Leaders Club Awards

The annual meeting of the Leaders Club is a great Guardian tradition, bringing our top producers together to meet old friends, welcome newcomers, and celebrate their accomplishments. At this year’s awards dinner, at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida, Leyla Lesina set the tone:

“Tonight is dedicated to you and your remarkable contributions. It’s also a celebration of the individuals who have stood by you throughout this journey.”

Leyla Lesina

Head of IM Distribution

Hall of Fame Financial Professional (FP) Inductee

The Hall of Fame recognizes producers who have a long-standing track record of superior results. Requirements include attaining Leaders Club at least 30 times or President’s Council 20 times — a hallmark of a successful career with Guardian.

Marty Nachemson joined by his wife, Claudia Gallo and daughter, Julia, with Michael Weinberg, 2023-2024 President of the Executive Committee
Hall of Fame Inductee
Mark Connely with his wife, Ashley, and children, Clarksyn and Edyn, joined by Leyla Lesina on the left
2023-2024 President of the Executive Committee

Christopher Ferrara Memorial New Agent of the Year Award

This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of a financial professional who is new to the business and has achieved success in a very short time. The winner achieved the highest annual Minimum Production Requirement (MPR) of the prior year.

Doug Dubitsky, Certified Financial Services, with $150,288 in total MPR Commission Credits.

Doug Dubitsky, Certified Financial Services, with Leyla Lesina

Centurion Club Qualifiers

Centurion Club recognition is earned by those with 100 or more new paid cases in a calendar year, of which 75 or more must be from individual life and disability income. The award also requires a minimum 90% persistency We recognized the following recipients who attended.

Life and Qualifying Members in attendance

First-time Qualifiers
Stephen Abrams, National Financial Network
Joe Biondolillo, Short Hills
Gregory Breitman, Strategies for Wealth
Bob Furlong, Boston
Gary McGovern, Lifetime Financial Growth
Robert Schlesinger, Strategies for Wealth
Yechezkel Stein, Brooklyn
Christopher Weber, Strategies for Wealth
Qualifying Members
^{2 years}
Michael DiFiore, Strategies for Wealth
Sharon Eliot, Certified Financial Services
Shaya IIiovits, Brooklyn
James Kachmar, National Financial Network
Michael McSweeney, Certified Financial Services
Abraham Philipson, Brooklyn
Bryan Schod, Lifetime Financial Growth
Kris Schwartz, Austin
^{3 years}
Berel Bronstein, Brooklyn
Edward Dennis, South Florida
Christopher Fontana, North/Central Florida
Cason Parker, North/Central Florida
Gershon Weber, Brooklyn
^{4 years}
Leonard Cohen, Forest Hills Financial Group
Patrick Hauge, Pacific Advisors
Joel Heller, Brooklyn
Mendy Kaufman, Brooklyn
Richard Lunetta, National Financial Network
Yosef Marsow, Brooklyn
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Strategies for Wealth
Abraham Wieder, Brooklyn
^{5 years}
Eli Friedman, NY Gotham
Marc Mirabella, Hudson Valley
Benzion Weinfeld, Brooklyn
^{7 years}
Jim DesRocher, Strategies for Wealth
^{9 years}
David Simkowitz, Brooklyn
Life and Qualifying Members
^{5 years}
Ryan Brace, Lifetime Financial Growth
Todd Salac, Lifetime Financial Growth
^{6 years}
Liang Lee, Western Pacific
Mark Murphy, Forest Hills Financial Group
^{7 years}
Aba Berkowitz, Brooklyn
^{8 years}
Evaristo Gonzalez, Financial Growth Partners
Yoel Moskowitz, Forest Hills Financial Group
Dustin Peltier, Northern States
^{9 years}
Binyamin Glancz, Brooklyn
^{10 years}
Josh Ketchie, South Central
Shmuel Wolvovsky, Brooklyn
^{12 years}
Tyler DeStefano, National Financial Network
^{13 years}
Ashvin Chheda, Red River
Elie Engel, Brooklyn
^{14 years}
Wolf Perl, Brooklyn
^{23 years}
Dr. Eric Studley, National Financial Network
^{24 years}
Marc DiFiore, Strategies for Wealth
^{31 years}
Randy Fine, Strategies for Wealth

Praetorian Club and Praefectus Award Qualifiers

Left to right: Leyla Lesina, Tyler DeStefano, Yosef Marsow, Elie Engel, Todd Salac, Dr. Eric Studley, Dan Ellen
Praetorian Club Qualifiers
Elite performers in this group have 200 or more paid cases in a calendar year, of which 150 or more must be from individual life and disability income. The award also requires a minimum 90% persistency rate.
First-time Qualifier
Yosef Marsow, Brooklyn
Qualifying Members
^{2 years}
Todd Salac, Lifetime Financial Growth
^{4 years}
Elie Engel, Brooklyn
^{8 years}
Tyler DeStefano, National Financial Network
^{17 years}
Dr. Eric Studley, National Financial Network
Left to right: Leyla Lesina, Tyler DeStefano, Elie Engel, Dan Ellen
Praefectus Award Winners
Elite performers in this group have 300 or more paid cases in a calendar year, of which 255 or more must be from individual life and disability income. The award also requires a minimum 90% persistency rate.
Tyler DeStefano, National Financial Network
Elie Engel, Brooklyn

Leadership Awards

Left to right: Leyla Lesina, Elie Engel, Dan Ellen
Lives and Life Face Value Award
Elie Engel, Brooklyn
369.24 in Total Life/DI/Group Lives
$475,076,963 Life Face Value
Left to right: Leyla Lesina, Marianne Caswell, Mark Murphy, Ed Youmell
Top Producer in Park Avenue Securities Gross Dealer Concessions and PAS Advisory Sales & Deposits
Mark Murphy, Forest Hills Financial Group
$164,244,525 PAS Advisory Sales & Deposits
$3,720,659 Gross Dealer Concessions
Cross-Offering Award
Adam Boyer, National Financial Network
34,000 Total Cross-Offering Credits
Annuity Sales Award
Nick Liapunov, Strategies for Wealth
$6.4 Million Variable, SPDA, SPIA, DIA, and FIA sales
Disability Income Premium Award
Tyler DeStefano, National Financial Network
$735,877 Disability Annual Premium
Life Premium Award
Eric Bouskila, National Financial Network
$4,528,520 Life Annual Premium
Combined Group Sales Award
Russ Carpentieri, Strategies for Wealth
15 plans for a total of 13,742,750 in volume and $1,089,174 in premium

Three-time Client Builder Award Winners

This award recognizes those FPs with exceptional starts to their careers. These individuals achieved CBA levels at three milestones — their first 90 days, their first-year anniversary, and their second-year anniversary. In recognition of their achievements, they received $1,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.

Sara Dewitt, South Central
Paul Donaldson, North/Central Florida
Joseph Fleming, Lifetime Financial Growth
Andreanne Frazier, Southeast
Andrew Gilliland, Certified Financial Services
Shelby Green, South Central
Edward Hodge, Red River
Robert Hudnall, South Central
Tyler Johnson, Southeast
Abel Joseph, National Financial Network
Aaron Komarek, North/Central Florida
Seth Von Kuhn, Southeast
Bob Lax, Certified Financial Services
Jin Li, Greater Los Angeles
William McClanahan, Charlotte
Gregory Montejo, Pacific Advisors
Don Pearson, Western Pacific
Graham Pollan, South Central
Michael Radovich, Short Hills
Eric Reuschling, South Central
Jennie Sherman, Wayne
Cynthia Stenberg, North/Central Florida
Alexander Witt, Strategies for Wealth

Triple Crown Award

This award recognizes those who offer a truly comprehensive practice, which they demonstrate by qualifying for the DI Inner Circle, President’s Council, AND Centurion Club — all in the same year. There were five winners this year:

Ryan Brace, Lifetime Financial Growth

Tyler DeStefano, National Financial Network

Randy Fine, Strategies for Wealth

Yosef Moskowitz, Forest Hills Financial Group

Dr. Eric Studley, National Financial Network

Left to right: Leyla Lesina, Randy Fine, Ryan Brace, Tyler DeStefano, Yosef Moskowitz, Dr. Eric Studley, Ed Youmell

Guardian Advocacy Award
This new award recognizes someone whose advocacy has contributed to the advancement of our industry’s priorities at all levels of government. The winner must be nominated by the Guardian field community.
The first winner of the Guardian Advocacy Award is Nat Perlmutter, Forest Hills Financial Group.
PCA Platinum Qualifiers
Jonathan Douglas, Lifetime Financial Growth
Michael Fraiman, National Financial Network
Andrew Harman, Strategies for Wealth
Charles Howard, Lifetime Financial Growth
Regina Reiff, Western Pacific
Rebecca Thompson, Charlotte
Guardian Network Talent Introduction Program Top 5
This award recognizes the top FPs who exemplify our values and show us the true meaning of the power of community by attracting and referring quality candidates to our profession. In honor of their achievements, these winners are awarded money to give to the charity of their choice. See the Top Honor Awards article to learn what charities these winners chose and why:
Scott Zedeker, Fort Myers/Naples; Next Level Church: $10,000
Nicholas Taber, Western Pacific; Greater Missoula Family YMCA: $5,000
Mark Murphy, Forest Hills Financial Group; Hoosiers for Good: $5,000:
Mark Bucklaw, Lifetime Financial Growth; Ohio Health Foundation: $2,000
Jin Li, Greater Los Angeles; National Philanthropic Trust: $2,000

three photo collage of Leaders Club attendees at various events

Pub8927 (01/25) 7545914.1 (Exp. 01/27) 20270101

Leaders Club Awards

Hall of Fame Financial Professional (FP) Inductee

Hall of Fame Inductee

2023-2024 President of the Executive Committee

Christopher Ferrara Memorial New Agent of the Year Award

Centurion Club Qualifiers

First-time Qualifiers

Qualifying Members

Life and Qualifying Members

Praetorian Club and Praefectus Award Qualifiers

Praetorian Club Qualifiers

First-time Qualifier

Qualifying Members

Praefectus Award Winners

Leadership Awards

Lives and Life Face Value Award

Top Producer in Park Avenue Securities Gross Dealer Concessions and PAS Advisory Sales & Deposits

Cross-Offering Award

Annuity Sales Award

Disability Income Premium Award

Life Premium Award

Combined Group Sales Award

Three-time Client Builder Award Winners

Triple Crown Award

Guardian Advocacy Award

PCA Platinum Qualifiers

Guardian Network Talent Introduction Program Top 5