Are you a good NAIFA citizen or do you know of someone who should be recognized for their impact on the industry? It's award season at NAIFA and we want to recognize our outstanding members and all the work they do for their clients and the industry. Nomination and application deadlines are just around the corner. Help us differentiate our members from the crowd through our awards program. Receipients will be recognized in December during the National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.

Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor our fallen heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice, a day of remembrance for the 1.2 million men and women who answered the Nation’s call and protected the many freedoms that we have as Americans.  

As a U.S. Army veteran with two combat tours and 20 years of active service, this day will always hold special meaning. I was 19 years old when I deployed for my first combat tour to Afghanistan. It was unlike anything I ever experienced — going on convoy missions, to being mortared on our fobs, I was and am always aware of how fortunate I am that I was one to make it back home. 

Whether it is with clients or fellow agents, Vicki Tuua, LACP, is prone to heart-to-heart conversations. A State Farm agent in Salt Lake City, Tuua is a registered representative so she offers a full line of insurances including property & casualty, life, and health as well as financial services and retirement planning. This range of expertise affords Tuua the opportunity to serve the full client whether it be an individual or small business.

NAIFA is proud to announce Dan Mangus as our newest contributor, providing content to enhance members’ knowledge in the insurance industry space. 

Dan’s passion for the insurance industry is unmatched. After high school, each day, he spent his time setting appointments for his mother, who worked with Medicare insurance products. In 1982, Dan started his first insurance agency at the age of 18 and immediately began networking for growth.

NAIFA is proud to announce Ken Leibow as our newest contributor, providing content to enhance members’ knowledge in the Financial Technology space.  

Ken is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at InsurTech Express and has more than 34 years of insurance industry experience. He has an extensive background in insurance technology for distribution and back-office systems. 

Mark A. Squires, LACP, is founder and president of Wise Choices Financial, LLC, in Kansas City. He entered the business after what he describes as a period of life where he lost everyone but his children. That experience convinced him he had a calling to help better prepare others for what he went through. He has built his agency with three primary areas of focus: He works with young people to teach them how to get out of debt; he is the Medicare Whisperer™; and he uses annuities, life insurance, and manages assets to help his clients work toward their retirement dreams through a well-thought-out financial strategy.

NAIFA President Tom Michel

NAIFA has come through the COVID-19 pandemic and remains strong with momentum to move us forward through Year Three after NAIFA’s reformation at the beginning of 2019, President Tom Michel told attendees of the State of NAIFA Q2 webinar.

I’ve given dozens of talks on the need for financial professionals to navigate the digital landscape effectively, and invariably the conversations veer into the arena of “what’s the newest, best tech to help me grow?” As a self-avowed tech junky, I am always obliged to engage in this conversation, because it’s a lot of fun to talk 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.

Carina Hatfield, LUTCF, CLCS, LACP, is the owner of Weigner Insurance & Financial Services Inc. and recently served as a subject matter expert in the development of the new LACP online prep course. Located in Pottstown, PA, Hatfield's practice serves small businesses and young families in southeastern Pennsylvania. Her clients are quintessential Main Street USA.