William J. Arnone Elected Chair of Board of Directors, National Academy of Social Insurance

WASHINGTON, D.C.–The National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) is pleased to announce the election of William J. Arnone as the newest Chair of its Board of Directors.  Arnone began a two-year term on June 26.

Arnone works as an independent consultant after spending 15 years at Ernst & Young LLP in Employee Financial Education and Counseling.  He specialized in the planning, design, marketing, and management of employer-sponsored retirement programs.  Previously, Arnone advised at Buck Consultants as a Benefit Consultant and the Director of Retirement and Financial Planning.  Arnone joined Buck Consultants in 1981 after leaving his position as the Director of Senior Security Services for the New York City Department for the Aging.  He has also served as a consultant for the Florence V. Burden Foundation and the Executive Director of Helping Aged Needing Direction, Inc.

"As a founding member of NASI, I've seen the impressive work that's been done by the organization and its members," said Arnone. "I look forward to building upon NASI's successes as we continue to collaborate with our members and deepen understanding of the role of Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, and now health insurance in growing our economy."

In the 1980s, Robert M. Ball, founder of NASI, asked Arnone to help him and 14 others create the organization out of respect for his deep knowledge and keen insight into the minutiae of social insurance.  Arnone has since served as co-chair of NASI's 22nd Annual Policy Conference, Beyond the Bad Economy:  Jobs, Retirement, Health and Social Insurance, and in several other key educating and advising roles.

Arnone has published numerous articles in his field, was the Associate Editor of the Columbia Retirement Handbook, and served as a delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Aging and the 2002 National Summit on Retirement Savings.  The Columbia University School of Business selected him to be a Revson Fellow on the Future of New York City in 1979.

"Bill Arnone is an excellent choice to chair NASI's Board of Directors," said Lisa Mensah, outgoing Board Chair and Executive Director of the Initiative on Financial Security at the Aspen Institute. "Well-respected and widely known for his work in retirement security, Bill has dedicated his career to helping employees retire affordably and comfortably.  The Board will have extraordinary leadership."

With over 25 years of experience in policy and politics, Arnone will be guiding NASI's Board in its policy decisions.  He holds a J.D. from New York University Law School and a B.A. from Fordham in political science.