Qualified and non-qualified plans, IRAs, employer plans, and distribution taxation.
This section covers the retirement-account framework that Series 6 representatives need to understand before discussing plan features or rollovers. The exam often tests retirement plans by comparing purpose, contribution treatment, access rules, and distribution consequences rather than by asking for isolated definitions.
The strongest way to study retirement plans is to separate individual accounts from employer-sponsored plans and then track how money goes in, how it grows, and how it comes out. That sequence keeps the tax logic much cleaner.
flowchart TD
A["Identify the plan type"] --> B["Check contribution and eligibility rules"]
B --> C["Check tax treatment during accumulation"]
C --> D["Check distribution timing and penalty rules"]
D --> E["Decide whether the plan fits the customer's objective"]
| Retirement-plan lens | What to focus on |
|---|---|
| Account owner | Individual account or employer-sponsored arrangement |
| Tax treatment of contributions | Pre-tax, after-tax, or mixed |
| Accumulation | Whether growth is tax-deferred |
| Distribution rules | Penalties, required distributions, and ordinary-income treatment |
Read this section as a lifecycle. Series 6 usually rewards the answer that tracks the plan from contribution through withdrawal.