2012 National Underwriter Life & Health Award

“I thought your work could be invaluable.” Jim Hunt, Consumer Federation of America’s life actuary, in mentioning that he was forwarding some of my research to an associate.

“Your idea makes perfect logical sense…” Jack Bogle, Founder, Vanguard, in response to my recommendation regarding a business opportunity for his former company.

“You could not deal with a more ethical, independent expert on the design and marketing of insurance products….[Fechtel] tackles complex, life insurance issues that frequently prove prescient….Mr. Fechtel’s contributions have been among the best to fulfill our mission to provide exceptionally valuable insights…” Chris Winans, former Best’s Review Editor.

“I hope [then Attorney General] Spitzer talks with Brian Fechtel…It’s not all that easy to find a smart, credentialed [CFA] insurance professional who…is willing to question sales tactics.” Mary Rowland in a Bloomberg Wealth Manager article: “Unrightable Wrongs?”

“It’s always a pleasure to hear from you, Brian….I think you are a brilliant, outside the box thinker, of whom we have very few.” John F. X. [Jack] Mannion, Chairman, Unity Life

“I consider you to be one of the smartest guys I have met, with a broad and detailed knowledge of the insurance industry, and a person of the highest moral standards.” Rick Storatz, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, Columbia University and a former agent. (While this is certainly a kind exaggeration by a co-worker friend, a more objective measure of my smarts could be that the Kaplan Educational Centers, the test prep organization, recruited and hired me to teach their GMAT courses for several years.)

“I have to begin by saying that I have never reviewed a more complete discussion of a product idea than that which you have submitted. Your document is both creative and well written.” “In reading your proposal, it reminded me of something that an actuary might put together for a proposal to senior management.” Two life insurance actuaries responding to two of my proposed ideas