The NAIFA Quality Awards Working Group has updated and modernized the award's criteria to better reflect exemplary service and achievement by today’s producers who are serving clients under a variety of business models. The award is a measure of professional success, quality client service, and strict adherence to NAIFA’s Code of Ethics, including the requirement that NAIFA members always serve the best interests of their clients.

NQA recipients will be entitled to display a certificate of achievement and promote their NQA recipient status among clients and peers. The new NQA recipients will be recognized online and via social media.

“The NAIFA Quality Awards recognize the best of NAIFA’s members,” said NAIFA President Cammie Scott, MISE, LUTCF, REBC, RHC, CLTC, SPHR and ChHC. “Consumers can look for the NQA, as well as other top certifications and designations like NAIFA’s LACP and LUTCF, to be certain they are working with an experienced and accomplished financial professional with the highest ethical standards.”

NAIFA members specializing in Life & Annuities, Financial Advising & Investments, Health & Employee Benefits, Multiline Sales or any combination of these specialties may apply for the NQA.

The award differentiates the best qualified NAIFA members from other producers. Many insurance and financial services companies and agencies actively encourage their agents and advisors to apply for the award as a means of helping them stand out in the marketplace.

The NQA application deadline is June 30, 2020. Recipients will be announced at NAIFA’s Performance + Purpose conference in Boston, Oct. 1-4.

NAIFA Members may apply online.

“April is Financial Literacy Month, which reminds us that studies show people working with quality agents and advisors tend to be more financially literate and confident in their financial security,” Scott added. “And with financial scams increasing during the COVID-19 outbreak, it’s more important than ever for consumers to ensure they are working with financial professionals, like NQA recipients, who they know they can trust and who can help them protect themselves.”

The NQA provides advisors at any career stage the opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to excellence. This includes:

• Professionalism through education and earned designations and high-quality service to clients
• Production measured by performance metrics customized for each practice specialty
• Strict adherence to the NAIFA code of ethics, and
• Service to NAIFA as a means of advancing the insurance and financial services industry

“We have made necessary improvements to the NQA to make the award more meaningful for advisors, practitioners, and consumers,” said Ike Trotter, LACP, CLU, CASL, ChFC, who serves on NAIFA’s Finance Committee and was chair of the NQA Working Group. “The new NQA better reflects real-world situations and, as always, emphasizes ethical service for clients. I can assure you the work continues, and we are hopeful that these improvements will make this award as relevant for the next 74 years and it has been for the past 74.”