Industry vet takes award

Successful. Giving. Caring. Giving. Those are the words that come to the fore when reading the biography of Phillip C. Richards, CLU, CFP, RHU. Now we'll get to see if patient is on the list.

Richards, chairman and CEO of the North Star Resource Group Inc. in Minneapolis, has been named the recipient of the 66th annual John Newton Russell Memorial Award, to be given in September at the NAIFA Convention. The award is given to recognize sustained and meritorious service to the life insurance industry.

Richards began his career in 1962. After successful stints at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co., Hartford Life and Minnesota Life, he acquired North Star Consultants, the insurance arm of North Star Resource Group. Richards has served in many capacities with GAMA International over the years, and was elected to the GAMA Hall of Fame in 2005.