JASON BERKOWITZ RECEIVES 2025 IRI CHAIRMAN AWARD

Corey Walther, Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, Jason Berkowitz, IRI, and Wayne Chopus, President and CEO, IRI

TAMPA, FLORIDA – The Insured Retirement Institute’s (IRI) 2025 Chairman Award recipient is Jason Berkowitz, the association’s Chief Legal and Regulatory Affairs Officer. The honor was presented to Berkowitz at IRI’s 2025 Annual Conference by Board Chairman Corey Walther, President of Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC.

The Chairman Award recognizes an IRI team member who has shown leadership and commitment to facilitate outcomes that advance the mission and vision of IRI and the industry.

This year’s award was presented to Berkowitz for his outstanding leadership of the association’s effort to oppose a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regulation that would deny many retirement savers of their choice of professional financial guidance and limit their access to protected lifetime income products.

“Throughout his career at IRI, Jason has championed the interests of our member companies before federal and state policymakers, including key regulatory bodies such as the SEC, FINRA, and the Department of Labor,” said Corey Walther, President, Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, and Chairman of the IRI Board of Directors. “His leadership and expertise have played a crucial role in shaping major regulatory initiatives that impact the lifetime income industry.”

“Jason had a ‘career year’ leading the industry on the DOL issue,” said Wayne Chopus, President and CEO at IRI. “When the potential consequences are as critical as they were with the DOL rule, you need an all-star team on the field, and, on this issue, Jason was the leader and most valuable player.”

Berkowitz’s experience and knowledge of the DOL’s fiduciary rule and its history led to IRI being the only industry trade group to be asked to testify at all three congressional hearings on the issue.

He also provided leadership to the joint industry trade association coalition that coordinated industry activity on the DOL rule and helped lead the coalition’s legal action against it. The legal strategy resulted in a stay of the DOL rule’s implementation rule pending the outcome of the industry’s lawsuit.

In addition to spearheading IRI’s efforts on the DOL regulation, Berkowitz tackled numerous other responsibilities as IRI’s general counsel, including the regulatory implementation of the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 Act, the implementation of the Registration of Index-Linked Annuities Act, and strategizing IRI’s successful opposition to several burdensome U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations.

Berkowitz also conceptualized and implemented an expansion of IRI services to include regulatory compliance assistance to members. Additionally, he mentors his colleagues in regulatory affairs and is a consummate team player.

“Without a doubt, Jason’s leadership, skills, knowledge, and determination had a profound impact on the path this rule has taken and has advanced our industry’s and our customers’ interests. Please join me in celebrating this well-deserved recognition.”

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Contact: Dan Zielinski