NAIFA is pleased to announce that LPL Financial has accepted the use of the Life and Annuities Certified Professional (LACP) certification for use by agents and advisors who it works with. The LACP demonstrates a professional knowledge of life and annuity products and an ethical approach to sales.

Julie McCormick, CFP^®, is a new NAIFA member who practices with Continuum Planning Partners in Brentwood, TN. Although McCormick has her investment and insurance license, she states that her specialty is financial planning as a whole.

McCormick's introduction into the financial services industry came after her initial plan to become a lawyer fell short. “I actually had no intention of joining the business at all. I was pretty sure I was going to be an attorney,” says McCormick. During her senior year of college, she was interning with a law firm when she quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit. She states, “[I had] to shift gears hard so I didn't really have a good fallback.” It wasn’t until she received a call from a recruiter in Memphis who specialized in wealth management that she felt a sense of direction. “[The recruiter] was so nice and [I decided] I'll just give it a try and I went to the office to kind of get a feel for what they did and was like yes, I see myself here. I can do this!”

NAIFA is saddened to learn the news of the passing of one our own—John Sherwood Holmes, III, LUTCF (loyal member since 2000). We are indebted to John’s commitment to NAIFA and the years of volunteer leadership he gave at so many different levels. A dedicated New York Life agent, John was the epitome of a good NAIFA citizen: involved in advocacy, a consistent contributor to IFAPAC, holder of the LUTCF designation, and a Leadership in Life Institute (LILI) graduate. We honor John for his service and we send our condolences to John’s family.

NAIFA and OneAmerica® have completed an agreement on the Educational Partner Program, under which OneAmerica will provide educational content and thought leadership for NAIFA’s Advisor Today platform as well as its Centers for Excellence: The Business Performance Center, Limited and Extended Care Planning Center, and Talent Development Center. OneAmerica sponsored and participated within NAIFA’s 2021 Virtual Congressional Conference held May 25-26^th that drew more than 1,350 advisors, and will be a key sponsor for the upcoming Performance+Purpose conference to be held virtually August 17-19, 2021. 

NAIFA and ReminderMedia have completed a marketing partnership agreement to promote professional cooperation between the two organizations. Under the partnership, ReminderMedia is a founding member of the Business Performance Center. NAIFA and ReminderMedia will work together to give broader access for financial professionals and consumers in areas where the organizations’ interests overlap.

Peter Browne, LUTCF is serving as the Immediate Past President of NAIFA-NY and has been a loyal NAIFA member since 1965. Peter recently relocated to White Plains, NY, but spent the bulk of his career in New York, NY, with PRB Wealth Management. He specializes in executive compensation and estate planning. 

Peter’s introduction to the financial services industry came after a “devastating” defeat in which he failed the entrance exams for West Point, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy. His father, “through his contacts” was able to set him up with all three military academies, making his failure even more “devastating to him,” says Peter. Soon after, he ended up joining the Navy, serving for four years and then attending the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Gary Cappon, CLU^®, LUTCF, RICP, FSCP, CLTC, is the President of NAIFA-NY and has been a loyal NAIFA member since 2006. He practices with Cadaret Grant & Co., in Syracuse, NY, where he is the Vice President of Sales and Fixed Annuity Insurance Solutions and assists financial professionals from all over the country with every aspect of the planning process. This role enables him to use his knowledge and skills to provide solutions to complex problems.

NAIFA member Richard Demko offers his insight and expertise in a Best’s Review article on how COVID-19 could impact life insurance underwriting. He is a life insurance expert who is Past President of NAIFA’s Houston chapter and a 2020 recipient of NAIFA’s Four Under 40 Award, presented by Advisor Today. He is also the Director of Insurance at Centric Advisors, a NAIFA 100% Agency.

Mitchell “Mitch” Ostrove, CLU^®, ChFC^®, LACP, serves as the VP of Professional Development on the NAIFA-NY Board and has been a loyal NAIFA member since 1965. He practices with The Ostrove Group, in White Plains, NY, where he specializes in insuring small, closely-held corporations.

Mitch’s introduction to the financial services industry came after a family friend suggested that he go into the property and casualty business because of his experience in hospitality management. Mitch is a graduate of the Hotel and Restaurant School of Cornell and the New York State Restaurant Association was a client of his family friend’s insurance agency thus making it the perfect fit.

Neil Himmelstein serves as the Vice President of Membership for NAIFA-NY and has been a loyal NAIFA member since 1997. He practices with Main Street Planning Group, in Center Moriches, NY, where he specializes in high-net-worth programs such as Premium Finance and Restricted Property Trust and finding solutions for clients with health impairment needs.