For Michael Schutza, TPCP®, financial services isn’t a job. It’s a responsibility. One shaped by lived experience, service, and a deep belief that the right guidance, given at the right moment, can change the trajectory of a family’s life.

Michael is a Financial Planner at Totus Wealth Management and holds the Tax Planning Certified Professional® (TPCP®) designation. He works primarily with families, business owners, and real estate investors, focusing on proactive planning that integrates advanced tax strategies, retirement income decisions, and real-world wealth management. But his “why” goes far deeper than credentials or years in the business.

NAIFA’s Medicare Collective will host "Navigating Disruption and Market Contraction in Medicare Business in 2026 and Beyond" as part of Medicare Collective Impact Day on Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm Eastern. This free live virtual event for both NAIFA members and nonmembers brings together professionals who work directly in the Medicare market to discuss the real challenges that financial professionals are facing as the landscape continues to change.

February 17-20
Lake Nona Wave Hotel
Orlando, Fla.

The FSP Institute is an advanced planning experience designed for financial professionals looking to elevate their practices to new heights. It is a high-impact, collaborative event that features some of the leading experts as instructors facilitating conversations and sharing their knowledge and insights. Sessions will focus on such topics as advanced tax strategies, the impact of new legislation on college-funding strategies, financial ramifications of elder care, and many others all led by leaders in their fields. Register today. 

Karl Hansen, CLU, ChFC has been a NAIFA member for over 50 years, shaping both his career and the insurance industry through leadership, advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to integrity.

Born and raised in the Bay Area near Stanford University, Karl’s work ethic started early. He began working at just 14 years old, taking on everything from hauling to tree trimming while attending school at night. After a brief experience at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, which was cut short by a broken leg, Karl returned home determined to build a future on his own terms.

On January 29, NAIFA’s Medicare Collective will bring together leading voices from across the Medicare ecosystem for focused, solutions-driven conversations about the forces reshaping the Medicare market. Sessions during this live virtual event will be hosted by members of the NAIFA Medicare Collective, seasoned professionals working on the front lines of Medicare.

Like every new year, 2026 brings great promise and its fair share of challenges. At NAIFA, we look forward to building on our storied past while we make the most of a rapidly changing business environment (and support our members as they do the same). The insurance and financial service industry is not immune from forces reshaping our world, from the whirlwind of developments in technology to unpredictable economic situations to an ever-shifting legislative and regulatory landscape. NAIFA is on top of it, and we remain as committed as ever to fulfilling our membership promise: to advocate for positive legislative outcomes, educate agents and advisors, and help our members differentiate themselves in a competitive marketplace.

Stephanie K. Triola, FSCP, has been a proud NAIFA member since 2023 and serves clients throughout Fernandina Beach, Florida, as a financial professional with New York Life Insurance Company and registered representative with NYLIFE Securities LLC. Her path into financial services was anything but predictable — and that’s exactly what makes her story so compelling.

NAIFA's Carroll Golden recently shared a striking insight that should give every financial professional pause. According to new Pew Research, Americans are three times more likely to say they would prefer to live in the past rather than the future. Only 14% chose the future.

When Laura Mendoza moved from Northern California to attend the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, she envisioned a career as a celebrity stylist in San Diego. But after graduation, opportunities in that field were limited. “Like many young professionals, I couldn’t find work in my realm,” Laura recalls. “I’m still a stylist on weekends, part-time—that’s kind of my side hustle.”

The FSP Institute returns February 17–20, 2026, marking its 80th anniversary of bringing advanced financial planning experts together to push thinking forward and strengthen the profession. This milestone year will be hosted at the Lake Nona Wave Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Early registration is now open through January 3.