IN MEMORIAM

        Jim Mumford

It is with profound sadness that IAIR marks the death yesterday of longtime industry professional, insurance regulator, colleague and friend, James R. Mumford.

James R. Mumford graduated from Iowa State University in 1960 with a degree in agriculture economics and graduated from Harvard University Law School in 1963. 

Jim worked in the insurance industry since 1965 starting in private practice.  In 1970, he became counsel with Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa.  In 1976, he started a law firm specializing in insurance related matters.  He worked extensively in insurance related matters including variable annuity and indexed annuity products, pension and tax matters, and financial and corporate governance matters.  In 1997, he joined ING Americas as Chief Counsel, Corporate Affairs and also later undertook the duties of Chief Counsel, Special Projects.  During that time he was general counsel of several ING insurance subsidiaries and furnished oversight on ING state government relations activities.  In 2003, he retired from ING and became Of Counsel with Nyemaster, Goode, West, Hansell & O'Brien Law Firm in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Jim was active in the National Organization of Life and Health Guaranty Association (NOLHGA) where he was a member of its legal committee for 5 years (chair 2 years), member of its audit committee for 3 years (chair 1 year), member of its executive committee for 3 years (chair 1 year), member of its Board of Directors for 6 years (chair 1 year), member of its Financial Modernization Committee for 3 years and co-chaired its Guaranty Association Modernization Task Force for 2 years.

Jim served in the Iowa Insurance Division as First Deputy Commissioner of the Iowa Insurance Division from 2005 until his retirement in January 2015.   He also served as administrator of the Iowa Securities Industry & Regulated Industries Bureau for six of those years, this following the Bureau’s combination with the Iowa Insurance Division.  Jim was active with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) on behalf of the Iowa Insurance Division.  He served on various NAIC Working Groups and Task Forces including chairing the NAIC Receivership and Insolvency Task Force, the Receivership Financial Analysis Working Group, a working group reviewing the NAIC Annuity Disclosure Model Regulation and Annuity Buyer’s Guide and a working group coordinating with federal agencies on ERISA retirement lifetime income issues.

Jim was an avid supporter of IAIR , regularly speaking at every Issues Forum and rarely missing other IAIR events.  We will sorely miss this strong advocate and friend.