Ike Trotter began his journey in the insurance world when he was 22 years old. Ike is highly skilled in analyzing long-term care insurance, Medicare supplement coverage, disability insurance, life insurance, and retirement planning. As a Financial Services Professional for Ike Trotter Agency, he provides healthcare, risk management, and "basic" estate planning solutions to families and small businesses. He is an active member and volunteer of NAIFA.

Ike holds a multitude of educational credentials including Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) from The American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, PA. He is also credentialed through The National Association of Estate Planning Councils as an Accredited Estate Planner. Ike is also a recipient of the NAIFA Quality Award.

Matt Wagner of NAIFA Business Performance Center Partner, Client Focus, shares what agents and advisors need to know about AI and what it means for the industry.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the masses came online in December. It’s called ChatGPT. You can communicate with it at openai.com. It gives impressive answers to hard questions in seconds. Many think it will put Google search out of business. Maybe put schools out of business. AI is coming like a wrecking ball for repetitive, commodity work.

What about insurance agents? I was going to share my thoughts, but then it hit me.

Why not just ask AI?

So I did.

Why religiously following these commandments will catapult your practice to the next level!

What will it take to make 2023 your best year ever? Ever think about finding religion? No, I’m not talking about going to church or joining a cult. I’m talking about following the digital commandments, not handed down by Moses or even Meta, but embodied by some of the best practitioners in the digital marketplace. If you are wanting to up your game and take your marketing to another level, then pay close attention to these foundational keys to success:

This month's InsuranceNewsNet magazine features an article by NAIFA leader Jeff Snyder sharing how to use proactive asset reallocation over the next three years to help clients avoid unintended tax consequences and other possible financial pitfalls in retirement.

In the article, Snyder gives specific advice on protecting clients' assets and giving them greater peace of mind. He compares the economic and regulatory environment now with the model many are used to and encourages a change in approach. 

Though Dustin Carnevale’s career did not begin in the financial industry, he always found himself extremely interested in monitoring the market and keeping up with financial news. It was only when he became involved in financial literacy education efforts through his earlier professional roles that his eyes were opened to the need for trained, objective fiduciaries to help those who are not sure where to start achieving their financial goals. This helped drive Carnevale to leave his established career in marketing and pursue his interest in finances to help fill a gap in the industry where his communication skills were needed and valued.  

This month's InsuranceNewsNet Magazine features an interview with Angela Ribuffo, RICP, CFP, ChFC, CDFA, CLTC, loyal NAIFA member since 1973.

In the article, Ribuffo shares how she became a financial advisor to help women make informed decisions to ensure their financial security and why recruiting and retaining women and people of color in the insurance and financial services industry is crucial to serving the financial needs of Main Street USA.

John W. Wheeler, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CRPC, LUTCF, CLTC, LACP, Senior Executive Partner of Totus Wealth Management and loyal NAIFA member since 1973, is featured in this month's InsuranceNewsNet Magazine.

In the interview, he shares powerful stories from his life and career, thoughts on the changing face of the insurance and financial services industry, and his advice for new agents and advisors. 

Brett L. Moore, CFP®, grew up in the insurance and financial services business. His father, long-time NAIFA member William C. Moore, CFP®, founded W.C. Moore Financial Services, LLC, and Moore remembers spending hours at his dad’s office, stuffing financial papers into plastic sheets and helping out any way he could.  

Joe Templin is the Co-founder and CEO of The Intro Machine, a training ecosystem for professionals who want to build an introduction-based business. Joe began his career in financial services with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, eventually becoming a “Top 10 Mike Gish Qualifier” and a “Top 10 College Unit Director.” He also served on Northwestern Mutual's recruiting, retention, and diversity committee and has earned numerous Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) and NAIFA Quality Award honors. 

Later in his career, Joe served NAIFA on the local, state, and national levels and was a recipient of NAFIA's Advisor Today 4 Under 40 Award. Recently, he helped found NAIFA’s Coaches Circle, which provides individual coaching to advisors. Joe has spoken all over the country, authored multiple best-sellers, and founded various companies that help professionals grow.

When NAIFA President Bryon Holz graduated from college during the recession of the early 1980s, career opportunities were few and far between. So, when his high school biology teacher, who had left teaching a few years earlier to become a financial advisor, offered to have Holz come work with him, Holz accepted. He planned on staying until he found his “real” job, but he fell in love with helping families plan for their financial futures. Four decades later, it’s safe to say he’s found his calling.