President of MDRT. I can tell you, from the bottom of my heart with complete sincerity, that is a very special thing to hear someone say about you. That makes me feel proud, honored and humble.

Hello, I am Ian Green. I am married to Melissa, I am Dad to Mia and Max, and I am the founder of Green Financial, a financial planning firm in England. Melissa and I have known each other and worked together for over 20 years. We are proud to run a family-owned business near where we live in Southwest London. Our home is in a very green part of London, close to wonderful historic parks, and the River Thames is nearby. Our daughter, Mia, is 9. Melissa and I are delighted. She has inherited our love of reading and learning as well as the outdoors. My son, Max, is making his own way in the world in his chosen career as a chef.

I was born just east of London, and I had a great education and wonderful childhood, thanks to my parents. In my spare time, I like to keep fit mentally and physically. When I first joined MDRT, it wasn’t always the case, but I embraced the MDRT Whole Person concept. It’s been key to my ability to serve in various roles for MDRT and then attaining and retaining Top of the Table status over the years. It has enabled me to have the energy to focus on business when needed, yet ensure time is also set aside for family, causes close to my heart and, yes, even a little me time. I love to run and cycle and practice yoga. And keeping in shape means I can keep up with Mia playing soccer.

To me, MDRT is far more than just the Whole Person concept. MDRT has been a huge part of my career ― accessing the Resource Zone to learn from the greats, attending the conference every year, fellow members sharing their best ideas with me. All these elements have combined and helped me grow my business each and every year since I first joined in 1999.

Now, some viewers may be thinking they recognize me from somewhere. I was first on stage in 2011. If I had known beforehand what would happen, I would have taken out more life insurance. Well, I guess there were a few thousand of my closest friends in the audience who would have offered to write a policy on me.

Now, one of my MDRT highlights so far was when the organization trusted me to interview Condoleezza Rice, live on stage, at the Top of the Table Annual Meeting. What a thrilling honor that was. And talking of honor, I am truly honored to be the 95th President of MDRT. MDRT is a special organization. MDRT team members are special people. Where else would you find fellow professionals sharing their best ideas for the benefit of all our businesses and clients? This virtual meeting has hundreds of presentations from MDRT team members, sharing their finest ideas so that we can all be the best that we can be. And my aim for MDRT in the coming year is for it to be the best it can be.

One of my favorite quotes I find applies to my business, to my personal life and to the progression of MDRT: “It’s what we do when we’ve done enough that matters most.” We are at an important point in our history. Membership in MDRT has been growing in North America where it started and is growing fast across the rest of the globe. In the year ahead, MDRT has big developments planned for existing members and aspiring members.

First is the new Mentoring Program, which is already being rolled out and simplified in traditional Chinese, English, Spanish, Japanese and Korean, with more languages to follow. Search online for “MDRT mentoring” to find out more. Second, a new, entirely app-based association for aspiring members, the MDRT Academy, will officially open for membership in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. This new association for aspiring members has been in a two-year pilot phase and will go live on November 1. China will go live in 2022. We are excited about the potential for the Academy to help many new members to ultimately join MDRT. Search online for “MDRT Academy” for more information.

For existing members, MDRT is currently working to create a professional development strategy. This will help us provide additional learning beyond live events and drive engagement throughout a member’s career by delivering best-in-class, online, on-demand educational content. As you might expect from someone with the name Green, I can confirm MDRT is committed to improving our sustainability. We are rapidly decreasing single-use plastic at the headquarters in Chicago and at our committee meetings around the world. Even before coronavirus, investment was being made in technology to further reduce the need for flying in person to meetings. And ever since I was nominated to serve on the Executive Committee, I have personally ensured that all my flights flown in the name of MDRT business are carbon offset.

And, finally, we are embarking on an exciting new initiative designed to better serve an important audience for MDRT. We’ve listened to our valued partners, and we will roll out a program for field leaders, the general agents and managers, home office executives, bank assurance managers and other affiliated professionals who influence the career trajectory of agents. For all those groups, more ways to be MDRT are available now.

And just as importantly, we are going to stop doing some things as well. I am often asked, “What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you’d known earlier in your career?” The answer is to not try to be all things to all people and to say no more often. MDRT is an amazing organization. We can be excellent, and we can be the best at anything. But we can’t be the best at everything. Our focus is on providing a service of value to each and every member each and every day of the year.

One thing I know from attending, since I went to New Orleans in 1999, is that MDRT team members, in conjunction with the amazing MDRT staff all around the globe, are the best in the world at putting on a meeting. This year, because of the coronavirus, we have got the best virtual meeting. But rest assured, next year, in June 2021, we will be back live on stage. We will be back where MDRT started for me, New Orleans.

So, between now and the end of the year, make sure you serve your clients, track your business, submit your application, and be ready to register early. Buckle up. It’s going to be huge. It will be a celebration. It will be an event you don’t want to miss. Make sure you, your colleagues and your friends all join MDRT next year. As the MDRT President in 2021, I want to welcome you as an MDRT member. See you next year.

Ian Green, Dip PFS, of London, England, is the First Vice President of the MDRT Executive Committee. He is a 22-year MDRT member with five Court of the Table and 14 Top of the Table qualifications. Green is also a Diamond Knight of the MDRT Foundation and a member of its Inner Circle Society. He is the founder of a family-owned financial planning firm, Green Financial Advice, in London. His extensive MDRT volunteerism includes leadership within several divisions, including as Divisional Vice President of Top of the Table in 2017 and Chair of the 2016 Annual Meeting Main Platform/Special Sessions Committee. His leadership in the profession includes regular speaking engagements to audiences of his peers and previously held positions as trustee on the Personal Finance Society Charitable Foundation and on the board of directors of the Life Insurance Association.