Over six months ago their journey began, six students in NAIFA’s Leadership in Life Institute (LILI) embarked on a path of study, introspection, and personal growth. On Tuesday November 19th, these students were joined by NAIFA President Tom Michel and 40 LILI alumni for an online commencement celebration.

Themes of self-improvement, perseverance through tragedy, and life-long friendships formed in the LILI class were in evidence as each graduate took time to share their LILI story.

Loyal NAIFA Member Marty Peters has been a part of NAIFA (then NALU) since 1968 and is now serving the community he is a part of in Solana Beach and Del Mar, California. Peters started out his career while working on his master's degree, having a job offered to him that started him in the financial services industry, leading him to stop his Master's degree and focus on the position he was offered. He initially found a different job that had less than desirable actions against the benefits of the customers they were assisting and moved on from that position after a bit. He was then convinced by his family to investigate the life insurance business. After a bit of convincing and learning that his education was paid for by his father’s life insurance, Peters interviewed with a few companies and secured a position with one, starting his journey in the career.

A past president of NAIFA Los Angeles, incoming president of the Los Angeles chapter of Women in Financial Services (WIFS), and graduate of NAIFA’s Leadership in Life Institute (LILI), Joanna Dellosa is a proven leader. So, it is no surprise she was one of the first advisors to earn the Life and Annuity Certified Professional (LACP) certification when it was launched in 2017.

What is going on as of November 2021, as we draw 2021 to a close? In considering a couple of ethical issues I was planning to discuss, I happened to be viewing our Fall/Winter paper publication of Advisor Today, which states that our NAIFA leadership has signed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) pledges. It quickly occurred to me how important this decision was. In taking this step forward, our CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE, joined almost 2,000 CEOs in becoming a member of the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Coalition, signing a pledge to collaborate in supporting a more inclusive environment.

E4 Insurance Services invites you to join our Building Relationships Every Week (BREW) on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 1 pm eastern.

In this week's session, Chris Pezalla, Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary at Newcleus, will discuss LINQS+, a proprietary non-qualified retirement plan with guaranteed lifetime benefits for the participants and expense savings for the plan sponsor.

The importance of NAIFA members takes on a particular poignancy this time of year. When we consider many of the things Americans are most thankful for – their families, health, financial wellbeing – it is gratifying to know that we at NAIFA serve a community of insurance and financial professionals who safeguard all these things.

NAIFA's Limited and Extended Care Planning Center (LECP) Impact Week, November 1-5, was a unique virtual event including a one-hour session covering a different type of topic each day by speakers who are industry experts and industry leaders. On Thursday, November 4, the topic was “Technology Shark Tank: Taking the Robot Out of the Advisor/Agent.” You’ve got questions and these presenters have answers! How do I take the busy “robotic” tasks out of my practice to make it more profitable? How do I stay in contact with current clients while seeking new clients? Which technology fits my practice and budget? At what point do I invest in my practice so that I can expand my outreach and professionalism? This “shark tank” style session offers four rapid-fire presentations!

Poor Thanksgiving is the middle child of the holidays. From Halloween on, all the focus is on the winter holidays.

That’s a shame. Not just because so many people love Thanksgiving, but also because it’s a great opportunity to connect with your clients and sphere of influence.

Frank Seneco has been a member of NAIFA since 1990 and today works with affluent clients addressing a variety of financial concerns from creating family dynasties to eliminating taxes on their investment portfolios. His office is based in Connecticut; however, he assists clients from around the world, helping them reach their financial goals.

Loyal member Robin Landers, CLU^®, has been a member of NAIFA since 1984 and is based in Florida. She grew up in the business—her parents owned a brokerage agency—and vowed to never work in the insurance field. With a degree in advertising, and some challenging circumstances, she ultimately ended up joining her family in their insurance business. After working with her family for a few years, she received an offer to double her salary and returned to the TPA that had employed her as a sixteen-year-old file clerk. Years later, when her parents were ready to retire, she and a partner opened Landers-Stein & Associates, the next generation of that original agency’s legacy.