NAIFA is proud to announce that Shane Westhoelter, AEP, CLU, LUTCF, LACP, the Founder and CEO of Gateway Financial Advisors, LLC., Gateway Insurance Group, Inc, and Gateway Insurance & Financial Services, LLC in Albuquerque, N.M., is the 2025 recipient of NAIFA’s Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award.

“Shane Westhoelter has shown and continues to show his unwavering commitment to NAIFA’s political advocacy mission by giving his time, energy, and money to promote policies favorable to our industry and the consumers we serve,” said NAIFA President Doug Massey, LUTCF, CLU, ChFC, FSS. “Whether he is supporting NAIFA’s political action committee, meeting with state and federal lawmakers, or encouraging his industry colleagues to become politically aware and involved, Shane sets a standard that makes him a worthy recipient of the Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award.”

Westhoelter, a NAIFA member since 1994, was President of NAIFA-California for the 2016-2017 association year. He is a relentless political advocate on behalf of his clients and industry and is an annual participant in NAIFA’s Congressional Conference. He has earned his Financial Security Advocate badge from NAIFA and regularly attends NAIFA-California legislative days and other advocacy events. Westhoelter is a Capitol Club level IFAPAC contributor with his lifetime support approaching the Joint Chiefs level.

He is a frequent speaker, consults as a business performance coach, is a published author for Insurance Selling Magazine, Investment News, Insurance News, Estate Planning Council, and Society of Financial Service Professionals. His most recent book is Quality Life Planning: Take the IF out of Life.

Westhoelter will receive the Terry Headley Lifetime Defender award October 14 at  NAIFA’s Belong Awards Dinner following the National Leadership Conference in Arlington, Va.

The Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award recognizes a current NAIFA member who shows exemplary service to their profession, colleagues, and clients through their political advocacy and contributions to IFAPAC. NAIFA is the leading advocacy association for producers in the insurance and financial services industry, working for positive legislative and regulatory outcomes at the federal, interstate, and state levels. NAIFAPAC is a leading insurance political action committee with associated PACs in every state supporting selected candidates for legislative office. Participation in advocacy initiatives is one of the ways that association members are “good NAIFA citizens.”

Former NAIFA President Terry Headley, LUTCF, LIC, FSS, had a long, distinguished record of service to NAIFA. He was recognized as a key NAIFA contact for multiple members of the Nebraska Congressional delegation and state legislators over the years. Headley served in leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels. He was also an IFAPAC Capitol Defender and Co-Commander-in-Chief.