By Ayo Mseka

New York Life Insurance Company has named Rodger K. Johnson, CLU, ChFC, MSFS, CFP, as Council President, an honor bestowed annually on the agent with the company’s highest sales and service achievements. As Council President, Johnson is the premier agent in the company’s national field force consisting of 12,250 licensed New York Life agents.

“Reaching the Council President distinction at the largest mutual life insurer--New York Life--is an impressive achievement and recognizes Rodger as one of New York Life’s finest financial advisors, whose service practices are a model of excellence. All of us in the New York Life family applaud Rodger’s success,” says Mark W. Pfaff, executive vice president, New York Life.

Johnson has represented New York Life for 30 years. He is a registered representative and financial advisor whose business focus is meeting the financial needs of pre-retired and retired persons, small businesses and high-net-worth families. He serves families and businesses from his office in Tyler, Texas. He recently completed the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) program with the American College and facilitated the January 2011 class. He looks forward to mentoring others through this material, which bridges charitable organizations and traditional planners.

Additionally, he is a member of NAIFA and MDRT. He is also an active member of the Bullard City Council and devotes significant time to charitable causes like Grace Flight, an organization that supplies free air transportation for medical and humanitarian purposes. He serves on the advisory council of his local church, Grace Baptist, where he is also the music director and an adult-class Sunday school teacher.

“I’m grateful for the acknowledgement from New York Life and most of all for the guidance and mentorship of senior agents, whose patience and advice allowed me to develop Johnson Financial Group,” says Johnson. “I’m blessed with a wonderful staff of devoted professionals and supportive family. In all the years that I've worked helping families protect themselves financially, never has the significance of what we do been more clear than in the past few years. To be recognized for my commitment to helping others meet their financial goals is a wonderful validation of my work. I’m proud to represent New York Life and thankful for the support I have received from the company over my long career.”