NAIFA announces the launch of the Employee and Executive Benefits Center (EBC), the newest of NAIFA’s Centers for Excellence, at NAIFA’s Apex sales summit. The EBC is a community of agents, firms, carriers, and vendors that offers top-notch resources, innovative research, access to industry thought leaders, and opportunities for collaboration in the benefits space.

Providing employee and executive benefits solutions is a crucial part of offering financial planning for business clients. In addition to traditional employee benefits programs, the EBC will look at how executive benefits play into retirement security, preparing to sell a business or to buy one, and much more. The Center will also investigate ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the benefits landscape. Resources and experts accessible through the center will help advisors and firms navigate the marketplace, create efficiencies, and access information about the latest trends in the benefits universe.

LIMRA, the insurance and financial services industry’s leading research organization and identifier of market trends, has agreed to contribute featured content to the center. The center will cover a broad array of employee and executive benefits topics, including health care, dental services, wellness programs, supplemental employee benefits offerings, retirement planning, ERISA and COBRA plan documents, legal issues, and legislative and regulatory impacts.

Executive Director Carroll Golden, CLU, ChFC, LTCP, CASL, FLMI, CLTC, heads up the EBC. Golden is also the Executive Director of the NAIFA Limited and Extended Care Planning Center (LECP) and author of How Not to Tear Your Family Apart. She has worked closely with NAIFA Past President Cammie Scott, MSIE, ChHC, CLTC, REBC, RHU, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, to build out the center, shape its focus areas, and attract sponsors.

“In a competitive job market, advisors’ business clients are focusing their attention on employee and executive benefits now more than ever,” Golden said. “This is the perfect time for NAIFA to add EBC to its Specialty Centers roster. Employers are rethinking ways to attract and retain talent, incorporate meaningful benefits, and employ technology in applied and profitable ways. LIMRA, center sponsors, and NAIFA members specializing in employee benefits, will form a community to offer legislative insights, tools, research, and practical know-how to grow businesses."

The EBC’s inaugural sponsors are:

• New York Life
• Principal
• Guardian
• MassMutual
• Ameritas
• LifeSecure
• AGIS Network
• Aetna Medical Solutions

EBC Sponsors Feature at Apex

EBC sponsors are strongly represented among the speakers and featured programming at NAIFA’s Apex sales summit at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. The Apex Pre-Conference Experience events “Advocacy Accelerator Course for Women” and “Advocacy Accelerator Course for Hispanic Advisors” featured New York Life Partner Evelyn Gellar, LUTCF, RICP, CLTC, FSCP, who is also a member of NAIFA’s Board of Trustees and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. Also during the pre-conference, Golden was a co-presenter of a Long Term Care Workshop sponsored by NAIFA’s LECP.

Ameritas Vice President Advanced Markets & Competition and Case Design Andrew Rinn, JD, CFP, CLU, ChFC, offered his presentation, “Calling All Advisors! It’s Time to Focus on You,” during the August 17 networking break in the Apex exhibit hall. Aetna’s National Sales Director of Ancillary Products Jamie Sarno will participate in a panel discussion during the August 18 Learning Lab, “TLC Planning in a 5G World.”

Guardian is sponsoring Apex keynote speaker Caleb Guilliams, the Founder and CEO of BetterWealth, introduced by Ed Youmell, CLU, FLMI, Field Vice President, Head of Life & DI Sales at Guardian. MassMutual is sponsoring Apex keynote Speaker Morris Morrison, introduced by Joesph Sparacio, Head of Field Management at MassMutual. Additionally, Principal, Ameritas, and LifeSecure will have booths in the Apex exhibit hall.