The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is thrilled to announce that Kathleen Owings has been named the 2024 Young Advisor Team Leader of the Year. This award celebrates outstanding leadership, dedication, and impact within the financial advisory industry, recognizing individuals who exemplify the highest standards of excellence.

Kathleen Owings, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2000, began her career as an active-duty officer in the Army Corps of Engineers, earning the Bronze Star for meritorious service in a combat zone. She served at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Carson, Colorado; and overseas on multiple tours of duty.

Kathleen began her career in the financial services industry in 2007 and is one of the owners of Westbilt Financial Group in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She truly believes that being a financial advisor is her calling, not just a job. Kathleen is also the author of Put Your Money to Work: A Woman's Guide to Financial Confidence, empowering women to take control of their financial futures.

Financial Clarity by Design in Spencer, Wisconsin is a NAIFA 100% Agency

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is pleased to announce that Financial Clarity by Design in Spencer, Wisconsin has become a NAIFA 100% Agency. Under the membership program, Financial Clarity by Design has enrolled all its advisors as NAIFA members, enrolled them in NAIFA’s grassroots advocacy programs, and encourages them to participate in NAIFA as a group. Group members are proudly displayed to consumers on the consumer-facing financialsecurity.org site and members are listed in Life Happens’ “Find a Financial Service Professional” search at www.lifehappens.org.

Each quarter the committees of Membership, Grassroots, and IFAPAC (also known as the Trifecta Team) select a member who has gone above and beyond that quarter in each of their respective areas. We are #NAIFAproud to recognize our Q2 2024 Hard Hat Winners, Corrado Gugliotta, LUTCF, FSCP, CLTC, LACP: Membership, Joseph Pearl, CFP: Grassroots, and Timothy Johnson, FSS, LACP: IFAPAC.

NAIFA Announces E4 Insurance Services as the Recipient of the Inaugural Financial Security Champion of the Year Award 

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is proud to announce that E4 Insurance Services, led by Managing Partners Dan Peterson, LUTCF, LLIF, FIC, Brendon DeRouin, CLU, ChFC, LACP, RICP, and Steve Bergee, LACP, is the first recipient of the prestigious Financial Security Champion award. This accolade recognizes firms that have made significant investments and commitments to NAIFA membership and its mission to empower financial professionals and consumers through world-class advocacy and education.

The award will be presented during the Apex/National Leadership Conference at the historic Arizona Biltmore from September 19-21, 2024. This conference brings together industry leaders and professionals for a dynamic series of events, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to advance the financial services industry.

E4 Insurance Services, under the visionary leadership of its Managing Partners, has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the principles and goals of NAIFA. Through its innovative approach and dedication to professional development, E4 Insurance Services has set a new standard for excellence in the insurance and financial advisory sectors.

The Fortis Agency Receives Inaugural 100% Agency Award at Apex/National Leadership Conference

One-third of financial advisors are predicted to retire in the next 10 years, creating an opportunity for advisors looking to grow or sell their practice. Join NAIFA member, David Wood, for the "M&A Summit: Opportunity of a Lifetime", offered in-person and virtually throughout the rest of 2024. Industry professionals come together for an in-depth exploration of mergers and acquisitions and learn how to harness the wave of retiring advisors to capitalize on this opportunity. 

All of the firm’s advisors become NAIFA members and are poised to participate in NAIFA’s unmatched state and federal advocacy success under an agency-wide membership program.

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is pleased to announce that Allstate The Goines Agency in Clarksville, Tennessee has become a NAIFA 100% Agency. Under the membership program, Allstate The Goines Agency has enrolled all of its advisors as NAIFA members, enrolled them in NAIFA’s grassroots advocacy programs, and encourages them to participate in NAIFA as a group. Group members are proudly displayed to consumers on the consumer-facing financialsecurity.org site and members are listed in Life Happens’ “Find a Financial Service Professional” search at www.lifehappens.org.

All of the firm’s advisors become NAIFA members and are poised to participate in NAIFA’s unmatched state and federal advocacy success under an agency-wide membership program.

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is pleased to announce that Blake Wealth Partners in Columbus, Ohio has become a NAIFA 100% Agency. Under the membership program, Blake Wealth Partners has enrolled all of its advisors as NAIFA members, enrolled them in NAIFA’s grassroots advocacy programs, and encourages them to participate in NAIFA as a group. Group members are proudly displayed to consumers on the consumer-facing financialsecurity.org site and members are listed in Life Happens’ “Find a Financial Service Professional” search at www.lifehappens.org.

On May 3, 2024, NAIFA Member, Herschel Hester, III, CLTC, LUTCF, CRPC, passed away at the age of 82. Hester was born on May 11, 1941, in Parsons, Kansas. He graduated from Webster State College in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science and from Utah State University in 1967 with a Master of Science.

Hester was active in NAIFA-Utah, joining in 1986, and was a past NAIFA Quality Award recipient. Throughout his career, Hester worked at Thiokol Corp., Weber State College, the Utah League of Cities and Towns, and Prudential Insurance Company. At the time of his death, he had an independent financial and insurance business specializing in Medicare, health, life, and long-term care insurance.

Prior to NAIFA's Congressional Conference, our new partner, Stonewood Financial, provided a workshop titled, Protecting Your Clients (and Their Retirement) from Washington. Becky Ruby Swansburg and Neil Wilding both presented during the morning and are both authors, along with Becky's father, Martin H. Ruby of The Holistic Retirement book which was distributed to all attendees.

NAIFA and Stonewood became a NAIFA partner in February 2024  and many NAIFA members have benefited from their training and presentations. Todd Gaswick, LACP, loyal member since 2005, provided a testimonial during the preconference session stating how much their content has helped his practice. Jim Musgrave, CRPC, a new member who joined NAIFA while attending the Stonewood Financial conference in Louisville where NAIFA spoke and exhibited in February came to his first Congressional Conference this week.