Finseca Awards
Finseca’s Awards celebrate the exceptional agency leaders and individuals whose passion, talent, and expertise drive the financial security profession forward. These prestigious awards recognize those who inspire others and make significant contributions to our industry, embodying the spirit of excellence and innovation that defines our mission.
FORUM 400 Awards
The award’s purpose is to recognize members dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others and their communities through their leadership and involvement. The Humanitarian Award is presented to individuals who recognize the difference between their talents and their character. It has been said, “talents come to us as gifts and character comes to us by choice,” and this is precisely what the Humanitarian Award symbolizes.
The Fast & Furious Sales Ideas session is an open mic forum that allows participants 90 seconds to present an idea in front of their peers, two moderators and a panel of three judges. Named after industry leader and 1994 Forum President, Sidney A. Friedman, the Sid Award was launched at the 2006 Annual Meeting in order to recognize the No. 1 sales idea presented during the Fast & Furious Sales Ideas session.
LAMP Leadership Awards
Inductees to Finseca’s Management Hall of Fame are not only experts at building world-class agencies or firms, they also elevate the financial security profession by serving and educating their communities, championing professional development, and generally advancing the mission and work of the profession.
Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Ed Deutschlander
North Star Resource Group
Ed Deutschlander is currently the CEO at North Star Resource Group, which is one of the nation’s largest and oldest independent financial advising firms and whose origins trace back to 1908 in the Twin Cities community.
In 2002 Ed became the youngest Managing Partner nationally for the Minnesota Life’s Securian Advisor Network, which has over 50 advising firms throughout the country.
Ed is also a highly regarded recruiter and coach. His recruiting and selection approach was lauded in a 2008 New Yorker article, and he won Securian’s Recruiter of the Year award every time he was eligible. He created his own consulting firm in 1998 at the age of 27 and has been hired by some of the largest insurance companies in the world to help them better their recruitment and training programs. Some of Ed’s clients include Met Life, John Hancock, Farmers Insurance, Mass Mutual, New England Financial, Thrivent Financial, Minnesota Life, American National, and New York Life. Ed has been asked to present internationally and has literally educated tens of thousands of managers and advisors in the financial services industry giving over 100 professional presentations. Along with speaking in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou, Ed has recently presented to thousands at the APLIC convention in Thailand. North Star’s training program is featured in two New York Times Best Sellers, What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell and Use Your Head To Get Your Foot In The Door by Harvey Mackay.
Management Hall of Fame Class of 2026 issued by Finseca. Finseca Management Hall of Fame is a leadership recognition program administered by Finseca to acknowledge individuals demonstrating core leadership competencies. Candidates are nominated and submissions are reviewed by Finseca, with final determinations made by Finseca’s President. Listing in this publication and/or award is not a guarantee of future investment success. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the financial professional by any client. No compensation was provided directly or indirectly by the recipient for participation or in connection with obtaining or using the third-party rating or award.
Chris Noonan
Equitable
Chris is a visionary leader and highly accomplished professional in the financial services industry. Early in his career, he discovered his passion was to help others achieve their greatness within. He has a proven track record of leading people to exceptional results and recognizing their unique ability. With a fluid marketplace and change a constant, he and his team consistently challenge the status quo, assume a responsible mindset and focus on encouraging and inspiring others to live a life of significance.
Chris works with one of the finest teams of professional advisors and staff in the industry to serve thousands of households and businesses throughout Texas. With assets under management topping five billion, as well as, billions of dollars of life insurance in force, they are monikers of integrity when it comes to serving their clients’ needs.
Serving on both company and industry-wide boards and study groups, Chris has been a key note speaker at GAMA International’s ‘Leadership and Management Program’ (LAMP) and the Life Insurance & Market Research Association (LIMRA) International conferences. He is a recognized business leader, serving on numerous community boards, and has received many company and industry awards.
The First in Class Award recognizes agency leaders or managers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership. Each company is responsible for determining the criteria it will use to select its nominee. Multiple nominees may be eligible for companies that segment distribution by market size or use a benchmark value proposition for their distribution systems.
2026 First in Class Awardees
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes superior managers, such as sales, unit, division, or district managers, who have direct responsibilities for a portion of an agency or firm, including recruiting, launching, and supervising new sales professionals. Each company is responsible for determining the criteria it will use to select its nominee. Nominees should stand out as role models for other managers.
2026 Emerging Leader Awardees
Braxton Barton
Prudential
Website
Aaron Daniels
Country Financial
Website
Ashlynn Mohan
Equitable Advisors
Website
Master Agency Awards are given to an agency head that is an active Finseca member at a firm with at least $7,800,000 USD in commission levels or $15,600,000 USD in premium levels during the previous year.
2026 VIP Master Agency Awardee
Paul Karlitz | Sagient
2026 Master Agency Awardees
• Atlanta 46 / Ashford Advisors
• Axiom
• Barnum Financial Group
• Baystate Financial
• Blue Ocean Wealth Solutions
• Bluecrest Financial Alliances
• Capital Strategies
• Capstone California-Nevada
• Capstone Utah
• Carolina Financial Group
• Center for Wealth Preservation
• Certified Financial Services LLC
• Charter Oak Financial
• Coastal Wealth
• Commonwealth Financial Group
• Commonwealth Financial Group
• Consolidated Planning
• Creative Financial Group
• Empire City Financial Group
• Equitable Advisors, LLC
• Fifth Avenue Financial
• First Financial Group
• Forest Hills Financial Group NY
• Fortis Lux Financial
• Four Peaks Financial Group
• GoldBook Financial
• Goris Financial Group Inc
• Great Lakes Financial Group
• Greater Florida Financial Group
• Greater Heartland Financial Group
• Greater Metro Financial Group
• Greater Midwest Financial Group
• Greater New England Financial Group
• Greater Texas Financial Group
• Jackson CA / Ashford Advisors
• Keystone Financial Group
• Lee, Nolan & Koroghlian LLC
• Legacy Wealth Partners
• Lenox Advisors
• Magnolia Wealth Strategies
• MassMutual Brooklyn
• MassMutual Central US
• MassMutual Great Lakes
• MassMutual Greater Richmond
• MassMutual Greater Washington
• MassMutual Metro New York
• MassMutual New Jersey-NYC
• MassMutual Northern California
• MassMutual Northwest
• MassMutual Oregon
• MassMutual Pacific
• MassMutual Pacific
• MassMutual Pittsburgh
• MassMutual Puerto Rico
• MassMutual South Carolina
• MassMutual Tri State
• Memphis / Ashford Advisors
• Mid America Financial Group
• Mid-Atlantic Financial Group
• NJ Wealth Partners
• North Star Resource Group
• North Western Hills Financial Group
• Northeast Financial Group
• Northeast Financial Network
• Northern Lights Financial Group
• Northwestern Mutual – Downtown Milwaukee
• Northwestern Mutual – Pittsburgh
• Northwestern Mutual – Twin Cities
• Northwestern Mutual Houston/Texas Financial Group
• Northwestern Mutual Park Avenue
• Opes One
• Pacific Advisors, LLC
• Pacific Financial Group
• Pacific Southwest Advisors
• Peachtree Planning/Southeast Agency
• Rethink Wealth LLC
• Sagient
• Savage and Associates, Inc
• Skylight Financial Group
• Southern Financial Group
• Spectrum Financial Group
• Strategic Financial Group
• Strategic Financial Partners
• Striano Financial Group
• Summit Risk Management
• Synergy Wealth Solutions
• Team Alliance
• The Bulfinch Group
• The Empire State Financial Group
• The Pelora Group
• The Piedmont Group
• The Stellarix Group
• Thompson Financial Group
• Touchstone Wealth
• Tri-State Wealth Advisors
• uFinancial Group
• Vision Financial Group
• Vista Wealth Solutions
• Wealth Advisory Group LLC
• WestPac Wealth Partners, LLC
• WestPoint Financial Group
• WestPoint Financial Group
The Master Multiline Award is given to an agency head that is an active Finseca member with an agency or firm that achieved at least $300,000 USD in gross life and annuity premiums and at least $10,000,000 USD in gross property and casualty premiums during the previous year.
There are no recipients for 2026.
NEW!
The Master Fraternal Award is given to an agency head who is a Finseca member with an agency or society that achieved at least $1,000,000 USD in gross life insurance premiums with $3,000,000 USD in total premiums during the previous year.
- Modern Woodmen – Chad Foster Region
- Modern Woodmen – Jackson CA / Ashford Advisors
- Modern Woodmen – Jonathan Marsh Region
- Modern Woodmen – Scott McDonald Region
- Modern Woodmen – Daniel Polk Region
The International Management Award recognizes the achievements of first-line managers
(heads of agencies or firms). All qualifiers must be active Finseca members and must personally supervise full-time career agents, advisors, or sales representatives in the agency or firm.
2026 International Management Awardees
- Aamir Chalisa
- Bruce W. Davison, CFP
- Gaylen Harms
- Kyle Heller
- Brian Hensen
- David Jacobs
- Shaun McDuffee
- Stephanie Tsang
The Frontline Leader Award recognizes frontline managers, such as unit, division, or district managers who have direct responsibility for a portion of an agency or firm. All qualifiers must be current Finseca members.
2026 Frontline Leader Awardees
- David Bell
- Andrew Beers
- Walter Bowden
- Kris Bosely
- Fred Burgess
- Meghan Blomberg
- Dakota Brizendine
- Kevin Callison
- Aamir Chalisa
- John Chafin
- Scott Eaton
- Tim Eaton
- Nathan Grendahl
- Jackson Hauser
- Beau Jackson
- Kraigg Knary
- Gregory Mallett
- Zachary McDowell
- Andew McNeal
- John Medina
- Thomas Kuykendall
- Taylor Lake
- Damon Lichtenberger
- Sam Philbrook, CLF®
- Nicholas Roop, CEPA®
- Hector Alexis Romo
- Anthony Schau
- James Schoeck
- Dave Schwartz
- Brian Souder
- Bennett Sperber
- Mike Truly
- David Tuzson
- Michael Hunter Summar
- Nicholas Sztapka
- Scott Thistle
The Community Impact Leadership Award honors financial security firms/ agencies that are having a tangible, measurable effect on their clients and their communities. That impact might be the result of a number of activities, such as lives secured, charitable efforts or DE&I initiatives that promote doing well by doing good.
2026 Community Impact Winner - Announcing Soon
Coastal Wealth’s community impact initiative is focused on addressing food insecurity, financial literacy, and community wellness across the regions we serve. We currently lead organized service efforts in three locations throughout Florida, with plans to expand our impact to Atlanta, Georgia as our firm grows.
One of the primary needs we address is food insecurity. Through partnerships with Feeding America and Feeding South Florida, our financial professionals and staff participate in hands-on volunteer activities including food sorting, packing, and distribution. These efforts directly support families, seniors, and children who lack consistent access to nutritious food. In addition to volunteer service, we organize donation drives and fundraising efforts to increase measurable impact.
We also prioritize youth financial education through our work with Junior Achievement, where team members support programs that teach students foundational skills in budgeting, entrepreneurship, and career readiness. Additionally, we support health-focused initiatives through the Alzheimer’s Association, including fundraising and awareness campaigns that assist families affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Our Coastal Wealth Foundation meets monthly to coordinate these initiatives and ensure at least one organized service or philanthropic event each quarter. By combining hands-on volunteerism, financial contributions, and strategic nonprofit partnerships, we aim to strengthen community resilience and create sustainable, long-term impact in the areas where we live and work.
2026 Community Impact Finalists
- Northwestern Mutual – Park Avenue
- Commonwealth Financial Group
When you ask the iconic leaders of the financial security profession about how they grew successful businesses and teams, almost all mention the help of mentors and peers. The Finseca Futures program is designed to provide access to networks and training that leaders need to thrive in the early years (0-5 years in leadership) of their career. (This program requires a fee.)
There are no recipients for 2026.
Leadership Award Sponsors
Advanced Markets Award
Peter W. Mullin, a co-founder of the M Financial Group, was a visionary leader who reimagined our entire industry with thoughtful guidance and commitment to innovation and excellence while steadfastly remaining faithful to his core principles.
To honor his legacy, the annual Peter W. Mullin Visionary Leadership Award will be granted to an individual who: demonstrates exemplary and courageous leadership skills, inspires others, embraces philanthropy, and demonstrates loyalty, integrity, innovation, and commitment to excellence.
2026 Award Winner
Jim Hebets
Northeast Private Client Group
Mark Murphy is an accomplished CEO, author, speaker, motivator, and podcast host, transforming the financial planning and wealth management industry with his innovative and forward-thinking approach. As the CEO of Northeast Sequoia Private Client Group, a national financial planning and wealth management firm, he is a highly sought-after business strategist and critical thinker. His passion lies in empowering entrepreneurs to achieve multigenerational wealth by offering personalized strategies focused on emotional fitness, wealth accumulation, and planning for all circumstances.
His expertise in strategic planning and financial engineering has benefited a wide range of clients, including closely held businesses, mid-size companies, celebrities, athletes, hedge fund managers, doctors, dentists, and other high net worth individuals. An unwavering commitment to delivering a “wow” experience has earned him a reputation as a trusted expert in the industry.
He holds a B.S. in Finance from Indiana University, along with the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designations from the American College. Additionally, he is recognized as an NFLPA Registered Player Financial Advisor—designations that demand rigorous training and testing. His ongoing dedication to education ensures he remains current with financial planning news, trends, and innovations.
A charter member of the Guardian Chairman’s Council, he has qualified every year since its inception and has earned twenty-eight consecutive President’s Council honors. His leadership includes serving on thirteen Executive Committees and various Guardian committees such as the Field Product Committee, Park Avenue Securities (PAS), and the Action Committee. He also serves on the National Board of Directors for the Indiana University Varsity Club—a testament to his commitment to excellence and deep connection to his alma mater.
In 2023, he was ranked #1 in New Jersey and #3 nationally on Forbes’ list of America’s Top Financial Security Professionals. He is also a #1 best-selling author on Amazon, with his third book, The Ultimate Investment: A Roadmap to Grow Your Business and Build Multigenerational Wealth, reaching the top spot for new releases and being featured in major airports nationwide. His podcast, The Hero of The Hour, has earned a spot in the Top 40 U.S. podcasts in the competitive Business and Entrepreneurship categories.
Beyond his business achievements, he serves on several corporate boards, including Edulence Corporation, Dentist Select, Investors Bank, HR for Health, Runway of Dreams, and Fortune Management. He is a frequent guest speaker on topics such as practice mergers/acquisitions, estate planning, charitable giving, and multigenerational wealth strategies. His service also includes leadership roles such as President of AALU, President of the American Lung Association of New Jersey, Vice-President of the Indiana University Alumni Association, Finance Chairman for Senator Thomas Kean, Jr., member of Governor Christopher Christie’s Election Transition Team, and delegate to the 2012 Republican National Convention.
Inductees to Finseca’s Management Hall of Fame are not only experts at building world-class agencies or firms, they also elevate the financial security profession by serving and educating their communities, championing professional development, and generally advancing the mission and work of the profession.
Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Michael Book
Fifth Avenue Financial & Lenox Advisors
Michael Book is one of the firm’s Founding Partners. He co-founded Lenox in 2000 together with Greg Large and Rick Van Benschoten and has played a central role in its growth into an insurance and wealth advisory firm serving clients nationwide.
With more than 35 years of industry experience, Michael has spent much of his career advising high-net-worth clients while helping shape Lenox’s long-term strategic vision. As a returning founding partner, he continues to reinforce the principles that have long defined the firm: disciplined advice, thoughtful leadership, and an unwavering commitment to clients. Today, Michael focuses on a select group of client relationships while serving as a mentor to the firm’s advisor base and a trusted resource to its leadership team.
Michael’s leadership has been widely recognized across the profession. He was recently selected as a speaker at Finseca Advanced Markets being inducted into the Finseca Management Hall of Fame* in 2026, honoring individuals who elevate the industry through leadership and mentorship. He has also appeared numerous times on Bloomberg Television and CNN to discuss financial topics and corporate planning.
Michael earned his degree from the University of Delaware. He holds the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designations. Michael is based in the Delray Beach, Florida office.
Greg McRoberts
WestPoint Financial Group
Following both his father and his grandfather into the financial services business, Greg had a clear vision of the scale and scope of the firm he wanted to build. His father supported his ambition and mentored him along the way. Greg was licensed to sell insurance by the age of eighteen and became a sales manager before graduating from college. In 2002, Greg became Managing Partner of WestPoint Financial Group with 12 advisors and staff members.
Under Greg’s leadership, the Indianapolis-based financial services firm has experienced explosive growth, with over 400 financial professionals and staff members located throughout Indiana, Illinois, Cincinnati, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. Together, they serve over *196,000 clients with $30 billion of assets on under management and service over **$44 billion in life insurance in force.
Greg attributes the firm’s success to the company culture. “We care deeply about the people who work here, and they care about us,” says Greg. “I grew up in a family business, so we look at this firm as a family,” he adds.
Relentless in pursuing his vision of a firm that is a leader in the marketplace, Greg has made it a priority to create and foster an environment where financial professionals have the support, guidance, and tools necessary to succeed. His efforts have proven to make the desired impact. WestPoint Financial Group is consistently recognized as an employer of choice. It has been named “One of the Best Places to Work in Indiana” every year from 2008 through 2025. Following the expansion into Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky, the firm has also earned a spot as “One of the Best Places to Work” in those states.
Greg enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with his wife of 35 years, Jill. A World War II buff, he loves nonfiction and historical fiction, especially paired with a glass of red wine at their vacation home in Blackberry Farm, Tennessee. He cherishes Sunday dinners with his children, Emma and Owen, son-in-law Brad, and grandchildren Henry, Mary, and Mabel. Emma and Brad work at WestPoint Financial Group, and Owen runs his own car detailing business – each continuing the family tradition of entrepreneurship into its fourth generation.
Independent Distribution Awards
NAILBA’s “ID Twenty” Awards recognize 20 insurance professionals annually who have made important contributions to the insurance community. Honoring independent distribution’s most courageous innovators and visionaries, the 2025 ID Twenty award ceremony will take place at NAILBA 44. Anyone from the independent distribution community is eligible: business leaders, techies, marketers, or operations professionals within BGAs, carriers, or vendor companies. Nominate an exceptional peer or colleague today!
2025 Award Winners
- Tom Bates, Principal Financial Group
- Reid Buerger, Coventry
- Phil Chuba, Prudential
- Dave Donchey, Leisure, Werden and Terry
- Bill Ellis, Mutual of Omaha
- Matt Gallegos, Lakeview Financial
- Lorrie Gibbons, KAFL Insurance Resources
- Chris Griffith, Gallagher
- Renae Guetzkow, Lockton Affinity
- Rick Hyde, Insured Connect
- Kate Israel, Nationwide
- Yuval Man, Digital Owl
- Blake Mohr, Capitas Financial
- Jeff Reed, Advantage Insurance Network
- Justin Renig, Oberlin
- Todd Ruplinger, Techficient
- Maxwell Schmitz, Yetworth Insurance Services
- Suzy Tuck, Paperclip Inc
- John Voelker, Voelker Underwriting
- Amanda Yoho, Proformex
The Douglas Mooers Award for Excellence is NAILBA’s’ most coveted and prestigious award. Named after NAILBA’s Founding Chairman, H. Douglas Mooers, the Mooers Award was established in May of 1986. This annual award honors excellence in brokerage and is bestowed upon the individual most committed to furthering brokerage and independent life brokerage as a distribution system.
Nominees may include present or former NAILBA member principals, exhibitor company executives, members of NAILBA peer groups or other insurance industry groups, and concerned members of the insurance press. Nominees are dedicated insurance professionals with superior career accomplishments as well as outstanding records of service to the community. Mooers Award recipients are this country’s peer-recognized leaders of brokerage.
2025 Award Winner
Michael Hefferon
Brokers’ Service Marketing Group (BSMG)
Michael Hefferon is a recognized industry leader with deep BGA and carrier relationships, and a very unique career and set of skills. He started his own BGA in 1988, sold it in 2006 and served as co-president of Ash Brokerage for six years. Since 2002, he served as BRAMCO’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until the creation of LIBRA in January 2020. At LIBRA he served as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Financial Officer during the transition, until earlier this year.
The Kathy Deren Excellence in Life Insurance Underwriting Award is to celebrate exceptional talent within our industry for underwriting. By recognizing those who meet high standards of performance and integrity, we reinforce the importance of our collective commitment to quality underwriting practices.
Bill Wheeler
Protective Life
Bill Wheeler is an experienced underwriting professional currently serving as Underwriting Manager at Protective Life since November 2020, also previously holding the position of Senior Underwriting Consultant. Prior experience includes roles as Underwriting Officer and Underwriting Manager at Prudential Financial from January 2013 to September 2020, as well as Underwriting Manager and Business Analyst at The Hartford from 2004 to 2012. Bill Wheeler began a career at Ameriprise Financial from 1997 to 2004, undertaking various job titles. Bill Wheeler holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Marketing Minor from the University of Minnesota.
