Head of the leading association of insurance and financial professionals promotes a “Culture of Belonging” and announces financial literacy and career recruitment efforts.

NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux has embarked on a national speaking tour, telling gatherings of insurance and financial advisors how the New NAIFA is uniting the insurance and financial services industry and speaking as a single voice on behalf of agents and advisors.

The tour kicks off NAIFA’s 130th anniversary year. Mayeux’s presentation advocates for a “Culture of Belonging” that allows insurance and financial advisors who are members of NAIFA to combine their strengths, benefit from their peers, and be a part of something larger than themselves.

Mayeux’s keynote addresses include:

• Feb. 4, Tyson’s Corner, VA: NAIFA-Greater Washington D.C.’s Success Summit
• Feb. 5, Atlanta: NAIFA-Georgia’s 2020 Kick-Off
• Feb. 20, in Los Angeles: NAIFA-Los Angeles’s Will G. Farrell Public Service Award & Leadership Recognition Luncheon
• March 11, Nashville, TN: NAIFA-Tennessee’s Sales Summit
• March 13, Memphis, TN: NAIFA Live, hosted by NAIFA-Memphis
• April 7, Columbus, OH: NAIFA-Ohio state meeting, Performance + Purpose + Policy

NAIFA’s reinvention of itself that began with a restructuring in 2019 is resulting in 42% growth in NAIFA’s recruitment on first-time members, Mayeux says. It is allowing NAIFA to provide flexible programming, available to members where and when they want it. The best example of this is NAIFA Live – monthly meetings hosted by NAIFA state chapters and open for members and guests to attend in person or virtually from regional watch parties or individual desktop or mobile devices using Zoom video conferencing technology.

During the speaking tour, Mayeux is announcing two new NAIFA initiatives: A financial literacy course available to NAIFA members to offer in their communities and a program to recruit new career insurance and financial professionals to the industry.

Moving the Needle on Financial Literacy on Main Street USA

NAIFA’s new financial literacy initiative delivers a fully-developed course available for NAIFA members to present in their communities. The course provides building blocks that consumers need to advance their personal financial security and peace of mind.

Insurance and financial professionals have a better understanding than anyone of Main Street Americans’ risk protection, retirement preparation, and legacy planning needs. NAIFA members work every day with families and small businesses across the country and see firsthand how financial literacy leads to good planning, security, and prosperity. They understand the challenges, know where gaps in financial literacy exist, and have solutions.

“NAIFA members are dedicated professionals who have committed their careers to helping clients meet financial challenges and prosper,” said Mayeux. “As the leading association of agents and advisors, NAIFA shares this goal and is providing resources consumers can use in conjunction with their work with financial professionals to increase their financial literacy and comfort.”

More than 82% of NAIFA members in a recent survey said they are sources of financial education and information for their clients. Many also work as volunteers in their communities providing financial literacy classes and programs. NAIFA’s financial literacy initiative will formalize the process, encourage producers to expand their audiences, and put NAIFA’s considerable influence and resources behind creating momentum for community-based personal finance education.

“We can have a huge impact,” Mayeux said. “NAIFA members are driven and passionate about what they do. They pursue their careers with the aim of helping others. If anyone can move the needle on Main Street USA financial literacy, NAIFA members can.”

To kick off the program, NAIFA is encouraging its members in communities across the United States to offer the financial literacy course. NAIFA is also asking for 130 insurance and financial services agencies to pledge to offer NAIFA’s financial literacy course in their communities and to contribute content to NAIFA’s new consumer-education website, www.financialsecurity.org.

Creating the Next Generation of Advisors to Serve Main Street USA

NAIFA’s second initiative aims to encourage talented and motivated individuals to pursue careers in insurance and financial services. The industry faces a potential shortage of agents and advisors over the next decade, while more Americans find themselves in growingly complex financial situations and needing professional guidance. At the same time, the existing producer force will suffer from attrition as many current agents and advisors reach retirement age.

Again, NAIFA is perfectly positioned to sell the insurance and financial services profession as a rewarding career option for recent graduates as well as people looking to make mid-career changes. NAIFA’s new consumer-facing website, www.financialsecurity.org, features articles and videos showcasing the career success of NAIFA members. In video interviews, NAIFA members will walk prospective colleagues through “a day in the life” of an agent and advisor and provide testimony on why they find their careers so rewarding.

NAIFA Is a Unifying Force on Behalf of Our Members, the Industry, and Consumers

A qualified and dedicated producer force and financially literate consumers are key to maintaining a healthy, vibrant insurance and financial services industry. A strong industry promotes the success of NAIFA members and their clients. As the leading association of agents and advisors, NAIFA takes its stewardship of the industry very seriously.

“NAIFA is constantly developing new programs and initiatives to help our members succeed,” said Mayeux. “This has far-ranging implications, because the success of insurance and financial professionals directly benefits the consumers who rely on them for products, services, and guidance. When we at NAIFA found ourselves in a strong position to improve American’s financial literacy and ensure consumers benefit from the next generation of financial professionals, we were bound to act.”