NAIFA-NY’s Don Lippencott, a loyal member since 1985 and a New York Life financial professional, told the Wall Street Journal that 23 of his clients passed away in 2020, approximately double the total for a typical year. Not only did COVID-19 increase the death rate among his clients, but pandemic-related restrictions prevented him from delivering death-benefit checks in person as he has done in the past. “It was gut wrenching and excruciating,” he told the Journal.

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

NAIFA member since 1993, Robert B. Wellendorf ll, Business Exit Planning Expert President at Executive Wealth Strategies, will be joining us for 2021 APC Impact Week. Wellendorf will be providing a presentation covering a deep dive case study on life insurance in the business marketplace on October 20^th.

Ah, retirement. The reward at the end of years in the labor force, of saving and investing and planning for financially sound, restful, and even adventure-filled golden years. Millions of Americans enter retirement annually, but increased reliance on Social Security income and Covid-19’s impact on employment, access to social supports, and mental and physical health have altered the retirement experience for retirees across the U.S. With retiree numbers significantly increasing in the last year and predictions of more to come at an accelerated rate, we wanted to know if retirement still lives up to expectations. Are retirees experiencing the retirement they expected, or do they have regrets? 

NAIFA is pleased to join our members and industry partners, including Life Happens, to commemorate September as Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM). Life insurance is a crucial part of a successful financial plan for many Americans. Unfortunately, many people are underinsured, leaving their families financially vulnerable.

On, September 1st, join E4 Insurance Services on the BREW as they talk life insurance with Juli McNeely, LUTCF, CFP, CLU (Past NAIFA President and loyal member since 1996) to kick off their Leading with Life series for Life Insurance Awareness Month.

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.

June is one of my favorite months of the year, and not just because summer weather is perfect for golfing. It’s also Annuity Awareness Month! Much of my work is dedicated to spreading the word about how annuities are a key part of an optimal retirement plan. I’ve been happy to see that annuities have been growing in popularity over the last few years. According to LIMRA, in 2020 alone, annuity sales totaled over $219 billion, with variable annuities being the most popular choice. I’m a fan of variable annuities myself, so I thought I’d take some time to look at some reasons why they’re such big sellers.

The National Association for Fixed Annuities (NAFA) is the exclusive trade association solely dedicated to fixed annuities. NAFA has brought together industry leaders to spread awareness via the Coalitions for Annuity Awareness in celebration of Annuity Awareness Month. The Coalition is comprised of industry associations that serve consumers by educating them about annuity products. NAIFA recognizes the importance of NAFA’s mission to spread awareness on annuities, making the partnership between our two organizations a natural fit. NAIFA, like NAFA, understands the role annuities play in today’s market. The significance these products have on Americans in an environment that has enabled people to live healthier, longer lives are invaluable. NAFA has worked tirelessly for more than a decade to have the month of June be well-recognized and respected as an Annuity Awareness month, a vision that is now materialized via the Coalition of Annuity Awareness.

NAIFA member Richard Demko offers his insight and expertise in a Best’s Review article on how COVID-19 could impact life insurance underwriting. He is a life insurance expert who is Past President of NAIFA’s Houston chapter and a 2020 recipient of NAIFA’s Four Under 40 Award, presented by Advisor Today. He is also the Director of Insurance at Centric Advisors, a NAIFA 100% Agency.