Free QKA Exam Prep

Age 21/one-year-of-service rule, hours-of-service vs elapsed-time, SECURE 2.0 long-term part-time employee rules, plan entry dates, and excludable employee classifications.

In-service withdrawals, separation-from-service distributions, RMDs at age 73, $7,000 mandatory cash-out, 20% mandatory withholding, direct rollovers, and SECURE 2.0 emergency distributions.

Traditional safe harbor (3% nonelective or basic/enhanced match), QACA auto-enrollment safe harbor, SECURE 2.0 mid-year adoption of nonelective safe harbor, and notice requirements.

3-year cliff and 2-to-6-year graded schedules, 100% immediate vesting for safe harbor and QACA contributions, top-heavy minimum vesting, and forfeiture allocation rules.

Discretionary profit-sharing, matching formulas, integrated/permitted disparity, allocation conditions (1,000 hours and last-day rules), and §415(c) limits.

Pre-tax elective deferrals, Roth 401(k) deferrals, §402(g) limit ($24,500 in 2026), age-50 catch-up ($8,000), age 60-63 super catch-up ($11,250), and after-tax voluntary contributions.

§72(p) 50%/$50,000 loan limit, 5-year repayment (longer for principal residence), level amortization, deemed distributions, loan offsets, and SECURE 2.0 loan rules.

401(k) profit-sharing, money purchase, ESOP, SEP, SIMPLE IRA, 403(b), 457(b), defined benefit, cash balance, and hybrid plan distinctions.

IRC §401(a) qualification requirements, written plan document, exclusive-benefit rule, anti-alienation, definitely determinable benefits, and Cycle 3 pre-approved restatement.

§410(b) ratio percentage test (NHCE rate >= 70% of HCE rate), average benefits test, reasonable classification, and statutory excludable employees.

ADP and ACP calculations, current-year vs prior-year testing methods, 1.25 and 2.0 spread limits, and HCE/NHCE percentage formulas.

Corrections via excess contribution refunds (highest deferral $ first), QNEC/QMAC, recharacterization to catch-up, the 2.5/6-month §4979 10% excise tax, and EPCRS late corrections.

§414(q) HCE definition: 5% owner test or compensation > $160,000 in 2026 lookback year, top-paid 20% election, and attribution rules under §318.

§415 compensation, §414(s) safe-harbor compensation, §401(a)(17) limit ($360,000 in 2026), post-severance pay, and bonus/commission inclusion.

§416 top-heavy ratio (>60% in key-employee accounts), key employee definition (officers > $235,000 in 2026, 5% owners, 1% owners > $150,000), 3% minimum contribution, and accelerated vesting.

SPD, SMM, SAR, blackout notices, QDIA notice, fee disclosures under ERISA §404(a)(5) and §408(b)(2), and SECURE 2.0 paper statement requirements.

Form 5500 series filing (5500, 5500-SF, 5500-EZ), independent audit threshold (100 participants with balance under SECURE 2.0 counting rule), Schedule C, and DOL EFAST2 e-filing.

ASPPA Code of Professional Conduct, qualification standards, conflict of interest disclosure, confidentiality, and cooperation with other professionals.