John Davidson is a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow and Financial Services Specialist serving a diverse client base, including municipalities, private schools, and public corporations. A long‑time leader in his profession, John is a certified Financial Security Advocate and has served in top roles within NAIFA, including National President in 2006-07.

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Ask your clients to rate the life they’re living on a scale from 1 to 10.

Their car? An 8 or 9.
Their home? Maybe a 7 or 8.
Their kids’ school? An 8, maybe higher.

Your clients work hard to provide a life they’re proud of. But when it comes to protecting that lifestyle, too many are only planning for a 3. To me, that’s a disconnect. If your clients are working hard to give their families the best, why would the plan to protect it fall short?

As more states launch automatic retirement savings programs for private-sector workers, the national conversation around retirement readiness is growing. A recent article in Stateline explores how states like Nevada and Colorado are addressing this issue through auto-IRA programs designed to reach workers without access to employer-sponsored plans.

When Jane Ahrens transitioned from a 25-year career teaching Health Education to working in Medicare sales, she didn’t just start a new chapter—she found her calling. What began in 2008 as a solo effort to help clients understand their health insurance options has since grown into a thriving business with a team of more than 160 independent agents trained and mentored under her leadership. Her peers now affectionately call her “Mother Medicare.”

Kate Shafer is the Director of Member Engagement & Communications at the American Fraternal Alliance, a nonprofit that supports fraternal benefit societies across the US and Canada by offering advocacy, education, and financial services to over seven million members. In her role, she leads initiatives to enhance member engagement, communications, and programming across the Alliance’s network. Kate plays a key part in organizing signature events like the Spring Symposium, which focuses on member engagement, digital transformation, and governance.

I was encouraged to see NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux’s recent column in  InsuranceNewsNet spotlighting two critical legislative initiatives that NAIFA strongly supports: the Credit for Caring Act and the Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act. These proposals aim to provide meaningful tax relief and expanded savings tools for caregiving families—support that’s urgently needed as more baby boomers reach their 60s and the demand for long-term care solutions continues to rise.

Because of the special circumstances demanded of us during the annual enrollment period, it takes us months to prepare for what is essentially a 68-day selling season. We are basically a normal health insurance office from January until June, and then beginning in July we start getting ready for October 1, the date we can begin speaking with clients new and old about their health plans for the following year. Here is what our office does:

NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux’s latest column, The Bipartisan Kindness of Caregiving, is featured in InsuranceNewsNet. In this piece, Kevin brings national attention to the financial burden faced by millions of Americans who care for aging parents and loved ones. His message is clear: Caregiving is both an act of love and a financial challenge that deserves bipartisan legislative support.

Melinda “Lindy” Camardella’s path to the financial services industry—and to her current role as a Financial Advisor with Equitable Advisors—was shaped by personal strength, a deep sense of purpose, and an unwavering commitment to helping others. A licensed acupuncturist and longtime advocate for her profession, Lindy made the shift to financial services after a life-changing health challenge gave her a new perspective.

Call for Nominees: 2025 NAIFA National Quality Award
Application Deadline: July 31, 2025