June Is National Annuity Awareness Month

If you are concerned about diversifying your clients' income during retirement and are searching for strategies to protect against potential increases in taxes and inflation, then join the next Advisor Today webinar on Tuesday, June 13 at 2 pm eastern with Allianz.

At "Decumulation Diversification," Schyler Adams, Director of Advanced Strategies & Planning Platforms will reveal concepts and innovative approaches to secure your clients' financial future. Don't miss this opportunity to optimize retirement income and help your clients achieve long-term financial stability.

We're excited to announce we are now accepting nominations for NAIFA's Advisor Today 4 Under 40 Awards.

Each year, Advisor Today magazine recognizes four financial advisors with Advisor Today’s 4 Under 40 Award, who achieve excellence in their profession by or before the age of 40. Past winners have a proven track record of continued success through industry leadership roles, speaking engagements, and increased peer recognition.

Kathleen Owings is the Principal and Financial Advisor of Westbilt Financial Group, an independent financial advisory firm providing comprehensive planning for clients wanting to achieve personal goals. In 2007, Kathleen began her career in the financial services industry with New England Financial. Her licensure is in life and health insurance and she maintains Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations. Kathleen’s book, Put Your Money to Work: A Woman's Guide to Financial Confidence, helps women take control of their finances. 

Kathleen graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2000. After serving for eight years as an active duty officer in the Army Corps of Engineers, she retired — but continued to commit herself to selfless service.

For over 30 years, Diane Boyle has been the Senior Vice President of Government Relations for NAIFA. Diane advocates for state, interstate, and federal laws that benefit the good of the people. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in political science and government.

Ken Leibow has over 36 years of insurance industry experience. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of InsurTech Express, a one-stop shop for insurance resources. He has held strategic and executive roles in Fortune 500 companies and proactively managed operations in alignment with the company vision. He is a recipient of the NAILBA ID20 Award, ACORD Leadership Award, and was recognized in 2016 with the NAILBA Chairman’s Award.

Martha Underwood has been in the technology space for over 25 years and is skilled at successfully managing large-scale digital transformation initiatives. Co-founder of Prismm, a platform that allows you to securely store important documents, Martha focuses on executive advancement without compromising integrity or authenticity. She is a recognized speaker on the topic of women leading in technology and innovation within the business marketplace. 

Shella Sylla is the Chief Operating Officer at Prismm. With over 20 years of experience in commercial banking, commercial real estate financing, and portfolio management, she is skilled at networking and building strategic brand relationships. Before her work with Prismm, she was the Founder and CEO of SisterGolf, where she helped improve women’s confidence and accelerated their career development using golf as an ally. 

Earlier this month, NAIFA members were mailed printed copies of the I Love NAIFA Month issue of Advisor Today magazine. The issue features a cover story on 2023 NAIFA President Bryon Holz, an advocacy report, updates from NAIFA's Centers of Excellence, and photos from the National Leadership Conference and Belong event.

Ike Trotter began his journey in the insurance world when he was 22 years old. Ike is highly skilled in analyzing long-term care insurance, Medicare supplement coverage, disability insurance, life insurance, and retirement planning. As a Financial Services Professional for Ike Trotter Agency, he provides healthcare, risk management, and "basic" estate planning solutions to families and small businesses. He is an active member and volunteer of NAIFA.

Ike holds a multitude of educational credentials including Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) from The American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, PA. He is also credentialed through The National Association of Estate Planning Councils as an Accredited Estate Planner. Ike is also a recipient of the NAIFA Quality Award.

Joe Templin is the Co-founder and CEO of The Intro Machine, a training ecosystem for professionals who want to build an introduction-based business. Joe began his career in financial services with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, eventually becoming a “Top 10 Mike Gish Qualifier” and a “Top 10 College Unit Director.” He also served on Northwestern Mutual's recruiting, retention, and diversity committee and has earned numerous Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) and NAIFA Quality Award honors. 

Later in his career, Joe served NAIFA on the local, state, and national levels and was a recipient of NAFIA's Advisor Today 4 Under 40 Award. Recently, he helped found NAIFA’s Coaches Circle, which provides individual coaching to advisors. Joe has spoken all over the country, authored multiple best-sellers, and founded various companies that help professionals grow.

Bryon Holz is the President of NAIFA, providing investments and insurance to successful individuals and business owners throughout the Southeast with Bryon Holz and Associates, which he oversees as President and Registered Principal. He has obtained numerous designations and certifications over the years, including Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC^®), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU^®), Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL), and his LUTCF designation and LACP certification.

Bryon is a graduate and Presidential Scholar from the University of Tampa. He is also a graduate of Leadership Brandon and NAIFA's prestigious Leadership in Life Institute (LILI).