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.

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’s Committee on Governance has nominated John Wheeler, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CRPC, LACP, CLTC, LUTCF, Executive Senior Partner at Totus Wealth Management LLC in Houston, Texas, to be the 2025 NAIFA Secretary. Wheeler, who currently serves on NAIFA’s National Government Relations and IFAPAC Committees, is a past NAIFA-National Trustee and Past President of NAIFA-Illinois. He has been a loyal NAIFA member since 1973. As incoming Secretary, Wheeler will be in line to serve as President-Elect in 2026 and President in 2027.

Join us for a special mid-summer meeting on Wednesday, July 31st at 12 pm eastern to focus on membership. With three Supreme Court decisions affecting our business, the DOL fiduciary-only rule, and the upcoming expiration of certain elements of the Tax and Jobs Cut Act, the time is now to expand our base so that we are prepared to welcome in new leaders at the state and federal levels, as well as take action when necessary. 

You've likely heard Van Mueller say, "There has never been a better day to be an insurance agent,"  but what you'll walk away saying is, "There has never been a better day to belong to NAIFA."  

What We'll Cover:

• Membership Referral Program and What's in it for YOU
• Summer Membership Challenge and What's in it for YOU
• Rewards and Awards for Top Recruiters
• Member-to-Member Programs that Deliver 10X on your Dues Investment
• New Membership Benefits that Help You Prospect

Do you know someone who is passionate about NAIFA, but isn't in a formal leadership role (or might be ready to dip their toe in the water, but needs to start small?) Invite them to attend this session & ask them to be part of our Brand Ambassador Team!

Passion for people is what has powered NAIFA since 1890, and it's on all of us to ensure that we keep NAIFA strong!

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.

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 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.

It's hard to believe, but we are less than a month from NAIFA's National Leadership Conference and Belong awards celebration. This is an important event for all NAIFA leaders to attend. Not only does it recognize you for your dedication and hard work, but it also provides an opportunity to interact and learn from other chapter leaders, NAIFA's national volunteers, and staff. NLC is where we share ideas and get up to speed on everything NAIFA. It's also a lot of fun. We renew our connections with old friends and make new ones who share our passion for NAIFA and the insurance and financial services profession.