Meet 2021 Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award Winner Tamara Indianer

The NTSA is proud to name Tamara L. Indianer, CFP®, AIF®, CRES, one of the 2021 recipients of the NTSA Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award. 

Indianer, a Regional Vice President, Northeast at Lincoln Investment, has been an active volunteer with the NTSA. Her volunteer activity includes:

• CRES Chair;
• Summit Committee and presentations;
• Government Affairs and state legislative advocacy;
• President, Past President and Management Council; and 
• American Retirement Association At-Large Board Member

Says Indianer of her volunteer efforts with the NTSA: “NTSA has been crucial to my practice and to my professionalism. Particularly in recent years, the focus on the retirement education and financial literacy specialty for public employees has enabled collaboration of competitors for the clients’ best interests. CRES has been my focus and commitment both nationally and regionally, as well as developing strategies and tools for other NTSA members—from virtual presentations to ads, from checklists to programs. CRES has opened doors to markets not accessible before, stressing open access, ethical procedures and universal standard of care. NTSA networking made this all possible for the Northeast, collaborating with NTSA members in the Southwest. NTSA advocacy has been influential across the country and particularly in my home state of Massachusetts. Testifying before the state legislature was meaningful and had an impact, especially when we had results. NTSA Education and Summit shows trends and enables leadership.” 

Indianer’s community service has centered around Neurofibromatosis Northeast. Says Indianer, “Our adopted son was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis (NF1). Educating ourselves and others became the focus for me and my partner. Raising awareness, supporting research and treatment for local and national development, and pursuing hope. Thus, not being a scientist, I also help raise funds for Neurofibromatosis Northeast, and lend support and provide information for others dealing with this diagnosis. My involvement is growing, especially as Austin’s case continues to develop.”

She continues, “My life is about the balance of needs: self, partner, parent, family; religion, social justice, education; work, industry, clients. Volunteer service actions grow from developing values, morals and ethics. That is exactly how my community service evolved and grew. From a deep sense of commitment to using my talents to make the world better, in my youth I tried to solve the Mideast conflict in Israel, and now, in my local area I believe in and work at education, healthcare, and human rights. Of particular meaning is working to make a diagnosis of neurofibromatosis someday to be treatable or even eradicated. From our children we are taught.” 

About the NTSA Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award

The NTSA Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award honors and promotes NTSA members’ volunteer and service work in two areas: both with the NTSA in their tax-exempt retirement industry markets and with the member’s own non-profit community. This award evidences to the retirement industry, as well as the tax-exempt and non-profit communities, as well as to clients and their supporting parties, that the excellence and social responsibility represented by NTSA members enhances their unique partnerships.

              Volunteerism. NTSA standing committees and projects, through the NTSA member’s donation of time and talent, in ways that are extraordinary,                  unique and valuable.
              Service. Community Service, either locally or nationally, through the NTSA member’s donation of time and talent, in ways that are significant,                        innovative and meaningful.

The awards were established in the 30th anniversary year of the NTSA in honor of the unique, lifelong volunteer efforts of Richard Ford, a lively and dedicated NTSA volunteer for its whole life. Ford was an extraordinary community volunteer and promoter as well. NTSA officers, on behalf of the association and in unanimous conjunction with the NTSA Leadership Council, established these awards in 2019, following the untimely passing of Ford. As Chief Marketing Officer for PlanMember Financial Corporation and a leading NTSA Strategic Partner, Ford also created, implemented and promoted the PlanMember “Make a Difference” annual award. 

See the full Terms and Conditions for the NTSA FVSA purpose and process at https://www.ntsa-net.org/sites/ntsa-net.org/files/PDFs/2022_FVSA_TandCv3.18.2021.pdf 

In Part I of a special, three-part NTSA WOWcast series about the Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award and its inaugural winners, NTSA Past President Randy Aranowitz discusses the award with Kevin Twohy and NTSA Past Presidents Kris Coffey and Susan Diehl; together the four form the Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award Committee. In Part I-B, Aranowitz interviews 2020 Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award winner Lisa Stubbs.