Leaders Blog

As NAIFA President for the 2011-2012 association year, 2025 John Newton Russell Memorial Award recipient  Robert Miller was an early advocate of modernizing NAIFA’s structure and governance. His ideas foreshadowed the highly successful NAIFA 20/20 strategic plan implemented in 2015. He pushed for a more streamlined NAIFA governance structure, a consistent membership model, and uniform branding and messaging across NAIFA’s chapters. He convened a Presidential Blue Ribbon Task Force to explore these issues, and many of the Task Force’s findings contributed to the formulation of the NAIFA 20/20 plan.

This year, the National Leadership Conference and Belong awards gala have been combined with NAIFA's Apex to create an extraordinary three-day event. As always, the NLC and Belong will celebrate NAIFA's leaders and recognize extraordinary members. Please join us and encourage all NAIFA members to come as well so that we may properly honor our 2024 award recipients, including:

• John Newton Russell Memorial Award recipient Matthew Tassey of NAIFA-Maine
•  Terry Headley Lifetime Defender recipient John Ruckel of NAIFA-Texas
• NAIFA Young Advisor Team Leader of the Year Kathleen Owings of NAIFA-Colorado

NAIFA is proud to announce that Matthew S. Tassey, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, is the recipient of the 84^th annual 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 11 leading organizations in the life insurance and financial services industry. Tassey will be celebrated and formally presented the award at NAIFA’s Apex 2024, National Leadership Conference, and Belong event Sept. 21 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.

Be sure to attend Apex/The NLC/Belong to congratulate Matt and celebrate his achievement!

NAIFA has announced the 2023 recipients of several national awards and will honor the recipients at the National Leadership Conference and Belong awards celebration in Washington, D.C., on December 4.

Joe Jordan is the 2023 John Newton Russell Memorial Award recipient, and NAIFA is creating a virtual tribute page to help celebrate his accomplishment. If know Joe personally, have heard him speak, or have read his book, let him know how he has benefitted your career. Send a brief written tribute to marketing@naifa.org.

We are delighted to announce that Joseph W. Jordan is the 2023 recipient of the John Newton Russell Memorial Award, 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.

There are only six short weeks before the 2023 NAIFA award deadline on August 31st. Don’t miss this opportunity to nominate yourself or a colleague to be recognized by the one and only association covering the entire insurance and financial services industry. Award winners will be honored at the Belong Awards Ceremony at NAIFA’s National Leadership Conference on December 3-5 in Washington, D.C.

Once again this year NAIFA's Advisor Today magazine will recognize four outstanding members with the 4 Under 40 Awards. Applications are now being accepted for the awards, which honor agents and advisors who achieve excellence in their profession by or before the age of 40.

Established in 1945, the John Newton Russell Memorial Award is the insurance and financial services industry’s highest honor. Recipients possess outstanding character, dedication to the profession, and meritorious service.

We're excited to announce we are now accepting nominations for NAIFA's Advisor Today 4 Under 40 Awards.

Each year, Advisor Today magazine recognizes four financial advisors with Advisor Today’s 4 Under 40 Award, who achieve excellence in their profession by or before the age of 40. Past winners have a proven track record of continued success through industry leadership roles, speaking engagements, and increased peer recognition.