NASBA Approved CPE · Registry No. 148076
NASBA CPE Complimentary Course for CPAs
on Advanced Retirement
Plan Design
Learn a practical way to help small business owners reduce taxes, increase retirement contributions, and make better long-range planning decisions.
1CPE Credit Hour
50minInstructional Time
FreeMonthly Webinar
20+Years of Expertise
Course Overview
Built for CPAs Who Want to Advise Better
I built this course for CPAs who advise small business owners and want a clearer way to spot retirement planning opportunities.
This is not a theory-heavy session. It is built around real planning logic you can use when a client has strong income, wants larger deductions, and may be a poor fit for a basic off-the-shelf plan.
I focus on advanced retirement plan design including cash balance defined benefit plans, profit sharing/401(k) structures, and 401(h)-style healthcare planning when the facts support it.
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Field of StudyTaxes — Internet/Web-Based Delivery
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Course Length50 Minutes Instructional Time
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NASBA Credits1 Hour Continuing Education Credit
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Program LevelBasic to Intermediate — No prerequisites
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FocusPractical. Clear ideas. Real-world use. No fluff.
Why This Course Matters Now
Your Clients May Be Leaving Value on the Table
Too many business owners are still using retirement plans that were easy to install but never really designed for where they are now.
That creates a problem for you. You may have clients who are earning well, paying too much in taxes, and missing planning opportunities simply because nobody put the full structure together.
In this course, I show you how to think past the default setup and start asking better questions. The kind that lead to better client outcomes and more strategic advice.
01
The Default Is Outdated
Most business owners adopted plans that made sense at the start — but not where they are now.
02
Too Much in Taxes
High-income owners are paying more than they need to because the right plan structure was never considered.
03
Ask Better Questions
This course gives you the language and logic to open conversations that lead to stronger client outcomes.
What You’ll Learn
Five Practical Takeaways You Can Use Immediately
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Recognize when a business owner may need more than a basic retirement plan.
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Explain the planning role of cash balance and defined benefit designs in plain English.
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Understand how profit sharing/401(k) features may work alongside a broader strategy.
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Identify where 401(h)-style healthcare planning may fit in the bigger picture.
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Improve how you talk with owner-clients about deductions, retirement accumulation, and long-term planning.
Who This Course Is For
Designed for Professionals Who Advise Business Owners
This course is designed for CPAs, tax advisors, accounting firm partners, financial advisors, and other professionals who work with small business owners.
It is especially useful for professionals who serve highly profitable businesses, closely held companies, and owner-led firms where retirement planning and tax planning overlap.
Course Requirements
PrerequisitesNone
Advanced PreparationNone
Program LevelBasic to Intermediate
Delivery MethodInternet / Web-Based
Field of StudyTaxes
CPE Credits1 Hour
NASBA Registry No.148076
Cancellation PolicyN/A
What You Will Learn in Practice
Move Beyond “Should We Do a Plan?”
I walk you through how advanced plan design can create larger deductible contributions when the business, owner profile, and employee mix make it a good fit.
You will also see how a more structured design approach can help you move the conversation to “What kind of plan actually fits this client?”
“That shift matters. It changes the quality of your advice. It also changes how your clients see your value.”
— Stephen Arnold, Creator of Designer DB Plus®
Why This Matters for Your Clients
Your Clients Need Options That Make Sense
Your clients do not need more noise. They need options that make sense.
When the right case is in front of you, a stronger plan design may help support larger deductible contributions, creditor-protected retirement wealth, and a more disciplined long-term retirement strategy.
That does not mean every client is a fit. It means you should know when a client may be leaving planning value on the table.
Larger Deductible Contributions
Creditor-Protected Retirement Wealth
Disciplined Long-Term Retirement Strategy
Tax-Efficient Retirement Accumulation
401(h)-Style Healthcare Planning
Better CPA-Client Conversations
Course Agenda
50 Minutes. Structured. Practical.
Designer DB Plus®: Layered Tax Reduction & Retirement Strategy for Business Owners
0:00 — 0:05
Welcome and Course Overview
Introduction, disclosures, and an overview of how modern layered retirement strategies can create significant tax reduction and long-term wealth for business owners.
0:05 — 0:12
The Planning Gap for High-Income Business Owners
Exploring why traditional retirement plan structures often fail to deliver meaningful tax reduction or wealth accumulation opportunities for profitable business owners.
0:12 — 0:20
The Designer DB Plus® Strategy Framework
Introducing the modern layered retirement plan concept that integrates multiple qualified plan components to maximize tax efficiency and retirement accumulation.
0:20 — 0:30
Layer 1: Cash Balance / Defined Benefit Strategy
How cash balance and defined benefit plan design can allow substantial tax-deductible contributions for owners while maintaining compliant retirement structures.
0:30 — 0:38
Layer 2 and Layer 3 Integration
How profit sharing/401(k) coordination and potential 401(h) medical planning can complement the core pension layer to enhance tax and retirement outcomes.
0:38 — 0:45
Case Studies and Strategy Outcomes
Real-world examples illustrating contribution potential, estimated tax savings, and how the layered strategy directs the majority of retirement benefits to business owners.
0:45 — 0:48
Identifying Appropriate Clients
Key indicators CPAs can use to recognize business owners who may benefit from advanced retirement plan strategies.
0:48 — 0:50
CPA Tools and Next Steps
Overview of the CPA toolkit, including the Quick Qualifier calculator and case review process for evaluating potential client opportunities.
50Minutes Instructional
1NASBA CPE Credit
8Focused Modules
3Real Case Studies
Free Monthly NASBA CPE Webinar
A Focused Monthly Session Built for CPAs
Each month, I host a complimentary NASBA CPE webinar built for CPAs who want a better way to recommend advanced retirement planning strategies to small business owners.
In one focused session, attendees get a clear overview of the planning concept, the types of clients who may be a fit, and the issues that matter most in real CPA-client conversations.
This is a smart first step for professionals who want useful CPE and a better handle on how this strategy can fit into planning work.
- ✦Complimentary monthly CPE session for CPAs.
- ✦Practical guidance you can use in client conversations.
- ✦Led by Stephen Arnold, creator of Designer DB Plus®.
- ✦Built around small business owner planning scenarios.
Reserve Your Seat
Complimentary · Monthly · NASBA Approved
NASBA Registry No.148076
Field of StudyTaxes
Delivery MethodInternet / Web-Based
CPE Credits1 Hour
FrequencyOnce Per Month
CostComplimentary
Reserve My Seat ➤ Administrative questions? Call 800-297-4987
About Stephen Arnold
20+ Years. Real Plan Design. Practical Teaching.
I’m Stephen Arnold. I’ve spent more than 20 years in retirement planning, and I created Designer DB Plus®; to help small business owners and the professionals who advise them think bigger about tax reduction and retirement strategy.
I’m the author of Designer DB Plus®;, Smarter Tax Reduction & Retirement Strategy for High-Income Business Owners, and my work focuses on combining cash balance defined benefit planning with profit sharing/401(k) and 401(h) options when the case supports it.
My teaching style is practical and client-facing. The goal is to help professionals understand where the opportunity is, how to explain it well, and when to bring the right strategy into the conversation.
I do not teach this from a distance. My work is rooted in actual plan design and administration — actuarial certification, compliance testing, and annual support.
You should leave this session with language you can use, planning angles you can spot, and a better sense of when a deeper conversation makes sense.
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Actuarial Certification
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Compliance Testing
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Annual Plan Support
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Published Author
Proof This Is Practical
I do not believe in vague promises. I believe in showing how the strategy can work when the facts line up. On my site, I share case-style examples with real first-year tax and deferred savings figures.
Endodontist$470,208
Construction Company$249,782
Real Estate Professional$129,304
First-year tax and deferred savings figures from case-style examples. Feedback from CPAs, owners, and advisors confirms the work helped uncover substantial tax savings and strengthen referral relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions, Clear Answers
Who is this course for?+
It is built for CPAs, tax advisors, accounting leaders, and other professionals who advise profitable small business owners.
Do I need prior experience with cash balance or defined benefit plans?+
No. I explain the concepts in plain English and focus on practical use, not jargon.
What kinds of clients tend to fit this topic best?+
Usually, the strongest fit is a profitable owner-led business where taxes are high, retirement savings goals are serious, and a basic plan may no longer be enough.
Will you cover profit sharing/401(k) and 401(h)-style planning?+
Yes. I cover how those pieces may fit into the broader strategy when appropriate.
Is this educational or client-specific advice?+
This is educational. It is not legal, tax, investment, or client-specific advice.
How often is the webinar offered?+
It is offered once a month.
Ready to Earn Your CPE Credit?
Reserve Your Seat at the Next Monthly Webinar
Each month, I host a complimentary NASBA CPE webinar for CPAs who want a better way to recommend advanced retirement planning strategies to small business owners. One focused session. Real planning logic. Immediate value.
Reserve My Seat ➤ NASBA ApprovedComplimentary 1 CPE CreditNo Prerequisites Registry No. 148076
