NAIFA's Chapter Excellence Award (CEA) was launched this year to recognize the success of those Chapters that have excelled in providing a quality member experience to their members, as determined by their Chapter Agreement Compliance, their Chapter Health Rating, and membership growth. Congratulations to this year's Chapter Excellence Award winners! 

NAIFA is proud to announce Joseph W. Jordan, inspirational speaker, behavioral finance expert, best-selling author, and one of the founders of the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI), is the recipient of the 82nd 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 the nine leading organizations in the life insurance and financial services industry. Jordan will be celebrated and formally presented the award at NAIFA’s National Leadership Conference and Belong event in Washington, D.C., on December 4.

What does it take to be a winner? Who would know better than Advisor Today 4 Under 40 winners? 

A recent article at InsuranceNewsNet.com appropriately titled "Tips for Financial Advisors: What It Takes to Be a Winner" features Kathleen Owings, LACP, 4 Under 40 class of 2018, and Brian Haney, CLTC, CFS, CIS, CFBS, LACP, LUTCF, CAE, RF, class of 2017, discussing some of the things they did to achieve career success.

Recognizing the best in the insurance and financial services industry, the NAIFA Quality Award is now accepting applications through August 31, 2023.

The NAIFA Quality Award recognizes the best of the best in our industry. It celebrates outstanding advisors and agents who provide quality care, adhere to ethical standards, and is not solely based on annual production numbers. The NQA is open to all agents and advisors to apply, however, only active NAIFA members are eligible to be recognized.

We're excited to announce we are now accepting nominations for NAIFA's 2023 Diversity Champion Award. 

The Diversity Champion Award recognizes exceptional efforts to promote the full and equal participation of diverse people within the insurance and financial advising profession. NAIFA members in good standing are eligible for this prestigious award.

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.

Eric Bottolfsen, MBA, is a Vice President at GoldBook Financial and a financial planner with a passion for protecting the medical professionals and small business owners who make up Main Street USA.

Getting Started

Bottolfsen knew from an early age that he wanted a career in financial services. When he played Monopoly as a kid, he insisted on being the banker. In high school, he loved his finance classes and read old issues of the Wall Street Journal in his free time.

Scott Blake, MBA, is dedicated to protecting young professionals, small business owners, and families through holistic financial planning and political advocacy.

Learning From the Best

After earning his MBA from Capital University, Blake transitioned from politics to financial services. He founded Blake Wealth Partners with Northwestern Mutual in 2016 and, since then, has learned from some of the top producers in the country. One of Blake’s first mentors was Bob Roach, CLU, ChFC, a 54-year veteran of Northwestern Mutual and the recipient of NAIFA’s inaugural Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award. Roach introduced Blake to NAIFA, where he met another mentor who helped shape his career—NAIFA-Columbus Past President Patrick Cannon. In 2020, Blake joined the NAIFA-Columbus Board of Directors at his suggestion. Now, Blake is taking the lead as NAIFA-Columbus President and continuing in his role as the chapter’s Vice President of Advocacy.

Brett L. Moore, CFP®, grew up in the insurance and financial services business. His father, long-time NAIFA member William C. Moore, CFP®, founded W.C. Moore Financial Services, LLC, and Moore remembers spending hours at his dad’s office, stuffing financial papers into plastic sheets and helping out any way he could.  

Matthew C. Daley, MBA, FSCP, LACP, LUTCF, grew up in the life insurance world, but his journey to the top wasn’t easy. He relied on grit, determination, and the support of those around him to overcome addiction and build a thriving insurance agency from the ground up.