The National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA) announced John Gilbert, president of The National Benefit Corp., West Des Moines, IA, as its 2022 Chair. Gilbert’s financial services career began in 2002 as an agent for Bankers Life and Casualty, where he served the central Iowa senior marketplace with life insurance, long term care, annuities, and Medicare supplements.
Gilbert joined The National Benefit Corp. in 2004 as a marketing consultant, specializing in annuity marketing, and has held advancing roles over the past 17 years. He has long been active in NAILBA, serving as the Agency Successor Networking Group (ASNG) chair for the past three years, and was recognized in 2017 with the NAILBA Chairman’s Award.
“We cannot look toward the future of NAILBA without remembering those that paved the way for all of us,” Gilbert said in his Chairman’s address at the NAILBA annual meeting in November. “Mooers, Lea, Lerner, Milner, Felton, Cohen, Jetter, Tessler, Gentry—these people and many, many others laid the foundation for NAILBA, and they deserve our thanks and gratitude.”
Gilbert also expressed his commitment to NAILBA members, who often deal with families during their most difficult times. “We need to honor the past and the accomplishments of so many, while ensuring that independent distribution always focuses on how we deliver checks to orphans, widows, and business owners in their greatest time of need. That is what NAILBA is working on and what we will spend our energy trying to deliver for our membership.”
In addition to his leadership in NAILBA, Gilbert has also been active in the local NAIFA chapter and was the 2016 president of The TYGERS, a study group of second and third generation insurance professionals. He attended Northwest Missouri State and Iowa State universities and is series 6, 63, and life and health licensed.
