Scott Blake, MBA, knows the value of political advocacy. After a career in the political sphere, he now works to protect the interests of Main Street Americans as well as insurance and financial professionals.

From Politics to Financial Services

Blake transitioned from politics to financial services at the suggestion of his own financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual. Now, he's also a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual. Working primarily with upwardly mobile millennials, Blake says he likes helping driven, motivated people achieve their dreams and goals. He talks about one such instance when he helped a millennial client buy their first home. “It's about serving your client. I get to wish for the best for them and help them achieve their dreams.” That's his favorite part of being a financial advisor—he gets to be everyone’s cheerleader.

The famous New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra once said, “When you come to the fork in the road, take it.” While clearly this quote provides humor, it provides no clear path or direction when seeking your destination. Our Medicare options can be viewed as a fork in the road, however, there is a decision to make about which direction to take. 

When the time comes for you to start Medicare, your first step is to enroll in Original Medicare. Original Medicare consists of Parts A and B and together they provide comprehensive health insurance for your medical needs. Once securing your enrollment in Original Medicare, the next step is to determine if you will remain on Original Medicare or select a Medicare Advantage plan. Taking the time to understand how each option works will go a long way in selecting the right Medicare plans.

Brad Noller is all about building relationships, both with his clients and with other insurance and financial services professionals.

Making a Difference

Noller didn’t start his career in the insurance industry, but he found he was good at it and excelled quickly. Just nine months after starting an Agent in Training position with American Family Insurance, he opened his own agency—an accomplishment that normally took between 18-24 months at the time.

NAIFA is now accepting nominations and applications for its 2022 awards, recognizing outstanding leadership, performance, and achievement that differentiates NAIFA members from their colleagues in the insurance and financial services industry. NAIFA bestows these annual awards as programs of the Talent Development Center, which recognizes exemplary NAIFA members, promotes professional growth, and encourages a new generation of agents and advisors to join the business.

Johnny Craven, LUTCF, is a stalwart of the NAIFA community and a veteran of the insurance and financial services industry.

Craven joined the insurance and financial services industry over 20 years ago, but that’s not where he started out. He spent 13 years in the grocery industry, but when one of his coworkers became an insurance agent and suggested he give it a try, he decided it was worth exploring. His coworker called Craven on a Saturday night and they planned to meet the next morning. Not realizing it was a formal interview, Craven showed up in shorts and a t-shirt and met the man who would become his boss. Fortunately, he saw potential in Craven and decided to give him a shot.

Advisor Today, NAIFA’s flagship publication, is hosting a new monthly webinar series featuring leading thought leaders from the insurance and financial services industry presenting on compelling topics designed to encourage industry professionals to achieve their peak performance.

Advisor Today is the lifestyle magazine for the new American advisor. Print issues publish three times annually and are sent as an exclusive benefit to NAIFA members. The Advisor Today online platform publishes multiple posts per week highlighting successful NAIFA members and providing insights from industry experts. The Advisor Today webinar series is an additional stream of valuable, informative content.

United Wealth Advisors Group (UWAG) was founded in 2013 by NAIFA National Past President Keith M. Gillies, CFP^®, CLU, ChFC^®; Kim Allen, LUTCF; and Mark A. Cecil, CFP^®. Each ran his own independent firm within Ameritas, and the trio decided to integrate their practices to improve continuity and efficiency. Over the years, more firms have joined the fold. Now, UWAG has over 40 advisors in seven offices across six states. 

While each firm has its own specialty, they share a common focus on risk-based, comprehensive financial planning. UWAG President Brian Steiner sums up the company culture, saying, “Our whole mantra is ‘Better Together’. Our organization is built on collaboration and ‘do no harm'. We're a group that works collectively to serve the greater good.”

Nicholas “Nick” Romo knows the impact life insurance can have and works to protect families every day.

Romo didn’t start out in the insurance and financial services industry, but he was drawn to it by two factors. First, he saw two of his friends who opened successful insurance offices. They were helping people who weren’t being served by large investment companies, and he knew that he, too, could make a difference. Second, he saw the real-life effects of not having insurance, as several family members passed away unexpectedly without life insurance—or without enough coverage. He knew that, if they had been covered, it would have been much easier for their families. “I thought it could be my role to help people in those situations,” he says.

Loyal NAIFA-CA member Louis H. Brownstone, CLTC, proposes a new solution for long-term care insurance planning in a recent Broker World article. Brownstone is the owner of California Long Term Care Insurance. A NAIFA member since 2007, he is the Government Relations/APIC IFAPAC Chair for NAIFA-San Francisco Peninsula and a NAIFA Financial Security Advocate.

Congratulations, Louis. We're #NAIFAproud of your commitment and dedication to our industry.

Leonardo da Vinci said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

I learned one of the simplest lessons of my career from half-moon cookies. You know those black and white cookies? The New York style cookies?

For the last 14 1/2 years, I’ve committed myself to achieving the best level of personal mastery that I can by maintaining a personal commitment to understanding the psychology of influencing others through our effective communication.

There’s a massive difference between influence and manipulation...