The National Institute of Pension Administrators and the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries jointly created the American Institute for Retirement Education, a for-profit training firm. NIPA and ASPPA created the company in expectation of it bidding on an anticipated RFP by the Internal Revenue Service to outsource administration, curriculum development and examination for a new professional designation called enrolled retirement plan agent, according to a statement from NIPA.
The IRS is creating ERPA for professionals in the retirement field who have been unable to practice before the tax agency on qualified pension plan matters. The IRS hasn’t set a timetable for finalizing the ERPA designation or issuing the RFP, said Jennifer Kasowicz, NIPA spokesman. NIPA and ASPPA officials believe the RFP could be issued some time this year, she added.
Dean Patterson, IRS spokesman, could not provide further details by publication time.
