Lincoln Financial Network (LFN), the retail wealth management affiliate of Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE:LNC), announced that Karen DeRose, registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. and managing partner of DeRose Financial Planning Group, has received the Women's Choice Award® for Financial Advisors. This award, which is based on feedback received from a client survey regarding service and practices, is the only recognition program for well-qualified women advisors who are committed to the women's market and serving their female clients.

The Women's Choice Award was co-created by WomenCertified and the Women's Institute for Financial Education in an effort to help women identify trusted advisors and allow advisors to showcase their commitment to the women's market. Achieving this award reaffirms the extraordinary service in addressing the financial needs of women and their families demonstrated by DeRose and her firm, DeRose Financial Planning Group.

"Women are looking for answers on how to identify financial firms and advisors they can trust. In a cluttered marketplace, our mission is to simplify her choice," said Delia Passi, CEO and Founder of WomenCertified. "The Women's Choice Award allows women to make smart financial choices by identifying those advisors who provide quality services and commitment to their clientele."

"We are delighted and grateful to have received this prestigious award," said DeRose. "Our firm has long desired to preserve a close affinity to women across the Chicagoland area and beyond. With women accounting for the majority of financial decisions made today, it is critical to empower women to make the best financial decisions for themselves and their families."

DeRose founded DeRose Financial Planning Group, a Chicago-based independent fee-based financial planning and wealth management firm, in 1996. Over the years, her commitment to the success of her clients earned DeRose Chairman of the board in 2012 with The Resource Group, comprised of the top 200 advisors at Lincoln Financial Advisors, and a position as head of the Lincoln Women's Advisory Board, The WISE Group. She is also a member of The Executive Guild Ltd., the Financial Planning Association of Chicago, and co-founder of BNI Wildfire business networking group. DeRose was listed in Chicago Magazine's "Five-Star Wealth Advisor" each year from 2010 to 2014 and was awarded the Women in Financial Services (WIFS) Circle of Excellence Award in 2011 and 2012.

DeRose earned her bachelor's degree in business, with a concentration in accounting and marketing from Barat College in Lake Forest, IL. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM Professional, a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and Collaborative Law Fellow with the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois (financial divorce neutral). She holds her FINRA Series, 6,7,63 and 66 and is licensed to provide life & health in several states.

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 almost 8,000 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.

About Lincoln Financial Group

Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in the Philadelphia region, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $197 billion as of September 30, 2013. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life, disability and dental insurance; employer-sponsored retirement plans; savings plans; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services. For more information, including a copy of our most recent SEC reports containing our balance sheets, please visit www.LincolnFinancial.com.

Lincoln Financial Network
Kathy Vega, 484-583-8575
Katherine.Vega@lfg.com