2015 January/February Administrator Retiring

Linda Fox, NAIFA-Washington’s Administrator will be retiring on June 30, 2015. Linda stepped in when I retired in 2008. There was a lot to learn in a very short time and she learned quickly. Linda’s hard work and dedication is evident in everything she does.   

Linda has always been the “go to person” for whatever you needed. Her friendly outgoing, energetic personality is loved by all.

Please join us in saying thank you and let her know she will be greatly missed. Best wishes, Linda for a great retirement…you deserve it!

 

Cheryl McCracken

IFAPAC-Washington

Administrator

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015 January/February Government Relations

 

A Successful NAIFA Washington & WAHU “Day on the Hill”

This year’s “Day on the Hill” was great with about 100 attendees.  Our Lobbyist, Mel Sorensen, again, had a lineup of speakers that were stellar: 

· Catherine Bailey, Director of Healthplanfinder Business

· Senator Jan Angel (R, 26th Legislative District, Majority Caucus vice Chair)

· Representative Eric Pettigrew (D, 37th Legislative District, Majority Caucus Chair)

· John Mangan, Regional Vice President, American Council of Life Insurers

· Jason McGill, Health Policy Advisor – Office of the Governor

· Grace Campbell, Regional Director, State Affairs, America’s Health Insurance Plans

· Sydney Smith Zvara, Executive Director, Association of Washington Healthcare Plans

Attendees got a chance to hear the Update on the Washington Health Benefit Exchange-Healthcare Open Enrollment, Legislative Budget and Policy Priorities for the 2015 Legislative Session, Priorities of Life Insurers and Governor Inslee’s Health Policy Objectives for the 2015 Session.  The best of the morning’s session was the Q&A for the speakers.   We don’t always get the answer we want but we do get our voices heard.

 

2015 January/February Legislation

Legislative Report

 

OIC Request Legislation Modernizing Life Insurance Reserve Requirements Moves Forward in the Senate and House

 

On Wednesday, January 21 the Senate Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee Friday, held a hearing to consider SB 5180—a measure introduced at the request of Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler to adopt the NAIC updates to the Standard Valuation and Standard Nonforfeiture laws, including a new approach based on principle-based reserves. The American Council of Life Insurers, Allstate, American Family Insurance, and USAA testified in support of the bill. The OIC also spoke in favor of the bill. The committee took action and approved a “do pass” recommendation on the bill on Friday, January 23. The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee in preparation for consideration on the Senate floor.

 

A House version of the bill (HB 1076) was approved by the House Business and Financial Services Committee on January 20. HB 1076 has been referred to the House General Government & Information Technology Committee for consideration of the fiscal note on the measure that has been prepared by the OIC. The committee has scheduled a hearing on the measure for Tuesday, February 3. This is a routine referral for review of the fiscal note, and is not expected to significantly delay the progress of the bill. The bill has already been placed on a list of bills to be brought to a vote.

 

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 Government Relations

NAIFA/WAHU "Day on the Hill 2015

January 27, 2015

Phoenix Inn, Olympia, Washington

 

 

NAIFA Washington Members it's time to mark you calendars for our annual NAIFA/WAHU "Day on the Hill". This is going to be a very important year because the State's Budget deficit is BIG! You know we have to be engaged in this process for our clients and for ourselves. Here's what Mel Sorensen, NAIFA-Washington Lobbyist has provided:

Proposed Agenda

8:45                 Welcome and Introductions

9:00-9:30         Update on the Washington Health
                        Benefit Exchange                 

                        Catherine Bailey, Director of
                        Healthplanfinder Business

 

9:30-10:00       Governor Inslee’s Health Policy Objectives for 2015

                        Jason McGill, Health Policy Advisor - Office of the Governor 

 

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 In Memoriam

Our beloved Leader for Life of NAIFA-Lower Columbia Major Robert M. Otteraaen USMC Ret., 86, of Kelso passed away Nov. 15, 2014, at home. Many of you experienced Bob’s dry wit, undoubtedly a left over from his career as a U.S. Marine. As a Marine, Bob served in three wars….WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Not too many Generals get to say that!

.......Wayne Lunday

He was born April 25, 1928, in Seattle, to Dr. Andrew O. and Anna (Nelson) Otteraaen. Robert graduated from Wenatchee High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture and a Master of Education in counseling from Washington State University.

On June 13, 1953, he married Marion J. Copeland in Seattle. They moved to Kelso from Camp Lejune Marine Corps Base in 1974. During his military career, Robert served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He went on to teach high school and run a small business in Kelso for financial tax strategies.

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.

2014 November/December IFAPAC

The Thumping Heart of NAIFA

 

The recent elections have been more than a water-cooler topic. You can’t listen to radio or television without hearing about the results nationally. And there is quite a buzz about our local House and Senate races. You need to know that YOUR IFAPAC contributions were well spent on campaigns at the Federal level and State level, too.

You can’t please all of the people all of the time but many of our members are pleased with the shift in power in the US Senate and the Washington State Senate. Almost all of the races in WA that were funded by IFAPAC were winners in their districts. Part of your dues to NAIFA and part of your contributions to IFAPAC are spent at the Federal level. So the thumping heart of NAIFA continues its steady beat, working hard to protect the interests of your clients, your industry and your career. Bob Dylan sang, “Money doesn’t talk, it screams!” and your contributions screamed in this election cycle. Thank you very much.

2014 September/October LUTC

The new LUTCF course curriculum is slated to open for registration beginning after the first of the year.  The actual courses will begin in July 2015. This curriculum has been totally restructured, and only requires 3 classes for the designation.  The cost will be different for members verses non-members, and yes a Revenue sharing will be in place.  If a moderated class is done, the Association will receive 5% of total tuition.  If an individual takes the class online, a 1% revenue share will occur.  These courses will be more expensive than before, but will cover more material.  If you earned your designation with 5 classes, you will have spent roughly the same amount for the new three course program.

This should allow students the ability to earn the designation quicker, but the courses will be a bit tougher.  Start planning to host a class and make your local association so money, along with building that core principal of your NAIFA Membership...Education!  If you aren't keeping your education up, you will become irrelevant.

Roger McDowell, LUTCF

LUTC Chairman

2014 September/October IFAPAC

Knock, knock…

Who’s there?

HIPAA

HIPAA who?

Sorry, I can’t tell you.

We all deal with HIPAA even if you don’t sell health insurance. But you are involved in health insurance, at least tangentially. Your kids, your clients, your friends and neighbors are buying it. They must buy something. It’s the law. They are either paying portion of the premium under an employer plan or buying health insurance on their own. And it isn’t a simple purchase. You are probably getting questions about how to determine which plan to buy and how it all works. The [un]Affordable Care Act is an enormous and multi-tentacle law that reaches into the pocketbook of every business, every home and every individual. And we are closing in on the open enrollment for 2015 that runs November 15 to February 15, 2015.

Do you know that NAIFA is working at the Federal and State level to iron out the problems in the ACA?

 In addition to protecting the integrity of life insurance and other products you may sell, NAIFA is everywhere. Our lobbyist, Mel Sorensen, is in “Ulcer Gulch” every day when the legislature is in Olympia. He runs a daily schedule that is as busy and harried as a hospital intern. NAIFA has also been successful in Washington D.C. on the front lines of the struggles between our industry and government. A government that would just as soon remove our profession from the rolls of the gainfully employed. Without the efforts of NAIFA and other invested associations to explain our value to the constituents of legislators we could be in real trouble. And it takes financial support to get the work done.

2014 September/October In Memoriam

Wayne Wyse, CLU, RHU

Wayne Wyse joined NAIFA-Washington and North Central in 1975. Wayne was very active in his local and was North Central’s local president 1985-86 and their Legislative chair for many, many years.  He was an annual regular attendee at North Central’s Jumbo CE Seminar, NAIFA-Washington’s Day on the Hill and Financial Services Forum. He also wrote many articles to the newspapers that made an impact. In addition, Wayne chaired some of the most successful NAIFA-Washington Conventions. He was a good member, a good person and he will be greatly missed. Rest in Peace....

2014 September/October San Diego National Convention Photos

President John Nichols

 

 

(Center) David Bailey Spokane Executive (L) Al Zalewski National Committeeman; Sharon Sparling, Advocacy & LILI Chair: Michael Staeb RVP Region VI, Communication Chair & Seattle/Eastside President; Monica Ewing, Twin Harbors President; Jeff Kyle, Past NAIFA Washington President, (R) John Nichols, President; Richard Miller APIC Chair & RVP Region IV; James Penning Central President; Randy Kimm Spokane President & RVP Region III.

 

NAIFA-Washington Delegates

 

 

 

 

2014 September/October National Committeeman

Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego?

Well, sunny San Diego of course, along with the rest of the NAIFA Washington delegation to the 125^th Anniversary National Conference of NAIFA (the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) September 6 – 8, 2014.  It was historic for not only its anniversary but also for the election of our first woman President, Juli McNeely.  And your Washington delegation, led by President John “B.” Nichols, President Elect Scott Fowler (recently released from Injured Reserve to Active Duty after foot surgery), and Sec-Treas Neal Kloke plus 17 more local members, were there to learn, vote, contribute, and have a lot of fun and conversation.

The Conference was shortened to two full days this year in response to member requests, from Saturday afternoon to Monday so we packed the time with meetings and seminars; we made the most of our time with an afterhours cocktail party hosted by National Committeeman Alan Zalewski, CLU, ChFC, still LUTCF, whose suggested voting mantra remains: “vote in the time honored tradition for the candidate who provides most swag”.  We had a lot to celebrate:

2014 September/October Professional Development

NAIFA Prospecting Program

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:

Introducing NAIFA Washington’s Coaching Series:

 

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.

2014 July/August LILI

2014 LILI Class Happens!

I’m so proud to announce that NAIFA Washington is joining NAIFA Oregon in a first joint class…6 students from Oregon and 2 students from Washington.  Joe Newman & Jim Scott are participating this year for NAIFA Washington.  Jeff Kyle, NAIFA WA Past President and Steve Forman, NAIFA OR, current Chair of the NAIFA – National Communications Committee are the Moderators!

The students’ expectations are high and the Leadership In Life Institute will deliver.  LILI is a six-month leadership development program devoted to advancing your personal growth and professional success. The course offers:

·         The best in leadership and personal-development thinking

·         Tools to improve your practice and create a business plan

·         Increased understanding of self and improved interpersonal relationships

·         Expanded professional network and opportunities for growth through LILI alumni programs

·         Leadership opportunities in NAIFA

2014 July/August IFAPAC

What time is it?

In 1956 the answer to that question was “It’s Mickey Mouse Time” for hundreds of thousands of baby boomers (not yet identified as such). And any cool kid knew the members of the Club: Jimmie Dodd (Head Mouseketeer) who often provided short segments encouraging young viewers to make the right moral choices. Roy Williams (The Big Mouseketeer) that suggested Mickey and Minnie Mouse ears be worn by cast members. The Mouseketeers included Johnny Crawford (first year only), Dennis Day and the darling to all young boys and teens, Annette Funicello. To any and all kids with a TV at home, The Mickey Mouse Club was the most important entertainment show. It came on right after American Bandstand. Ask anyone that grew up during the 4 season run – 1955-1959.

If I ask you the same question today; “What time is it?” how will you answer?

For NAIFA members, the answer should be “Time to Stand For Something” and to get involved with the election cycle. The primaries in Washington are behind us now. The general election is about 12 weeks away. This election could change everything about our communities, our state, our country. So much is at stake. Such important issues are in play. Issues that will affect you, your family, your friends, your clients and your business.