If it’s Tuesday after business hours, you’ll probably find Jennifer Hodges, LACP, CIC, at the local American Legion post in her regular place at the $10 poker game she’s been a part of for the past five years. But if you ask her about her poker face, she might hesitate.

Obstacles can open a whole new world of opportunities for growth and success. Han Suk Kim, a New York Life financial professional and agent, took every obstacle thrown his way with grace and resiliency, cultivating a successful career and giving back to the community in Fort Lee, NJ. 

Han Suk Kim, CLTC, LACP, Chairman’s Council 2021; The Chairman’s Council is an annual New York Life recognition program based on agent production from July 1-June 30. Kim has achieved membership with The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) since his first year with New York Life and has been a NAIFA member since 2008. The Million Dollar Round Table, The Premier Association of Financial Professionals, is recognized globally as the standard of excellence for life insurance sales performance in the insurance and financial services industry. Kim is an established agent and financial professional who has been with New York Life for over 16 years in Fort Lee, NJ, with an impressive record of accomplishments. 

Joseph Chalom, CLU, RICP, LUTCF, LACP, President of Retirement Council, Inc., based in Coral Springs, FL, fondly recalls relationships forged with clients over decades of service.

“Sometimes in this business, you just need a friendly voice and clients are often that friendly voice,” Chalom said. “Many longstanding clients always take my calls, and I would always take their calls. Every advisor needs that client who is receptive and open to them when they need a lift themselves.”

For Net Worth Asset Management in Lansdale, PA, becoming a NAIFA 100% Agency was not a hard decision. “You put up or shut up,” said Managing Partner Drew Shumski, LUTCF, RFC, MDRT, a loyal member since 1998. And being a NAIFA member is how advisors show their professionalism and dedication to their business and clients.

NAIFA is pleased to join our members and industry partners, including Life Happens, to commemorate September as Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM). Life insurance is a crucial part of a successful financial plan for many Americans. Unfortunately, many people are underinsured, leaving their families financially vulnerable.

For Carina Hatfield, LUTCF, CLCS, LACP, Owner of Weigner Insurance and Financial Services in Pottstown, PA, providing business owners and other members of her community with financial security and insurance solutions runs in the family. As a third-generation financial professional, she follows in the footsteps of her father and grandfather. The Weigner Insurance team includes Hatfield's sister, Trish May, a loyal NAIFA member since 2013, and new Sales Associate Sally Shaw of New York. Weigner Insurance recently signed on as the newest NAIFA 100% Agency

“Belonging” and “membership” are concepts that come naturally to the advisors at Primary Financial, a premier Penn Mutual agency in Edison, NJ, and the newest NAIFA 100% Agency. Collaboration and working together are ingrained in the firm’s culture and reflected by the value the agency places on mentorships and its support for NAIFA.

With approximately 40 insurance and financial professionals, Primary Financial is known for having many experienced advisors. As it brings on new advisors, it pairs them with the firm’s well-seasoned professionals.

NAIFA President Tom Michel

NAIFA has come through the COVID-19 pandemic and remains strong with momentum to move us forward through Year Three after NAIFA’s reformation at the beginning of 2019, President Tom Michel told attendees of the State of NAIFA Q2 webinar.

Being a great financial planning firm simply wasn’t enough for Centric Advisors in Houston, a NAIFA 100% Agency. Zac Majors, CFP^®, RICP, CLU^®, CLF, and his partner Oscar Mondragon, CFP^®, zeroed in on what their clients really needed and built an innovative firm that provides families, business owners, and retirees with what Centric calls “financial life management.”

Mary Greene is a Black woman who became a financial advisor with Prudential after working for several Fortune 500 firms in other industries. Prudential offered four things she says are necessary for young advisors to make it: Name recognition among prospective clients, a strong training program, solid support from her manager and managing director, and a feeling of confidence that she “could flourish and really bring some great things to the clients because of the needs of the African American community.”