Lincoln Financial Network (LFN), the retail wealth management affiliate of Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE:LNC), today announced its 2014 Planners of the Year: Jack Friel of Friel Associates in Boston Mass.; Mike Lockwood, CFP®, CRPC®, of Lincoln Financial Advisors in Irvine, Calif.; and Peter Maller, CFP®, AEP®, of Maller Wealth Advisors in Hunt Valley, Md.

The Planner of the Year recognition is awarded annually to the leading financial planners among thousands affiliated with LFN’s broker-dealer, Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. (LFA). In a tradition dating back to 1906, the LFN Planners of the Year will have their names engraved on plaques, which are presented and displayed in Lincoln offices.

“This award is the highest acknowledgment we give to our planners,” said David Berkowitz, president of LFN. “It is a direct reflection of their commitment to our strong, comprehensive planning culture, as well as their total dedication to serving their clients. I applaud their hard work and thank them for their contributions to our organization.”

Jack Friel

Friel, founding senior advisor and managing partner of Friel Associates, and registered representative of LFA, has been named Planner of the Year for the second time, first recognized in 1998.

Friel founded Friel Associates, a Boston-based financial planning firm, in 1993. With nearly 40 years of experience in the wealth consulting industry, Friel focuses primarily on providing estate, business and financial planning resources to national brokerage firms, property and casualty insurance firms, certified public attorneys, and trust and estate attorneys throughout Calif., Fla., N.Y., and the New England area. In addition, Friel served as managing principal of LFA’s Boston regional planning office from 1999 to 2006. Friel’s office is located at 125 Summer Street, Suite 1400, Boston, Mass.

Mike Lockwood

Lockwood, investment advisor and registered representative of LFA, was named Planner of the Year for the first time this year.

Lockwood joined LFA in 1987. Within his practice, he focuses on retirement transition planning and wealth management for executives, retirees, healthcare professionals, and government employees. Lockwood currently serves as Retirement Plan Services Committee chair on the Board of Directors for The Resource Group, an invitation-only, nationwide network of the top 200 planners within LFA.

Lockwood received a bachelor of science degree in business marketing and finance from California State University in Bakersfield, Calif. He holds the professional designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), as well as FINRA series 7 registration. Lockwood’s office is located at 18400 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 450, Irvine, Calif.

Peter Maller

Maller, founder and president of Maller Wealth Advisors, and registered representative of LFA, was named Planner of the Year, making this his seventh time receiving the award. He was previously recognized in 2007 and from 2009 to 2014.

With more than 21 years of experience in the financial planning industry, Maller provides investment strategies, financial planning, risk management services, business succession planning and employee benefits to business owners, professionals and high-net-worth individuals.

Maller received a master of business administration degree from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla. and bachelor of arts degree in business management from Washington College in Chestertown, Md. Maller holds the professional designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) and FINRA series 6, 7, 63 and 65 registrations. Maller’s office is located at 307 International Circle, Suite 530, Hunt Valley, Md.

About Lincoln Financial Network

Lincoln Financial Network is the marketing name for the retail sales and financial planning affiliates of Lincoln Financial Group and includes Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. and Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation, both members of FINRA and SIPC. Consisting of approximately 8,500 representatives, agents, and full-service financial planners throughout the United States, Lincoln Financial Network professionals can offer financial planning and advisory services, retirement services, life products, annuities, investments, and trust services to affluent individuals, business owners, and families.

Friel Associates and Maller Wealth Advisors are not affiliates of Lincoln Financial Advisors.

About Lincoln Financial Group

Lincoln Financial Group provides advice and solutions that help empower Americans to take charge of their financial lives with confidence and optimism. Today, more than 17 million customers trust our retirement, insurance and wealth protection expertise to help address their lifestyle, savings and income goals, as well as to guard against long-term care expenses. Headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. The company had $223 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2015. Learn more at: www.LincolnFinancial.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter (@lincolnfingroup), LinkedIn and YouTube. To sign up for email alerts, please visit our Newsroom at http://newsroom.lfg.com.