Insurance and Financial Advisors will meet Sept. 8-10 in Orlando, Fla.

Revamped conference allows attendees to customize sessions—whether they are new to the industry, advanced, or somewhere in between

Financial services reform on Capitol Hill and the role insurance agents and financial advisors play in helping consumers secure long-range financial security are among the topics to be discussed at NAIFA’s Performance + Purpose 2017 Conference Sept. 8-10 in Orlando, Fla.

Tax reform, the Department of Labor’s fiduciary regulation and healthcare reform will be on the agenda to provide attendees with the latest legislative and regulatory updates that impact the industry. Programming for the conference also includes main stage presentations by two highly sought-after speakers, Leigh Ann Tuohy and Rich Karlgaard, as well as a “Women Leaders in Insurance” panel featuring CEOs JoAnn Martin of Ameritas and Eileen McDonnell of Penn Mutual.

“NAIFA’s Performance + Purpose Conference brings together some of the best and brightest to share inspirational stories and exchange business insights on what it takes to serve clients, grow their business and achieve professional success in the insurance and financial services industry,” said NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE. “We have raised the bar to a new level this year, with special emphasis on providing our members with the ability to customize sessions for maximum learning. Also new this year is Braindates, which redefines networking and re-invents what a professional-development conference can be.”

Conference sessions are organized under topics tailored to the different interests and needs of NAIFA members, including life insurance and annuities, multiline, health and employee benefits, financial advising and investments, and sales and marketing. On September 10, members of NAIFA’s Government Relations Team will provide a briefing on the critical legislative and regulatory challenges facing the industry in tax and healthcare reform, and the DOL fiduciary rule.

Session highlights from NAIFA’s Performance + Purpose 2017:

Sept. 8: Women’s Leadership Panel: NAIFA Trustee and Secretary Jill Judd will moderate a panel with participants including JoAnn Martin, CEO of Ameritas, Eileen C. McDonnell, Chairman and CEO of Penn Mutual and Caroline Feeney, President of Prudential Advisors.

Sept. 8: Leigh Anne Tuohy, whose personal journey was documented in Michael Lewis’ New York Times best-selling book, “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game,” and the film “The Blind Side,” will talk of the importance of recognizing the full potential of individuals.

Sept. 9: “Prospecting and Marketing Your Way to the Top” will be led by Marc Silverman, CLU, ChFC, a 33-year MDRT member with 23 Top of the Table and six Court of the Table qualifications.

Sept. 9: Each year, Life Happens highlights stories that show how life, health, disability income and long-term care insurance and the people who sell them positively impact the lives of so many.

Sept. 9: Dr. Joseph Belth, CLU, professor of insurance at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, will be recognized with the 76th annual John Newton Russell Memorial Award, the highest honor accorded by the insurance industry.

Sept. 10: Rich Karlgaard, will draw from his roles as a Silicon Valley-based journalist, investor and board director, to deliver a practical understanding of the events that are changing the world and the imminent disruption ahead—from tech to Trump—and the impacts on business and industry.

Other recognitions:

• Kevin Ross is the 2017 Young Advisors Team Leader of the Year.
• Cathy Balkcom and Kristine Buckles will receive the prestigious C. Carney Smith Award in association management.
• The September-October 2017 issue of NAIFA’s Advisor Today will profile four outstanding advisors under the age of 40.
• Keith M. Gillies, CFP, CLU, ChFC, will be welcomed as the 2017-18 NAIFA president. Gillies is a leading independent representative of Ameritas.

And on Sept. 9, attendees will enjoy entertainment from the Thomas Nicholas Band at the House of Blues Orlando in Disney Springs.

Look for coverage of conference sessions to be posted regularly throughout the conference on the Advisor Today Blog and on www.naifa.org.

Press Credentials

Members of the working press can request press credentials by contacting Sheila Owens at sowens@naifa.org or 703-770-8112 or Mark Briscoe at mbriscoe@naifa.org or 703-770-8111. All news media will be asked to show photo identification and current press credentials. Advance notice of attendance is recommended to expedite credentialing, although onsite registration will be available.

Interviews

NAIFA Officers and Leaders will be available for interviews on industry issues before or during the conference. Please contact Mark Briscoe or Sheila Owens.

Social Media

The Twitter hashtag for the conference is #NAIFA, @NAIFAConference. More event news and photos will be posted to twitter.com/naifa and facebook.com/NAIFANational.