Dave Skutnik has been a loyal NAIFA member since 1984 and today is eagerly helping his clients prepare for retirement while simultaneously enjoying the freedom that being your own boss has enabled him to have. Working from his lake-side home in Grand Island, NE, Dave credits this solely to his career as a financial advisor. Before following up on a direct mail advertisement that relayed what Dave describes as an “uncanny” reflection of what he was desperately seeking for his future, he worked at a small company that he was no longer satisfied with. The most attractive aspect of his then-potential career as a financial advisor, “the ability to be compensated for the amount of work that [he] did.” He relished in idea of “being able to experience success based completely on [himself].” The same day that Dave signed his contract with his insurance company, he also became a NAIFA member (then NALU) stating that his sales manager represented the association “as an integral part of the business.” Dave encourages and provides guidance to other advisors about joining NAIFA. He declares his membership as “one of the best decisions [he has] ever made” noting that the comradery amongst NAIFA members was enough to convince him of this. Dave attended his first NAIFA meeting when he lived in Omaha and was touched by how friendly all 600 members were with everyone sharing ideas and leaving their competitive mindsets at the door.