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NAIFA-West Virginia
MOUNTAINEER NEWS: THE LATEST MEMBERSHIP NEWS FROM NAIFA-WEST VIRGINIA  ~  FEBRUARY 2018
PLATINUM SPONSOR
The Brokers Source Ltd.
NAIFA

OFFICIAL FAMILY: 

Click HERE for NAIFA-West Virginia's Officers and Board of Directors

NAIFA
Stanley Hefner, LUTCF
President's Message

Stanley Hefner, LUTCF
NAIFA-West Virginia President

Happy New Year!

I had the opportunity to chat with a NAIFA-OH member who is active in her local association. She is a Horace Mann multiline agent like me who works in the Columbus area. She said that their locals are having problems with attendance and membership is declining as ours is. She did not like the idea of losing the local associations but realized that this may be inevitable. We are down to just a handful of locals in WV and it looks more like we will eventually become just a State association. I don't know if this is good or bad, but I do know we need some kind of lobbying group.

I don't remember if this has been mentioned by me before but there will not be a NAIFA-WV State convention this year due to lack of interest. When I attended the state convention last year, it seemed surreal to have just a handful attending. When I first started my career 45 years ago, we used to have limited space for some meetings. I hope this is not an omen of things to come. We now have as many members in the state as we had in the Parkersburg local 25 years ago.

I think that John Pauley would like to hear from every NAIFA member in the state and gain a consensus of what we all expect from our association. It would be nice to hear from non-members about what it would take to become members as well. If you can, ask a few of your non-member friends what it would take for them to join, and advise John. This could be extremely helpful to us all.

Well, 2018 is here and one month already past us. You all should have your goals set and a plan of execution. What the future holds we don't know but we press on. Thanks to NAIFA we can have a plan and a plan of execution. Otherwise we could have nothing but nationalized programs for everything... with no options. We know how great government programs work out.

Stan
 
NAIFA
NAIFA LUTCF Professional Designation Program

Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow or LUTCF®

Professional Designation Program

Founded by NAIFA in 1984, the LUTCF® program is designed to help new insurance agents master prospecting, selling, and practice management skills.

The LUTCF® or Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow professional designation program is the insurance-industry's premier educational program to help agents acclimate to their new career. More than 62,000 LUTCF® designations have been conferred since 1984. In February of 2014, the College for Financial Planning and NAIFA partnered to create an all-new version of the LUTCF®. Thanks to direct collaboration with several top insurance companies, the program was redesigned with the industry's needs in mind.

Why should you enroll in the LUTCF® Program?
  • The LUTCF® is the gold standard for insurance industry credentials and is the perfect way to begin your new career.
     
  • Develop skills that apply directly to your current position. More than half of students in the class typically attribute a sale as a result of their first homework assignment.
     
  • The program qualifies for State Insurance CE as well as CE for other industry credentials.
Click HERE for flyer with complete details or visit www.cffpinfo.com/LUTCF for more information.
 
NAIFA
IN THIS ISSUE...
President's Message
LUTCF Professional Designation Program
2 Hours CE plus NAIFA Membership Lunch Meeting in Charleston on Tuesday, February 13th!
How to Check Your CE Credits with Sircon
Special Invitation for NAIFA-WV Members! Free CYBERSECURITY Webinar
NAIFA-Charleston 2018 Membership Meeting Dates
NAIFA 2018 Congressional Conference in Washington, DC
NAIFA Take 3 Video: Advocacy as a Member Benefit
Think BIG! Coaching & Training Newsletter for NAIFA-WV members
Leadership in Life Institute Taking Applications for 2018
NAIFA LACP Certification Program
Government Advocacy: NAIFA's Mission Aided with IFAPAC and APIC
Thank You to our Sponsors!

SILVER SPONSOR
Hildebrand Insurance Services

 For information on Sponsorship Opportunities with NAIFA-West Virginia, please contact Executive Director John E. Pauley, CLU, ChFC, CLTC at (304) 345-4343 or email
johnpauley@
ft.newyorklife.com.

 
Happy Valentines Day! RSVP TODAY!

Next NAIFA-Charleston Membership Lunch Meeting and CE Opportunity:

Tuesday, February 13th, 2018

Edgewood Country Club

1600 EDGEWOOD DRIVE, CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA 25302   ( MAP )


9:30 - 11:30 AM - WEBINAR WITH TWO HOURS CE CREDIT!

"Social Security and Medicare Strategies for Middle-Income Clients"

Society of Financial Service Professionals Sponsored by the Society of Financial Service Professionals.


Attendees should download the CE workbook in advance of the session for reference!


11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - MEMBERSHIP LUNCH MEETING AND PROGRAM

"2018 Tax Reform Update"

Bruce Lawson

Guest Speaker:  Bruce Lawson, CPA, PFS of Suttle & Stalnaker


NO CHARGE for NAIFA Members and  $40.00 for Non-Members -  Includes lunch and CE filing fees!

RSVP TODAY to Executive Director John Pauley, CLU, ChFC, CLTC:

Phone (304) 345-4343 or Email  [email protected]


CE UPDATE:    December ended the final biennium for most agents.  We will resume CE sessions starting on February 13th.  Also, be sure your dues are paid current as a list of members will be forwarded to the Insurance Commissioner's office for the 2 hours of NAIFA CE Credits in March, 2018.  Contact John Pauley for details:  [email protected]
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ABOUT OUR GUEST SPEAKER:

Bruce Lawson is a member providing services in the audit and tax departments of Suttle & Stalnaker, PLLC. Bruce specializes in financial reporting and consulting services for clients in the construction and health care service industries, and has an extensive background in tax and financial planning for individuals and business. 

Bruce graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and has worked exclusively in public accounting since 1983, founding his own firm - Bruce Lawson, PLLC in 1997, which joined the Suttle & Stalnaker family in 2017.

In 2010, Bruce was awarded the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, joining an elite group of professionals who have demonstrated advanced knowledge of tax, estate, retirement, investment and insurance planning.
Bruce is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Charleston Chapter of the West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is the Treasurer and a Board member of the West Virginia Kids Count Fund and currently serves on the Corporate Relations Committee of the Clay Center. He is a two-time Past President of the West Charleston Kiwanis Club and has served as member and President of the Charleston Municipal Planning Commission.
NAIFA
How to Check Your CE Credits with Sircon

Sircon-Vertafore You must complete 24 hours of CE each biennium to keep your WV Insurance License including a minimum of 3 Hours Ethics courses and 4 hours of LTC credits in order to be able to sell LTC insurance. 

All paid NAIFA-WV members as of 12/31/2017 will receive 2 hours CE credits for their NAIFA Membership.  Be sure to check your transcript and advise of any discrepancies.  All agents may carry forward up to 6 hours CE credits in excess of the 24 hour requirement each biennium.

NAIFA-Charleston will be offering the 3-Hour ETHICS CE Course on Tuesday, December 19th.  See below for complete details and registration.

NAIFA
Special Invitation for NAIFA-West Virginia Members!

FREE WEBINAR PRESENTED BY

The Charleston Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals

WEBINAR - Cybersecurity for the Financial Advisor

Can advisors keep their client data secure affordably and conveniently?

Fortunately, the answer is yes, as attendees at this latest FSP webinar will discover!

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Edgewood Country Club  /  1:00 - 2:30 PM

1600 EDGEWOOD DRIVE, CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA 25302   ( MAP )

   
 

NO CE CREDITS  /  RSVP REQUIRED


Call:  (304) 345-4343 ~ Fax:  (304) 345-4342

Registration Deadline: 02/15/2018

NAIFA
Save the Date!
ALL NAIFA-WV MEMBERS WELCOME!

NAIFA-Charleston 2018 Membership Meeting Dates

NAIFA - Charleston Membership Lunch Meetings are held at  11:30 am at Edgewood Country Club, 1600 Edgewood Drive, Charleston, WV 25302. 

CE class opportunities prior to the luncheons will be announced on our website at www.naifawv.org as well as our email membership newsletter.
 
All NAIFA members encouraged to attend... 
SAVE THE DATES!

February 13, 2018
March 13, 2018
April 10, 2018
May 8, 2018

Sponsorships available for all NAIFA events! For more information, contact John Pauley, CLU, ChFC, CLTC at  (304) 345-4343 or  [email protected].
NAIFA
NAIFA Congressional Conference
MEMBER ADVOCACY IN ACTION!

NAIFA 2018 Congressional Conference in Washington, DC 

Tuesday, May 22nd and Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018

In the past four years, over 3,000 NAIFA members from every corner of the country came to Washington, DC and visited Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and advise them on how their decisions affect agents, brokers, and their clients.

NAIFA held its 2016 Congressional Conference to establish and cultivate relationships with lawmakers, to share the expertise of NAIFA members from all 50 states, and educate them on the value that NAIFA members bring to their clients and the solutions they provide for 75 million American families.

For the latest updates and registration, visit  www.naifa.org/events/congressional-conference.
NAIFA
NAIFA Take 3 Video: Advocacy As A Member Benefit

In this NAIFA Take 3 video, NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux uses the  recent tax reform debate in Washington to explain how NAIFA's advocacy efforts are a valuable benefit to members. 

Kevin Mayeux Take 3 Video


NAIFA
Think BIG!       Herman Dixon
Think BIG! Coaching & Training Newsletter

from Herman Dixon, CLU, CLF, LUTCF, LTCP

NAIFA-WV Past President, Speaker, Executive Advisor

Herman is the author of the forthcoming book, "Principles of Life and Leadership My Cat Taught Me" and guest speaker at the NAIFA-West Virginia 2017 State Convention in Charleston.

To connect with Herman Dixon, you may sign-up to receive his weekly Biz Tips or monthly Think BIG Newsletter here: 

NAIFA
Leadership In Life Institute
Leadership in Life Institute Taking Applications for 2018

The Leadership in Life Institute (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
  • The One Page Business Plan® by Jim Horan
  • The Kolb Learning Style Inventory
  • Emotional Intelligence (EQ) - the #1 predictor of success in business and leadership. Learn what your EQ is and how to increase it.
  • Credibility by James Kouzes and Barry Posner - all new and revised edition with sharpened focus on how leaders earn and sustain credibility
  • Study of Jim Collins' entire body of work on Good to Great companies, what drove some to fail, and others to thrive in uncertain times
Taking the course is an investment in oneself and the returns on the investment can be infinite. Graduates consistently report that LILI gives them the tools to succeed and 70% report a measurable increase in the growth of their business since graduating.

To learn more about the LILI experience and how to apply, CLICK HERE (PDF).

For more information about the program, please visit:

www.naifa.org/professional-development/leadership-in-life-institute

Mission: The NAIFA Leadership in Life Institute (LILI) develops leaders by fostering personal growth, enhancing business practices and developing skills necessary for effective leadership.
NAIFA
NAIFA LACP Certification Program
NAIFA LACP Certification Program

The NAIFA Life and Annuity Certified Professionals (LACP) certification serves consumers by recognizing financial professionals with a mark of distinction for their product knowledge, consultative sales process and compliance to ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements. LACP practitioners are held to a standard of excellence that defines and differentiates them from their peers and to the clients they serve.


To become an LACP, practitioners will meet the  eligibility criteria and successfully complete the LACP examination.  For more information about NAIFA's LACP Certification Program, please visit: 

NAIFA
IFAPAC GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY

NAIFA's Mission Aided with IFAPAC and APIC

The core mission of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors is advocacy. There is a common misconception that NAIFA membership dues include all the dollars needed to fund our national and state advocacy efforts. The fact is that NAIFA spends over 25% of its 12 million dollar annual budget to pay for lobbyists and programs to support our advocacy efforts. However, additional funds are needed to help gain access to our elected representatives. The source of these funds are from the Insurance and Financial Advisors Political Action Committee (IFAPAC). 

IFAPAC's goal is to help the associations advance the legislative and regulatory interests of the members of NAIFA. While any U.S. citizen can contribute to IFAPAC, only members of NAIFA may be solicited to do so. Contributions must be voluntary. Contributions are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Of approximately 4,600 political action committees registered with the Federal Election Commission, IFAPAC ranks in the top tier. IFAPAC is the largest insurance PAC in the country. In the last election cycle, the national IFAPAC contributed approximately $1.8 million to federal candidates and committees.

For  Three Easy Ways to Contribute to IFAPAC, please click  HERE. To contribute online, please visit  www.naifa.org/advocacy/IFAPAC.

APIC
Insurance and Financial Advisors Political Involvement Committee (APIC)

 Our business is based on building relationships. The world of politics is no different. One of NAIFA's greatest strengths is that we have membership representation in each Congressional District in the country.

It is vitally important that we know which of our members know elected officials and how well they know them. Please click on the link below and complete the legislative contact form:


NAIFA
It Pays to Be a Member!
   

NAIFA-West Virginia  
     
Check our website for the latest news and updates: 

  

For more information, please contact NAIFA-West Virginia Executive Director John Pauley, CLU, ChFC, CLTC at (304) 345-4343 or email [email protected].