'Tis the season to differentiate our members from the crowd. NAIFA is currently accepting nominations for NAIFA Quality Awards (NQA), Diversity Champion, Advisor Today's 4 Under 40, Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award, YAT Leader of the Year, and John Newton Russell. All award deadlines are July 31, 2022. Visit the Talent Development Center under "Awards" for more information and to apply.
NAIFA Quality Awards
The NAIFA Quality Award provides advisors at any career stage the opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to excellence. This includes: Professionalism through education and earned designations, production measured by performance metrics customized for each practice specialty, adherence to the NAIFA Code of Ethics, and service to NAIFA and fellow members of the industry association.
Advisors specializing in Life & Annuities, Financial Advising & Investments, Health & Employee Benefits, Multiline Sales, or any combination of these specialties may apply to be recognized by the industry’s leading producer association for exhibiting quality that is the mark of a true professional.
NAIFA Diversity Champion
NAIFA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council created the Diversity Champion award to recognize a NAIFA members’ exceptional efforts to promote the full and equal participation of diverse people within the insurance and financial advising profession.
A Diversity Champion presents a unique blend of experience, skills, accomplishments, and other qualities. A nominee must be a member of NAIFA in good standing and have at least five years’ experience in the insurance and financial services industry.
NAIFA Diversity Champions create and promote DEI in workplaces, raise DEI awareness in the industry and community, encourage diverse individuals to reach their professional goals, promote DEI within NAIFA’s membership, and provide insurance and financial services in underserved and diverse markets.
Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award
The Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award recognizes a current NAIFA member who shows exemplary service to their professional, colleagues, and clients through their political advocacy and contributions to IFAPAC.
Nominees for NAIFA's inaugural Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award should be current NAIFA members who exhibit Headley's commitment to advancing the legislative agendas of agents, advisors, and their clients.
Advisor Today's 4 Under 40
NAIFA’s Advisor Today magazine recognizes four financial advisors who achieve excellence in their profession by or before the age of 40 with the 4 Under 40 Award. Recipients are notable not only for the success they attain early in their careers but also for their commitment to their communities, families, and teams. They provide inspiration and positive examples for their fellow advisors.
Past 4 Under 40 winners have gone on to continued success and garnered industry leadership roles, speaking engagements, and increased peer recognition. NAIFA members are welcome to nominate a rising star for Advisor Today's 4 Under 40. Nominees must be NAIFA members in good standing and 40 years of age or younger.
John Newton Russell Memorial Award
The award is the highest honor accorded by the insurance industry to a living individual who has rendered outstanding services to the institution of life insurance. The selection committee consists of representatives of the nine leading organizations in the life insurance and financial services industry.
John Henry Russell created the John Newton Russell Memorial Award in 1942 as a tribute to his father, an influential leader in the life insurance industry and an early advocate of agent education. John Newton Russell served as NAIFA (then NALU) president from 1916 to 1917 and was a contributing founder of LIMRA International, The American College, and the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation.
The award program is open to anyone you believe is highly qualified, and exhibits the character, leadership qualities, contributions to the profession, and American families exemplified by JohnNewton Russell. Any member of a NAIFA local association is eligible to nominate a worthy candidate. Nominees must be insurance and/or financial services professionals. Standards for consideration are extraordinarily high. The characteristics of past recipients have included unwavering loyalty and a high level of professional accomplishment and community service.
Young Advisor Team (YAT) Leader of the Year
NAIFA’s Young Advisor Team (YAT) promotes the success of insurance and financial professionals who are under the age of 40 or within the first five years in the business. The YAT Leader of the Year Award recognizes an advisor’s commitment to NAIFA, including service in leadership positions, participation in NAIFA’s Leadership in Life Institute (LILI), involvement with state or federal legislative efforts, and participation in external service work such as charities, as well as their ability to inspire others. The award is also a testament to the recipient’s professionalism and dedication to the success of the industry and his or her industry peers.
