2015 May/June President Elect

Why NAIFA?

The world is constantly changing.  These changes may be large or small, for better or worse.  Change can be good and change can be scary, however one thing I know is there will always be change.

NAIFA has undergone many changes since I became a member in 1998.  We have seen changes in our name (formerly NALU), local and national leadership, membership participation, dues increases, and various member benefits.  However, throughout those years of change there have been a few things that have remained constant.  First and foremost, the emphasis that we work in a noble profession, where we help millions of people every day.   We help families identify and protect against the risks and uncertainty that life can provide.  Second, our industry and the services that we provide are constantly under attack by government entities that are seemingly out of our control.  And lastly, NAIFA members like to have fun while giving back to their industry .

2014 July/August President-Elects Message

NAIFA Washington is constantly exploring ways to effectively and efficiently deliver value to its members.  In the past we have presented fantastic speakers, continuing education credits and learning experiences through our Financial Service Forum.  Unfortunately, many of our members were not able to take advantage of these great programs due to location and logistics.  This year we have an exciting new program that will take the place of the Financial Service Forum, and deliver a fantastic learning opportunity that is web based and will allow you to take advantage of this program at your own pace.  Chris Carlson will be moderating our first program:

 

Prospecting Through Positioning

Fill Your Pipeline With Great Opportunities

 

The challenge almost every agent and advisor has when it comes to prospecting is getting through the thousands of marketing messages your prospects receive each day.  In order for your prospecting methods to have a chance at success, it is critical that you establish credibility with your prospect.

2013 August/September Immediate Past President

Congratulations NAIFA Washington!

We did it! As a result of this state operating as a T.E.A.M., we have earned the coveted national award, The Jack E. Bobo Award of Excellence at the GOLD level! I am super proud of everyone’s effort and perseverance through some difficult challenges! The level of our achievement may or may not register with every member, but this award is our measure of success as an association and can be earned at both the local and state levels! The reason it’s a “big deal” is if you are earning this award, you are succeeding as an association. It matters! If your local did not earn this award, you should be asking your leadership why not.

NAIFA will be recognizing our achievement in San Antonio at the NAIFA National Convention! I look forward to seeing all who are attending and again…GREAT JOB! Let’s do it again and again!

Jeff Kyle, LUTCF, LTCP

Take Part In Your Organization!

 

As you read this I know you are a paid NAIFA member and I appreciate you. Maintaining you membership in our fine professional organization is of the utmost importance, especially now with the financial state of the United States. Our voice as a Federation as well as each of us individually carries weight with our legislators. Please continue to or begin to contribute to IFAPAC as well. This is our lobbying arm that must be maintained and enhanced.   As I’m sure is mentioned elsewhere we had a very successful Day On The Hill in Olympia January 29. Kudos to Mel Sorensen, Sharon Sparling and Drew Hooper for a job well done.

As your President Elect I would like to ask you to consider attending our state convention in Tri Cities May 15-17. Look for registration information soon. Be a part of the business of NAIFA as well as learning from the likes of Tom Hegna.

And I urge you to do two other things for the good of the organization and the industry. When you learn of a fellow NAIFA member leaving the organization talk him or her into staying, or get them back. If you need help just ask your leadership.  And just as important please ask someone to be a NAIFA member. If each member brought in just one new member our number would double. I firmly believe each and every one of you has the ability to bring in a new member or more for that matter.

This brings me to a recent experience and notice. Today I met with Gerry Moody of State Farm in Puyallup. Gerry has been with State Farm for nearly 31 years and has a very successful business with a few thousand households he serves. He became a new NAIFA member today – thank you Gerry. He is an LUTCF, CLU and ChFC. He needs and wants help with providing more service to his clients in the life and disability area to include long term care and annuities as well.  He wants to bring into his practice an experienced life agent to work his book of business. If I wasn’t so happy where I am I would be interested – lots of opportunity! If you know of someone interested have them call Gerry at 253 841-3746.

Go and serve your clients well.

Kevin Gleim

President Elect

2012 FSF Recap (Newsletter 2012-12)

In this article you will read about the Financial Services Forum held in Bellevue on October 29. 60 Reps experienced top presenters, excellent facility, great food and fellowship.

Ty Bennett spoke about the power of influence and leadership and how it affects our performance and service to clients. He was entertaining and informative to the point you knew you were listening to a top speaker. A 40 year life member of MDRT asked me to introduce Ty to him because he is going to suggest to MDRT leadership they use him for platform speaking at national meeting.

Gary Heuer told his life story “A Determined Spirit.” It was a story of amazement and admiration. Gary told it in a way to inspire us to serve more people and to do it better. He added some life sales ideas. One of our NAIFA Washington's past presidents told me that Gary’s presentation was worth the price of admission alone.

Cindy Eisenhower gave a colorful presentation on long term care that lit the fire under our rears to conduct
this conversation with our clients and prospects.

Mel Sorenson spoke for 50 minutes giving us updates on the healthcare exchanges and its status as well as other topics of importance to us and our business. He is a tremendous asset to us and our profession.

We had a special presentation by Jim Martinson on the American Lake Veterans Golf course in Lakewood and the great things they are doing for our psychologically and physically wounded veterans. He shared some of his story with us too. He is a Vietnam vet double amputee and has accomplished some amazing and remarkable things that we able bodied people could only imagine ever doing.

And of course we had a number of sponsors in attendance and appreciate their support. Our corporate sponsors are Thrivent Financial, Northwest Preferred Credit Union, Regence Blue Shield and Findmemoremoney.com. Our Membership and IFAPAC were present as well. Our additional on site sponsors were ExamOne, Ohio National Financial Services, DI Broker, Washington Brokerage, Crump Life Insurance, Astor & Black, Guardian Life and NW Disability. Please go to these providers first to help you with your business. If you need contact information let Linda Fox our Executive or myself know so that we can get it to you. And one other organization to thank is the Washington State FIC. This Fraternal organization came through with a speaker sponsorship of $538. Make a note in your 2013 calendar for the second or third Monday of October to attend the next Financial Services Forum. See you at Day on The
Hill January 29th.

Written by Kevin Gleim, LUTCF, FICF, President-Elect