With great sadness, we share the news that NAIFA Past President Mark D. Johnson, CLU, RHU, ChFC, passed away on July 28. He served as President of NAIFA (then known as NALU) during the 1997-1998 association year and was the Chair of Life Happens (then, the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education) in 2006. While a member of NAIFA’s Board of Trustees in the mid-1990s, he led an important Strategic Planning Task Force that shaped the association’s direction for many years to follow. After his term as President, Mark continued as a volunteer leader providing guidance for NAIFA’s Advisor Today magazine. Prior to his national leadership, Mark was President of NAIFA-Minnesota and NAIFA-Lake Superior.

Mark founded Johnson Insurance Consultants in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1977 and as CEO of the firm devoted more than 30 years to serving his clients and the insurance and financial services profession. He was a President of the Arrowhead Estate Planning Council and qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table (Top of the Table). He was a nationally recognized speaker and author whose work inspired countless insurance professionals.

He was active in his community and filled volunteer and leadership roles with WDSE Public Television, the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, the Beck Foundation, Leadership Duluth, the Marshall School, the 4 Cedars Foundation, and the Brule River Preservation. He was a Campaign Chairman for the United Way of Greater Duluth.

NAIFA offers our condolences to Mark’s wife, Julie, and all his family and friends.