When Refine Wealth Strategies founders David J. Klein, CFP^®, CLU, ChFC^®, RICP; Brian Kelly, CLU, ChFC^®, RICP, CASL; and Larwin W. Kauffman CFP^®, CLU, ChFC, met in the early 2000s, they didn’t anticipate starting a business together. Fortunately, fate intervened—with a bit of help from 41-year NAIFA member Terry McTigue, CLU, ChFC^®, who recruited all three to Northwestern Mutual. 

NAIFA is saddened to share the news that NAIFA-National Past President Michael C. Keenan, CLU, ChFC, has passed away. Keenan was born in Evanston, IL, and made his career as an agent with Prudential in the Chicago area.

After serving as local and state president as well as on a myriad of local, state, and national committees, including IFAPAC (known then as  LUPAC), he was elected National Secretary in 1982 and then served as NAIFA (then NALU) President in 1984-1985. 

Bryon Holz, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL, LACP, President of Bryon Holz & Associates, Brandon, FL, is NAIFA's 2023 President. 

Digital Marketing had the biggest growth for generating insurance sales since 2021. In a recent global study conducted by Accenture, most insurance buyers now search for information on digital channels. 48% of insurance customers who responded to an Accenture survey stated that social media would factor into their insurance-buying decision. Introducing agents and training to effectively utilize email, social media, web-based advertising, text messages, and personalized videos which helps maximize their value delivery.

Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the technology driving the industry to new insurance sales as it does with other industries in e-commerce. Winning agencies will become more data-driven and introduce agents to tools that utilize data analytics and AI to grow their businesses. Whether finding patterns based on past data to predict future events or leveraging AI to make assumptions and predictions beyond human capabilities, successful agents and agencies will take advantage of these new technology tools.

NAIFA-GWDC Past President Peter Glassman, CFP^®, is a Founding Partner of Wealth Insight Partners and has been a loyal NAIFA member since 1989.

After graduating with a business and marketing degree in 1987, Glassman moved from Connecticut to Washington, D.C., where a family friend suggested he get into the insurance and financial services industry. After learning more he dove into what turned out to be the beginning of a career. Thirty-five years later, Glassman is still dedicated to helping his clients plan for their futures.

Chris Gandy is the Founder of Midwest Legacy Group LLC, a boutique concierge insurance group for executives, professional athletes, physicians, business owners, and entrepreneurs. It focuses on the client's interests in wealth accumulation, wealth preservation, retirement strategies, insurance, asset protection, and investments.

Dennis Cuccinelli, LACP, an Independent Advisor associated with Certified Financial Services from Paramus, NJ, has received NAIFA's inaugural Annual Membership Hard Hat Award. He was presented the award by current NAIFA President Lawrence Holzberg, LUTCF, LACP, and incoming 2023 President Bryon Holz, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL, LACP, November 14 in Washington, D.C., at NAIFA’s Belong awards celebration that was part of the National Leadership Conference.

On January 10, join 2023 NAIFA-National President Bryon Holz, NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, and NAIFA SVP of Government Relations Diane Boyle for the first State of NAIFA webinar of the new year. 

Holz, Mayeux, and Boyle will share an update on where NAIFA is as an organization, preview NAIFA's advocacy goals for the new year, and highlight the benefits available exclusively to NAIFA members.

This Wednesday, December 14 at 1 pm eastern, join NAIFA's first financial security champion, E4 Insurance Services, for their next Building Relationship Every Week (BREW) webinar.

This week's BREW will feature Steve Walker, CLTC, LUTCF, Vice President of Institutional Accounts at E4, loyal NAIFA member since 2009, and a NAIFA 4 Under 40 Award Winner in 2021. 

For Joshua O’Gara, CLU^®, ChFC^®, CFP^®, Owner and Founder of O'Gara Financial Group, entrepreneurship runs in the family. Both of his parents were small business owners and O’Gara inherited their drive. His entrepreneurial spirit—along with his college studies in economics and his desire to help people—made a career in insurance and financial services a perfect fit.