NAIFA Announces Feldman as Winner of Insurance Industry’s Highest Honor

Marvin Feldman Is Named 2011 John Newton Russell Memorial Award Winner

The life insurance industry’s highest honor will be presented at the NAIFA Career Conference and Annual Meeting in September as a tribute to his 44 years of service and contributions to the industry.

Falls Church, VA (April 11, 2011) – The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is proud to announce Marvin Feldman, CLU, ChFC, RFC, president and CEO of the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE), as the recipient of the 70th 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.

Feldman will receive the award September 13, 2011, at the NAIFA Career Conference and Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

“On behalf of the committee, it was our pleasure to select Marv as the 2011 John Newton Russell Memorial Award winner,” said Jeffrey J. Taggart, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, chairman of the award committee. “Receiving this award is like winning an Oscar in the insurance industry, except we give out only one each year. It recognizes the best of the best, and Marv is a very deserving member of this elite group.”

Feldman entered the life insurance business in 1967 as a New York Life agent and held management and leadership positions with New York Life before becoming a partner in the Feldman Agency in East Liverpool, Ohio, and president of Feldman Financial Group in Clearwater, Florida.

He has spoken as an expert on life insurance topics before audiences in 34 countries and has published numerous articles in professional journals. Since being named president and CEO of LIFE in December 2007, Feldman has been the leading voice in educating the public on the importance of life and health insurance and the crucial role of insurance agents. He had previously served as chairman of the LIFE Board of Directors while running his insurance and financial planning practice in Florida.

Feldman is a former president of the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table as well as a 37-year member of the group, which admits less than 1 percent of the world's life insurance and financial services professionals who achieve a standard of sales excellence.

Feldman was named to Insurance Newscast’s 2009 and 2010 lists of the 100 most powerful people in the insurance industry in North America.

“Marv’s dedication to the institution of life insurance and the industry is beyond reproach,” said NAIFA President Terry K. Headley, LUTCF, LIC, FSS. “I can’t think of a better ambassador for our business, our industry, and our profession. As a highly successful agent for many years, Marv clearly understands and appreciates the essential role of agents, who perform the vital job of protecting the financial security of American families. I commend the Selection Committee on their excellent choice—they have chosen wisely—and congratulate Marv on this well-deserved honor.”

John Henry Russell created the John Newton Russell 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.

About NAIFA: NAIFA comprises nearly 700 state and local associations representing the interests of approximately 200,000 agents and their associates nationwide. NAIFA members focus their practices on one or more of the following: life insurance and annuities, health insurance and employee benefits, multiline, and financial advising and investments. The Association’s mission is to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of its members.