Meet Taylor Collins, CEBS, CLU^®, RHU, President of Professional Benefits Inc., and a loyal NAIFA member since 2007. Collins is a native of Florida and holds a BA in Risk Management Insurance. Her career path was unclear until she took a risk management insurance class as an elective in college and fell in love with the industry.

Join Life Happens for a Twitter Chat during Life Insurance Awareness Month. We’ll break down insights from the recent 2021 Insurance Barometer Study, conducted by Life Happens and LIMRA. Further, we’ll discuss how the industry as a whole can move the needle toward getting more Americans fully insured.

Marc Sigmon, NAIFA member and CEO of Marc Sigmon Insurance Agency, is the Leader of NAIFA-CA's San Diego affiliate. Sigmon joined NAIFA California in 2020 and was inspired to take on a bigger role after he attended NAIFA’s annual Congressional Conference. 

"The Congressional Conference was an amazing experience," said Sigmon. "It made me want to get more involved at the state level and I am honored to have the opportunity to represent NAIFA-California as Leader Affiliate, San Diego."

Gilbert Mares, MPA, LUTCF, LILLI, CEO of Gilbert A. Mares and Associates, is a loyal NAIFA member and Past President of NAIFA's Los Angeles affiliate from 2003-2005.

Mares was born in El Paso, Texas, and later moved to Los Angeles when he was four years old. He attended schools in the greater Los Angeles area and earned his undergraduate degree from Cal Poly Pomona University, and developed a passion for Political Science. At the age of 21, Mares had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live and work in Washington, D.C., as a fact-finder at the cabinet level. 

NAIFA congratulates the members who earned the Life and Annuity Certified Professional (LACP) certification during the July testing window:

• Steven Bergee, LACP, (loyal member since 2009) Senior Vice President and Managing Partner of e4 Insurance Services in Fargo, ND.
• Wanda Caffrey, LACP, (loyal member since 2004) a Financial Advisor with inSource Financial Advisors (Ameritas) in Lincoln, NE.
• Greg Reddell, LACP, (loyal member since 2021) a State Farm Agent in Salisbury, MD.
• John Reilly, CFP, LACP, (loyal member since 1997) Senior Financial Advisor with Allied Wealth Partners in Madison, NJ.

Rick Demko, LUTCF, LACP, RICP, Director of Insurance at Centric Risk Strategies, loyal member since 2015 and 4 Under 40 Award Winner, is featured in the latest episode of ReminderMedia’s Stay Paid podcast series. 

The National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) has announced two opportunities for those looking to start or advance a career in the insurance industry.

• NAAIA is offering five scholarships in the amount of $3,000 for higher education.  Established by NAAIA to honor its founder, the J.L. Tillman Scholarship seeks to encourage African-American students to consider careers within the insurance industry. The deadline for submission is October 1st.

This month, Fairway Mortgage and the Business Performance Center presented the webinar “How to Advise Your Clients to Get to the Zero Tax Bracket.” 

New York Life has named Robert Petrocelli, Founder and Managing Director of Petrocelli Financial Services in New York City and a loyal NAIFA member since 1979, as the 2021-2022 Chair of the influential New York Life Agent Advisory Board of Directors (ABD). The ABD, according to the company, “is an elite group of 16 agents who meet with the company’s executive leaders to provide their perspectives on corporate strategic initiatives based on their experience in the insurance and financial services industry and running among the most successful agent practices in the country.”

The Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies (LAAIA) holds its 51st Annual Convention August 11th - 14th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL.  This year’s theme is “Upholding the Legacy.” The event is designed to offer informative educational sessions (many offering CE), valuable peer-to-peer networking, and opportunities to connect with industry partners.  The conference includes plenty of ways to connect outside of the educational sessions including a Happy Hour Meetup, a NextGen Game Night, Jazz Brunch, and then finishing up with a Domino's Tournament.