The Society of Financial Service Professionals established the Kenneth Black Jr. Leadership Award in 2005, and the award continues to honor members of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors who epitomize FSP’s core values of education, ethics, and relationships. The award was named in memory of Ken Black, the 41-year editor of the Journal of Financial Service Professionals; coauthor of Life Insurance, one of the seminal textbooks in the financial service profession; and a recipient of both the John Newton Russell Award and the Huebner Gold Medal.

If you know someone who demonstrates exemplary leadership qualities and has made a significant contribution toward fulfilling the core values of relationships, education, and ethics, please nominate this individual for the Kenneth Black, Jr. Leadership Award.

Eligibility Requirements

The award program is open to anyone you believe is highly qualified and epitomizes FSP’s core values of education, ethics, and relationships. Any member of a NAIFA local association is eligible to nominate a worthy candidate. Nominees must be financial services professionals. Standards for consideration are extraordinarily high. Note that all recipients must be members of NAIFA and current members of NAIFA’s Board of Trustees are not eligible.

How to Apply

When you send in your nomination, provide the award selection committee with sufficient information about your nominee and explain the basis for putting forward the person you chose. Nominations will be accepted August 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Your nomination contains the only information the selection committee will have as a basis for their decision, so please be thorough in your application

The 2026 recipient will be announced in November 2026 and will be honored at the 2027 FSP Institute on February 7, 2027, at the Margaritaville Hotel Nashville in Nashville, TN.