CRPC Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the CRPC exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

📋 CRPC Exam Format at a Glance

Questions

180 min

Time Limit

70%

Passing Score

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📚 CRPC Topics to Study (21)

Retirement Income and Management · 11 cards Retirement Planning Principles · 11 cards Required Minimum Distributions and Beneficiary Planning · 7 cards Required Minimum Distributions and Beneficiary Planning · 7 cards Required Minimum Distributions and Beneficiary Planning · 7 cards Annuities and Insurance Products in Retirement · 6 cards Annuities and Insurance Products in Retirement · 6 cards Annuities and Insurance Products in Retirement · 6 cards Designing Retirement Income Streams · 6 cards Emotional Aspects of Retirement · 6 cards Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans · 6 cards Estate Planning Objectives · 6 cards Ethical and Fiduciary Duties · 6 cards Investment Strategies for Retirement · 6 cards Navigating Retirement Healthcare · 6 cards Retirement Income Taxation · 6 cards Retirement Needs Analysis · 6 cards Social Security and Pensions · 6 cards Long-Term Care Planning · 6 cards Long-Term Care Planning · 6 cards Long-Term Care Planning · 6 cards

✍️ Sample CRPC Questions & Answers

1. What is the excise tax penalty for failing to take a required minimum distribution under SECURE 2.0?

✓ 25% of the shortfall, reducible to 10% if corrected timely

SECURE 2.0 reduced the RMD penalty from 50% to 25% of the shortfall, further reducible to 10% if corrected within the IRS correction window.

2. Which of the following BEST describes the primary goal of the 'bucket strategy' in retirement income planning?

✓ To segment assets by time horizon to manage cash flow and sequence of returns risk.

The bucket strategy involves dividing a retirement portfolio into different 'buckets' based on the time horizon for needing the funds (e.g., short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term). This approach helps manage sequence of returns risk by using conservative, liquid assets for near-term expenses, allowing long-term assets to remain invested for growth without being forced to sell during a downturn.

3. Under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA), which of the following is a permissible vesting schedule for employer *nonelective* (profit-sharing) contributions made to a defined contribution plan?

✓ 2 to 6-year graded vesting

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) required that employer nonelective contributions (like profit sharing) follow the same faster vesting schedules previously established for matching contributions. The permissible maximum schedules are a 3-year cliff (100% vested after 3 years) or a 2 to 6-year graded schedule (20% vested after 2 years, increasing by 20% each year until 100% vested after 6 years). The 5-year cliff and 2 to 7-year graded schedules were the pre-PPA rules for nonelective contributions.

4. What is a deferred income annuity (DIA)?

✓ An annuity purchased today with income payments beginning at a specified future date

A DIA (also called a longevity annuity) is funded with a lump sum today, with income payments starting at a future date—often an advanced age—to hedge against longevity risk.

5. What is a Section 1035 exchange in the context of annuities?

✓ A tax-free exchange of one annuity contract for another annuity contract

A Section 1035 exchange allows a tax-free transfer of an existing annuity into a new annuity contract, preserving the cost basis and deferring any accumulated gain.

6. Which retirement account type is NOT subject to required minimum distributions during the original owner's lifetime?

✓ Roth IRA

Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs during the original owner's lifetime, making them a powerful tool for legacy planning and tax-free wealth transfer.

🎯 Free CRPC Practice Tests

Retirement Planning Principles · 11 questions Retirement Income and Management · 11 questions Required Minimum Distributions and Beneficiary Planning · 7 questions Required Minimum Distributions and Beneficiary Planning · 7 questions Required Minimum Distributions and Beneficiary Planning · 7 questions Social Security and Pensions · 6 questions Investment Strategies for Retirement · 6 questions Navigating Retirement Healthcare · 6 questions Estate Planning Objectives · 6 questions Retirement Income Taxation · 6 questions

📖 CRPC Guides & Articles

Your CRPC Study Path

1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation

🃏 Flashcards (139)🏆 Exam Simulation