;
- a financial professional who recognizes that IRAs play an integral role in retirement planning;
- a compliance specialist with procedural oversight of IRA policies and practices; or
- support personnel responsible for promotional materials that describe the services provided by your financial organization.
HSA Frontline Fundamentals is a half-day workshop that gives attendees a basic foundation of HSA knowledge. Exercises are included to help participants apply information to real-world scenarios. Attendees will leave this session able to confidently process basic HSA transactions. This is a beginner’s session; no previous HSA knowledge is assumed.
Course Topics May Include:
Introduction to HSAs
- Explain the benefits of an HSA
- Define high deductible health plan requirements
- Recognize the HSA eligibility requirements
Establishing an HSA Fundamentals
- Summarize the process for establishing an HSA
- Examine the required documents to establish an HSA
HSA Funding Fundamentals
- Define the contribution limits and the deadline
- Describe the last month rule and the testing period rules
- Ensure accurate regular contribution reporting
HSA Distributions Fundamentals
- Summarize the tax consequences of qualified and nonqualified distributions
- Describe a mistaken distribution
- Ensure accurate distribution reporting
HSA Portability Fundamentals
- Distinguish the rules for transfers and rollovers
- Ensure accurate rollover reporting
Who Should Attend?
You should attend this seminar if you need to learn the basics of HSAs.
Attend the HSA Workshop for a comprehensive HSA curriculum and a practical understanding of critical rules and operational issues. This workshop covers all aspects of a successful HSA program.
Course Topics May Include:
Introduction to HSAs
- Explain the benefits of an HSA
- Discuss growth trends in the HSA marketplace
- Define in-depth high deductible health plan (HDHP) requirements
- Recognize the HSA eligibility requirements and the testing period rules
- Describe exceptions to HDHP coverage
Establishing an HSA
- Summarize the process for establishing an HSA and the required documents
- Identify the requirements for amending HSA documents
- Discuss past legislation that may have required an amendment
HSA Funding
- Define the contribution limits and the deadline
- Describe the last month rule and the testing period rules
- Discuss the effect of changes in HDHP coverage during the year
- State the rules for a qualified HSA funding distribution from an IRA and how they are reported
- Ensure accurate regular contribution reporting
- Discuss the effects of Medicare on funding eligibility
HSA Distributions
- Summarize the tax consequences of qualified and nonqualified distributions
- Describe ways to prevent an extension of credit to an HSA owner and the ramifications of a prohibited transaction
- Communicate how HSA fees are handled
- Describe a mistaken distribution
- Correctly handle excess contributions
- Explain how to handle excess contributions when an HSA has a zero balance
- Explain the tax treatment of an HSA after the HSA owner’s death
- Ensure accurate distribution reporting
HSA Distributions
- Distinguish the rules for transfer and rollovers
- Ensure accurate rollover reporting
HSA Compliance
- Identify the financial organization’s responsibilities in administering the HSA program
- Recognize the information sources used for HSA guidance
- Recognize financial organizations’ responsibility versus HSA owners’ responsibilities
Who Should Attend?
You should attend this seminar if you
- need to become more comfortable with HSA rules,
- are responsible for ensuring a compliant HSA department,
- or are responsible for internal systems, HSA transaction codes, and proper HSA administration
