User:Lc3zzz/Jim Ruta

From “the street” to “the executive suite”, Jim Ruta has done it all in the financial services industry. Starting as a life insurance agent, and then leading a multi-million dollar agency in the heart of Canada’s national financial district, he is now an industry icon as consultant and advocate. Jim is known as “The Re-Energizer” for the way he helps advisers bring new life to their business and revitalize their results.

Jim Ruta was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 25, 1955. A natural leader, Jim always gravitated to the top of organizations. He was concertmaster of the Greater Winnipeg Schools Senior Symphony orchestra, President of the Red River Zone of the Canadian Ski Patrol System and a member of a National First Aid Competition Team. He graduated from Miles Macdonnell Collegiate where he was student body President.

Jim began his career in the life insurance industry with the former Mutual Life of Canada, now Sun Life, in 1977 after graduating from the University of Manitoba with a BA in Jurisprudence and English. Although he was only 22 years old at the time, Jim became a successful life insurance agent in the Winnipeg agency. In 1979, he established “IAP -- Insurance and Annuity Planning”, with a partner outside the agency and continued until recruited into Mutual Life management in 1980. There, at head office “Marketing and Manpower Development”, he spent two years honing his sales and management skills with the late, industry great, Gordon Setchell. Jim qualified for his Branch Manager’s Mutual Funds license in 1985.

His successful sales, marketing, training and management career included three companies including Mutual Life, Confederation Life and Canada Life. His first Mutual Life office grew from 22nd to 2nd nationally during his tenure and he was in the top three consistently at Confederation Life. His last corporate management role was as Regional Executive Manager of Canada Life’s Toronto Regional Agency with more than 250 agents, 15 managers and 50 staff. The agency did in excess of $6 million dollars of new first year commissions. Later, he also went on to help establish two successful Managing General Agencies in Canada.

Jim has served as a director on both agent and manager Canadian industry boards and moderated all their training programs. He’s spoken on the main platform of every Financial Advisor Association of Canada national “school” and the AGM. He was one of Canada’s first Registered Health Underwriters in 1992. He is currently a Director of GAMA International Canada.

Jim consulted on the development of The Canadian Initiative for Elder Planning Studies, grantors of the Elder Planning Counselor (EPC) Designation. He is an EPC and currently a popular faculty member.

Today, Jim is a world renowned productivity and performance consultant for top financial advisors, managers and executives. He is a national TV, press and radio commentator on advisor issues where they call him “The Adviser’s Adviser”.

He founded Expert Institute to help entrepreneurs and leaders, especially those in financial services, to quickly and easily improve their results and lifestyles. Expert Institute boasts hundreds of members of which dozens participate in higher level consulting with Jim personally. Jim is known for his strong views on what needs to be done to protect and preserve the industry that has been his life’s passion. He is a man of strong principles and standards. Jim tells it like it is and continues to do all he can to make the world a better place for advisers and their clients.

His regular column in Canada’s “Insurance and Investment Journal” – Corner Office Advice and regular video segment on “Investment Executive’s” IE:TV are subscriber favorites. His magazine articles have appeared in MDRT’s “Round the Table” and “Life Insurance Selling” in the US. His three books, “Expert Identity Marketing”, “Master Your Money Management” and “How to Win Sales and Increase Profits with Jim Ruta” have sold thousands of copies. Thousands read his weekly “Ruta’s Rants” blog at JimRuta.com. He can also be seen on his YouTube Channel, JimClassTV.

Jim’s passion, humor and plain talk have inspired, educated and entertained many thousands worldwide. These include the Centennial Celebrations at Great Eastern Life in Singapore and the Main Platform of the Million Dollar Round Table Annual Meeting. Jim is always the highlight of any program. No one connects better with an insurance or financial services audience better than he does.

Jim serves on the board of two Catholic charities and is very involved in his church. He is a licensed private pilot, avid golfer and father of three. He, his wife Rhonda and youngest daughter Abigail live outside of Toronto, Canada where they enjoy just being together.