Leonard B. Taylor, CLU®, ChFC® (1989-2006)

Mr. Leonard B. Taylor entered into this industry much by chance.  He took an insurance class during college and found that he truly liked it.  He enjoyed learning about all aspects of insurance:  commercial, personal lines, benefits, and life insurance.  In the end, he chose to pursue a career in life and disability insurance because he thought it would be more meaningful and rewarding to insure people and families instead of property and commercial risks.

Mr. Taylor’s career in insurance began with the Allstate Life Insurance Company as an Operations Supervisor on April 1, 1978.  While there, he was also a life underwriter and eventually became a division manager.  In July 1981, Mr. Taylor went into sales with Allstate and ended up being the top life insurance producer in his district for that year.

In 1982, Mr. Taylor joined the Paul Revere Life Insurance Company as a disability insurance representative.  It was with Paul Revere that Leonard learned more about the DI side of the business.

On March 16, 1983, Mr. Taylor joined Ashford Advisors and became one of Guardian’s first Disability Income Supervisors.  It was in 1984, working with one of the firm’s top agents, when he realized he loved working with the associates—motivating them and teaching them how to sell.  He found great success in the position and was the number one Disability Income Supervisor in the Guardian in 1985, 1986, and 1987.

In 1986, Mr. Taylor became a Field Representative (FR) and a Career Development Supervisor (CDS).  His success followed him into his new positions, and, in 1988, he was the number one CDS in the country for Guardian. As an FR, he qualified for Million Dollar Round Table every year from 1987 to 1992.

In 1989, Mr. Taylor became a General Agent.  It was in 1991 that he recruited Tom Purcell to join Ashford Advisors, something he considers to be his greatest accomplishment while at Ashford Advisors.  In 1999, Mr. Taylor asked Tom Purcell to become a partner.

Mr. Taylor’s leadership style was very encouraging and uplifting to the associates he worked with in his 23 years with the Atlanta agency.  Many of those associates fondly refer to him as “Coach.”  Mr. Taylor’s confidence in those he works with was an inspiration and he trained those associates to try to understand both the art and the science of this business.

After 23 years with Ashford Advisors, Mr. Taylor elected to go on total disability, and retired in 2006, due to his on-going battle with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.  Though no longer active with the agency, he will always be a part of the Ashford Advisors legacy.

Mr. Taylor and his wife, Beverly, have been married for over 35 years.  They have two grown sons, Chris and Daniel, and live in Duluth.