ING'S Robert M. Kaplan Receives '2009 Lifetime Achievement Award' from National Institute of Pension Administrators

ING is pleased to announce that Robert M. Kaplan, Vice President and National Training Consultant for the U.S. Retirement Services business, has received the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Institute of Pension Administrators (NIPA).

The award was presented at the Annual Awards Ceremony during the 2009 NIPA Annual Forum & Expo (2009NAFE) on April 28 in Las Vegas, Nev.

With 30 years of experience in retirement plan services, Kaplan was recognized for his ongoing commitment to the industry and to NIPA. His industry and association accomplishments include serving as a former member of the NIPA Board of Directors, as a current member of the American Institute of Retirement Education (AIRE) board of managers, as chair of NIPA's New Initiatives Committee and as a frequent NAFE speaker and NIPA Webcast presenter.

"NIPA sincerely values the vast contributions Bob continues to make to NIPA and to the retirement plan industry," said NIPA Executive Director, Laura Rudzinski. "Specifically, Bob's efforts have added tremendously to NIPA's principal goal of bringing the latest industry knowledge and practical know-how to retirement plan professionals. NIPA is proud to honor Bob with this well-deserved, prestigious award."

Kaplan is a frequent speaker at industry events, chapter meetings and Webcasts for NIPA, the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), the Western Benefits Conference, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the American Bar Association. Kaplan's industry involvement also includes serving as the Chair of the ASPPA Government Affairs 401(k) Subcommittee and providing testimony before the Treasury department on 401(k) issues and other retirement plan matters.

To demonstrate ING's commitment to the TPA, broker and sponsor community, ING created Kaplan's unique position to conduct industry leading training and public policy updates. He has been the keynote speaker at dozens of ING-sponsored industry events across the country.

"We're thrilled that Bob has been recognized with this terrific honor from NIPA," said Richard Mason, president of corporate markets for ING U.S. Retirement Services. "Bob epitomizes the commitment ING has to this industry and to the many retirement plan professionals who look to us for the latest industry knowledge and information."

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals who have performed extraordinary contributions to NIPA and the industry over the course of many years. The awards are an important part of the NAFE, as they provide an opportunity for valued volunteers to be recognized for going above and beyond their expected duties within pension administration and NIPA.

About ING

ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to over 85 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 40 countries. With a diverse workforce of about 125,000 people, ING is dedicated to setting the standard in helping our clients manage their financial future.

In the U.S., the ING (NYSE: ING) family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning, and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 29 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com/US.

About NIPA

This nation-wide educational association representing the pension administration profession fosters the highest standard of ethical and professional conduct by providing self-improvement outlets to all members and interested parties.

NIPA offers two main educational programs each year: the executive-focused Business Management Conference and the all-level Annual Conference. The association sponsors two professional designation programs: the Accredited Pension Administrator (APA) and the Accredited Pension Representative (APR). To supplement its educational programming, NIPA promotes local chapters and publishes a quarterly newsletter. For more information, visit www.nipa.org.

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SOURCE: ING Americas

CONTACT: Joe Loparco, ING Americas, +1-860-580-2677, Cell:
+1-860-462-6525, joseph.loparco@us.ing.com

Web Site: http://www.ing.com/us