NAIFA-Texas Awards

NAIFA-Texas Awards Program

The NAIFA-Texas Awards program recognizes highly qualified members that have been identified for exhibiting leadership qualities, character, significant contributions to the insurance and financial industries, and meet or exceed the required qualifications for the award in which they are being nominated.

The NAIFA-Texas Awards Nominations are open each year in October. Any NAIFA-Texas Member in good standing can nominate peers for one or more award for which they qualify. Award nomination forms are to be emailed to NAIFA-Texas at support@naifa-texas.org by the designated deadline to be considered for selection.

John M. Ruckel Lifetime Achievement Award

The association boasts a rich history since its founding in 1925 as the Texas Association of Life Underwriters. The John M. Ruckel Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients have been integral to guiding the direction of the association.

The John M. Ruckel Lifetime Achievement Award is NAIFA-Texas’ top-ranking award that recognizes the most prestigious and successful members in our association. The award is named after long-standing NAIFA-Texas member, John M. Ruckel, who began his career in June 1969.

John served as President of the Texas Chapter of National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA-Texas) from 1987 to 1988 and went on to serve as President of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA National) from 1999 to 2000. John received the NAIFA-Texas Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his outstanding commitment and contributions to the organization. The award was aptly re-named after the outstanding John M. Ruckel in 2023 following a unanimous decision by the NAIFA-Texas Board of Directors.

The John M. Ruckel Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are selected by the NAIFA-Texas Awards Committee after thorough consideration. Recipients of the award must have a minimum of twenty (20) years of continuous membership in NAIFA-Texas, demonstrate significant contributions to NAIFA-Texas, including local and/or state leadership involvement, contribute to the NAIFA-Texas Political Action Committee (PAC), and contribute to the insurance and financial services industry.

John M. Ruckel Lifetime Achievement Award Nomination Form

Tom Currey Local Leader of the Year Award

The NAIFA-Texas Tom Currey Local Leader of the Year Award recognizes an advisor’s commitment to NAIFA by their service and leadership at the Local Chapter and/or Affiliate level and their positive impact on the insurance and financial services industry. In 2024, the NAIFA-Texas Awards Committee and Board of Directors renamed the award after Thomas ‘Tom’ D Currey, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF. Tom joined NAIFA in 1980 and has been an integral part of the success of our association. He is a member of the NAIFA-Fort Worth Chapter.

Tom led NAIFA-Texas as state President in 1998 – 1999 and played a crucial role in the development of the Leadership in Life Institute (LILI). The first recorded LILI was held in Texas in February 2000 and was led by Tom Currey. Tom went on to serve as NAIFA National President in 2009-2010. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Life Underwriting Council Fellow (LUTCF) and a Financial Security Advocate.

To be eligible for this award, a nominee must be a current NAIFA member in good standing. They must demonstrate significant contributions to NAIFA-Texas, including participation in their Local Chapter and/or Affiliate leadership team and positively impact the insurance and financial services industry.