October is Financial Planning Month

Steve Bergee, LACP is a managing partner with E4 Insurance Services in Fargo, ND and a loyal member since 2009. Shortly after joining the industry 15 years ago, Bergee joined NAIFA at the encouragement of a friend and colleague. He has been an active member ever since. His participation in NAIFA provides both validation from his peers and an opportunity to benefit from the relationships he has with his fellow NAIFA members. “This is an organization of the best-of-the-best within the industry,” says Bergee. “To be able to include yourself in that group and to be able to tap their ideas and converse with them I think is really the value in the organization.”

NAIFA’s Life and Annuity Certified Professional (LACP) certification recognizes the need for insurance and financial professionals to further differentiate themselves in the marketplace. The LACP is a fully accredited certification that shows consumers and colleagues an agent or advisor has solid experience and understanding of life insurance and annuity products. It’s a mark of professionalism held by many leading insurance and financial advisors. Every LACP recipient agrees to adhere to NAIFA’s Code of Ethics, which includes the requirement that they put their clients’ interests first. The LACP is one of only nine accredited certifications recognized by FINRA.

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.

NAIFA’s Life and Annuity Certified Professional (LACP) certification recognizes the need for insurance and financial professionals to further differentiate themselves in the marketplace. The LACP is a fully accredited certification that shows consumers and colleagues an agent or advisor has solid experience and understanding of life insurance and annuity products. It’s a mark of professionalism held by many leading insurance and financial advisors. Every LACP recipient agrees to adhere to NAIFA’s Code of Ethics, which includes the requirement that they put their clients’ interests first. The LACP is one of only nine accredited certifications recognized by FINRA.

NAIFA is pleased to announce that LPL Financial has accepted the use of the Life and Annuities Certified Professional (LACP) certification for use by agents and advisors who it works with. The LACP demonstrates a professional knowledge of life and annuity products and an ethical approach to sales.

Mark A. Squires, LACP, is founder and president of Wise Choices Financial, LLC, in Kansas City. He entered the business after what he describes as a period of life where he lost everyone but his children. That experience convinced him he had a calling to help better prepare others for what he went through. He has built his agency with three primary areas of focus: He works with young people to teach them how to get out of debt; he is the Medicare Whisperer™; and he uses annuities, life insurance, and manages assets to help his clients work toward their retirement dreams through a well-thought-out financial strategy.

NAIFA President Tom Michel

NAIFA has come through the COVID-19 pandemic and remains strong with momentum to move us forward through Year Three after NAIFA’s reformation at the beginning of 2019, President Tom Michel told attendees of the State of NAIFA Q2 webinar.

Carina Hatfield, LUTCF, CLCS, LACP, is the owner of Weigner Insurance & Financial Services Inc. and recently served as a subject matter expert in the development of the new LACP online prep course. Located in Pottstown, PA, Hatfield's practice serves small businesses and young families in southeastern Pennsylvania. Her clients are quintessential Main Street USA.

NAIFA is pleased to announce that Lincoln Financial has approved the Life and Annuities Certified Professional (LACP) certification for use by the agents and advisors who provide its products. The LACP demonstrates a professional knowledge of life and annuity products and an ethical approach to sales.

NAIFA is pleased to announce that Prudential has approved the Life and Annuities Certified Professional (LACP) certification for use by the agents and advisors who provide its products. The LACP demonstrates a professional knowledge of life and annuity products and an ethical approach to sales.