Awards
Awards
Marvin E. Muilenberg, Distinguished Service Award
2023 Recipient
Thomas W. Taylor, AIF
Thomas W. Taylor AIF® is a lifelong resident of Lenawee County. He established The Taylor Agency of Southern Michigan, Inc. in 1988. Tom has built his agency around dedication, experience, and integrity. His service in the industry for 35 years brings with it several awards and accomplishments. He is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Fraternal Insurance Counselors and has served as President of NAIFA-Lenawee (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) from 1997-1998 and again from 2003-2004.
His many honors and awards include: National Quality Awards, Quality Service, National Sales Achievement awards, Agency Building Awards, Persistency Awards, as well as The Century Club. Among his various educational courses, Tom has completed the “Mission for LIFESM” program designed to define the needs of individuals and families and provide a complete and unique solution. Tom has also completed the intensive Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation to abide by the oath to put his client’s best interest first. He is an Investment Advisor Representative for Sigma Planning Corporation. He thoroughly enjoys helping people. He is particularly skilled in assisting individuals in accumulating assets prior to retirement and providing retirement income streams when his clients retire. He helps families with estate planning with life insurance protection and coordinating with attorneys for wills and trusts.
Tom and his wife, Dawn, have two grown daughters, Erica Taylor & Kathryn King. They all currently reside in Adrian and enjoy spending time with family and friends. His employees and coworkers are keenly aware of their honorary place in his family and his respect and admiration for them. Tom has been an active council member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Adrian for more than 30 years, serving as the President of the congregation for more than 20 of those years. He is dedicated to the community and has coached several community sports teams and supports numerous community events and organizations.
Past Recipients
- 2022 – C. Richard Herrold, CLU, ChFC, MSFS, CFP®
- 2021 – Mark A. Staat
- 2019 – Alfred J. Opas, LUTCF
- 2018 – David F. Lau, JD, CLU, ChFC
- 2017 – James J. Ciennik, III, LUTCF, LIC, RFC
- 2016 – Carolyn Miller, LUTCF, LIC, ChFC
- 2015 – William T. Beemer, CLU, ChFC
- 2014 – Larry G. Johnson, LUTCF, CSA
- 2013 – Thomas D. Carter, CLU, ChFC, CIC
- 2012 – James R. Goodrich, CLU, ChFC
- 2011 – Francis J. Gingras, CLU, ChFC, CASL
- 2010 – David M. Muilenberg, CLU, ChFC
- 2009 – Dennis L. Miller, CLU, LUTCF
- 2008 – Robert O. Smith, J.D., CLU, ChFC
- 2007 – Richard A. Gurdjian, CLU, ChFC
- 2006 – David E. Smithkey, CLU, RFC
- 2005 – Lawrence J. Stack, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF
- 2004 – Lyle B. Morrison, CLU
- 2003 – Ronald D. Brant, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF
- 2002 – John C. Beckwith, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF
- 2001 – Ralph Stillwell, RHU
- 1998 – Austin A. Kanter, CLU, ChFC
- 1997 – William L. Metzger, CLU
- 1996 – Michael J. Vanderveen, CLU, ChFC
- 1995 – M.D. Sumney, CLU, ChFC
- 1994 – David V. McCulloch, CLU, ChFC
- 1993 – Joel F. Garfield, CLU, RHU
- 1992 – Lawrence E. Lounds, CLU, ChFC
- 1991 – Ronald A. Granroth, CLU, ChFC
- 1990 – John J. Meyers, CLU
- 1989 – John C. Prost, CLU, ChFC
- 1988 – Arthur A. Baum, Jr., CLU
- 1987 – Stephen H. Barnard, CLU
- 1986 – Thomas D. Allen, CLU
- 1985 – William E. Hazel, Jr., CLU
- 1984 – Don Jandernoa, CLU, ChFC
- 1983 – Wayne W. Croxton, CLU
- 1982 – Clare E. Cronkright, CLU
- 1981 – Robert B. Hughes, CLU, ChFC
- 1980 – Carroll K. Streeter, CLU
- 1979 – S.C. “Jack” Johnston
- 1978 – Marvin E. Muilenberg, CLU
- 2022 – C. Richard Herrold, CLU, ChFC, MSFS, CFP®
- 2021 – Mark A. Staat
- 2019 – Alfred J. Opas, CLU, LUTCF
- 2018 – David F. Lau, JD, CLU, ChFC
- 2017 – James J. Ciennik, III, LUTCF, LIC, RFC
- 2016 – Carolyn Miller, LUTCF, LIC, ChFC
- 2015 – William T. Beemer, CLU, ChFC
- 2014 – Larry G. Johnson, LUTCF, CSA
- 2013 – Thomas D. Carter, CLU, ChFC, CIC
- 2012 – James R. Goodrich, CLU, ChFC
- 2011 – Francis J. Gingras, CLU, ChFC, CASL
- 2010 – David M. Muilenberg, CLU, ChFC
- 2009 – Dennis L. Miller, CLU, LUTCF
- 2008 – Robert O. Smith, J.D., CLU, ChFC
- 2007 – Richard A. Gurdjian, CLU, ChFC
- 2006 – David E. Smithkey, CLU, RFC
- 2005 – Lawrence J. Stack, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF
- 2004 – Lyle B. Morrison, CLU
- 2003 – Ronald D. Brant, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF
- 2002 – John C. Beckwith, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF
- 2001 – Ralph Stillwell, RHU
- 1998 – Austin A. Kanter, CLU, ChFC
- 1997 – William L. Metzger, CLU
- 1996 – Michael J. Vanderveen, CLU, ChFC
- 1995 – M.D. Sumney, CLU, ChFC
- 1994 – David V. McCulloch, CLU, ChFC
- 1993 – Joel F. Garfield, CLU, RHU
- 1992 – Lawrence E. Lounds, CLU, ChFC
- 1991 – Ronald A. Granroth, CLU, ChFC
- 1990 – John J. Meyers, CLU
- 1989 – John C. Prost, CLU, ChFC
- 1988 – Arthur A. Baum, Jr., CLU
- 1987 – Stephen H. Barnard, CLU
- 1986 – Thomas D. Allen, CLU
- 1985 – William E. Hazel, Jr., CLU
- 1984 – Don Jandernoa, CLU, ChFC
- 1983 – Wayne W. Croxton, CLU
- 1982 – Clare E. Cronkright, CLU
- 1981 – Robert B. Hughes, CLU, ChFC
- 1980 – Carroll K. Streeter, CLU
- 1979 – S.C. “Jack” Johnston
- 1978 – Marvin E. Muilenberg, CLU
NAIFA Quality Award
The NAIFA Quality Award encourages advisors to demonstrate a commitment to excellence, no matter what stage they are at in their careers. We are looking for the following:
- Professionalism Through Education and Earned Designations
- Production is Measured by Performance Metrics Customized for Each Practice Specialty
- Adherence to the NAIFA Code of Ethics
- Service to Your Industry Association
The opportunity to demonstrate their professional capabilities is available to advisors specializing in life and annuities, financial advising and investments, health and employee benefits, multiline sales, or any combination of these specialties.
Congratulations to NAIFA’s 2023 NQA Recipients
Luke Russell
Thomas Holmes
Grace Braatz-Opper
Randall Hoover
Robert Hurd
Barbara Pietrangelo
