Members Blog

It's hard to believe that we are more than halfway through December. That means 2025 will be here before we know it. Before the clock strikes midnight, be sure that you have all of the resources and materials you need to get your chapter prepared for a smooth start to 2025. Here are 5 simple things you can do right now:

Are you looking for industry insights, inspiring stories, and actionable advice to elevate your career in financial services? Look no further than NAIFA’s Advisor Today podcast series! Hosted by NAIFA 2026 President, Christopher Gandy, LACP and NAIFA VP of Membership, Suzanne Carawan, this engaging podcast brings you conversations with some of the brightest minds and most accomplished professionals in the financial services industry. Our latest episode features John Davidson, LUTCF, FSS, who shares insights on leadership, mentorship, and balancing personal and professional life.

John's remarkable 44-year career in the financial services industry is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and purpose. As a US Army veteran, past national president of NAIFA, and the 2023 recipient of NAIFA’s prestigious Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award, John has left an indelible mark on the industry. His journey, deeply intertwined with personal values and a commitment to financial planning, serves as an inspiration to both seasoned professionals and those just starting their careers.

During this month of giving thanks, we want to thank you for belonging to your professional home. Your commitment to NAIFA is what makes us strong, united, and effective. We are grateful for the expertise, passion, and dedication you bring to our association.  Discover new ways to lead, inspire, and give back as we grow our NAIFA family together.

Are you following our new campaign on social media? "Overachieve in Life" is a great way for us to showcase our members living their best life...and how a career in insurance and financial services allows them to have a great work/life balance to pursue their passions. Be sure that you are following NAIFA on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram as we continue to publish this series.

On November 11, our nation will celebrate, honor, and remember our Veterans. Our Veteran's Day episode of the Advisor Today Podcast will feature Joshua Herrington-Vickers, a former United States Air Force Airman serving from 2009 to 2015 before entering the financial services industry. Joshua was deployed to Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Tune in to hear his story.

Named one of the top 10 business speakers in North America in December 2023 by New York Tech, Marques Ogden provides NAIFA members an exclusive opportunity to connect with him each month. Join him for Wake Up Wednesdays on the first Wednesday of each month at 9 am eastern (next session is next week November 6th). Marques's sessions focus on being performance-driven, emotionally resilient, and leveraging discipline to accomplish more. He refers to this as the "pursuit of the unbreakable mindset." Through these sessions, Marques is committed to equipping participants with the knowledge they need to thrive.

We are #NAIFAproud to announce that we have presented 1,223 NAIFA Quality Awards for 2024. The NAIFA Quality Awards (NQA) have stood as the hallmark for outstanding client care in our industry since 1945. We especially thank our company supporters, Southern Farm Bureau, Modern Woodmen, and COUNTRY Financial. Check out the list of the 2024 Recipients now available online.

We are always looking for ways to help amplify the NAIFA brand, promote our members, and encourage more financial professionals to join our association. The number one thing you can do is to refer a new member to NAIFA. The easiest way to do this is to use the referral form to send names to the Membership department. We also have a new "Why I Belong" pdf that we can personalize with your photo and the top 5 reasons you choose to belong to your professional association. (Thanks to Joanna Dellosa and Paul Szkotak for volunteering to be first! Download their PDFs to see why they chose NAIFA.)

Earlier this year, NAIFA rolled out a series of Member-To-Member programs, one of which was the P&C Study Group. NAIFA-Missouri Past President, Jennifer Hodges, approached NAIFA staff about how we can acquire, engage, and retain more P&C agents. From that conversation, the NAIFA P&C Study Group was formed.

Last week more than 90 of the nearly 400 Triangle Team members made the trek to the Arizona Biltmore for the 2024 Apex and National Leadership Conference. Members who qualify for the Triangle Team were treated to early entrance to the Welcome Reception. This was one way that we recognize and thank our most engaged members. Check out the full list of Triangle Team members.