2016 March/April Professional Development

Are you truly wanting to build your practice and your Business?  Well, if you are, you should be seriously considering this dynamic program that has recently been developed for you by NAIFA. ADVISOR 2020 is at your finger tips, see for yourself.

The success of financial advisors of the future will lie in their ability to redefine and reinvent the value they bring to their clients in the face of changing market and financial forces over the next six years, according to a new book published by the GAMA Foundation and sponsored by NAIFA.

The book presents two research studies conducted independently and simultaneously “to help advisors evolve into the faster, more flexible and more value-laden profession that the world of 2020 will require,” according to Advisor 2020.

2016 March/April Convention

How many of you have already signed-up for the convention, golf and river cruise?  Your attendance and participation in the annual convention is also a big help to the association!

We have tons of great stuff to offer… from the exhibitors and sponsors to CE to NAIFA National President Jules Gaudreau to our two National Trustees to Jennifer Alford, the YAT of the year for NAIFA National last year to Bill Bryant, the GOP candidate for Governor of Washington (not a stump speech though) and an update from Mel.

Did I mention we have lots of sponsors and exhibitors that expect us to fill the room?

2015 November/December LILI

**WANTED** 2016 Leadership In Life Institute Class Participants

Our LILI Class of 2015 has only one class left!  It’s been quite a journey for them and it can be for you too but you have to register for the class today!

LILI Class of 2015 on their way UP!!

R/L: John Nichols, LILI Apprentice, Jody Lentz, Kelly Allen, Lisa Kruckeberg, 

Rollo Van Slyke, Chris Wertenberger, Kevin Gleim, 

Sharon Sparling, Moderator, Scarlett Kendrick

It’s time to get set for 2016 and the class is limited.

Do you want to take your business to the NEXT level? 

The Leadership in Life Institute (LILI) curriculum is based on the leadership writings of Stephen Covey, John Maxwell, Jim Collins, and Kouzes & Posner.

2015 November/December 2016 Convention

NAIFA-Washington/NAIFA-Oregon  

Combined Convention 2016!

May 20^th – May 22^nd, 2016

I thought I’d provide you with a quick update to the convention plans… Many have been asking pointed questions… like “how much?”

Funny that you ask!  We have been a very busy committee!  The final “price per delegate or attendee” has not yet been decided, but we are doing as much as possible to keep it reasonable.  We are well on our way to securing some major sponsors for some of the activities… Principal Financial is on board, as is Illinois Mutual Life.  Several other major sponsors are almost committed, only awaiting final approval from home offices!

That’s all good, but we need to deliver on our promises!  We have shared with them that this will be bigger than ever!  We intend to deliver at least 150 delegates and another 100 “guests” to the convention.  The rooms are blocked out and ready, the program is taking shape and dignitaries and politicians alike are lining up to join us! 

2015 November/December Professional Development

I think you would agree with me that we live and work in dynamic times.  This is why we always need to be considering the coming challenges and opportunities in front of us.  The new program known as NAIFA 20/20 addresses the future success of insurance and financial advisors.  It will lie in their ability to redefine and reinvent the value they bring to their clients, as a trusted advisor, in 2020 and beyond. The retirement of baby boomers, the growth of the middle market, the changing face of the traditional family and the use of technology are among the factors that significantly affect who advisors’ clients are and what products advisors will need to guide their clients to secure financial futures.

NAIFA 20/20 is available for you to participate in and stimulate your thinking.  The second way to get your practice moving forward is through Continuing Education.  Besides being a requirement, it’s what you need to do to stay relevant.  As the saying goes, if you aren’t learning and expanding your knowledge, you are working with old information.

2015 September/October LILI

Leadership In Life Institute – Take the Challenge!

Success  is in the air…the LILI Class 2015 will be holding their third session this month!  The feedback has been so positive from the 7 students enrolled.  Great News!! John Nichols is serving as our 2015 LILI Apprentice and has enrolled in the Moderator Training being held in New Orleans.  John will be next year’s Moderator and I will be co-moderating with him!!!  

Are you ready to take on the challenge that the Leadership in Life Institute has to offer?   We’re in the process of opening registration for the LILI Class of 2016!!

2015 September/October The Back Page

Are You Sleeping Through the Opportunities??

Nearly 200 years ago, the American short story “Rip Van Winkle” became an instant classic. The main character, Rip, is an unambitious man who is very good at avoiding two things: work and his wife.

One day, while wandering in the mountains with his dog, he discovers a group of strangely dressed men drinking and playing games. After accepting some of their liquor, Rip becomes drowsy and closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens his eyes again, he is surprised to find that his dog is gone, his rifle has rusted, and he now has a long beard.

Rip makes his way back to his village only to discover that everything has changed. His wife has died, his friends are gone, and the portrait of King George III in the tavern has been replaced by a portrait of someone he does not recognize—by General George Washington.

2015 September/October Convention 2016

NAIFA-Washington/NAIFA-Oregon  

Combined Convention 2016!

May 20^th – May 22^nd, 2016

Welcome to Skamania Lodge

It’s official… when it was suggested that we “think outside of the box”… we did… and MORE!

You are going to love it!  There is no more beautiful destination than the Columbia Gorge in the late spring.   Skamania Lodge is a destination resort with plenty of fun stuff for the entire family.  Certainly a wonderful “couples get-away”!

So… that’s our plan. Instead of filling up all of your time with continuing education and motivational monologs, we decided to combine our convention with NAIFA-OREGON and create more of a “networking” opportunity with our brethren (and sisters) to the south! 

2015 September/October National Conference

NAIFA NATIONAL CONFERENCE in NEW ORLEANS is HERE!

We are all headed to New Orleans this October 3-5, 2015 for our National Conference.  Your leaders and delegates will be busy!  Let the good times roll in New Orleans! The NAIFA 2015 Career Conference and Annual Meeting is jam-packed with great speakers, educational workshops, advocacy updates and more, but let’s be sure to plan time to enjoy New Orleans. I’m adding a couple of days after the meeting to check out all there is to see and do in the Big Easy.

If you are a delegate please get your cell phone number to Jenna Olson, our Executive, so we can keep in touch during the convention and arrange to meet as needed.  We have a Western States Forum Meeting most likely Monday morning at 7:30 AM that we need you to attend.  We also want to gather everyone together for fellowship, camaraderie, and fun. I will be attending on Saturday the Advisor 2020 program so that I can share with you my experience as we will be putting this on for our members this October 15^th.

2015 July/August Professional Development

The new NAIFA  year brings some new educational opportunities with it.   As a fundamental principle of NAIFA, education is a key component of being successful.  I encourage you to form a class in the New Year, to help foster engagement within your local membership, especially the new YAT members.

The New LUTCF designation and curriculum has been built and classes have begun.  Continue your education and develop yourself by getting this designation first.  A great way to meet other NAIFA members, by engaging in classes that better everyone!

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 .

2015 March/April LILI

“WANTED:  LILI Candidates for Class of 2015”

Do you want to take your business
to the NEXT level? 

 

Ø  Current 2015 NAIFA Washington State Leaders that are LILI Graduates:  8 of the 11!

Ø  70 percent of LILI graduates report a measurable increase in the growth of their business.

 

The Leadership in Life Institute (LILI) curriculum is based on the leadership writings of Stephen Covey, John Maxwell, Jim Collins, and Kouzes & Posner.

What Will You Gain as a NAIFA LILI Graduate?

1.    Creative and effective methods to develop and execute a business plan

2.    Tools and techniques that enhance your practice

3.    Increased productivity

4.    Enhanced personal vision and mission statements and guiding principles

5.    Improved professional and personal relationships

6.    Increased understanding of one's self

7.    Long-lasting bonds with classmates and LILI Alumni

2015 March/April Past President's Message

I Learned It All In Kindergarten

Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in Kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but right there in the sandbox at nursery school.

These are the things I learned: Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Flush. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody… Learn some and think some, and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some…

When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together…

Think of what a better world it would be if we all – the whole world – had cookies and milk about 3 o’clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations to always put things back where we found them, and cleaned up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.”

                                              -Robert Fulghum

2015 March/April Convention

CONVENTION 2015 ---CRUISE ON OVER TO TACOMA!

Wednesday to Friday, June 3-5, 2015

Best Western Tacoma Dome Hotel

2611 East E St.

Tacoma, Washington

 

Be there! Le May – America’s Car Museum



Have you been to the Le May Car Museum?  Whoa, Nellie!  This is the place for all you Car Guys and Gals!  And if you’re not one, you will be one when you get to see this fabulous tribute to America’s Love Affair with the Auto! 

What you will get:

Indie 500:  John F. Nichols on How to Make Top of the Table, be Involved in NAIFA, and still have Fun!

Under the Hood: Levi Edgecome on Social Security Strategies that Work

Fuel Injection:  Stephen Good on Why Our Networking Fails and What to do to Make it effective

2015 January/February NAIFA-Washington Convention

NAIFA WASHINGTON STATE CONVENTION

HAVE YOU SEEN THE LE MAY CAR MUSEUM IN TACOMA YET?

What are you waiting for?  Check out this 1907 Pierce Great Arrow 4 Cylinder

Touring Motor Car and 300 plus more vintage to modern day vehicles!

When: Wednesday Noon June 3 -- Friday 11 AM June 5, 2015

Where: Best Western Tacoma Dome Hotel, 2611 East E Street, Tacoma, WA 98421
(253)-272-7737

Conveniently located off the City Center Exit of I-5

Who: All Local and State Officer, Board Members, Committee Chairs, Delegates from Locals, and incoming 2015-2016 Officers, Board Members and Committee Chairs, and Members of NAIFA

2015 January/February LILI

LILI Graduates Two from NAIFA Washington!

This year NAIFA Washington joined NAIFA Oregon for our 2014 Leadership In Life Institute class.  We met in Vancouver with 6 participants from Oregon.  Success is when someone lets you know LILI changed their life dramatically and their business grew beyond their expectations!  We have our last class and graduation ceremony on February 20^th at Vancouver, Washington’s historic “Grant House”. 
 

 Congratulations, Joe & Jim!! Your Journey Begins…

 



Joseph M. Newman, LUTCF, FIC, LCTC

 James A. Scott, Sr., LUTCF

WANTED:  Students for the   2015  LILI  Class   

Please contact me for Class registration and information.

Sharon L. Sparling, State LILI Chair/Moderator; (360) 708-3210; Sharon@ssparling.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 November/December LILI

NAIFA Washington LILI 2015 Class Participants needed!

“Kudos to NAIFA for developing such a course! I’ve been involved (both as student and teacher) in Dale Carnegie and various industry designation classes. In my opinion, LILI ranks at the top in helping prioritize what is important in life, and achieving one’s self-determined definition of success.”    Michael Standrod, CLU, REBC - Arkansas

The Leadership in Life Institute (LILI) curriculum is based on the leadership writings of Stephen Covey, John Maxwell, Jim Collins, and Kouzes & Posner.

The institute consists of six sessions over six months:

1.    Identifying One’s Self: Introductions, self-assessments, and identification of personality styles and how to relate to them

2.    Mastering One’s Self: Leadership fundamentals, personal vision and mission

3.    Developing One’s Self: Application of self-mastery skills learned in Session Two

4.    Developing the Leaders Around You: Team-building and working with others to achieve unique goals

5.    Someday All This Will Be…Whose?: Moving from Independence to Interdependence

6.    The Journey Begins – Commencement: Responsibility, renewal and hallmarks of leadership

2014 November/December Solutions Summit

NAIFA Washington Invites You
to Attend the
SOLUTIONSSUMMIT!

Sharon L. Sparling, NAIFA Washington, Government Relations Chair

NAIFA-Washington is partnering with the Washington Policy Center by being a co-presenting organization on WPC’s Solutions Summit on Tuesday, January 6^th, 2015 at the 3 Rivers Convention Center in Tri-Cities and Wednesday, January 7^th, 2015 at the Bellevue Hyatt!

We would like to reserve a spot at each location and need 8 NAIFA WA attendees!  This will save you!  The full day registration of $80 would be $68.75!!  Please let me know right away so I can get WPC your name for this discount.  If we don’t get 8 at each location the cost will be $80 for full day’s events.  Finally, if you have clients that could benefit from attending, please invite them!  “To be Informed is to be Involved!” ~Sharon L. Sparling, NAIFA Washington, Government Relations Chair

2014 November/December Past President's Message

Hero In Our Midst

 

Just a little more than a month ago the joint meeting of NAIFA South Puget Sound and Washington Association of Fraternal Insurance Counselors was held on the Tacoma Waterfront. The purpose of the meeting was to educate and inspire as well as foster comradery between the insurance and financial professionals in attendance.  First we heard from Hal Prucop, attorney at law of Issaquah on some basic estate planning documents and considerations including beneficiary designations that sometimes we take for granted and that may not be in alignment with the desires of our clients and prospects. Hal is a very energetic caring attorney that believes in what we do and supports us.  We then heard from the well respected Bob Pittman, attorney at law from Fircrest. Bob has been an estate planning attorney extraordinaire for many years and I’m sure already known by many of you. Bob also believes in what we do and works very well with us in accomplishing our client’s objectives. He is a strong proponent of life insurance for many reasons that we also believe and shared several sales ideas including at least one that many of us may not have known about. Inherited IRAs are not safe from creditors. Bob shared some real life stories relating to this issue and how we should consider alternatives to the inherited IRA, like life insurance.

2014 November/December LUTC

Grow Your Business

 

NAIFA is always striving to offer the most relevant, timely and useful resources to help our members grow their business. In doing so, it’s important that NAIFA understands your business, products and service offerings to properly develop the programming and tools you need to help take your business to the next level.

Do your part in developing the programming and resources that best relates to you, your business and your product offerings. Update your member profile and assist NAIFA in keeping a pulse on what resources, tools and programming would best serve your professional development needs and help us accomplish our mission of enhancing our members business and professional skills.