Leaders Blog

Thank you to everyone who attended NAIFA's 2024 Apex, National Leadership Conference, and Belong awards gala. We honed our leadership skills, benefited top-notch motivational speakers and professional development presenters, and networked with some of the top professionals in the business. Review the awards and leadership recordings, browse our photographs, and read the press clipping on our conference recap site. If you attended Apex/NLC you can add your own photos to share with NAIFA Nation.

NAIFA members are invited to the Q4 State of NAIFA webinar at 12 pm Eastern, October 16, 2024. Hear updates on NAIFA's advocacy efforts, professional development programs and other membership activities designed to enhance your professional growth.

We look forward to seeing everyone who is attending the combined Apex and National Leadership Conference September 19-21 at the Arizona Biltmore. To see who has signed up, check the Who's Coming? page on the conference website. And if you're a last-minute planner, it's not too late to register and add your name to the list. The preferred rate for NAIFA's room block at the Biltmore has expired, but if you would like assistance locating accommodations in the vicinity of the Arizona Biltmore please contact NAIFA Member Services at 877-866-2432 or info@naifa.org.

NAIFA is pleased to announce the inaugural class of the NAIFA Hall of Fame to recognize and celebrate members whose extraordinary service and contributions represent the legacy of the most accomplished, impactful, and inspirational members of the NAIFA family. The NAIFA Board of Trustees authorized the creation of the Hall of Fame earlier this year.

“The inaugural members of NAIFA's Hall of Fame not only exemplified leadership within the financial services industry but also steadfast support for NAIFA's mission,” said NAIFA President Tom Cothron, LUTCF, FSCP. “Their unwavering dedication and commitment to NAIFA and the industry were instrumental in advancing policies and shaping the landscape of financial security in America. Their contributions have played significant roles ensuring that families across the nation can achieve their financial goals with confidence.”

Life Happens created Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM) and continues to coordinate the awareness campaign each September to remind Americans about the importance of life insurance for their financial security. Now that Life Happens is a NAIFA Community, NAIFA members have access to specially selected LIAM resources and content.

Most Americans are unaware of the complexities surrounding Social Security. With over 2,700 rules, it's no wonder many feel lost about where to seek help and how to make informed decisions. Shockingly, 96% of those currently collecting Social Security missed out on maximizing their benefits, leading to large losses per household. The stakes are high, and with Social Security, you only have one chance to get it right – forever.

If you missed the August 12 cutoff to book your room at the Arizona Biltmore for NAIFA's Apex and National Leadership Conference, you're in luck. We have been able to extend the deadline until August 25. Act now to get the best possible rate. We look forward to seeing you at Apex and the NLC.

It's going to be a great event with a strong emphasis on networking (see who among your colleagues will be there), professional development (check out the schedule of inspiring keynotes and practice-building breakouts), and fun! And don't forget, we have a full slate of programs exclusively for NAIFA volunteer leaders.

Don't miss out on Apex and the National Leadership Conference, Sept. 19-21 at the Arizona Biltmore. Register today and book your hotel before Aug. 12.

This year, the National Leadership Conference and Belong awards gala have been combined with NAIFA's Apex to create an extraordinary three-day event. As always, the NLC and Belong will celebrate NAIFA's leaders and recognize extraordinary members. Please join us and encourage all NAIFA members to come as well so that we may properly honor our 2024 award recipients, including:

• John Newton Russell Memorial Award recipient Matthew Tassey of NAIFA-Maine
•  Terry Headley Lifetime Defender recipient John Ruckel of NAIFA-Texas
• NAIFA Young Advisor Team Leader of the Year Kathleen Owings of NAIFA-Colorado

NAIFA Webinar: A Conversation About the Courts
August 8 | 12 pm eastern

A federal court has granted a stay in the lawsuit NAIFA, several NAIFA chapters, ACLI, and other partners filed to stop the Department of Labor from implementing its fiduciary-only rule. The stay means the DOL rule will not go into effect in September, giving the court more time to consider NAIFA's lawsuit. Furthermore, the court stated that NAIFA's lawsuit is "virtually certain to succeed on the merits." 

Join us for an important webinar that will explain what the stay means for financial professionals and your clients. Our panelists will also discuss other recent court rulings, including Supreme Court decisions overturning the Chevron Doctrine (Loper v. Raimondo), sidestepping the constitutionality of taxing unrealized income (Moore v. US), and narrowing buy-sell agreement tax benefits (Connelly v. United States).