The American Retirement Association: A New Name for an Expanding Mission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ARLINGTON, VA — For nearly half a century, the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA) and its affiliated organizations have been working for America’s retirement. As of today, it does so under a new name as broad and expansive as the members it represents: the American Retirement Association.

The American Retirement Association has a long and storied reputation that dates back to its founding in 1966 as the American Society of Pension Actuaries. Today its 20,000+ members and four premier retirement industry associations include every type of retirement plan professional – from business owners, actuaries, consultants and administrators, to insurance professionals, financial advisors, accountants, attorneys and human resource managers.  Its members also work with retirement plans of all types, from traditional defined benefit pension plans to 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457 plans.

“Our membership base has expanded dramatically over the past several years,” noted Brian Graff, Executive Director and CEO of the American Retirement Association.  “This new name and structure allows us to better acknowledge and represent the distinct perspectives of an expanding array of retirement plan professionals in a dynamic and complex legislative and regulatory environment.”

Based in the Washington, D.C., area, the American Retirement Association is a nonprofit professional organization with two major goals: to educate all retirement plan and benefits professionals, and to create a framework of policy that gives every working American the ability to have a comfortable retirement.  “While American Retirement Association members come from all corners of the country, representing every part of the industry, they are all united by their belief in and commitment to the nation’s private retirement system,” Graff noted.

The American Retirement Association is composed of four premier retirement industry associations:

·         the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA);

·         the ASPPA College of Pension Actuaries (ACOPA) ;

·         the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA); and

·         the National Tax-deferred Savings Association (NTSA)

As part of the launch of the American Retirement Association, a new logo and brand identity have also been developed for each of its member associations.  “The concept of a nest egg has long been how Americans think about preparing for retirement,” explained Nevin Adams, Chief of Marketing & Communications.  “Our new brand incorporates the image of that retirement nest egg as well as a protective shield representing our members’ work in protecting and preserving that nest egg.”

More information about the American Retirement Association, its member associations, policy positions, as well as other resources can be found at its new web site: www.usaretirement.org.

Media Contact: Don Jackson, (703) 516-9300 Ext. 169, [email protected]

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