Accredited Retirement Advisor Exam Review Webinar - Part 1

Sandra R. Turner is the founder and vice-president of Retirement Plan Specialists, Inc. a full- service fee-based administration, actuarial, and consulting firm for retirement plans of small to medium sized entities. She is a widely respected expert and an acknowledged leader in her field with over forty years of experience.

ACCREDITATIONS and AWARDS

• Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent (ERPA) – Ms. Turner is licensed to practice before the Internal Revenue Service in retirement plan issues that are non-actuarial in scope becoming one of the first individuals enrolled in this designation in June, 2009.

• Certified Pension Consultant, American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA). Ms. Turner met the education and experience requirements for this designation in March, 1990.

• Qualified Pension Administrator, American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries, (ASPPA). Ms. Turner met the education and experience requirements for this designation in August, 1989

• Continued Accreditation – Ms. Turner keeps current with all continuing education credits as required by the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility and the American Retirement Association.

• 2016 Connie Murdock Award – Presented by the Small Business Council of America for outstanding leadership and service in representing the interests of small business in tax and employee benefit plans.

• 2015 -2017 – Florida Commission Human Relations – gubernatorial appointment by Governor Rick Scott as commissioner advocating human rights and nondiscrimination.
 
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Ms. Turner started her career in 1973 implementing IRAs and KEOGHs for First Federal Savings and Loan in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In 1977, she moved to Houston and went to work as an actuarial apprentice with Hand & Associates, Inc. There she worked under William Hand, EA, President of the newly formed American Society of Pension Actuaries. In 1986, Ms. Turner moved to Jacksonville, Florida to work with Data Plans as a pension consultant. In 1989, Ms. Turner moved to Orlando where she became a founding partner in Benefit Plan Administrators, Inc. a full service administration firm, which was later sold. Ms. Turner started her consulting/administration firm in Oviedo, FL as Sandra R. Turner & Associates, Inc. which became Retirement Plan Specialists, Inc. in 1997.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) – Ms. Turner has been on the state and federal Leadership Council since 1995, working with regulators and legislators on pension and tax issues affecting small business.

• Small Business Council of America (SBCA) – Ms. Turner has been on the Business Advisory Board for over fifteen years. The mission of this organization is to promote favorable tax and employee benefits laws for small businesses and their owners.

• SBA – Office of Advocacy Roundtables – As a representative of NFIB and SBCA, Ms. Turner actively participates in the Pension and Tax Roundtables sponsored by the Office of Advocacy meeting directly with regulators from the DOL and IRS on concerns affecting small business.

• Speaker – Ms. Turner regularly speaks to groups concerning the current regulatory status of retirement plans. She also provides continuing education to her peers, the financial industry, CPAs and attorneys.

• Discussion Groups – Ms. Turner is considered an expert of cash balance plans having worked directly with the government on regulations since their inception and implementing them with her clients beginning 2004. She most recently was active on Section 199A legislation up to it’s implementation in December 2017 and the Cares Act Changes to Retirement plans in early 2020

EDUCATION

Ms. Turner holds a Bachelor degree in Mathematics from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.