2008 Upcoming Events
TLRT Roundup & NAIFA-Texas Annual Meeting
July 24-26, 2008
Inn of the Hills
Kerrville, TX |
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Become a part of the NAIFA-Texas political network by becoming a Key Contact for your lawmaker. Key contacts:
-Deliver PAC checks to candidate fundraisers;
-Respond to Action Alerts during the legislative session; and
- Answer questions from lawmakers regarding insurance and regulatory issues.
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NAIFA-TX Members Receive CE Discounts
NAIFA-Texas continues its relationship with 360training.com, the premiere provider of CE online, providing a 33% discount on all insurance CE. All courses offered at 360training.com are approved for Texas Continuing Education Credit.
Members can log on to receive CE credit in the areas of
- Anti-Money Laundering,
- Agency Operations ,
- Property Insurance,
- Principles of Insurance,
- Flood Insurance (Self Study),
- And much more!
To begin earning your CE credit today, logon to 360Training.com and use the discount code: "NAIFATX08."
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New NAIFA-Texas Contact Information
Beginning Wednesday May 28, NAIFA-Texas will have a new address and phone numbers. Please change our contact information for your records.
Address:
NAIFA-Texas
515 Congress Avenue
Suite #1650
Austin, TX 78701
Phone number:
512-716-8800
Fax number:
512-476-1932
Due to office relocation, our computer systems will be down beginning on Friday, May 23 and will not be up and running until Wednesday May 28. In case of emergency, please call NAIFA-Texas CEO Des Taylor at 512-423-9149. |
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2008 TLRT Roundup Speakers
Bryan Dodge
Oscar Newton
Beth Ashmore, President of NAHU
Samantha Hilliard, realLIFEStories Recipient
Grant Foster, MDRT Seminar Speaker
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Advocacy in Action
2009 Legislative Day Set for January 27
NAIFA-Texas's bi-annual Legislative Day has been scheduled for January 27, just two weeks following the commencement of Texas' 83rd Regular Legislative Session. The event will allow NAIFA-Texas members an opportunity to visit their lawmakers in Austin to discuss important legislative issues, to be announced close in time to the event.
Additionally, NAIFA-Texas will play host to members of the Texas House and Senate at it's Legislative Luncheon, to be held during the noon hour on the 27th. Past events have featured the Speaker of the House as the keynote speaker.
Mark your calendar for this incredible opportunity to be a part of Advocacy in Action!
NAIFA Responds to Designation Concerns
Legislators, regulators and the media have raised concerns in recent months that senior citizens are being misled and harmed by the use of certain designations and certifications by insurance agents and advisors that may imply the existence of a level of expertise in senior affairs and financial matters that, in fact, does not exist. These types of allegations are potentially damaging to NAIFA members because they affect the reputation of all agents and advisors and could compromise the public's trust in insurance agents.
NAIFA's leadership decided early on that NAIFA could not - and should not - remain silent on this issue. As a result, NAIFA has been actively engaged in this issue from the start-holding conversations and meetings with Congressional staff (of the Senate Aging Committee and key members of the Committee), the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA, the NAIC-type association for state securities regulators), members of the NAIC leadership, the American College and the ACLI.
NAIFA staff testified on this issue at the NAIC 2007 Winter National Meeting, and state associations have been actively involved in regulatory activity on this issue in Massachusetts, Nebraska and other states. NAIFA also filed comment letters with the NAIC, NASAA and the Senate Aging Committee regarding draft legislation, rules and bulletins proposed by these groups. To find out more about NAIFA's position, please see: NAIFA's Policy Statement: Regulation of the Use of Designations.
Allstate Settles Homeowners Insurance Disputes
AUSTIN - The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel (OPIC) announced an agreement with Allstate Texas Lloyd's ("Allstate") to settle all outstanding litigation with respect to homeowners insurance. The agreement provides Texas Allstate policyholders with a total of approximately $71,300,000 in refunds, credits and rate reductions under the following terms:
- Allstate will pay refunds to policyholders totaling $36,800,000 for new and renewal policies written between December 1, 2004 and April 23, 2006. These dates reflect the period of time during which Allstate was charging a rate that TDI believed was excessive. These refunds will be mailed by November 1, 2008.
- Allstate will give credits or refunds to policyholders in the amount of 3.0% of premium for new and renewal policies written between August 20, 2007 and June 1, 2008. These dates reflect the period of time during which Allstate's August 2007 rate filing was in effect. Allstate estimates the value of these refunds and credits to policyholders to be $14,800,000. These credits or refunds will be mailed by November 1, 2008.
- Allstate will reduce its homeowners insurance rates by 3.0% statewide for new and renewal policies written between June 2, 2008 and at least June 1, 2009. Allstate estimates the value to policyholders of this rate reduction to be $19,700,000. Allstate will apply rate reduction rates based on geographical areas to more appropriately reflect expected costs in each area.
- In addition, Allstate has agreed to not increase its homeowners insurance rates during the period between June 2, 2008 and June 1, 2009, barring extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances.
- Eligible policyholders who no longer have insurance through Allstate will receive any refunds owed through company checks. Current eligible policyholders will receive any refunds owed through policy credits and if necessary company checks. All refunds and credits will be issued no later than November 1, 2008.
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NAIFA-Texas News
Leaders Gather for Local Success Planning
More than 65 leaders from NAIFA-Texas' 26 local associations gathered in Austin May 2-3 for the 2008 Presidents'-Elect and Local Success Planning meetings. The meetings, which included large group seminars and focused "on the job" training breakouts for local leaders, provided attendees with an opportunity to plan for the coming year while hearing what has worked in other local associations. "The highlight of the Local Success Planning session was exchanging ideas with other leaders," said John Denton of NAIFA-Amarillo. Karen True, Executive Director of NAIFA-Dallas said, "This is the best LSP so far!"
Mark Seeberger of NAIFA-Dallas facilitated Saturday's Local Success Planning seminar which focused on building a successful local association by first understanding the different needs of the members that make up the association and the workforce. "We are living in a four-generation workforce that includes everyone from the World War II generation to twenty-five year olds," said Seeberger. He added, "Unless we understand the different ways in which each of these generations communicates, we will reach an impasse in trying to do business with one another."
Reviews of the program were overwhelmingly positive and many attendees spoke of a renewed sense of purpose and direction coming out of the meetings.
Ribbon Cut at NAIFA-Texas' New Headquarters
The 16th floor corridors of Austin's Bank of America Tower were filled with visitors and excitement on Friday evening May 2, as NAIFA-Texas members lined the halls to get a first glimpse of NAIFA-Texas' new headquarters. The approximately 1600 sq. ft. office suite, located at 515 Congress Avenue in the heart of downtown Austin, will be the center of NAIFA-Texas activities beginning May 28.
Local leaders, gathered in Austin for the 2008 Presidents'-Elect and Local Success Planning meetings, were treated to an elegant reception in Austin's prestigious Headliners Club before heading over to the new headquarters. The event was hosted by Ayers Financial Group and Union Central, A. Andra Grava.
The relocation of NAIFA-Texas operations began last year with the sale of the 28-year home of NAIFA-Texas at 1920 IH-35 South. The board of directors approved the relocation to one of Austin's premiere downtown addresses to better position NAIFA-Texas amongst critical players in the legislative and regulatory environment.
PHOTO: NAIFA-Texas President Alan Carl (right), NAIFA Secretary Tom Currey and NAIFA-Texas CEO Des Taylor look on as Past-President Ron Mullen Cuts the Ribbon on NAIFA-Texas' new headquarters.
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