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Larry Lambert to be Awarded the Insurance Industry’s Highest Honor | News Releases | NAIFA
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Larry Lambert to be Awarded the Insurance Industry’s Highest Honor

NAIFA Names 68th Annual John Newton Russell Memorial Award Recipient

FALLS CHURCH, VA (April 15, 2009) — The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) proudly announces that Larry M. Lambert, CLU, CFP, RFC, chairman and owner of LBL Insurance Services, Inc., Long Beach, California, has been named the recipient of the 68th annual John Newton Russell Memorial Award, the highest honor bestowed on an individual by the insurance industry. The award recognizes sustained and meritorious service to the life insurance and financial advising industries. Lambert will receive the honor at a gala event during NAIFA’s Annual Convention and Career Conference, September 15, 2009, in Orlando, Florida.

Contact:

Lee Allen, Vice President of Communications and Marketing, NAIFA
(703) 770-8112 (office)
(703) 336-2462 (mobile)

“Larry is truly committed to the industry and to his clients, and we are thrilled to present him with this award,” said David Smithkey, CLU, RFC, chair of NAIFA’s John Newton Russell Memorial Award selection committee. “The award honors the best in the business, and for 40-plus years, Larry has been an inspiring example of everything agents should strive for.”

John Henry Russell created the John Newton Russell Memorial Award as a tribute to his father, an influential leader in the life insurance and financial advising industries. John Newton Russell served as NAIFA's president from 1916 to 1917 and was a contributing founder of LIMRA International, The American College and the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation. Award recipients are selected by a committee comprised of officials from several life insurance and financial services organizations, past award recipients and NAIFA past presidents.

NAIFA’s current president, Cliff F. Wilson, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CLF, adds, “I have had the honor of knowing and doing association work with Larry for many years. I could not be more excited that he is receiving this well-deserved honor.”

Lambert entered the life insurance business as an agent with Penn Mutual Life in Wichita, Kansas, in June 1965. Larry moved to Long Beach, California, in April 1972 as general agent of the Long Beach Agency and returned to sales in September 1979. In 1980, Larry started the LBL Group, an insurance and financial services firm, with his wife and business partner, Debra Thomas Lambert. The LBL Group provides a high level of sophisticated services in the areas of estate planning, employee benefits, wealth accumulation, retirement planning, business continuity planning and asset management.

Lambert has demonstrated his commitment to the industry through more than 40 years of involvement with NAIFA and other professional associations. He is a charter member of the Association of Health Insurance Agents; a qualifying and life member of the Million Dollar Round Table, Top of the Table, Court of the Table; and a member of the International Association of Financial Planners. He has served NAIFA at the local and state levels, serving on numerous committees, on the Board of Trustees, and as president of NAIFA-Long Beach and NAIFA-California. In 1993, Lambert was elected to the NAIFA national Board of Trustees, and served as national president from 1998 to 1999.

As NAIFA president, Larry’s commitment to educating and equipping industry leaders resulted in the creation of NAIFA’s Leadership in Life Institute (LILI). Now in its 10th year, the celebrated program develops leaders by fostering personal growth, enhancing business practices and developing skills necessary for effective leadership. Larry remains involved in the program and is the lead moderator for LILI in California. He serves as the state chair for LILI and is a member of the national LILI sub-committee for 2009.

Lambert is also involved in many civic and charitable activities. Among the many volunteer titles he has held, he is past-chairman of the board of Memorial Health Services, a five-hospital health care delivery system, and currently serves as its secretary.  Larry also chaired the board of Miller Children’s Hospital and Long Beach Memorial Hospital in Long Beach, and is a past chairman and current board member of Orange Coast Memorial Hospital. He is past chairman of Goodwill Industries of Southern Los Angeles County and is active in the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Lambert and his wife Debra now live in Huntington Beach, California. They have five children and seven grandchildren.

About NAIFA: NAIFA comprises more than 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.