Thursday, February 11, 2016

2016 January/February Convention Update

Hello, everyone!  Just a quick update on the convention scheduled for May…

Our committee has been very active.  After several trips to the Lodge for work sessions we have finally created a very attractive menu and event schedule.  We are still in process of lining up our key speakers and may have completed that task by the time you read this. 

Creating participation is paramount.  We, along with the NAIFA – Oregon team, have really stretched to put together an excellent experience for advisors and their families.  We are counting on having 30 exhibitors and at least a dozen sponsors at various levels to help us keep the cost to the delegates reasonable.  We can do this, but need your help!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

2016 January/February Health Insurance Reform

FROM THE NATIONAL FRONT and what it means to you!

1. On January 25th the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reduced its estimate of how many people would enroll in health coverage through the ACA State and Federal exchanges from 21 million down to 13 million.  They also further estimated that 11 of those 13 million would be receiving subsidies, which was down from their prior estimate of 15 million.  

The White House and other proponents of the ACA made rosy projections of enrollment for Obamacare, but it hasn't turned out.  Next year, in 2017, in order to meet projections, 24 million would have to sign up, which is highly unlikely.  The problem is what you already know:

Policies with high deductibles and high out of pocket maximums, very narrow choices in doctors, and with ever higher rates are just not attractive to non-subsidized buyers.  As my sainted mentor told me, "It's not dog food if the dogs won't eat it."

2.  There was a report in the Wall Street Journal on January 29 that United HealthCare had lost $450 Million last year with their individual policies sold on the health exchanges.  That despite all the efforts they undertook to DISCOURAGE the sale.  Initiatives such as increasing deductibles, increasing premiums, reducing their provider networks, and eliminating producer commissions.  They along with Humana have announced that they are considering withdrawing from the Individual Exchange placed policy market altogether in 2017.

2016 January/February IFAPAC

'A Yes Face' 
  
We all have a face, a unique face. We 'like' as well as 'unlike' everybody else's face. That may sound a great deal like double talk. But it's true; our faces are unique and different from everyone else's face. That is a scientific fact. Every face has pretty much the same general features; eyes, nose, mouth etc. Most are somewhat symmetrical because they are on the front of our somewhat round heads. People are recognized, socially primarily by their facial features, secondarily by their body structure, height, weight and form.

If I were to ask you; "What's the first thing you notice when you look at a person? It's unlikely that you would say their shoes" If you are honest you will say it is their face. A new survey asked both men and women to name the first thing they notice when they meet someone of the opposite sex. The top answer for both men and women was 'eyes'.  The second-most common answer for both was 'smile'.  Both very politically correct choices. In another study where people were asked; "What do they see in another person that may provide the best first impression?"  The most frequent answer was the word, 'smile'. Ask just any man on the street, what they notice first about another person, the answer would most likely be; 'Their face of course.' Our faces are in the front and uncovered, they are often shiny and they usually greet most everyone, even a stranger, with a smile - I have always liked people with a ready smile. The eyes would come in second because they reveal a lot. It is very true; our faces are noticed first by the majority of other people.

2016 January/February NAIFA CEO Message

Letter from NAIFA CEO

It’s an exciting time at NAIFA. There’s much to show that the lead professional association for insurance and financial advisors is finely tuned to meet the needs of advisors and the industry. A few things on the horizon:

First, NAIFA is in the final stages of adopting a comprehensive strategic plan, known as NAIFA 20/20. This plan, developed by a diverse cross-section of NAIFA leaders from throughout the federation, has undergone two rounds of feedback from NAIFA’s internal and external stakeholders to create a strong blueprint to guide NAIFA in the months and years ahead. The plan, at its core, is quite simple: 
  • Provide NAIFA associations with the tools and flexibility to nimbly respond to the needs of the advisor community,
  • Deliver compelling member value, and
  • Bolster our standing as the premiere voice of the profession before policymakers and regulators at the state and federal levels.
As the NAIFA Board moves to adopt the plan in February, the professional staff has already begun developing comprehensive strategies, tactics, and annual performance metrics to keep us on task to achieve the plan’s goals and outcomes. NAIFA 20/20 will position us as the robust, relevant, and impactful association our industry needs.