Leaders Blog

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.