Pippins Tapped for Key ACOPA Roles

The ASPPA College of Pension Actuaries (ACOPA) has named longtime IRS executive Martin Pippins as its new Executive Director and Director of Regulatory Policy, effective May 1. 

Pippins, a 30-year veteran of the IRS, served most recently as Director, Customer Service & Stakeholder Relations for the Services & Enforcement ACA office. Prior to that he was the Manager of Voluntary Compliance, Employee Plans Rulings & Agreements in the Tax Exempt & Government Entities (TE/GE) Division, where he was responsible for the IRS’ nationwide correction program for retirement plans.

Pippins has held multiple positions at the IRS, including Manager of Employee Plans Technical Guidance and Quality Assurance, where he headed TE/GE’s published guidance team on retirement issues. He also served for more than four years on the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries (JBEA), including a term as chairman.

Pippins joined the IRS in 1987 as an Actuary in the Employee Plans/Exempt Organizations Division. Previously, he was a U.S. Navy surface warfare officer. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.S. in mathematics in 1982.

“We have worked with Marty on a host of key retirement plan issues over the years,” noted Brian Graff, CEO of the American Retirement Association. “His deep regulatory background is a natural fit to lead a renewed ACOPA focus on regulatory policy. He also brings to ARA and ACOPA a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will be invaluable in shaping the future of the organization.” 

“I very much look forward to stepping outside the government, working even more closely with private sector pension actuaries and other retirement professionals, and hopefully bringing to bear my broader government experience in both the executive and legislative branches on the very important issue of retirement savings,” Pippins said. “I’m proud to be part of the team at the American Retirement Association.”