Retirement Industry Acronyms and Abbreviations

Like many industries, the retirement profession is acronym and abbreviation crazy. We have compiled this list of the more common acronyms and abbreviations to help those who are not familiar with their meaning.

ABPT = Average Benefit Percentage Test

ABT = Average Benefits Test

ACA = Automatic Contribution Arrangement

ACP = Actual/Average Contribution Percentage

ADP = Actual/Average Deferral Percentage

ADR = Actual Deferral Ratio

AIF = Accredited Investment Fiduciary

AIFA = Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst

BOPY = Beginning of Plan Year

CEBS = Certified Employee Benefit Specialist

CFA = Chartered Financial Analyst

CFP = Certified Financial Planner

ChFC = Chartered Financial Consultant

CLU = Chartered Life Underwriter

CMT = Chartered Market Technician

COBRA = Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

CODA = Cash or Deferred Arrangement

COLA = Cost of Living Adjustment

CPA = Certified Public Accountant

CPC = Certified Pension Consultant

CRA = Certified Retirement Administrator

CRC = Certified Retirement Counselor

CVA = Certified Valuation Analyst

DB(k) = Defined Benefit 401k combined plan

DB = Defined Benefit

DC = Defined Contribution

DCIO = Defined Contribution Investment Only

DFVC = Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance program

DOL = Department of Labor

DPSP = Deferred Profit Sharing Plan

DRA = Deferred Retirement Annuities

DRO = Domestic Relations Order

EACA = Eligible Automatic Contribution Arrangement

EBAR = Equivalent Benefit Accrual Rate

EE = Employee

EESA = Emergency Economic Stabilization Act

EFT = Electronic Fund Transfer

EGTRRA = Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001

EIN = Employer Identification Number

EOPY = End of Plan Year

EPCRS = Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System

ER = Employer

ERD = Eligible Rollover Distribution

ERISA = Employee Retirement Income Security Act

ERPA = Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent

ESOP = Employee Stock Ownership Plan

ESPP = Employee Stock Purchase Plan

ETF = Exchange Traded Fund

FICA = Federal Insurance Contributions Act

FIT = Federal Income Tax

FT = Full-Time

GIC = Guaranteed Investment Contract

GIF = Guaranteed Investment Fund

GLIO = Guaranteed Lifetime Income Option

GMWB = Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefits

GUST = An acronym that stands for a series of four tax laws that also made changes to how retirement plans operate.

HCE = Highly Compensated Employee

IA = Investment Analyst

IFC = Investment Fiduciary Consulting

IPS = Investment Policy Statement

IRA = Individual Retirement Account

IRC = Internal Revenue Code

IRS = Internal Revenue Service

KSOP = Combined ESOP and 401k Plan

M&P = Master and Prototype

MEP = Multiple Employer Plan

NDCT = Nondiscriminatory Classification test

NEC = Non-Elective Contribution

NHCE = Non-Highly Compensated Employee

NQDC = Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

NRA = Normal Retirement Age

NUA = Net Unrealized Appreciation

OPEB = Other Post Employment Benefits

PBGC = Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

PDT = Permissive Disaggregation Test

PEO = Professional Employer Organization

PIN = Personal Identification Number

PPA = Pension Protection Act of 2006

PT = Part-Time

PY = Plan Year

PYE = Plan Year End

QACA = Qualified Automatic Contribution Arrangement

QDIA = Qualified Default Investment Alternative

QDRO = Qualified Domestic Relations Order

QJSA = Qualified Joint And Survivor Annuity

QKA = Qualified 401k Administrator

QMAC = Qualified Matching Contribution

QNEC = Qualified Non-Elective Contribution

QOSA = Qualified Optional Survivor Annuity

QPA = Qualified Pension Administrator

QPAM = Qualified Professional Asset Manager

QPDA = Qualified Plan Distributed Annuity

QPFC = Qualified Plan Financial Consultant

QPSA = Qualified Pre=retirement Survivor Annuity

QSLOB = Qualified Separate Lines of Business

QTIP = Qualified Terminable Interest Property

RAP = Remedial Amendment Procedure

RBD = Required Beginning Date

REIT = Real Estate Investment Trust

RMD = Required Minimum Distribution

SAR = Summary Annual Report

SARSEP = Salary Reduction Simplified Employee Pension Plan

SBJPA = Small Business Job Protection Act

SCP = Self-Correction Program

SDBA = Self-Directed Brokerage Account

SEP = Simplified Employee Pension

SEPP = Substantially Equal Periodic Payment

SHNEC = Safe Harbor Non-Elective Contribution

SIMPLE = Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (of Small Employers)

SMM = Summary of Material Modifications

SPD = Summary Plan Description

SSA = Social Security Administration

SSN = Social Security Number

TAMRA = Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act

TDF = Target-Date Fund

TEFRA = Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act

TPA = Third Party Administrator

TRA = Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997

TRO = Total Retirement Outsourcing

TSA = Tax-sheltered Annuity

UPIA = Uniform Prudent Investment Act

USERRA = Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

VFCP = Voluntary Fiduciary Compliance Program

VRU = Voice Response Unit

VS = Volume Submitter

YOS = Year of Service

WFTRA = Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004

WRERA = The Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008

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