For Matthew Crocker, founder of Crocker Financial LLC in Kent, Ohio, the financial services profession is more than a career—it’s a calling.

Matthew’s journey began in college, when a risk management class first opened his eyes to the world of insurance. Years later, that spark turned into a profession, inspired in part by personal experience. “Having had to rely on the GoFundMe method for a family member, I wanted to make sure others didn’t need to feel the same shame I did,” he shared. “This industry gives me the opportunity to make a visible difference in people’s lives, and that’s what attracted me most.”

Uncertainty is not new, but for clients nearing or in retirement, financial volatility can create unique challenges. In his recent Journal of Financial Service Professionals article, John N. Migliaccio, PhD, RFG, FGSA, MEd, draws on lessons from past disruptions including the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic to explore how advisors can help clients reframe risk and focus on what truly drives financial decision making.

New findings from the Alliance for Lifetime Income’s 2025 Protected Retirement Income and Planning Study show that financial strain is leading many Americans to sacrifice their own retirement savings and economic well-being in order to support loved ones.

According to the study (now in its seventh year), nearly half of all consumers surveyed said they have made financial sacrifices for family members: 17% of consumers surveyed said they support adult children 26 and older; 10% support grandchildren and 7% support parents or in-laws. More than half say that their financial support affects their retirement savings.

Despite this, only 28 percent reported speaking with a financial professional about the impact on their long-term financial plans.

The Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA), signed into law by President Biden in January 2025, eliminated two long-standing rules—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These rules had reduced Social Security benefits for over 3 million public employees, like teachers, police officers, and other government workers, who also received pensions from jobs that didn’t pay into Social Security. WEP reduced their personal benefits, while GPO reduced spousal or survivor benefits. The repeal applies retroactively to benefits starting in January 2024. David G. Freitag, CLU, ChFC, CRPC, and Bruce A. Tannahill, JD, CPA, AEP, discuss the implications for financial professionals and their clients in the current issue of the Journal of Financial Service Professionals.

NAIFA is proud to announce that Shane Westhoelter, AEP, CLU, LUTCF, LACP, the Founder and CEO of Gateway Financial Advisors, LLC., Gateway Insurance Group, Inc, and Gateway Insurance & Financial Services, LLC in Albuquerque, N.M., is the 2025 recipient of NAIFA’s Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award.

When I first stepped into a leadership role at NAIFA, I did it as a volunteer. What I didn’t realize at the time was how rewarding, energizing, and impactful the experience would be. Serving as a volunteer leader has not only been gratifying on a personal level, it has also been one of the best investments I’ve made in my career, my leadership skills, and my ability to serve our profession.

Cognitive decline is one of the greatest challenges individuals and families may face, with conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia bringing lasting impacts on health, finances, and caregiving. For financial professionals, understanding the role of lifetime long-term care coverage is essential to guiding clients through this difficult journey.

Small business owners often make critical decisions based on instinct or short-term needs, while larger companies lean on dedicated data analysis teams. Yet, as Kevin Tacchino, MSTFP, points out in his recent Journal of Financial Service Professionals article, even the smallest businesses are quietly collecting valuable data through their websites, sales systems, inventory tools, and customer relationships. The challenge is not in gathering the data, it’s in using it wisely.

To help NAIFA celebrate Life Insurance Awareness Month, a dedicated NAIFA member since 1975 share how the life insurance business has changed over his career.

Certified Financial Services (CFS), a proud NAIFA Financial Security Champion, is dedicated to helping individuals, families, and small business owners pursue lasting financial security. While the world is constantly changing, CFS believes in the lasting power of relationships and community. The firm understands that each person they serve has goals—some financial, others personal—but at the heart of every plan is a focus on the people who matter most. That same people-first mindset is what fuels the firm’s long-standing commitment to giving back.