The American Retirement Association has launched an initiative to provide leadership and support of women's issues within the retirement plan industry. Announced Aug. 26, Women's Equality Day, which commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, the ARA's Women in Retirement Council will bring together stakeholders from the organization's five member associations to help highlight efforts to support and retain women in the industry.
Among its priorities, the council will support current efforts such as the Women in Retirement Conference and ARA Thrive Women's Mentoring Program, the latter of which facilitates mentoring relationships for female retirement professionals. The council will also serve as a hub for sharing lessons learned, best practices, content and resources, and develop strategic goals to guide projects that support the recruitment and retention of women in the industry.
The inaugural leaders will represent each of the ARA's five member associations — American Society of Enrolled Actuaries; American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries; National Association of Plan Advisors; National Tax-deferred Savings Association; and Plan Sponsor Council of America.
The council chairwoman, representing NAPA, is Nicole Corning, managing partner of the Buckman & Corning Financial Strategies Group; Lynn M. Young, a partner at Pinnacle Plan Design LLC, will represent ASEA; Shannon M. Edwards, owner of TriStar Pension Consulting, will represent ASPPA; Kristine Coffey, a founding partner and executive vice president at CPE Associates Ltd., will represent NTSA; and Marjorie F. Mann, a senior attorney with Florida Power & Light Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc., will represent PSCA.
"While the ARA has continuously supported and sponsored events and accolades that acknowledge the contributions of women in the retirement industry, we are pleased at the commitment of so many women among our membership to provide this perspective and support on an ongoing basis throughout the year," said Brian H. Graff, CEO of the Arlington, Va.-based ARA, in a news release.
— Brian Croce
