Brandon Council, an insurance agent with North Carolina Farm Bureau in Halifax County, has earned dual honors from the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, receiving a national quality distinction and graduating from an intensive executive leadership program.

Council was awarded the 2026 NAIFA Quality Award, an annual recognition presented to association members who demonstrate professional production, client service excellence, and adherence to NAIFA’s code of ethics. This marks Council’s first year receiving the award.

“The NAIFA Quality Awards recognize the best of NAIFA’s members, and I congratulate Brandon Council for earning this distinction,” said NAIFA President Lawrence Holzberg. “Consumers can look for the NQA, as well as other top certifications and designations like NAIFA’s LACP and LUTCF, to be certain they are working with an experienced and accomplished financial professional with the highest ethical standards.”

To qualify for the award, advisors across various practice specialties must meet performance thresholds, show a commitment to continuous professional education, adhere to fiduciary standards prioritizing the best interests of clients, and provide service advancing the industry.

In addition to the quality award, Council graduated on September 14 from NAIFA’s Leadership in Life Institute.

The six-month program consisted of independent study and in-person sessions held in Greensboro alongside fellow financial professionals from across North Carolina. The curriculum emphasizes personal vision, team motivation, communication, and ethical leadership development.

“LILI’s coursework and interactive sessions with my classmates challenged me to tap into my leadership skills and focus on personal growth to enhance my professional and personal success,” Council said. “As a LILI graduate, I am better equipped to serve my clients, colleagues, and my community. There’s a leader inside of everyone.”