NAIFA Houston Annual Awards Dinner Recognizes Top Members

NAIFA Houston held their Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at The Briar Club to recognize members who have went above and beyond, both professionally and personally. 

The evening began with NAIFA Houston President, Lena Allouche offering a warm welcome to guests in attendance and highlighting the Houston Awards Committee, the Houston President's Cabinet members, as well as the Houston Past Presidents in attendance at the dinner. Lena then moved on to thank the Awards Dinner event sponsors that included National Life Group, 1847 Financial, Strategic Financial Group, and Exam One Houston.

NAIFA Houston Past President and NAIFA-Texas Past President, Joey Ussery graciously accepted the role of emcee for the evening and presented the awards. Awards presented throughout the evening included the NAIFA National Quality Award, the NAIFA Houston Rising Star Award, the NAIFA Houston Financial Planner of the Year Award, and the NAIFA Houston Hall of Fame Award.

Following the awards presentations, the 2025 NAIFA Houston Board of Directors were sworn into office. 

NAIFA National Quality Award

The NAIFA Quality Award provides advisors at any career stage the opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to excellence. This includes: Professionalism through education and earned designations; Production measured by performance metrics customized for each practice specialty; Adherence to the NAIFA code of ethics; and Service to your industry association.

2024 Houston Recipients

NAIFA Houston Rising Star Award

NAIFA’s Rising Stars are those who are new to the business and are already showing signs of success. With less than five years in the business, the Rising Stars show much promise for a successful and fulfilling career. Committed to their community, family, and team, they serve as a great example for their peers.

2024 Rising Star Recipients

• Samir Abdullah - National Life Group
• Zack Butler - Infinite Partners
• Anna Dashkevich - Strategic Financial Group
• Kip Haines - Endeavor Private Wealth
• Guadalupe Mata - Guardian
• Shane Minks - Strategic Financial Group
• Holmert Radaelli - Guardian
• Adam Smith - Strategic Financial Group

NAIFA Houston Financial Planner of the Year

The NAIFA Financial Planner of the Year Award is Houston's newest award, with this being the first year that it was presented. The Financial Planner of the Year is one who embodies their fiduciary responsibility and operates with the highest ethical standards. They are compensated for at least 10 financial plans per year, have no derogatory marks on their U-4, and are series 65 or 66 licensed. 

Gary Wurl is the first recipient of the Financial Planner of the Year Award. Gary is a Certified Financial Planner, and a fiduciary wealth advisor who administers sound personal and professional advice on financial planning, investment management and retirement. Gary understands that each client has their own unique situations, so he tailors every client's plan to meet their financial goals. Flexibility and caring are how Gary can help you achieve success. With more than 30 years of experience and many client relationships, he specializes in financial planning, retirement planning, tax strategies, and more.

NAIFA Houston JOhn N. Neighbors Award

The John N. Neighbors Award was named in honor of Houston member John Neighbors in 1993, a Past President of the Houston Association, the Texas Association, and the National Association. The purpose is to recognize an outstanding member who has served the Association, the State and National membership, our Industry, and the community with distinction, dedication and honor. Although there was no award recipient this year, the previous recipients in attendance during the event were recognized:

• 2005 - Clark B. McCleary
• 2007 – Joey Ussery
• 2009 – Richard Kuriger
• 2011 – Alyson Guest
• 2012 – Gib Surles
• 2013 – Terrell Taylor
• 2019 – Mark Jones
• 2020 – Ted Erck
• 2021 – Tracy Miller
• 2022 – Fred Prelle

NAIFA Houston Hall of Fame Recipient

The NAIFA Hall of Fame Award was created in 1992 to recognize those members who have significant talent, exceptional leadership and remarkable dedication that is required to keep NAIFA Houston vibrant. The Hall of Fame Award recipient has had a positive and significant effect on the Association and the membership through their service, dedication, and leadership. Candidates for this award must be a current member in good standing in NAIFA Houston and have ten years of service in the life insurance industry, as well as ten years of membership in local, state, and national chapters of NAIFA with at least seven of those years being in the Houston Chapter.

This year’s Hall of Fame Award Recipient is Rick Demko. Rick is originally from St. Louis, Missouri. He moved to Houston, Texas, with his young family in 2015. He is the Founding Principal of the Guardian Group, a boutique life insurance brokerage that serves high-net worth professionals with tax and legacy planning as well as other advisors with advanced planning and complex cases.

One prevailing theme that those around him quickly discover is his message that life insurance is a tool--an asset in the right hands, particularly in alignment with a well thought out and executed plan.

Rick is an active member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, the Society of Financial Service Professionals, the Houston Estate and Financial Forum (Chapter of NAEPC), Finseca, Forum 400, and a Top of the Table qualifying member of the Million Dollar Roundtable.

He was recognized as Texas’ fourth national 4 Under 40 by Advisor Today (the first in Houston), inaugural Texas Young Advisor of the Year, nine-time NAIFA Quality Award recipient, Past NAIFA Houston President, Texas President, and Houston Hall of Fame member. 

Rick holds the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Accredited Estate Planner (AEP), Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP), Life Underwriting Training Council Fellowship (LUTCF), and the Life and Annuity Certified Professional (LACP) designations.

Those who know him best know his faith and strong conviction. He is tirelessly active in our community as a Rotarian, Community of Faith Church member, continual volunteer, and retired Firefighter/EMT. Rick also speaks nationally to associations, consumers, and producer groups in regard to proper life insurance planning strategy. Mentoring, consulting, and volunteering are all part of Rick’s core beliefs, civically as well as vocationally.

Please enjoy some of the photos captured during the event.

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