Robert A. Miller, M.S., M.A., of New York City and Vero Beach, Florida, a retired Managing Partner at Miller-Pomerantz Insurance and Financial Services in New York City and NAIFA Past President, has been selected as the 2025 John Newton Russell Memorial Award recipient. 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. Miller will be celebrated and formally presented the award at NAIFA’s Belong Dinner, October 14 in Arlington, Virginia.

As NAIFA President for the 2011-2012 association year, 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.

“Robert Miller was a trailblazer who set the process in motion for the modernization of NAIFA,” said NAIFA Past President Lawrence Holzberg, LUTCF, LACP, Chair of the John Newton Russell Memorial Award Selection Committee. “Throughout his highly successful career, he has been an advocacy champion for the insurance and financial service industry and his fellow professionals. His influence is widespread and enduring, and on behalf of the selection committee it is my honor to congratulate him as a very worthy recipient of the John Newton Russell Memorial Award.”

Miller served as President of the NAIFA-New York state chapter and NAIFA-New York City. He was elected to the NAIFA National Board of Trustees in 2005 and served as trustee liaison to the CEO Outreach Program, the Young Advisors Team, and the Corporate Partnerships Program. He also served as chair of the NAIFA Governance Committee and was a member of the NAIFA Finance Committee.

As national President, he represented NAIFA as a media spokesperson, sitting for interviews with The Wall Street Journal, InvestmentNews, Think Advisor, InsuranceNewsNet, and other outlets to explain NAIFA’s vital role representing the interests of financial professionals and the consumers they serve. He led NAIFA’s successful efforts to oppose an overly restrictive Department of Labor fiduciary rule for financial professionals and to educate the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as it shaped a regulation requiring advisors to act in clients’ best interests. He has testified multiple times on behalf of NAIFA and his fellow financial professionals before congressional committees, the SEC, and other government bodies.

“The John Newton Russell Memorial Award honoring extraordinary service and leadership in insurance and financial services is a fitting tribute to Robert Miller,” said NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE. “Very few individuals have given back as much of their time, money, and talents to elevate the profession as Robert has. He is passionate about NAIFA and the success of the industry. He understands better than most how political involvement and a strong membership association contribute to that success. On behalf of NAIFA, congratulations to Robert on this richly deserved award.”

In 2022, Miller was recognized with NAIFA’s Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award, presented annually to a NAIFA member who shows exemplary service to their profession, colleagues, and clients through their political advocacy and contributions to NAIFA’s political action committee. Miller is the top lifetime contributor to NAIFA’s PAC. He is a recipient of the NAIFA-New York Ben Brewster Government Relations Award, Julian Myrick Award, and Spencer L. McCarty Award for outstanding service.

Miller currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for Emerson College. He also is a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), and an active supporter of The American College of Financial Services.

"On behalf of The American College of Financial Services, I want to congratulate Robert Miller on being selected as the John Newton Russel Memorial Award recipient presented by NAIFA. What a great recognition for someone who has been a statesman and champion for NAIFA and the industry at large,” said George Nichols, President and CEO of The American College. “Robert has had a very distinguished career and all who know him acknowledge his achievements. The greatest thing about him is his loyalty to friends and support to lift up our profession."

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.

Members of the 2024 John Newton Russell Memorial Award Selection Committee:

• Committee Chair Lawrence J. Holzberg, LUTCF, LACP, NAIFA Past President
• Troy D. Branch, JD,. CLU, ChFC, representing the Society of Financial Service Professionals
• Tom Cothron, LUTCF, FSCP, NAIFA Immediate Past President
• Greg B. Gagne, ChFC, representing the Million Dollar Round Table
• Mark J. Hanna, CLU, ChFC, AIF, representing Life Happens
• Bryon A. Holz, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL. LACP, NAIFA Past President
• Joseph W. Jordan, 2023 John Newton Russell Memorial Award recipient
• Sean O’Donnell, MBA, LLIF, representing LIMRA
• Matthew S. Tassey, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, 2024 John Newton Russell Memorial Award recipient
• Leah Walters, representing the American Council of Life Insurers