About
Jim Gelder, CLU®️, is Chairman Emeritus for Highland Capital Brokerage. Prior to this role, Gelder served as Chief Executive Officer of Highland for just under ten years, beginning in August 2013. Gelder has held several leadership roles over his career. He was the Chief Executive Officer of NFP Insurance Services, Inc. (NFPISI), Executive Vice President of National Financial Partners, and was named President of the NFP Individual Client Group in 2011. Gelder also served as head of the life insurance business distribution organization for ING U.S. Financial Services, where he was responsible for all individual retail life insurance distribution.
Gelder joined ING as co-CEO of Life Operations through its acquisition of ReliaStar in 2000. He held a variety of positions at ReliaStar, including head of Life Marketing and Life Operations and president and CEO of Security-Connecticut Life, a ReliaStar subsidiary. Prior to that, Gelder was with ReliaStar’s predecessor, Northwestern National Life. Gelder also founded Northwest Marketing Resources, Inc., in 1983, and ran its brokerage and high‑net‑worth retail life practice. Gelder began his career in 1973 with Northwestern Life Insurance Company where, as an agent, he was a multi-year MDRT qualifier.
Gelder attended Southern California College and graduated from Dartmouth College’s Tuck Executive Program. He received his CLU from the American College.