Key Messages:
-- Guy E. Baker, managing director of BTA Advisory Group, Irvine, Calif.,
becomes president of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) for 2009-2010.
He succeeds the outgoing 2008-2009 president, Walton Rogers, manager of W.
Rogers & Associates of Annapolis, Md.
-- MDRT is the premiere association of financial professionals with more
than 31,000 members from 84 countries.
-- Baker looks forward to continuing MDRT's priorities, including
promoting mentoring among financial advisors, helping members learn how to
balance their lives with highly successful careers and increasing the
financial literacy of a public rebounding from recession.
Guy E. Baker, MSFS,
CLU, managing director of BTA Advisory Group, Irvine, Calif., has
become president of The Million Dollar Round
Table (MDRT), the premier association of financial professionals. He
succeeds Walton W. Rogers, CLU, ChFC, manager of W. Rogers & Associates,
Annapolis, Md., who will complete his five-year term on the Executive
Committee as immediate past president.
Baker, 64, will lead the 31,000-member international association for a
one-year term beginning Sept. 1, 2009. He has been a member of MDRT for 39
years and has achieved the highest level of membership, Top of the
Table, 31 times.
"MDRT has been at the core of my growth and success and I am honored to
serve as president," said Baker. "The present economic climate presents
unique challenges and opportunities and MDRT will continue to be the
leading source of educational programming and resources to help members
extend their trajectory of accomplishment well into the future."
Baker is a four-year member of the MDRT Executive Committee, which
maintains the governance of the organization, in addition to setting
priorities for the leadership year. For 2009-2010, these priorities
include promoting mentoring among life insurance and financial services
professionals and helping members through the Whole Person initiative to
achieve a better work-life balance.
"Creating mentoring relationships is one of the greatest gifts we can give
to the profession," Baker explained. "Not only does the incoming
generation of advisors benefit from being mentored, those who mentor see
their own businesses grow as a result of the interactions."
"We also want to help our members learn how to balance their lives while
leading successful careers in life insurance and financial services," he
continued. "As I have traveled the world visiting members, I have found
becoming a 'whole person' is one of the most valued benefits of MDRT and we
remain fully committed to it."
In the upcoming year, Baker said MDRT will begin a national program to
emphasize the importance of financial literacy among a public rebounding
from recession. Members will be equipped to hold educational seminars on
basic financial concepts in conjunction with the FDIC.
"We have a distinctive opportunity to impact history," he explained. "The
recession has focused attention on the need to help future generations
learn the basic tools of financial literacy. MDRT is committed to
supporting financial education and is offering members resources to teach
their communities about being Money Smart. It's a service that will help
society and promote the value of sound financial advice."
Baker began his career in 1966 with Pacific Mutual. Twenty years later, he
founded the BTA Advisory Group, a collection of five financial services
companies focused on the needs of wealthy business owners. He also has
served as a member of the board of directors of the Association for
Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) and the Orange County Association of
Insurance and Financial Advisors.
An accomplished speaker and author, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in
economics from Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, Calif., and an MBA in
Finance from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He has a
masters of science in financial services (MSFS) and an MSM in Management.
He also carries designations as a chartered life underwriter (CLU),
chartered financial consultant (ChFC), registered health underwriter (RHU),
and certified financial planner (CFP). He was honored by the National
Association of Estate Planners and Councils as a Distinguished Accredited
Estate Planner for 2005.
Baker will serve on the 2009-2010 MDRT Executive Committee among four other
MDRT members. Immediate Past President Walton W. Rogers,
CLU, ChFC of Annapolis, Md. is a 35-year MDRT member with three Court
of the Table honors. First Vice President Julian H. Good Jr.,
CLU, ChFC of New Orleans, La. is a 26-year MDRT member with three Court
of the Table and two Top of the Table honors. Second Vice President Jennifer A.
Borislow, CLU of Methuen, Mass. is a 21-year MDRT member with one
Court of the Table and 11 Top of the Table honors. And, Secretary D. Scott
Brennan of South Bend, Ind. is a 26-year MDRT member with five Court of
the Table and one Top of the Table honors.
About MDRT
MDRT is The Premier Association of Financial Professionals. Founded in
1927, MDRT is an international, independent association of more than
31,000, or less than 1 percent, of the world's best life insurance and
financial services professionals. With membership from 84 nations and
territories, MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge,
strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is
recognized internationally as the standard of sales excellence in the life
insurance and financial services industry.
To view a media-rich version of this release, go to:
http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2009/mdrt0909/index.html
Contact Information: Contacts Kelly Biasco Gibbs & Soell, Inc. (847) 519-9150, Ext. 2108 Jennifer Schimka Million Dollar Round Table (847) 692-6378