Selling Life Insurance using a digital platform on your website for consumer direct insurance tools is now the hottest trend! Now more than ever, consumers want to shop, compare, and apply for coverage online and on their terms. The goal is to make the experience of protecting loved ones with life insurance as simple and stress-free as possible. Here are some key reasons why digital life insurance sales has gained momentum: COVID requiring remote sales; 72 million Millennials (25–40-year olds) who would rather shop on their own; massive use of mobile devices averaging 3.8 hours per day; and social media usage 2.5 hours per day for adults in the USA.

NAIFA is proud to announce Ken Leibow as our newest contributor, providing content to enhance members’ knowledge in the Financial Technology space.  

Ken is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at InsurTech Express and has more than 34 years of insurance industry experience. He has an extensive background in insurance technology for distribution and back-office systems. 

In sports, it's known as a hot streak and there can be little doubt that Chris Gandy is on one...again. According to the NCAA, the chances of going pro in men's basketball is 1.2% beyond high school, but Gandy did it. The chances of making it through the first years in the financial services industry is often cited as less than 15%, but Gandy did it. Being featured in GQ? Done that. Top producer in OneAmerica? He's got that accolade, too. Making the cover of your industry's magazine? Check. President of NAIFA-Chicagoland? Game on. Key stakeholder in the future of the premier association in the financial services industry that is the voice of the American advisor? He's our guy.

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) will hold a new hybrid event called the “Belong Event” on November 17, 2020. The new event has a three-pronged purpose:

-To serve as the association’s annual business meeting, during which the new Board of Trustees will be sworn into office

-To serve as the platform to celebrate the more than 1,700 volunteer leaders and staff that power NAIFA’s 50 state and 35 local chapters

-To conclude the year-long celebration of NAIFA’s 130th anniversary.

Cammie Scott, NAIFA National President, will oversee the business meeting as she formally calls the association’s annual meeting to order. The meeting will include the election of five National Trustees, election of the national secretary and re-election of NAIFA’s national officers as follows.

National Trustees to elect:

-Wes Booker, LUTCF, Owner of the Wes Booker Agency in Maumelle, AR, (NAIFA member since 2004)

-Aprilyn Chavez Geissler, LACP, First Executive Vice President with Gateway Financial Advisors in Albuquerque, NM, (NAIFA member since 2005)

-Dennis Cuccinelli, LACP, Financial Representative, Certified Financial Services in Paramus, NJ, (NAIFA member since 1986)

-Doug Massey, CLU, ChFC, FSS, Owner of Doug Massey Financial Services in San Angelo, TX, (NAIFA member since 1987)

-Brian Wilson, Sales Director with Mutual of Omaha Advisors in Lexington, KY, (NAIFA member since 2000)

National Officers to elect:

-Lawrence J. Holzberg, LUTCF, LACP, Director of Insurance and Advanced Sales at Fortis Lux Financial in New York, (NAIFA member since 1990), will stand for election as President-Elect

-Brock Jolly, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CLTC, CASL, CFBS, Founding Partner of Veritas Financial LLC/MassMutual Financial Group in McLean, VA, (NAIFA member since 2001), will stand for re-election as Treasurer

-Bryon Holz, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL, LACP, Founder of Bryon Holz & Associates in Brandon, FL, (NAIFA member since 1987), will stand for election as Secretary

Kathleen Owings, a West Point graduate, past president of NAIFA-CO, and co-founder of Westbilt Financial Group, talked about her service to her country, industry, and clients in an interview published in ThinkAdvisor.

Congratulations to our NAIFA National Secretary, Larry Holzberg, who has been appointed to Director of Insurance and Advance Sales for Fortis Lux. Fortis Lux is a comprehensive financial planning firm that offers wealth management, protection, risk management, trust and estate planning advice and solutions.

David B. Schulman, CLU, ChFC, a general agent with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), has been named the 2015 inductee into the GAMA International Management Hall of Fame. Schulman will be honored during the Celebration of Excellence Banquet at GAMA’s annual LAMP conference, which takes place in March in Orlando, Florida.

The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, a more than 167-year-old company, is pleased to announce that NAIFA member Jason Rucker, CFP, of Cambridge Financial Services in Chandler, Ariz., has been honored with the 2013 Financial Professional of the Year Award.

The life insurance industry’s highest honor will be presented at the NAIFA Career Conference and Annual Meeting in September as a tribute to his more than 40 years of service and contributions to the industry.

NAIFA member William J. (Bill) Braun, CLU, AEP, former native of Belleville, Illinois, recently celebrated an important milestone--he has had only one job for the past 65 years and considers himself lucky to have it.