Ricky Gonzalez, owner of Pinnacle Financial Group, has built his career around a simple philosophy: do the right thing, help people, and the rest will follow.

A financial services professional since 1997, Ricky’s career has taken him from his early days as a stockbroker to building a multifaceted financial services business serving individuals, families, physicians, seniors and fellow insurance professionals throughout Florida.

The right words can make the difference between being heard and being remembered. Join us Wednesday, October 21, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Eastern for a NAIFA webinar featuring Paul Kingsman, RICP, National Director of Practice Management at Ash Brokerage, who will share practical ways financial professionals can communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and impact.

Buy-sell planning can become increasingly complex when a business has three or more owners. Join us Tuesday, October 27, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Eastern for a NAIFA webinar featuring Andrew Rinn, JD, CFP, CLU, ChFC, Assistant Vice President of Advanced Strategies at Midland National Life, and Kathleen Bilderback, JD, LLM, AEP, Counsel at Sandberg Phoenix, for a closer look at Buy-Sell for LLC and how the strategy may help simplify planning for business-owner clients. 

The way families prepare for retirement, wealth transfer, and caregiving is changing, creating new opportunities for financial professionals to deepen relationships across generations. Join us Thursday, October 15, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Eastern for NAIFA Live, featuring Carroll S. Golden, CLU, ChFC, CLTC, CASL, LECP, FLMI, LACP, Executive Director of the NAIFA Knowledge Centers, as she explores the “Three Great Transfers” reshaping the financial planning landscape.

As 2026 enters its final quarter, NAIFA members are invited to hear directly from association leadership about where NAIFA stands today and what lies ahead.

NAIFA is pleased to announce the 2026 winners of its annual 4 Under 40 awards: Blake Gillies, MBA, LUTCF, of NAIFA-Louisiana; Thomas Krawczyk, FSCP, of NAIFA-Washington; Melanie Kunze, CFP, of NAIFA-Wisconsin; and Derek True, DIA, DHP, of NAIFA-Texas.

In a recent 10-minute video discussion, NAIFA-New Jersey Membership Chair Ryan Ross is joined by the chapter’s lobbyist, Paul Brent, and NAIFA member Matt Simon to discuss the state’s independent contractor rule and what potential changes could mean for insurance and financial professionals. 

The secondary market for life insurance continues to evolve, creating new opportunities for financial professionals to help clients evaluate policies that may no longer meet their needs. Join us Thursday, October 1, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Eastern for a webinar featuring Peter Hershon, CLU, ChFC, Senior Vice President of Account Services at Coventry, who will discuss current trends driving the market’s growth and how financial professionals are using secondary market strategies with clients today.

The Committee on Governance of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) has nominated Andrew J. Rinn, JD, CFP, CLU, ChFC, Assistant Vice President-Advanced Strategies with Sammons Financial in West Des Moines, Iowa, to be NAIFA’s 2027 Secretary. Rinn, who currently serves on NAIFA’s National Professional Development Committee and Political Action Committee, is a NAIFA-National Trustee and member of the FSP Foundation Board. He has been a NAIFA member since 2000. He previously served as the Chapter President of the Des Moines Society of Financial Service Professionals and was the President Elect of the National Board for the Society of Financial Service Professionals at the time of FSP’s merger with NAIFA. As incoming NAIFA Secretary, Rinn would be in line to serve as President-Elect in 2028 and President in 2029.

For Lynda D. Turner, a career in financial services began with an unexpected change in direction. After 17 years as a business office manager, her employer moved its operations to Texas. Rather than uproot her family, Lynda accepted a voluntary buyout. When she reached out to a friend at Equitable Life Insurance to help replace the benefits she had lost, that conversation led to a new career.