UPDATE 1-National Financial posts Q1 loss on charge

* Q1 loss $12.59/shr vs profit of $0.21/shr a yr-ago

* Records goodwill impairment of $607.3 mln

* Q1 cash shr $0.44/shr vs est. $0.47/shr

May 11 (Reuters) - Life insurance distributor National Financial Partners (NFP.N) swung to a first-quarter net loss as it recorded a charge for goodwill impairment.

The New York-based company posted a loss of $515.8 million, or $12.59 per share, compared with net income of $8.5 million, or 21 cents per share, last year.

The net loss included a $607.3 million pre-tax impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, the company said.

Excluding charges, amortization and depreciation, the company reported a cash profit of $18.1 million, or 44 cents a share, down from $24.1 million, or 59 cents a share, a year-ago.

Cash earnings declined as revenue from commissions and fees fell 24 percent to $217.0 million.

Analysts expected the company to earn 47 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.