Leaders Blog

Reminder that the next "Wake Up Wednesday" with Marques Ogden will happen next Wednesday, July 10th at 9 am eastern. Wake Up Wednesday is a motivational hour with Marques who is not just a member, but one of our keynote speakers at this upcoming Apex at the Arizona Biltmore September 19-21, 2024. Once a month the NAIFA early birds get together to talk about mindset with Marques leading us through key points to help us optimize our time, efforts, and self-talk so that we can do more and be more. This great new member-to-member program is guaranteed to get you going and ensure that you don't get comfortable with being comfortable! 

NAIFA has a new virtual Book Club that any member can join! We kicked off last Friday with "Building a Storybrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen" led by John D. Richardson (JDR). Participants were given a guidebook ahead of the call to allow for structured discussion and first met in large group format with breakout rooms to follow with small group discussions to talk about how to actually apply the principles in the book to your practice. Great ideas were exchanged and people from across the country were able to meet each other for the first time and really get to know one another on a personal basis. 

Last week, NAIFA-Missouri's Membership Chair, Jennifer Hodges hosted NAIFA's first P&C Study Group. This Member-to-Member Program was designed primarily for members in the P&C space but is open to all members to participate and contribute. The study group will meet once a month to review case studies, hold discussions, and uncover ways to leverage NAIFA to build your business.

We have started to see some movement in the chapters with our Summer Membership Challenge! Our first results will officially be posted on Monday, but you can also catch up each week in the Leaders Blog! Help your State chapter win cash prizes to be put back into your programs and membership development.  We are a word-of-mouth society and your referrals are our future members, so let's get out the invites to those financial service professionals (attorneys, agents, advisors, loan officers, financial coaches, and accountants) that you know who are good candidates for NAIFA membership. Make sure they use your name and you will be rewarded! 

Big shout out to NAIFA-Illinois Executive Director, Sara Decatoire, CAE, IOM for leveraging an opportunity in her state this month! NAIFA Coach, Walter Bond will come to select cities this summer to offer his Shark Mindset Sales System to financial service professionals. When Sara heard that Walter was offering two workshops in the Chicago area, she decided to take it a step further and filed for CEs in Illinois, adding extra value to the attendees. Workshop sessions are open to members and nonmembers. There will be a table set up with information about joining NAIFA available. Sara, along with other NAIFA members will attend the events to answer any questions and sign up new members to NAIFA. We are #NAIFAproud that Sara took the initiative to make this into a real win-win! 

NAIFA-Wisconsin was recently spotted for celebrating a recent Birthday! June 17, 1936, marks the day when NAIFA-Wisconsin was born. 88 years of existence and what a storied existence it is.

Originally chartered as the Wisconsin State Association of Life Underwriters, the original people forming the Wisconsin corporation were Alvin Moser & J.N. Patterson of Milwaukee, E.G. MacDonald of Sheboygan, and Robert L. Hesse of Madison. As they celebrate 88 years, let’s raise a toast to our members' continued vision and vitality well into the future!

Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Eastern, to explore Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) and discover how it can open the door to new client opportunities. This live event is free for members.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Connelly v. United States has fundamentally changed the landscape of buy-sell planning for many business owners. Join us for a webinar on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm eastern, to explore these changes and learn how to navigate the new complexities of buy-sell agreements effectively. This live event is free for members.

New to the Chapter Playbook this week, a "Call for Board & Committee Volunteers"  email template! As we head into nomination season, this template can be used to aid in your hunt for new volunteers. The template can be downloaded, edited and emailed to current Chapter members asking them to consider volunteering with the Chapter.

NAIFA is proud to announce that Matthew S. Tassey, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, is the recipient of the 84^th annual John Newton Russell Memorial Award. The award is the highest honor accorded by the insurance industry to a living individual who has rendered outstanding services to the institution of life insurance. The selection committee consists of representatives of 11 leading organizations in the life insurance and financial services industry. Tassey will be celebrated and formally presented the award at NAIFA’s Apex 2024, National Leadership Conference, and Belong event Sept. 21 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.

Be sure to attend Apex/The NLC/Belong to congratulate Matt and celebrate his achievement!

Earlier today the state presidents, president-elects, membership chairs, and executives received the details about our Summer Membership Challenge! State chapters will compete to win cash prizes to be put back into your programs and membership development.  We are a word-of-mouth society and your referrals are our future members, so let's get out the invites to those financial service professionals (attorneys, agents, advisors, loan officers, financial coaches, and accountants) that you know who are good candidates for NAIFA membership. Make sure they use your name and you will be rewarded!

Dennis Cuccinelli, Trustee and National Membership Chair, and I had the pleasure of attending NAIFA-Connecticut's recent June event. Addison Rosenbluth, President, along with Mark Male, Chapter Executive, ran a great meeting that was packed full of ideas that Addison has graciously allowed us to share.

NAIFA’s revised LUTCF designation program makes the best use of advances in technology and reflects current insurance industry conditions. Promoting the LUTCF is a great way to give early-career professionals a leg up in the industry. It also provides a meaningful introduction to NAIFA and promotes membership.

New to the Chapter Playbook this week, an updated Chapter Executive Director's report! Chapter Executive Directors are encouraged to use the report to submit a summary of activities at the Chapter and Headquarters level.

The Chapter Services Team will be conducting a Succession Planning Training Webinar on July 25 @ 3 p.m. Eastern. 

As we begin to plan for 2025, the webinar will provide Chapters with succession planning tips and tricks and answer any questions Chapters may have. After the webinar, resources will be posted in the Chapter Playbook for Chapters to reference!
Presidents, President-Elects, Immediate Past Presidents, Executive Directors and Chapter Staff are encouraged to attend, but ALL Chapter Leaders are invited!

The NAIFA Certified Leadership Board designation is awarded to NAIFA Chapters upon completion of a live presentation of NAIFA’s 90-minute training program entitled “Empowering Chapter Leaders” by the President, President-Elect, and at least 80% of the Chapter’s Board.

New to the Chapter Playbook this week, an updated Guide to NAIFA Chapter Leaders & Executive Engagement Requests! The guide includes commitments to NAIFA, noting hours per month, for Presidents, Immediate Past Presidents, President-Elects, Secretary/Treasurers, Membership Chairs, YAT Chairs, DAT Chairs, Advocacy Chairs, IFAPAC Chairs, Grassroots Chairs, Programs Chairs, LILI Chairs, Chapter Executive Directors and Affiliate Leaders. 

NAIFA-Wisconsin was recently spotted for an upcoming NAIFA Live Watch Party! Join fellow NAIFA-Wisconsin members for a NAIFA Live Watch Party! In Train Your Brain for Success, you will learn to harness the incredible creative capacity of your mind and achieve your personal best – professionally, financially, and personally.

The Watch Party will be held Thursday, June 20th from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at D2 Sports Pub.

By popular demand of our members, NAIFA is launching a book club to keep our members actively engaged through the summer and the remainder of 2024! This initiative is powered by our loyal members who will host each session. Our first session will be Friday, June 28th at 12 pm eastern. The June book will be Building a Storybrand by Donald Miller and hosted by John D. Richardson.

The 2024 Membership Survey will close this Friday, June 14th at midnight eastern.  Who will be the lucky winner of the $500 gift card? If you haven't yet taken the survey, it takes 10 minutes to complete, but provides so much information that we can use in promoting our association. 

If there's one positive that came out of the pandemic, it's that we have the technology that allows us to experience special events together. While virtual is never as good as face-to-face, we also have learned through the pandemic that every moment together is precious and we want to mark time to acknowledge this powerful purpose that we all are involved in called NAIFA.

If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that we all get too many emails. It can be difficult to keep track of events, offers, benefits, and many other details when they are spread throughout multiple emails cluttering your inbox. 

If you're looking for something that may help, we have an example from NAIFA-Florida on how they're delivering their message to their members in a streamlined, effective way.

Major federal tax legislation is all but certain to be coming from Washington, D.C., in 2025. Many provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire at the end of next year and Congress will need to address the situation. This NAIFA advocacy webinar will give you a better understanding of what is being dubbed the "Super Bowl of Tax" and provide insights into some of the proposals likely to shape the debate.

June 13 | 1:30 pm eastern

Register now and encourage your NAIFA colleagues to do the same to guarantee you get the best rate on NAIFA's Apex event and National Leadership Conference, September 19-21 at the Arizona Biltmore. Your registration includes the Apex conference, National Leadership Conference, and Belong awards celebration.

The early registration rate of $800 ($150 off the regular rate) is guaranteed through June 17. 

NAIFA is a trusted source and subject of interest for influential media outlets. The association appeared in more than 250 stories in more than 88 media outlets in 2023, including Barron's, Broker World, CNBC, Financial Advisor, Forbes, The Hill, InsuranceNewsNet, InvestmentNews, and Politico.

The lawsuit filed by NAIFA and other organizations opposing the Department of Labor’s fiduciary-only rule has dominated recent industry-related headlines. As one of the major plaintiffs in the suit, NAIFA has featured in the news stories. Other recent media hits include personal and professional insights from Corey Anderson, DIA, a loyal NAIFA member since 2000, and NAIFA Trustee Ernest Guerriero, CLU, ChFC, CEBS, CPCU, CPC, CMS, AIF, RICP, CPFA.

Last week, nine state chapters added members!  Notably, Colorado continues its new member acquisition success!  The chapter added another four members last week after recruiting seventeen in May!  Keep up the great work!

Chapter Staff and Chapter Leaders from across NAIFA Nation met on June 6th, for the Chapter Leaders Webinar! Attendees were able to hear the latest NAIFA updates and announcements! This month's Chapter Leaders Webinar featured:

New to the Chapter Playbook this week, the Chapter Advanced Continuing Education Credit Guide! With the Society of Financial Service Professionals (FSP) merging into the NAIFA family at the beginning of this year, you now have access to an increased offering of qualified continuing education programs! In addition, NAIFA is now offering CLE, CPE, CFP and PRC filing on behalf of our Chapters.

On June 18th at 6 pm eastern, you are invited to join all of NAIFA Nation for a Virtual Happy Hour to honor the founding of our incredible association 134 years ago. Take a look back with us on NAIFA through the years, enjoy some camaraderie with your fellow members, hear about some exciting things in store throughout the summer and the rest of 2024, and toast to the next 134 years!

In the ever-evolving landscape of retirement planning, Social Security remains a critical source of income for most Americans. The annual release of the Trust Fund Report, issued in May, sparked widespread media coverage and client concern. Questions such as "Will Social Security still be there?" and "Is it going broke?" continue to circulate. Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Eastern, sponsored by Security Mutual Life which can help you deal with the concerns that clients may have. 

NAIFA-Illinois was recently spotted recognizing a new member, Bryan Zic, on LinkedIn! 

We are thankful for our loyal members! NAIFA recognizes our members who are celebrating an NAIFA milestone anniversary this month. Congratulations on your choice to belong to the community that cares. We are moving the needle on #financialliteracy and increasing #financialsecurity in #MainStreetUSA because of your commitment. We are honored that you belong to us and today, we honor you.

The last week of May, while shortened, was very good for new membership growth! 

NAIFA members are invited to the Q3 State of NAIFA webinar at 12 pm Eastern, June 27, 2024. Hear updates on NAIFA's advocacy efforts, professional development programs and other membership activities designed to enhance your professional growth.

Don't miss your opportunity to shine! All award submissions will close at 11:59 pm eastern on Friday, May 31st. NAIFA's awards provide an opportunity for our members to differentiate themselves from the crowd and receive national recognition for their contributions. 

I am happy to announce that we are beginning to create the Investment, Retirement, and Estate Planning Center (IREP) that will serve as a new thought leadership hub for members and industry partners. The new Center will be created using the same blueprint that has served the Limited & Extended Care Planning Center well for more than six years. The IREP will: 

• grow membership and non-dues revenue through creating a dynamic workgroup space for individuals, firms, and companies to come together in a study-group format
• showcase and include partners that offer solutions in the IREP space
• provide  content in the form of articles, sessions, events, and Impact Days
• include a Legislative Working Group to serve as a sounding board to NAIFA's Government Relations' committees and staff 
• offer opportunities for members to work together to advance initiatives in the IREP space
• offer opportunities for members to stand out and be recognized for their work and volunteer service

Keep Growing this Summer

Positive Moves to Make this Summer to Keep You Growing

In case you missed our pre-Memorial Day email, we've got a whole list of things to keep our membership engaged and growing this summer. Check out all we have to offer you this summer!

We were thrilled to have so many of our volunteer leaders participating in the 2024 Congressional Conference in Washington, D.C. These leaders were recognized on the big digital board, on the main stage screens, and in the event signage. 

NAIFA-North Dakota was recently spotted for an upcoming NAIFA Live Watch Party! Join fellow members for the next NAIFA Live presented by Roger Seip on Train your Brain for Success!

These Watch Parties will be held at E4 Insurance Services in Fargo, and Minot State University - MSU Student Center 2nd Floor!

NAIFA Nation will not slow down this summer! We all know that we need to keep fit to stave off disease, maintain our mobility, and increase our longevity. To get us going, we are holding a virtual Step Challenge that NAIFA members and their families can participate in and will run from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

By popular demand of our members, NAIFA is launching a book club to keep our members actively engaged through the summer and the remainder of 2024! This initiative is powered by our loyal members who will host each session. Our first session will be Friday, June 28th at 12 pm eastern. The June book will be Building a Storybrand by Donald Miller and hosted by John D. Richardson.

The following press release was issued today. Top things to know about the newly launched software that includes Carroll Golden's Caregiving Conversation work: 

• All NAIFA members receive a discount on Asset-Map software 
• You can have your prospect or client fill out their map before or after you meet as part of your discovery process. They will get notified via text or email to plug in their info and you can follow along throughout their process giving them a visual map of their financial picture
• The new stencil will now be available to all of Asset-Map's 6,000 subscribers with NAIFA plugs to join and be involved in our collective financial security work. This is an amazing distribution opportunity for NAIFA to raise awareness of our organization and the work we do so that we can grow membership while providing current NAIFA members with a great discount on a great fintech product.

New to the Chapter Playbook this week, a Chapter Services Team Calendar! The calendar includes key dates for Chapter Leaders Webinars, reporting responsibilities, special training webinars and more.

We are mission-driven and member-powered! Lend your voice on NAIFA and how we can improve the association and you could win $500!

The annual membership survey is now open and will close on June 15, 2024 at 11:59 pm eastern. This year's survey has been expanded to include questions on education and consumer-facing social media now that NAIFA includes the Society of Financial Service Professionals and Life Happens.

Complete the entire survey, add your complete contact information, and we will automatically enroll you in a random drawing for a $500 gift card. Each NAIFA member who completes the survey is eligible for one entry into the drawing. Please complete the survey only once. 

NAIFA is proud to announce the rechartering of the former FSP Austin chapter as the new NAIFA-Austin chapter. This development marks another significant step in the ongoing integration between NAIFA and FSP, aimed at strengthening the support and services offered to members across the nation. The merger of NAIFA and FSP continues to open new doors for enhancing member experiences and operational efficiencies. 

In the complex world of financial planning, life insurance remains fundamental. However, the traditional view of life insurance as merely a safety net is evolving, especially when it comes to enhancing charitable giving strategies. We invite you to join our us on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Eastern. This webinar is made available at no cost to both NAIFA members and non-members, thanks to the generous sponsorship by the American Cancer Society.

New to the Chapter Playbook this week, a model Affiliate Funding Policy! All NAIFA members who do not belong to a Local Chapter are aligned with an Affiliate area within their State Chapter. Providing sufficient Affiliate funding is essential to meeting the goal of providing members in Affiliate areas with engagement, programming and a quality member experience.

The following press release was just put out today announcing our new partnership with Brookstone Capital Management. Derek Gubala, VP of Business Development, and Randy Clark, Senior Director, Membership Development, were the key drivers in putting together this partnership. Having met at an Ed Slott event two years ago, Gubala exhibited at Apex 2022 and called it "the best industry event I've attended in a long time". This led Gubala to further invest in a sponsorship at Apex East held in October 2023 and will return to support NAIFA at our upcoming Congressional Conference.

An ongoing survey of NAIFA members will provide updated data to help NAIFA and our industry partners in future actions on the Department of Labor’s final fiduciary-only rule. The results will help us educate policymakers – and potentially the courts – on how the proposal will impact consumers and your business.

May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month (DIAM), a national awareness campaign that NAIFA’s consumer division Life Happens created and coordinates each year. We encourage you to join along. This awareness campaign is critical because 4 in 10 people of working age are “extremely concerned” about being able to support themselves if an illness or injury were to keep them out of work, according to the 2023 Insurance Barometer Study by Life Happens and LIMRA.

NAIFA-Wyoming was recently spotted for an upcoming Golf Outing! Join fellow members for a day of fun including golf, fellowship, and networking on the patio at the Refinery. If you bring a prospective member and receive a discount on your registration. If a non-member joins NAIFA at the tournament, they will golf for free!

In April, we continued our relaunch of the Award-Winning YAT Advisor Ambassador Program. The YAT Advisor Ambassador Program is a class designed specifically for younger advisors (those under 40 and relatively new to the business).

A class of 22 young advisors came together and participated in group discussions on topics such as prospecting, networking, and brand amplification. These sessions focused on peer-to-peer learning and gave these advisors transferable ideas to start using in their careers immediately.

Chapter Staff and Chapter Leaders from across NAIFA Nation met on May 2nd, for the Chapter Leaders Webinar! Attendees were able to hear the latest NAIFA updates and announcements! This month's Chapter Leaders Webinar featured:

The Sudden Death round between North Dakota and Utah has concluded! Congratulations to both chapters for their efforts – North Dakota raised over $2,000, and Utah over $4,000 in forty-eight hours! With this victory, Utah joins our Final Four states to compete against Maryland for a shot at the Championship.  

The LUTCF course of study is ideal for financial professionals in their first five years in the business and offers valuable instruction on prospecting, selling, and practice-management. It also provides program graduates with a working knowledge of insurance and investment products available to help clients manage risk. As a NAIFA Leader, please help financial professionals in their early career stage to discover the LUTCF and understand its benefits.

NAIFA is seeking feedback on the Department of Labor's fiduciary-only final rule. We have created a survey of financial professionals and will use the results to educate policymakers – and potentially the courts – on how the proposal will impact consumers and your business. 

How the DOL Fiduciary-Only Rule Will Impact Financial Professionals and Consumers
May 2 | 2 pm eastern

It's not too late to register for NAIFA's free webinar on the Department of Labor's final fiduciary-only rule. NAIFA's Government Relations Team and counsel from Steptoe LLP will explore how the rule will directly impact financial professionals and consumers. It will provide an update on the next steps: What NAIFA is doing to protect your business and clients, the likelihood of NAIFA’s participation in litigation, and what financial professionals can do to advocate on their own behalf. The webinar will expand on Steptoe’s written analysis of the rule and provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

New to the Chapter Playbook this week, updated sponsorships resources! Resources include:

Ensuring income protection is critical for your clients, particularly during their income-earning years. We invite you to join our upcoming webinar on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Eastern. Sponsored by Ash Brokerage, this webinar is designed to arm financial professionals with the tools and techniques needed to effectively manage discussions around disability income plans and life insurance.

NAIFA-Arkansas was recently spotted recognizing new members on LinkedIn! 

We continue to need your help! Through our efforts, we have renewed almost 100 members from this list. But we have many more to reach who have recently expired and haven't renewed their membership. We know that many of our members' connections extend across state borders. This is the latest listing of our lapsed members, so you can help encourage the members you know on this list to renew their membership.

NAIFA has redesigned and relaunched the Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow (LUTCF®) program, a three-course training series for one of the most sought-after designations in the insurance industry. Since 1984, NAIFA’s LUTCF has prepared more than 70,000 insurance and financial professionals to excel in the industry and is often the first designation successful agents and advisors earn.

The April 11 State of NAIFA webinar has been posted to the State of NAIFA Archives page. NAIFA President Tom Cothron, CEO Kevin Mayeux, and Senior Vice President for Government Relations Diane Boyle provided association and policy updates. Among the topics discussed are: member benefits and programs, the Department of Labor's fiduciary-only rule, the development process for NAIFA's new strategic plan, the NAIFA Women's Financial Security Fly-In, NAIFA's Congressional Conference, and the combined Apex/National Leadership Conference.

Our All Member Orientation is back again for Q2. In case you missed it, we held a great All Member Orientation in January to highlight key benefits for all NAIFA members. We had a lot of new faces join us for this live stream, but we also saw a number of leaders and long time members join us as well.

Below are the standings, as of Monday, April 15th for all 4 Divisions and their team competitions. There's still time to make an impact on your Chapter's ranking. This round wraps on Sunday, April 21st. Don't forget, that this round will include your chapter's monthly contributors. This will be a three-team game and two teams will advance to the next round.

Understanding the intersection between financial assets and estate planning is extremely important for maximizing wealth and enhancing asset protection. Join us on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Eastern for an in-depth webinar that focuses on aligning your clients' financial assets with their estate planning goals. This session is ideal for professionals looking to deepen their understanding of estate planning essentials like revocable trusts, wills, and powers of attorney, and how to effectively coordinate these with various financial assets, including investments, real estate, and retirement accounts.

NAIFA- South Carolina was recently spotted for their upcoming events for the Midlands Affiliate!

On April 11th, there will be a networking Happy Hours where professionals can come together to connect and collaborate. This event is free to attend and will be held at Bourbon, in Columbia SC.

On May 9th, they will host another networking Happy Hour where you can join fellow financial advisors and insurance agents for an evening of craft brews and insightful discussions on industry trends and strategies! This event will take place at Craft & Draft, in Columbia SC.

Washington, D.C. is the place to be May 20-21st. Just ask the 70 people making their first trip to NAIFA's Congressional Conference! As NAIFA's key signature advocacy event, many of our members make it a point to head to Capitol Hill every year. This year, we have such a strong showing of first-time attendees, who will amplify our voice and take back to their chapters their experience of influencing legislation at the federal level. 

Chapter Staff and Chapter Leaders from across NAIFA Nation met on April 4th, for the Chapter Leaders Webinar! Attendees were able to hear the latest NAIFA updates and announcements! This month's Chapter Leaders Webinar featured:

We need your help! Through our efforts, we have been unable to reach many members who have recently expired and haven't renewed their membership. We know that many of our members' connections extend across state borders. That's why we've created a new page listing our lapsed members, so you can help encourage the members you know on this list to renew their membership.

Twenty-four chapters are battling to move on to the Terrific 12. Who will be knocked out at the end of the second round of IFAPAC Madness? The clock is ticking to secure contributions before the buzzer at the end of the day on Sunday, April 7th.  

Much like the NCAA March Madness Brackets, IFAPAC has created its bracketology based on 2023 fundraising totals. Chapters will go head-to-head during each round to see who raises the most during the allotted time. Chapters need to be increasing donations in each round. Totals do NOT carry over from each round, the results are not cumulative. The chapter with the highest total during the allotted round will move on to the next round.

Help us shape the next era of financial service professionals and give back to your NAIFA family. We are looking for experienced financial professionals to serve as LUTCF mentors to assist LUTCF students in maximizing their professional training experience to allow them to thrive in the insurance and financial services industry. 

The 2024 Congressional Conference is coming to Washington, D.C., May 20-21. This is NAIFA's can't-miss signature grassroots event and the most impactful association fly-in in the insurance and financial services industry. See who is attending. If your name is not on the list, register today to have it added. If you notice colleagues or members from your chapter who aren't yet registered, why don't you give them a friendly nudge? The more people we have in Washington advocating for our businesses, clients, and communities the more influential we are.

How can we ensure the success of younger advisors within NAIFA?

We recently held our first quarterly Young Advisor Team call of the year. We asked all YAT chairs to come together and talk about their individual efforts in their state chapters. From golf socials to happy hours, we know in-person events and activities are a common way to get membership involvement. But one of the main things we really focused on was understanding what younger advisors want out of their NAIFA membership. 

Consider for a moment the state of our industry. 80-90% of advisors fail out of the business. If you knew you could do something about that, would you? My challenge to everyone reading this is to formally, or informally, mentor a younger advisor in your state. Even if it's just one coffee meeting or phone call a month, find some time to sit down with them and just listen to what their experience has been like.

Our 2023 John Newton Russell Memorial Award recipient, Joe Jordan is an inspirational speaker, behavioral finance expert, and the author of the award-winning book, Living a Life of Significance. The book has sold over 125,000 copies, is translated into five languages, and was featured in Nick Murray's "The Advisor's Essential Library."  

As financial professionals, understanding the intricate web of challenges your clients face, especially those entangled in student loan debt, is paramount. With the United States grappling with an overwhelming $1.7 trillion in outstanding higher education loans, the issue is more critical than ever. 

We invite you to join us for a Journal Live audio discussion on "Excessive Student Loans: The Harbinger of Death to a Financial Future," on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 12 PM Eastern. This session is not just another webinar; it's an opportunity to deepen your understanding of how excessive borrowing for higher education can severely limit your clients' financial growth and stability.

Presented by Greg Geisler, PhD, and J. William Harden, CPA, ChFC, PhD, this 45-minute program will offer a comprehensive look into their study's findings on the long-term impacts of student loan debt. Learn how excessive debt burdens can hinder your clients' ability to engage in long-term tax-advantaged savings and prepare for a financially secure future.

Included is a Q&A session, where you can engage directly. This event is free for members and presents an excellent opportunity to enhance your ability to guide clients through the complexities of student loans.

April is National Financial Literacy Month, an annual observation NAIFA wholeheartedly agrees with. But why is financial literacy important and what are we doing about it?

FINRA surveys consistently show that around two-thirds of Americans lack basic financial understanding, and their lack of knowledge is significant. Those who score higher on FINRA’s financial literacy quiz show a greater tendency to earn more than they spend, have an emergency fund of three-months’ salary or more, contribute to retirement accounts, and accurately estimate their retirement savings needs.

The "I Love NAIFA Month" and the "It's Not Luck, It's NAIFA" referral incentives have been a smashing success.  As such, NAIFA has extended this initiative through April with a slight change!  For every member who joins and lists a member as the referral source, that referring member will receive a $10 Dunkin Donuts gift card.  

NAIFA-Georgia was spotted for the celebration of the 2024 Top Women Advisors in Georgia!

Congratulations to an outstanding group on women!

Congratulations to the 24 teams advancing to the next round of IFAPAC Madness 2024! Starting today, chapters will be competing to advance to the Terrific Twelve. The winner will be announced on May 20, 2024, during Congressional Conference! The 2024 Champion Chapter will receive a trophy that can tour around the chapter all year.   

Round Two

The clock for our second round began on, Monday, March 25th and runs through Sunday, April 7th.

On April 18th NAIFA Live will feature Michael McGlothlin, CFP, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF,  best-selling author, industry-renowned speaker, and expert in growth strategies for financial advisors. Join Mike as he explains how financial professionals can clarify their message to generate leads, create more referrals or empower their sales team. By using the StoryBrand Marketing Framework, Mike will help you understand what customers are looking for so you can tell your story in a way people listen.

NAIFA is a proud sponsor of the BenefitsPRO Broker Expo in Denver, CO this coming April! If you are in the Employee Benefits space you will want to make plans to join and hundreds of the nation’s top brokers, agents, and advisors at BenefitsPRO Broker Expo!

For 20 years, the BenefitsPRO Broker Expo has gathered leading industry practitioners and experts to create a robust conference, designed to provide you with tools and resources you can implement immediately to increase your bottom line! Join NAIFA in Denver, April 29- May 1, 2024, and leave with fresh strategies and tactics that you can put into action right away. 

As a part of our partnership with BenefitsPRO, we are pleased to offer our members a 15% discount on registration for this fantastic event! Use promo code: NAIFA15 when registering.

Time is ticking to ensure your chapter makes the cut for the deadline of the first round of play on Sunday!
Will your chapter advance or will you be knocked out at the end of the first round of IFAPAC Madness? There is still plenty of time to secure IFAPAC contributions for your state. Round One started on Tuesday, March 5th and will run through Sunday, March 24th. All 51 chapters will be competing to advance through the brackets. The winner will be announced on May 20, 2024, during Congressional Conference! The 2024 Champion Chapter will receive a trophy that can tour around the chapter all year.

As we continue to strive for excellence and growth within our organization, we recognize the invaluable contribution of each member in shaping our community. However, we have noticed that some of our valued members have lapsed in their membership. We know that we are stronger together and the more members we have the louder our voice. That’s why, we are reaching out to you for your assistance in encouraging these lapsed members to renew their commitment to our profession by ensuring their membership is current.

Now, more than ever, NAIFA needs to flex our collective strength as we advocate for ALL financial models against the DOL fiduciary rule for our collective interests and ensure a fair regulatory environment. With your support, we can bring these members back into our congressional footprint and further enhance our message.

The Congressional Conference is NAIFA members' best opportunity to experience the power of grassroots advocacy first-hand in our nation's capital. Attendees really do make a difference on behalf of their businesses, clients, and communities. Networking allows them to be inspired and share ideas with politically involved colleagues. Training, policy briefings, and expert speakers give them the knowledge and guidance they need to be effective advocates. Meetings with lawmakers allow NAIFA members to speak with a unified voice and forge meaningful relationships with people whose decisions impact the financial security of every American.

NAIFA is proud to be a 2024 partner of Medicarians Vegas 2024.  Medicarians is more than Medicare, it is the home of senior health, wealth, and AgeTech. Set for April 8th - 10th, 2024, at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, this event is a must-attend for those looking to navigate the future of the industry with confidence. This will be the only place to network and learn from more than 2,500 participants across this sector.

NAIFA Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Diane Boyle will take the stage on Monday to talk about the importance of advocating in Washington, D.C. with your fellow financial professionals on the issues impacting our industry and the clients we serve.

Join the Chapter Services Team on March 28 @ 3 p.m. Eastern as they host a “Successful Chapter Sponsorship Programs” webinar!

NAIFA members, mark your calendars for April 11th at 12 pm Eastern for the Q2 State of NAIFA webinar. Learn about the latest on NAIFA’s progress, advocacy efforts, and how you can get the most out of your membership.

Join us for an insightful webinar led by head lobbyist for health policy issues affecting producers, Michael Hedge, and policy director, Roger Moore, aimed at financial service professionals, IMOs and FMOs, and other stakeholders within the Medicare ecosystem. In this webinar, we'll delve into the intricacies of these proposed changes and explore their potential impacts on various aspects of the Medicare landscape.

As you plan out your calendars with events and agency presentations, remember that we are here to prepare you and ensure that your membership efforts are as effective as possible.  Consider booking a time with Zack Huels (Zack’s Calendly) for presentation tips and tricks.  If you will be working an event, contact Randy Clark (rclark@naifa.org) to make sure you have all the materials you may need to sign up new members.   

I Love NAIFA Month’s referral incentive was such a success, it will be extended into March!  Join the ranks of NAIFA's most passionate and dedicated volunteers and become a membership recruiter. You love NAIFA because it allows you to expand your circles of influence and advocate for your industry and your clients. Invite your industry peers to join NAIFA. Now that FSP has joined the NAIFA family, even more financial professionals can benefit from belonging. 

Will your chapter advance or will you be knocked out at the end of the first round of IFAPAC Madness? There is still plenty of time to secure IFAPAC contributions for your state. Round One started on Tuesday, March 5th and will run through Sunday, March 24th. All 51 chapters will be competing to advance through the brackets. The winner will be announced on May 20, 2024, during Congressional Conference! The 2024 Champion Chapter will receive a trophy that can tour around the chapter all year.  

New to the Chapter Playbook this week, a Disability Insurance Awareness Month Proclamation template! Disability Insurance Awareness Month (DIAM) was created by Life Happens and is coordinated each May. With the help of the proclamation template, Chapters are encouraged to contact their legislators to proclaim the month of May as Disability Insurance Awareness Month.

Chapter Staff and Chapter Leaders from across NAIFA Nation met on March 7th, for the Chapter Leaders Webinar! Attendees were able to hear the latest NAIFA updates and announcements! This month's Chapter Leaders Webinar featured:

In February, we officially kicked off our relaunch of the Award-Winning YAT Advisor Ambassador Program. The YAT Advisor Ambassador Program is a class designed specifically for younger advisors (those under 40 and relatively new to the business).

A class of 35 young advisors came together and participated in group discussions on topics such as prospecting, networking, and brand amplification. These sessions focused on peer-to-peer learning and gave these advisors transferable ideas to start using in their careers immediately.

Did you know that NAIFA has a free program designed for college students considering a career in the insurance and financial services industry? Our Future Leaders program has had hundreds of students come through since launching in 2021. Our next course starts in April. This is a great opportunity to talk to your clients with college students about all the opportunities this industry can provide.  Do you have a student-athlete in your life? Check out this video from NAIFA-Secretary, Chris Gandy talking about how a career in insurance and financial services is a natural fit for athletes.

Awards applications are starting to roll in for 2024. Don't miss your opportunity to shine! We are pleased to announce a new category for the NAIFA Quality Award. We have launched an Emeritus category for members who are at least 60 years old and who have previously qualified for NQA for a minimum of 15 years.

NAIFA's awards provide an opportunity for our members to differentiate themselves from the crowd and receive national recognition for their contributions. All awards are found in NAIFA's Talent Development Center.

There's one and only one secret to sales---consistent, ruthless activity. We all know it, heck--that's how we built our businesses, but somehow, when it comes to growing membership at NAIFA, we find ourselves freezing, not knowing the value proposition, being hesitant to put ourselves out there to ask others to join even though we clearly see and have experienced the value. I get it--believe me, I totally get it. If I had a dollar for every person that told me I should be in sales, I would be a millionaire, but the issue I always had was for me to sell a product, I had to really believe in it. The problem with me is that I have a hard time in believing in most products, but I am a diehard in believing in concepts or philosophical truths. 

I grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. in Maryland, an original colony state. When you grow up in an original colony state, history is just embedded into your education. You are taught the Paul Revere story by first grade and know the entire American Revolution, minutemen, and writing of the Declaration of Independence before you ever leave elementary school. You understand states rights and the power of states coming together--and moreover, the force that we can be as a democracy when we come together to fight. 

NAIFA's got an all-new promotion to see which State Chapter will come out as the 2024 IFAPAC Madness Champion! Round One started on Tuesday, March 5th and will run through Sunday, March 24th. All 51 chapters will be competing to advance through the brackets. The winner will be announced on May 20, 2024, during Congressional Conference! The 2024 Champion Chapter will receive a trophy that can tour around the chapter all year.   

Much like the NCAA March Madness Brackets, IFAPAC has created its bracketology based on 2023 fundraising totals. Chapters will go head-to-head during each round to see who raises the most during the allotted time. The chapter with the highest total will move on to the next round.

The merger of NAIFA and the Society of Financial Service Professionals (FSP) presents our association new ways to serve our members more efficiently and – most importantly – more effectively. We are working diligently to integrate our memberships and ensure that all members continue to receive benefits that they value. Part of that process is determining how local chapters around the country help NAIFA best serve those members and achieve its strategic goals.

As we roll into March and toward the second quarter, we are still in need of some volunteers to help drive the membership train.  Membership chairs help sign up new members, renew those that have lapsed, and are key to welcoming new members into the chapter.  If you are a leader in one of the States below, please let us know if you need help finding a membership chair as we don’t have one on file: 

Then join us on March 28 @ 3 p.m. Eastern as the Chapter Services Team hosts a “Successful Chapter Sponsorship Programs” webinar!

NAIFA-North Dakota was recently spotted for an upcoming NAIFA Live Watch Party! Join fellow members for the next NAIFA Live featuring James S. Aussem, JD, AEP. In this dynamic session, attendees will explore the many facets of financial services exit planning in today’s environment.

These Watch Parties will be held at E4 Insurance Services in Fargo, and Minot State University - MSU Student Center 2nd Floor!

As NAIFA leaders, you have the experience and influence to make a difference  when you encourage newer members' involvement with our association. No where is this more true than on the grassroot advocacy front. As a NAIFA veteran, you can increase the involvement of newer members by inviting them to participate in your state's legislative day and the national Congressional Conference, coming to Washington, D.C., May 20-21. 

Launched in October 2023, NAIFA's Mentor Loop is an exclusive new member benefit that matches mentors and mentees while providing a structure and supportive framework. In the initial roll-out phase, 25 pairs of mentors and mentees were matched, utilizing a carefully curated set of criteria to ensure their success. After a successful launch, we have now expanded the program and are seeking 25 new pairs!

NAIFA-California was recently spotted for an upcoming Brews & Business Event! This event will be held on March 5th at Societe Brewing in San Diego. Connect, collaborate, and cultivate relationships in a vibrant atmosphere. At this first meeting of the year, members will hear about upcoming events, legislative issues, and how they can get involved with NAIFA throughout 2024.

I ❤️ NAIFA Month is nearly over, but we want to be sure that we shine the spotlight this incredible member benefit. Keep reading to catch February on-demand and register for March!

With an extra day this month, that means that you have an additional day to refer a new member to NAIFA...and an extra day to win a $10 Starbucks gift card! During February, you will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card for every member who joins and lists you as their referring member. Just our way of adding an extra "perk" during I ❤️ NAIFA month. Take advantage of the extra day on February 29th and help us expand our NAIFA family.

Due to popular demand, we have decided to host a quarterly Member Benefits Webinar. This ensures that you can stay up-to-date about the latest and greatest benefits that come along with being a NAIFA member. We are constantly adding new offerings to our marketplace. Whether it is new technology tools, ways to market yourself/your practice, educational resources, or simply saving money on your next UPS shipment...we've got you covered.

Join us on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Eastern for a webinar on the evolving needs of aging clients in the financial industry. This session is vital for financial professionals who are navigating the complexities of managing assets for clients facing aging-related challenges. From unexpected caregiving roles to dementia and the necessity of leaving the workforce to care for loved ones, these issues significantly impact assets under management (AUM).

May 20-21
Washington, D.C.

Encourage NAIFA members in your chapter to register for NAIFA's Congressional Conference. Don't put it off. The first 300 NAIFA members to register and meet eligibility requirements will receive a $350 travel stipend. The Congressional Conference is NAIFA's signature advocacy event and one you don't want to miss.

In addition to being I ❤️ NAIFA and Insure Your Love Month, February is also the time when we open up the applications and nominations for NAIFA's distinguished awards. We are pleased to announce that applications for NAIFA's 2024 awards are now open. Our awards provide an opportunity for our members to differentiate themselves from the crowd and receive national recognition for their contributions. All awards are found in NAIFA's Talent Development Center.

From hitting a free throw in front of 23,000 people to protecting your client’s financial future; discipline, drive, and determination are the three D’s needed to perform like a champion in the NBA and in NAIFA.

Join NAIFA Secretary and former NBA basketball player Christopher Gandy, NAIFA Trustee and marathon runner Carina Hatfield, Former MLB pitcher Jacob Turner, and West Point Graduate and U.S. Army Veteran Kathleen Owings for NAIFA’s Competitive Edge, an interactive NAIFA Live panel discussion.

It's not too late to register for "The Newest Trends in Life Settlement," a NAIFA-FSP webinar sponsored by Coventry. The event is free to NAIFA members and attendees may be eligible for CE credits. The demand for life settlements has seen a resurgence as seniors realize the benefits of reevaluating their life insurance strategy. Join us for this important webinar where the experts from Coventry will show you the newest trends in life settlements and how they can help your clients.

Attendees will learn:

Life Happens, NAIFA's consumer education arm, is hosting a Facebook chat February 15, from 1 to 2 pm eastern and all NAIFA members are invited to participate. Join us to share your ideas about how companies and financial professionals can spread the message that purchasing life insurance is ultimately an act of love. The chat is part of Life Happens's Insure Your Love Month, celebrated each February.

NAIFA-Tennessee was recently spotted recognizing new members on LinkedIn! 

NAIFA-Louisiana was recently spotted for their upcoming Luncheon Watch Party with FSP!

This event will take place on February 27th, 2024, in New Orleans at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Volunteer Center. It will be an afternoon filled with networking with local members, education, discussion, Hope Lodge tours, and lunch, provided by ACME Oyster House! CE credit will be available.

In this program Marty Shenkman, JD, CPA, MBA, PFS, AEP, a respected authority in estate planning and personal finance, will present his insights on recent developments in estate planning for 2024. This session will benefit estate planners, attorneys, trust officers, accountants, insurance advisors and wealth management professionals.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Angeles, LACP! As the top recruiter in January, she will receive a $100 Visa gift card! Elizabeth has had great success in recruiting members! In fact, she has more than 20 current members who have listed her as their referring member! Way to go, Elizabeth! We are #NAIFAproud to call you one of our own!

We are officially one week into I Love NAIFA month! We want to see more posts from our members! Let us know why you love your professional home. Take your selfies, download our graphics, and post on your social media channels using #NAIFAproud!  Shout out to everyone who has gotten into the spirit of our favorite month of the year!

We mentioned this on the Chapter Leaders' call last week, but wanted to remind everyone that we have a new Activity Tracker to log any group presentations so that you get credit and can be recognized as a Top Recruiter or Hard Hat winner for membership! If you're passionate about NAIFA and want to get out and about to present about the benefits of belonging, let us know! 

Lawmakers in California, and particularly in the city of Los Angeles, know the importance of life insurance and understand the critical work financial professionals do. NAIFA-Los Angeles has been key to their education. For the past 20 consecutive years, NAIFA-Los Angeles members, including the chapter’s Past President Gilbert Mares, LUTCF, Grassroots Chair Jose Rodriguez, and President Alvin Parra, have worked with Los Angeles Mayors and members of the City Council to have September proclaimed Life Insurance Awareness Month. They have also been instrumental in getting similar proclamations issued by the state Senate and the County of Los Angeles.

In an ever-evolving landscape of personal finance and estate planning, staying ahead of the latest trends and legislative changes is paramount for professionals in the field. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the upcoming webinar led by Marty Shenkman, JD, CPA, MBA, PFS, will go over the critical developments and changes anticipated in 2024. Join us on February 27, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm eastern. 

NAIFA- Massachusetts was recently spotted for celebrating a 10-year member Anniversary for Brendan Harty, of New York Life!

Chapter Staff and Chapter Leaders from across NAIFA Nation met on February 1st, for the Chapter Leaders Webinar! Attendees were able to hear the latest NAIFA updates and announcements! This month's Chapter Leaders Webinar featured:

Don't forget...this month NAIFA Live is on FRIDAY, February 16th From hitting a free throw in front of 23,000 people to protecting your client’s financial future; discipline, drive, and determination are the three D’s needed to perform like a champion in the NBA and in NAIFA. Join NAIFA Secretary and former NBA basketball player Christopher Gandy, NAIFA Trustee and marathon runner Carina Hatfield, Former MLB pitcher Jacob Turner, and West Point Graduate and U.S. Army Veteran Kathleen Owings for NAIFA’s Competitive Edge, an interactive NAIFA Live panel discussion.

Tomorrow we kick off one of our favorite seasons, I ❤️ NAIFA Month! Since 2020, we have been celebrating everything there is to love about NAIFA Nation during February. We will be flooding social media with multiple posts each day about our fantastic programs, people, and products. If your chapter has connected your social media accounts to NAIFA, we will be sharing these posts to your feed as well. Don't have your social accounts connected? Contact our Marketing & Communications Department at marketing@naifa.org

We have over 30 people registered for our relaunch of the YAT Advisor Ambassador Program! There's still time for more people to be added to the class so be sure to plug this to the young advisors in your state. All they have to do is enroll in the free four courses that are taking place in February and after completing the program, they will receive a certificate and will be featured in our Advisor Today blog (with over 80,000 subscribers). 

NAIFA's Congressional Conference, Apex, and National Leadership Conference/Belong are can't miss events for NAIFA leaders. The Congressional Conference, NAIFA's signature grassroots advocacy event, will be May 20-21 in Washington, D.C. Apex, the National Leadership Conference, and Belong will all be at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, September 19-21.

Once again for February, NAIFA is fully supporting Life Happens's annual Insure Your Love Month campaign. Life Happens has joined with NAIFA to serve as our consumer outreach and education arm. This month's theme, "How to say I love you," explores the difficulties many people have expressing their love and encourages people to protect their loved ones by obtaining life insurance as an act of love.

As part of "I Love NAIFA Month", the Membership division is excited to announce a new member referral incentive! What better way to share the NAIFA love than by recruiting new members into your professional association.  All members, including all leaders, are eligible and encouraged to participate!

2024 is shaping up to be another strong year for State Legislative Days! Since 2020, NAIFA has been using the message of state legislative days as the Power of You. Power of Us. This means that NAIFA is a powerful force at both the state and federal levels. We want all states to be leveraging this message for their legislative activities. We have made graphics for all states for social media and email headers to use in your marketing efforts. Find your state graphics.

We are so thankful to have so many members who believe in the mission and vision of NAIFA who invite their fellow industry peers to join them at our incredible association. We want to recognize our members who are recruiting members this year. Check out our Top Recruiter page to see who is leading the pack so far this year. We have also broken down who is recruiting members from each state, so that you may recognize those individuals within your chapter. Don't forget, we will be issuing a $100 Visa gift card every month in 2024 for the top recruiter!

Life settlements are experiencing a resurgence as an innovative strategy in financial planning. This shift marks a new era for seniors reevaluating their life insurance policies. To learn how to navigate these changes, register for our webinar, sponsored by Coventry Insurance, which is set for February 15, 2024, 11 AM Eastern.

You may know Mickey Straub, a loyal member since 2002, for his incredible product, the Sales Activity Management planner or SAM. SAM helps Agents/Advisors stay focused, organized, and disciplined as well as develop the right habits to achieve their goals. With SAM, managers can better coach, develop talent, lead, and build a positive, high-performance culture.

SAM has always focused on tracking your activity. Now Mickey has joined forces with Joe Templin, loyal member since 1998 to introduce the SAM Everyday Excellence, or SAMEE. SAMEE is an email subscription to help you have higher quantity and quality activity to track. Every business day you will receive an email to help guide and grow your business so that you can become the financial professional you have the potential to be and climb that mountain of success.

With all of the new and exciting things going on in NAIFA in 2024, we wanted to host an All Member Orientation and highlight key benefits for all NAIFA members. We had a lot of new faces join us for this live stream, but we also saw a number of leaders and long time members join us as well.

Please save the dates for our two key signature events of the year! Registration for Congressional Conference will be open very soon, as will Apex/National Leadership Conference 2024. We hope you plan on joining us in D.C. in May and in Phoenix in September for both events! 

Achieving the three pillars to become a member of the Triangle Team has its advantages. One of the exclusive benefits is access to the Peak Performance Workshops with Frank Maselli, Ph.D. and sponsored by White Glove. 

Last year, state chapter executives had the opportunity to earn some extra cash by meeting a membership goal. Only two states, Nevada and New Mexico, were successful in that endeavor. But they didn’t stop there. Both executives have reinvested money into the chapter to keep momentum going for 2024! 

As part of NAIFA’s Coaches Circle, NAIFA members have the opportunity to connect with Dan Finley up to twice a month through his complimentary coaching sessions. The topic of the first session on January 25th at 4 pm eastern will be "The Advisor Solutions Master Mind Session." Attendees will focus on specific challenges that advisors and agents have as well as the tools, techniques, strategies, and solutions that have worked for hundreds of Advisor Solutions’ clients for the past 20 years.

These sessions are designed to be member-to-member opportunities to grow personally and professionally. Sessions are limited to 80 people each session. Register and select the sessions you'd like to attend.

The latest episode of NAIFA's Advisor Today Podcast features Delvin Joyce, CFP, CLU, ChFC, RICP, a loyal NAIFA member since 2010. After a career in professional football, financial planner Joyce obtained the self-motivation to launch a financial services business. By identifying a clear purpose, he structured his services and leadership around providing financial literacy and support to young athletes preparing for careers. Delvin believes that financial planning is fundamental to the future, so by building a practice that emphasizes managing people’s funds and loans, you can execute your purpose, elevate your status in the industry, and create a lucrative business. 

Did you catch NAIFA Live last week? Check out the list below of the members who were spotted tuning into last week's NAIFA Live! We had representation from 42 states this month! Let's see if we can hit all 50 for February!

"A Blueprint for Building an Enduring Practice" is a guide now available for download on the NAIFA-FSP Resource Center. Resources available include white papers, webinars, product guides, case studies, industry analysis and much more, provided by experts and vendors within the insurance industry. These are available to all insurance and financial professionals.

Join us January 25, 2024, at 12 pm eastern.

The Q1 State of NAIFA webinar gives NAIFA leaders a better understanding of what is going on in their association and how they can help NAIFA members get the most value out of their membership. This will be 2024 President Tom Cothron's inaugural update on where our association stands and where we are heading. No NAIFA leader or member should miss it. As always, NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux will provide information on association programming and Senior Vice President for Government Relations Diane Boyle will give a legislative and regulatory briefing.

Are you a Costco Member? If so, John Hansbrough from NAIFA-California has a great idea for saving some money on NAIFA events. Costco often has gift cards to local restaurants with $100 values for $70-$80. If you decide to run a NAIFA event at a that restaurant space, you could potentially save hundreds by using the gift cards to pay for the event depending on the final cost. That $500 bill could quickly become $350 instead with some pre-planning. 

Join us on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm eastern, for a webinar on the future of Long-Term Care (LTC) planning. As states like Washington begin implementing mandated LTC plans, it's clear that addressing the care needs of our aging population is more crucial than ever. This session will delve into the evolving landscape of LTC insurance, exploring various options that range from traditional insurance to innovative life and annuity hybrids. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of these options, insights into the planning process, and an overview of state-level developments in LTC planning. This event is an invaluable opportunity for anyone involved in financial planning, insurance, or retirement strategies. NAIFA members can register for free, making it a not-to-be-missed event for those looking to stay informed in this rapidly changing field. This webinar is brought to you by Ash Brokerage.

Monthly Top Recruiter Program for 2024

We are delighted to announce that we have a fun membership program for 2024 called "Top Recruiter". The Top Recruiter each month will win a $100 gift card to thank you for your referral because, as you fully know, there is no greater compliment than your recommendation. The Top Recruiters will be listed on the Member Portal page and recognized throughout NAIFA Nation. 

The program was so successful last year on a quarterly basis, that we are making it a monthly content. Top Recruiters are identified by having the new member list you in the referral field, or a communication to that effect. Only NAIFA members are eligible for the prize and you must be active to receive the prize.

Q4 Top Recruiter

Shout out to Undrea Smith from Arizona who was the recipient of the Q4 Top Recruiter winner which goes to the member who recruits the most members, or provides extraordinary service to the membership of the association. Undrea was announced during the January chapter leaders call, but worth a mention again because there's no such thing as too much love! Shout out to Chris Carothers as well who was the Q4 Hard Hat winner which was awarded at the National Leadership Conference this past December.

Have someone that you want to refer right now? Fill out the Referral Form and bookmark it so you can easily access it and send in names-- we can help do the rest! Know a firm or agency that should be a 100% Agency or Financial Security Champion? Let us know!

NAIFA is once again looking forward to I Love NAIFA month and Life Happens Insure Your Love campaign! During February, we celebrate all things NAIFA. From Advocacy to Members to Main Street and more...this is our opportunity to share with the world all we love about our association. We need you to help us make a big splash on social media. Print one of our I Love NAIFA signs, snap a selfie, use hashtag #NAIFAproud, and post to social media. Access the I Love NAIFA kit for all social media graphics to use throughout the month. Watch your emails for the Life Happens Insure Your Love campaign materials.

January 25 | 2-4 pm eastern

NAIFA-New Jersey was recently spotted for a NAIFA Live Watch Party on Thursday, January 18, 2024! They will be held at TWO locations - Certified Financial Services OR The Fortis Agency for another great watch party event. NAIFA Live will begin at 2:00 pm Eastern. 

If you are a current member of NAIFA's Triangle Team, you received an email earlier today about all of the fantastic opportunities lined up for 2024. Qualifying for Triangle Team means that you are a good NAIFA citizen and fully participate in three key areas that keep NAIFA strong in your statehouse and on Capitol Hill: Membership, Grassroots, and IFAPAC. We are thrilled to have White Glove as our program sponsor this year. Here's what we have in store for '24:

Did you know that NAIFA has a free program designed for college students considering a career in the insurance and financial services industry? Our Future Leaders program has had hundreds of students come through since launching in 2021. You can help us raise awareness of this program in several ways:

NAIFA Live is tomorrow and we are excited to have nine watch parties reported...but as Kevin Mayeux would say, "More, please!" Thank you to Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey (hosting two locations), North Dakota (hosting two locations), and Wisconsin for your support as NAIFA Live kicks off its 5th year!

We are thrilled to announce that the Young Advisor Team (YAT) program is being expanded in 2024! The first change is to note that the "A" in YAT can now stand for agent, advisor, accountant, or attorney! With our expanded FSP membership, we are looking to welcome in and provide the needed support to our young members so that they can be super successful. 

Exclusive Members-Only Webinar
January 19 | 12 pm eastern

The U.S. Department of Labor's final independent contractor rule could impact how NAIFA members do business and their ability to serve the best interests of their clients. Many financial professionals are entrepreneurs who own their businesses and have their own employees. 

The NAIFA-FSP Resource Center is a benefit available to all NAIFA members and their colleagues in the financial profession. The center is a library of free downloadable content including white papers, webinars, product guides, case studies, industry analysis, and much more, provided by experts and vendors within the insurance industry.

You can search the content by keyword or browse topics of interest, including:
•    Annuities
•    Estate Planning
•    Insurance
•    Marketing and PR
•    Practice Management
•    Retirement Planning
•    Software Solutions
•    Tax Planning

The U.S. Department of Labor released its final independent contractor rule this week, aimed at defining whether an individual is an employee or an independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The rule could threaten the classification of many financial advisors from coast to coast and cause a reduction in the number of advisors serving American consumers. NAIFA has provided extensive commentary and testimony to the DOL before the rule’s release, and we are reviewing the 300+ page rule so that we can comment on its potential impacts. 

Were you unable to travel to Washington, D.C. for the National Leadership Conference in December? Did you come to NLC but set your bag/folder down, never to be seen again? We have now made all of the Leadership materials distributed at NLC available online for all leaders to access. Check out all of the great things we have planned for 2024 and beyond!  View Leaders Resources.

We are pleased to publish our 2023 NAIFA Quality Award Winners. Created in 1947, the award recognizes outstanding performance by life insurance agents. Today, the award has expanded to include not only life insurance, but also multiline, financial advising, health, and employee benefits. In addition to questions about personal production, the application provides additional points based on NAIFA involvement, designations, and leadership roles. Congratulations to the 1297 qualifiers!

NAIFA- Mississippi was recently spotted for an affiliate event on January 24, 2024 at 11:30 am at Harveys! They will be providing a NAIFA-Mississippi update, along with the opportunity for networking!

Chapter Staff and Chapter Leaders from across NAIFA Nation met on January 4th, for the first Chapter Leaders Webinar of 2024! Attendees were able to hear the latest NAIFA updates and announcements! This month's Chapter Leaders Webinar featured:

As part of NAIFA’s Coaches Circle, NAIFA members have the opportunity to connect with Dan Finley twice a month through his complimentary coaching sessions These sessions are
designed to be member-to-member opportunities to grow personally and professionally.

The NAIFA Open Enrollment Period is February 1^st to 28^th, 2024

We're excited to announce that NAIFA has adopted FSP's group insurance portfolio that includes the following plans:  

Business Overhead Expense Insurance

Simplified underwriting on the first $6,000 of elected coverage with one health question. Coverage available up to $20,000 (**) per month.

Group Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance

Guaranteed Issue with no medical questions. (*)

Group Term Life and AD&D insurance

Simplified underwriting on the first $50,000 of elected coverage with one health question. (*)

Group Dental and Vision

Available at any time, with no medical underwriting.

Learn More and Enroll During February 1-28, 2024

Attend the February 5^th webinar at 12:00 EST to learn more about the NAIFA Open Enrollment and insurance products. 

Your commitment is appreciated! We are excited to start a new year together! Please join us at 4 pm eastern tomorrow, Thursday, January 4th at 4 pm eastern. All FSP leaders have also been invited, so we are excited to welcome everyone to our expanded NAIFA Nation! If you didn't receive the invite, or need the login again, here is the link to self-register for the meeting. 

Additionally, all of our Leader Gallery Pages have been updated for 2024. You can view: 

Resolve to make 2024 your best year yet! Let NAIFA help you achieve your goals and accelerate your growth this year. Get 2024 started in the right direction and join NAIFA for a special All-Member Orientation on Monday, January 22nd at 3 pm eastern to ensure you make the most of your NAIFA membership by taking advantage of everything we offer!

The Society of Financial Service Professionals' annual Institute is January 28-31 in Jacksonville, FL. This is one of the premier professional development events in the financial service industry and NAIFA members are invited to attend. Registration includes high-impact educational sessions and opportunities to earn CE credit. The Institute features opportunities for productive networking and offers a unique environment that inspires collaborative learning.

Are you registered for the Q1 State of NAIFA webinar? This will be 2024 President Tom Cothron's inaugural update on where our association stands and where we are heading. No NAIFA leader or member should miss it. As always, NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux will provide information on association programming and Senior Vice President for Government Relations Diane Boyle will give a legislative and regulatory briefing.

In this Society of Financial Service Professionals (FSP) webinar, Fairway Reverse Mortgage Specialist, George Bain, will explore the challenges today’s retirees face and how they can benefit from the strategic use of a reverse mortgage. The presentation will include a discussion of incorporating home equity into a retirement income strategy, with case study examples and planning scenarios for long-term care and life insurance.

The final 2023 issue of Advisor Today magazine is now available as a digital edition. All NAIFA members receive the printed edition of Advisor Today as an exclusive member benefit and we make the digital edition available after the print issue release.

NAIFA members, set a reminder! The Q1 State of NAIFA 2024 webinar is happening on January 25th at 12 pm Eastern. Don't miss this first update of the year, as it's a key part of our commitment to keeping you well-informed about our developments and future goals.

2024 is just around the corner! Be sure you have the tools you need to get 2024 started in the right direction! NAIFA has updated our membership sell sheets with our 2023 YAT Leader of the Year, Joe Schreck. The new sell sheet also has updated member benefits, a quick join QR code to use at events, and has updated pricing. You can also request a customized sell sheet with your own leaders' photo featured. Just let us know!

NAIFA held a very successful National Leadership Conference and Belong awards celebration in Washington, D.C., December 3-5. Photos from NLC and Belong as well as videos from NAIFA's business meeting and Belong are now online.

New to the Chapter Playbook this week, an amended version of the NAIFA Bylaws!

Back by popular demand, NAIFA has created a calendar to aid in 2024 planning. These were to be distributed during the National Leadership Conference, however, they were delayed in shipping. We will mail these calendars to attendees so you may have the printed copy to work from.

On December 13th, Suzanne Carawan, Vice President of Membership held a webinar going through the latest member benefits including the expanded benefits from the merger with FSP and NAIFA. In case you missed this webinar, check out what you missed.

Last week more than 300 NAIFA members and supporters came to Washington, D.C. for our 2023 National Leadership Conference. The Belong Awards Celebration is an evening to recognize our award winners, hold our annual meeting, elect our national officers, and swear in our 2024 Chapter Presidents.

Don't try to reinvent the wheel. We've heard what you need and so we've added a new asset to the Marketing Brand Book, a standardized PowerPoint deck to be used during in-person meetings. This deck has been updated for 2024 and features the programs and benefits to ensure your attendees are aware of, plus we've included slides for you to edit and recognize your members. From new member recognition to LILI alumni to Triangle Team members, and more we want to help you showcase all of the hard work your members do to give back to our association! Use these slides as people are entering your meeting and/or during networking breaks.

NAIFA- Northern Virginia was recently spotted for an upcoming Holiday Mixer Event! This event will be taking place on December 20th at 4:30-6:30 p.m. It will be an opportunity for members to network with other industry professionals, raise some money for a great cause, Shepherd's Center of Northern Virginia, and celebrate 2023!

Joesph W. Jordan, 2023 John Newton Russell Memorial Award Winner, world-renowned keynote speaker, and best-selling author is now booking speaking engagements for 2024. As a huge NAIFA advocate, he is offering a special discount for chapters to have Joe speak at their events in 2024. Instead of his typical $7500 fee, Joe will come to your chapter for $2500 plus expenses and give his new Purpose Driven Retirement Planning presentation.

As part of the merger of NAIFA and FSP, and the expansion of the NAIFA family, the NAIFA Board of Trustees amended the NAIFA Bylaws, on December 3, 2023. The amendments to the NAIFA Bylaws include (i) revisions to the definitions of active and associate member, to better reflect the enhanced multi-disciplinary nature of NAIFA’s membership and to further establish NAIFA as the leading professional association for all insurance and financial advisors. (Article V, Sections 2, 3); and (ii) retention of the provision for the Executive Committee, consistent with nonprofit corporation best practices (Article VII, Section 9).

The Department of Labor thinks it knows what's best for Americans preparing for retirement. NAIFA President Bryon Holz, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL, LACP, and his long-time client Chuck Ross think the DOL is wrong and bring their real-life experience to the argument.

As a reminder, State Chapter Executive Directors will receive $5,000 from NAIFA when your Chapter achieves 3% growth from EOY 2021! This incentive will run until December 31, 2023. Full details include:

NAIFA- Illinois was recently spotted recognizing a new member on LinkedIn! 

If so, you (State Chapter Executive Directors) can earn $5,000! That's right...if you are a State Chapter Executive Director, you will receive $5,000 from NAIFA when your Chapter achieves 3% growth from EOY 2021. This incentive will run until December 31, 2023. Full details include:

With the addition of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and Life Happens, the NAIFA membership benefit portfolio has grown. We are excited to let you know that you can now take advantage of FSP member discounts and new member benefits from Life Happens are being created as more ways to say thank you for belonging! Join us for a special Member Benefits Webinar on December 13th at 2 pm eastern.

Register for the Webinar

NAIFA-Wisconsin was recently spotted for their Holiday Party on Thursday, December 14th. It will be a time filled with holiday cheer at PJ's at SentryWorld!

In the interest of spreading even more cheer, they will be collecting warm hats, scarves, and mittens/gloves as well as non-perishable food items which will them be delivered to a Local Shelter.

New to the Chapter Playbook this week, an updated NAIFA Model Chapter Board Orientation! Board Orientation is an essential and critical component to a Chapter's success. Typically given each year, orientation serves as an educational tool for volunteers to understand their roles and responsibilities, as well as those responsibilities more appropriately left to Chapter Staff. In addition, the purpose of Board Orientation is:

The merger of NAIFA and the Society of FSP, along with the inclusion of Life Happens, creates a more dynamic association poised to serve more Americans. This is an important and beneficial move for our members, the insurance and financial service industry, and consumers who rely on financial professionals for products, services, and advice.

But with change always come questions. The national leadership of NAIFA and FSP set out to answer many of these questions in a virtual Town Hall Meeting for NAIFA and FSP chapter leaders. We discussed many aspects of the merger and took questions from attendees. A recording of this Town Hall is now available on demand. 

The Town Hall focused on how the NAIFA-FSP merger will impact our industry, our members, and our chapters. The short answer is: This merger will make us stronger and more influential as an association and provide our members with expanded benefits and opportunities. Several takeaways from the discussion are:

Space is limited but there is still time to register to attend NAIFA’s 2023 National Leadership Conference. This signature event brings our association’s leaders together face-to-face. It ensures we are working as One NAIFA to execute NAIFA’s overarching strategic plan at every level. It creates momentum for 2024 as we move in lockstep to grow membership, amplify NAIFA’s brand, and build a stronger membership experience. It also includes a strong advocacy element and will include meetings with lawmakers during a Day on Capitol Hill.

NAIFA- Greater Washington D.C. was recently spotted for an upcoming event where they will be joining forces with the National Capital Chapter of FSP. 

The event is taking place on December 7th at Wildfire Tysons Corner. It will be a member mixer where you can get to know your colleagues' post-merger! Enjoy an outstanding Educational Program about LinkedIn Marketing, taught by Joshua Feinberg of JLT Consulting.

If not, there is still time before the end of the year! Now is the perfect time to include both your 2023 and 2024 Chapter leaders to hit the ground running at the start of the new year. Congratulations to the following 2023 NAIFA Certified Leadership Boards:

New to the Chapter Playbook this week, an Affiliate Program Guide! The Affiliate Program Guide not only covers what the purpose of an Affiliate is, but also includes: