Press Release

PenChecks Trust, ASPPA Renew Partnership and Expand QKA Scholarship Program

Issued by ASPPA [American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries]

June 5, 2022

PenChecks Trust Company of America (PenChecks Trust) and ASPPA are pleased to announce the renewal and expansion of the PenChecks Trust ASPPA Scholarship. 

Launched in 2014, this year the PenChecks Trust ASPPA Scholarship will be awarded to 14—up from six in previous years—individuals who make the most compelling case for how the prestigious ASPPA designations will enhance their career in the retirement plan industry. The scholarship is designed to cover the expenses associated with course registration and materials necessary to attain ASPPA credentials such as the QKA, QKC, QPA or CPC.

Once the credential is earned, PenChecks Trust also will sponsor the recipient’s first year of ASPPA membership. The value of each scholarship, including ASPPA membership, is more than $2,000. This year’s recipients will be announced at the 2022 ASPPA Annual Conference, which will be held Oct. 23-26 in National Harbor, MD. 

“In a complex and constantly changing retirement plan environment, it is critically important that industry professionals maintain a high level of proficiency,” said Brian Graff, CEO of the American Retirement Association and Executive Director of ASPPA. "The QKA credential was designed with that need in mind, and we appreciate PenChecks’ continued commitment to this scholarship program as a way of bringing focus to the importance of the QKA credential."

“PenChecks is proud to expand its partnership with and support ASPPA’s educational programs because we believe that highly motivated and well trained professionals are essential to sustaining excellence across the retirement industry,” said Peter Preovolos, CEO of PenChecks Trust. “Over the last three years, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of applicants, reinforcing our belief that developing qualified industry ambassadors will lead to continued industry innovation and thought leadership—areas in which PenChecks believes deeply.”

Applications for this year’s scholarship will be accepted between July 1 and Sept. 15. Each application must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation. Additional information about the PenChecks Trust ASPPA Scholarship and how to apply, is here.

About PenChecks Trust

PenChecks Trust is a state-chartered, non-depository trust company and the largest independent provider of outsourced benefit distribution services and Automatic Rollover IRAs and Missing Participant IRAs in the country.  With over 20 years in business, PenChecks Trust (www.penchecks.com) is an expert and industry-leading provider of unique and comprehensive solutions for a myriad of plan and distribution issues.  Services include automated and branded solutions for benefit payments, election processing, missing participant searches, Automatic Rollover IRAs, uncashed/stale-dated check solutions and Abandoned Plan/QTA Services. Customers include financial institutions, third-party administrators, plan advisors and plan sponsors.

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