As National Life turns 170, it also is celebrating this year the 20th anniversary of independent distribution.
Ruth Smith, who launched the distribution channel in 1998 and retired two years ago, made a surprise appearance at Tuesday’s all employee meeting.
She said that creating the company’s first field force of independent agents to sell National Life Group products started off slowly.
The channel opened for business on October 5, 1998, and generated just over $300,000 in life insurance sales by year-end.
As of this week independent agents are responsible for more than $200 million in life sales this year.
“You all are so amazing,” Ruth told employees as she marveled at the success. “There is no other company out there like National Life.”
Ruth singled out five colleagues for their efforts to launch and grow the new channel: David Gilmore,
Joyce LaRosa, Eric Lopez, Terri Carlyle and Renee Lawrence.
“And there are lots of great people in the field – some of whom are still with us.”
When Ruth retired she was executive vice president and head of the Customer Innovation Group and oversaw operations for life insurance and annuities, strategy, project delivery and IT.