2008 Upcoming Events
TLRT Roundup & NAIFA-Texas Annual Meeting
July 24-26, 2008
Inn of the Hills
Kerrville, TX |
| TLRT Roundup and NAIFA-Texas Annual Meeting Sponsors
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NAIFA-Texas
515 Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
512-716-8800 phone
512-476-1932 fax | |
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Early Convention Registration Ends June 26
Early registration for the 2008 TLRT Roundup and NAIFA-Texas Annual Meeting ends in just a few short days. Register online today or download the registration form to be a part of this incredible event, July 24-26 at the Inn of the Hills in Kerrville, Texas.
The 2008 TLRT Roundup features an exclusive panel of MDRT-quality speakers, including:
Bryan Dodge, Texas' favorite inspirational speaker;
Oscar Newton, the treasure of NAIFA-Texas;
Beth Ashmore, 2007-2008 NAHU President;
Samantha Hilliard, 2007 realLIFEstories honoree; and
Grant Foster, 2008 MDRT seminar speaker.
Charles Stenholm to Keynote Legislative Luncheon
Charles Stenholm, thirteen term Congressman and long-time friend of TALU/NAIFA-Texas has committed to deliver the keynote address at NAIFA-Texas' 2008 Legislative and Awards luncheon on July 26 in Kerrville, TX.
 Serving Texas' 17th Congressional District from 1979 to 2005, Stenholm often was a resource for NALU/NAIFA in dealing with legislation affecting the insurance and financial services industry. However, Stenholm's connection to NAIFA-Texas is not only professional but familial as he is the brother-in-law of NAIFA-Abilene's Jim and Carolyn Watson.
The 2008 Legislative and Awards Luncheon, held in conjunction with NAIFA-Texas's 83rd Annual Meeting, will highlight political issues facing the NAIFA federation at the federal level, with Stenholm lending his considerable expertise to provide NAIFA-Texas members with an "inside the beltway" perspective on the 2008 general election and it's potential impact on the industry.
NAIFA-Texas members can be a part of the luncheon by signing up to be a part of the 2008 NAIFA-Texas Annual Meeting, July 26 at the Inn of the Hills in Kerrville, Texas. Please click here to register online for the event today!
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Advocacy in Action
Sunset Staff: State Has Continuing Need for TDI
In a recently released report, the staff of the Sunset Advisory Commission recommends continuation of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) for 12 years and changes to TDI's statutory duties to better reflect the agency's role in protecting consumers and encouraging a competitive insurance market. Key recommendations, to be presented the Commission in a public meeting June 24, include:
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The abolition of the Office of Public Insurance Counsel and creation of a consumer representative within the Department of Insurance;
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Set limits for the amount of time TDI has to review and administratively disapprove filing under the file-and-use system;
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Require all Preferred Provider Organizations to obtain a certificate of authority from TDI to operate in Texas;
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Increase the life, accident, and health insurance maintenance tax cap to allow TDI to equitably cover the cost of this regulation; and
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Make changes in TDI's involvement in the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA), which acts as the state's insurer of last resort from coastal windstorm insurance, with the overall goal of increasing insurance availability. The staff concluded that any changes in the funding mechanism for TWIA were outside the scope of its review of TDI.
NAIFA-Texas lobbyists are meeting with interested parties to discuss these and other issues related to the review of TDI and will attend the June 24 public hearing at the State Capitol. To view the staff report in its entirety, please click here: Sunset Advisory Commission Staff Report.
AG Opinion Leaves Unanswered Questions re TPAs and 403(b) Plans
It may take a court to decide whether an education institution violates state law by contracting with a third-party administrator (TPA) that is affiliated with a company that sells 403(b) investment products to the school's employees. That's what Attorney General Opinion GA-0633, issued May 30, 2008, says in response to questions asked in a November 29, 2007, letter from the Chair of the House Committee on Pensions and Investments, Representative Vicki Truitt. The inconclusive response by Attorney General Abbott stemmed from the nature of Truitt's questions. "Your questions raise many issues of fact, which cannot be resolved in an opinion....This office does not resolve fact questions," said General Abbott.
Texas law prohibits certain practices by educational institutions offering 403(b) plans to employees including "[the acceptance of] any benefit from a company or from an agent or affiliate of a company that offers qualified investment products..." It remains unclear, however, whether the practice of certain companies to offer third party administration services at a nominal or reduced fee constitutes a prohibited "benefit".
For a copy of the Attorney General Opinion, click here.
TDI Compliance Conferences Scheduled
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) will host the 2008 Property and Casualty and Life, Health and Licensing Compliance Conference on June 23-25, 2008. Both conferences will be 1 ½ days. The Life, Health and Licensing Compliance Conference will be held June 23 and June 24 until Noon. The Property and Casualty Compliance Conference will begin at 1:00 pm, June 24 and continue for a full day on June 25. The cost of each conference is $145.00.
Hotel Reservations: The Compliance Conference will be held at the Doubletree Hotel, 6505 I.H. 35N, Austin, Texas 78752. The Doubletree Hotel is offering a special rate of $85/single and $135/double for attendees of the compliance conference.
Please call the hotel directly at 1-800-347-0330 to make your reservations. Refer to the TDI Compliance Conference to get the special rate.
Contact NAIFA-Texas CEO/Chief Legislative Officer Des Taylor for additional information at des.taylor@naifa-texas.org
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NAIFA-Texas News
Membership Contest Winners Announced
Congratulations to:
Plainview AIFA;
NAIFA-Amarillo; and
NAIFA-Houston,
winners of the 2008 membership contest. These three locals obtained the most new members and regained the most lapsed members in each of their local association size categories.
The winning locals were awarded a $500 prize for their commitment to a successful membership year!
NAIFA-Texas Opens Downtown Austin HQs
The NAIFA-Texas office is up and running at its new location, high above downtown Austin in a 16th floor office suite at 515 Congress Avenue. The nearly 1500 square foot office suite positions the NAIFA-Texas staff in the heart of Austin's legislative, regulatory and financial services district, with easy access to the Texas Capitol, the Texas Department of Insurance and other insurance-related associations, including the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) and the Texas Association of Life and Health Insurers (TALHI).
"The new headquarters could not have turned out better," said NAIFA-Texas President Alan Carl. He added, "It will serve as the perfect setting for NAIFA-Texas to host association and industry leaders as we continue to stand on the front line in protecting agents and the products they use to serve Texans."
Operations were transferred to the new office suite following the sale of NAIFA-Texas' 30-year headquarters, just south of downtown Austin. The sale of the building allowed for the creation of NAIFA-Texas' Legacy Endowment Fund, placed with Brinker Capital earlier this year.
With the new headquarters comes new contact information. NAIFA-Texas can now be reached by phone at 512-716-8800, and by fax at 512-476-1932. E-mail addresses remain the same. |
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