Apex is NAIFA’s new professional development signature event focused on providing top leadership, sales, and marketing ideas to financial services professionals. The new brand reflects the concept of a “race to the top” where only the top percent of advisors, and the aspiring top percent of advisors, gather to share and compare success stories. The inaugural Apex event will be August 17-18 at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix.

Apex is a completely redesigned pure-play professional development meeting. It features nationally known and highly regarded keynote speakers and educational sessions by top professionals and respected thought leaders in the insurance and financial services industry. Apex is also a premier networking event providing ample opportunities for top advisors to mingle, compare notes, and make valuable connections.

Rob Wild has a passion for serving his clients and his community.

When Wild came to the United States in 2013 to work in a summer camp for children with disabilities, he never imagined he would be an insurance agent in Kansas nearly a decade later. Meeting his now-wife Sarah at that camp changed his plans. Growing up in the United Kingdom, Wild had no experience with the American insurance industry. However, Wild’s father-in-law was an American Family agent and Wild decided to give it a try. His passion for building relationships and helping others led him to a fulfilling career protecting families in his community.

As we move past the first quarter of 2022 and look ahead to the next several months, the world of technology in our industry continues to rapidly evolve and expand before our eyes. In early March 2022, my company InsurTech Express exhibited at the iPipeline Connections Conference in Las Vegas where insurance technologies took center stage. Companies like Bestow, Ethos, and Covr Financial have grown rapidly with investor funding to offer robust life insurance-focused solutions to their consumers.

Technology is being used more than ever to make it easier for advisors to complete insurance transactions with their clients without the cumbersome pain points present in a currently antiquated process. Gone are the days of 45-page applications, two-month underwriting timelines, and intrusive health examinations for coverage. The industry is full of thriving start-ups and established companies helping insurance consumers buy coverage in minutes, not weeks. Like many industries driven by technology, there continues to be development and investment from well know firms in the market. 

NAIFA is pleased to announce that Karla Kirk is NAIFA’s new Vice President of Growth and Revenue. In this role, she will be in charge of NAIFA’s business development, membership sales, and Centers of Excellence operations and will report to CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE. She will lead a business development and sales team focused on advancing NAIFA initiatives to grow membership and corporate non-dues revenue.

Kim Braud is a woman of many talents. An entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community leader, she focuses her efforts on serving underserved communities as Managing Partner of Jayde Life Investment Group, President of Grand Champions Foundation, and Founder and Owner of the candle company Fleurty Wick.

Getting Started

Braud’s career in the insurance industry can be traced back to her father—a racecar driver and enthusiast. She learned about cars from her father and used that expertise to become a trainer with Nationwide Insurance. Over the years, she played several roles, including training, marketing, sales, and community outreach. When she founded the boutique candle manufacturing company Fleurty Wick, she didn’t think she would ever go back to insurance. Then, a mutual friend introduced her to LA Lakers player Dwight Howard.

When Christopher Faulk started out in the financial services industry, he could tell there was something missing. As a commercial loan officer, he was helping people, but there were other aspects of his clients’ financial pictures that weren’t being addressed. He wanted to offer a more comprehensive financial service. 

In 2019, Faulk joined New York Life, and their holistic approach to addressing clients’ needs was exactly what he was looking for. Now, he protects families as an insurance agent and helps clients with their investment needs as a registered representative.

Financial exploitation of older adults is rampant, and the problem will only get worse as America’s population continues to age.

In fact, the rate at which adults over the age of 60 can expect to experience financial exploitation—1 in 20—is higher than the incidence of many age-related diseases, according to research published in The Journals of Gerontology. And that’s likely an underestimate because many older adults are unwilling to report exploitation.

NAIFA and the Society of Financial Service Professionals (FSP) have entered into a new agreement to support the Advanced Practice Center (APC) as a resource for financial professionals and professionals from associated fields. The APC’s webinars, articles, special events, thought leadership content, and networking opportunities will focus on advanced markets topics and concepts, providing insights into complex cases.

After 10 years working in the corporate office of American National Insurance Company in Springfield, MO, Stephanie Hohenshell was recruited into the field. She loved her career in the corporate office, so it was a big step to resign from that job to take on the role of a 1099 advisor. It took about a year and a half of encouragement before she made the leap. Seven years later, she only wishes she had done it sooner.

For Glenn Walker, providing guidance and hope to his community is what it’s all about. 

Getting Started

When Walker entered the financial services industry, he already knew the importance of planning ahead. Two years earlier, his father passed away from lung cancer without life insurance. He saw his family’s financial struggles and knew he needed to do something to help families like his own. He prayed for an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than himself and found that opportunity at Primerica.