Affiliations
Affiliations
As evidence of the “Commitment to Thrive” culture at Retirement Alliance, we are actively involved in various professional associations and organizations at both the company and individual employee levels.
At the company level, Retirement Alliance is an active member of the following organizations:
- American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries
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ASPPA — The American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries is the premier national organization for career retirement plan professionals. The membership is comprised of the many disciplines supporting retirement income management and benefits policy. Members are part of the diversified, technical, and highly regulated benefits industry. ASPPA represents the most committed individuals of the profession—those who have made a career of retirement plan and pension policy work.
- Council of Independent 401(k) Recordkeepers
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CIKR – Sponsored by ASPPA, the Council of Independent 401(k) Recordkeepers is a national organization of 401(k) plan service providers. CIKR members are unique in that they are primarily in the business of providing retirement plan services as compared to financial services companies who primarily are in the business of selling investments. As a consequence, the independent members of CIKR offer plan sponsors and participants a wide variety of investment options from various financial services companies without an inherent conflict of interest. By focusing their businesses on efficient retirement plan operations and innovative plan sponsor and participant services, CIKR members are a significant and important segment of the retirement plan service provider marketplace. Collectively, the members of CIKR provide services for over 70,000 retirement plans covering 3 million participants with approximately $130 billion in retirement assets.
- Society of Professional Asset Managers and Recordkeepers
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SPARK - The Society of Professional Asset Managers and Record Keepers (SPARK) is an inter-industry professional association servicing mutual fund companies, banks, insurance companies, investment advisors, third party administration, record keepers and benefit consulting firms in the retirement plan industry. Founded in 1989, it is the oldest and one of the most prestigious organizations that serve retirement plan professionals. Their membership is comprised of a broad array of individuals that service retirement plans and who represent over 250 companies. SPARK members represent most of the major service providers in the retirement plan industry, and collectively such companies serve over 95% of the U.S. defined contribution plan participants.
- National Institute of Pension Administrators
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NIPA - The National Institute of Pension Administrators is a national association representing the retirement and employee benefit plan administration profession. It was founded with the idea of bringing together professional benefit administrators and other interested parties to encourage greater dialogue, cooperation, and educational opportunities. NIPA’s goal is to improve the quality and efficiency of plan administration.
- New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility
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NHBSR - New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility is an organization whose mission is to build and support a network of businesses committed to adopting socially responsible business practices, recognizing that people, principles and profits are inseparably linked.
- Businesses can do well while doing good.
- Social responsibility begins locally, with each of us.
- Businesses can be financially successful while bringing out the best in the human spirit, enriching the community and being respectful of the natural environment.
Retirement Alliance employees hold various professional licenses and designations, including:
- CFP® Certified Financial Planner
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The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) administers the “four E’s” (Education, Examination, Experience and Ethics) in awarding CFP® certification and overseeing its membership. The education component for initial certification is comprised of two parts: 1) educational coursework and 2) attainment of an acceptable bachelor’s degree (or higher). In addition, to become certified, individuals must pass the CFP® Certification Examination; they must complete three years of financial planning work experience; and they must agree to abide by the CFP Board’s ethical standards. Those who have attained CFP® certification must also complete ongoing continuing education requirements in order to retain certification. CFP® certificants are required to complete 30 hours of CE each reporting period, including a CFP Board-approved program on CFP Board’s Cod of Ethics and Professional Responsibility (Code of Ethics).
- AIF® Accredited Investment Fiduciary
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Administered by fi360, the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation has come to be recognized as the mark of commitment to a standard of investment fiduciary excellence. Those who earn the AIF mark successfully complete a specialized program on investment fiduciary standards of care and subsequently passed a comprehensive examination. AIF designees demonstrate a thorough understanding of fi360's Prudent Practices for investment advisors and stewards. AIF designees must obtain six combined hours of continuing professional education each renewal year.
- ARPC Accredited Retirement Plan Consultant
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The SPARK Accredited Retirement Plan Consultant (ARPC) designation is awarded to sales and marketing professionals who have demonstrated the knowledge required to help employers sponsor plans that enable employees to effectively save and plan for retirement. To earn the ARPC certification, individuals must document 1 year of full-time experience in the retirement plan industry, provide a letter of recommendation from a current work supervisor and pass the ARPC exam. Certification renewal requires that 10 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits is completed each calendar year.
- APA Accredited Pension Administrator
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The APA credential program is administered by NIPA to recognize professionalism, knowledge and expertise in the field of pension and employee benefit plan administration. Candidates meeting the eligibility requirements of education and experience and who successfully pass a series of examinations earn the APA designation. Fifteen (15) hours of continuing education are required annually to maintain the designation. The APA designation confers the highest level of competence, knowledge and achievement in the profession.
- APR Accredited Pension Representative
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The APR designation signifies that the candidate has a professional knowledge of the fundamentals of retirement plans, with an emphasis on defined contribution plans and investment philosophy. Potential APRs include consultants and representatives for brokerage firms, insurance companies and other financial institutions, individuals who hold retirement plan service positions, financial planners, Registered Investment Advisors and others working with qualified plans. The APR designation is maintained by obtaining 10 Continuing Education Credits each calendar year.
- CTA Certified Trust Auditor and Compliance Professional
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Formerly the National Association of Trust Audit and Compliance Professionals (NATACP), the Fiduciary & Investment Risk Management Association (FIRMA) has a membership of all CTAs and CTCPs and extends membership benefits to non-certified trust audit and compliance professionals as well. The Fiduciary and Investment Risk Management Association, Inc. (FIRMA) is the leading provider of current and relevant fiduciary and investment risk management education and networking opportunities to risk management professionals of banks, trust companies, investment advisors, broker-dealers, insurance companies and other providers of financial services. FIRMA has the objective of providing fiduciary risk managers with the tools and knowledge needed to perform their functions in the rapidly changing financial services landscape.
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