NAIFA is proud to announce that Matthew S. Tassey, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, is the recipient of the 84^th annual John Newton Russell Memorial Award. The award is the highest honor accorded by the insurance industry to a living individual who has rendered outstanding services to the institution of life insurance. The selection committee consists of representatives of 11 leading organizations in the life insurance and financial services industry. Tassey will be celebrated and formally presented the award at NAIFA’s Apex 2024 and Belong event Sept. 21 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.

Message From the CEO

One hundred and thirty-four years ago today, a group of life insurance agents from different parts of the United States gathered at the Parker House in Boston to create the National Association of Life Underwriters. This organization, which grew into the NAIFA we cherish and celebrate today, was formed to promote the success of the life insurance industry and encourage laws prohibiting life insurance agents from engaging in questionable or unethical practices.

Carson Porter is an experienced financial advisor providing specialized life insurance, annuities, and financial services across the United States. His journey from owning auto repair shops to excelling in the financial industry is marked by a passion for education, innovation, and business development. Carson founded a mastermind group dedicated to empowering insurance agents and advisors through unbiased education, collaboration, and accountability. With a decade of industry experience, he has built and sold multiple brokerage businesses and shares his insights at live events, including NAIFA's APEX conference.

In the ever-evolving world of insurance, finding your niche and building lasting relationships are keys to success. For Chris Davenport, a seasoned professional in the field, his journey into the insurance business began unexpectedly but has since flourished into a fulfilling career dedicated to helping others protect their futures.

Earlier this year, I encountered a remarkable AI tool with transformative capabilities. This tool can seamlessly import various documents, such as a PDF of an IUL illustration, and then empower users to enact changes effortlessly. With just a simple click of a button labeled "Analyze with AI," it initiates a swift process of recalculations, adjusting parameters like premium, face amount, load amount, and credit rating. Within moments, users witness a comprehensive comparison between the original illustration and the updated version, highlighting all alterations. What's truly astonishing is the elimination of the tedious back-and-forth with carrier software for rerunning illustrations; instead, this tool offers instant results with an impressive 99% accuracy rate in predictive calculations. Moreover, it facilitates the creation of Inforce ledgers without the need to procure them from the Life Carrier.

Major federal tax legislation is all but certain to be coming from Washington, D.C., in 2025. Many provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire at the end of next year and Congress will need to address the situation. This NAIFA advocacy webinar will give you a better understanding of what is being dubbed the "Super Bowl of Tax" and provide insights into some of the proposals likely to shape the debate.

Message From the CEO

Graduates of NAIFA’s Leadership in Life Institute have a deep appreciation for The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by renowned leadership authority Stephen Covey. They may be familiar with Covey’s quote, “If there’s one thing that’s certain in business, it’s uncertainty.” The same principle applies to life.

Transitions often amplify uncertainty, and among the most uncertain times for many is the transition into retirement. It has been widely reported that 2024 is the year of “peak 65” in the United States, as an average of 11,000 people reach the traditional retirement age of 65 each day. With more than half of peak 65ers owning investable assets of less than $100,000, according to the 2024 Protected Retirement Income and Planning (PRIP) by the Alliance for Lifetime Income (ALI), the unlikelihood of enjoying lasting financial wellbeing is a real concern for many. The 2024 Insurance Barometer Study by LIMRA and Life Happens, NAIFA’s consumer-education arm, confirms this conclusion, revealing that “having enough money for a comfortable retirement” is U.S. consumers’ leading financial concern, ranking even above worries about paying monthly bills and reducing debt.

In the ever-evolving landscape of retirement planning, Social Security remains a critical source of income for most Americans. The annual release of the Trust Fund Report, issued in May, sparked widespread media coverage and client concern. Questions such as "Will Social Security still be there?" and "Is it going broke?" continue to circulate. Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Eastern, sponsored by Security Mutual Life which can help you deal with the concerns that clients may have.