NAIFA-TX eNewsletter -- January 2009

These Local Associations will be in the January Membership Contest drawing for $300.00. The deadline is January 31^st for Local Associations and NAIFA-TX members. Get your new member applications in as soon as possible.

NAIFA-TX Members:

At the end of each Membership Benchmark period, (see dates above) a member will have a chance to win $300 if they recruit a new member during the quarter. Every time a member recruits a new member their name will go into the drawing for $300.00. Only one member per period will win.

Local Associations:

Each Local Association that meets their NAIFA Quarterly Benchmark has a chance to win $300.00. If more than one local association reaches their benchmark goal, one winner will be drawn from a hat. If none of the local associations reach their benchmark goal, the money will carry over into the following quarter.

Members and Local Associations will have four (4) chances to win throughout the year!

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NAIFA-TX New Member

Commitments

NAIFA-TX Officers vs. Directors

NAIFA-TX Officers:

Earl Thompson, President

5/0
Randy Robertson, President-Elect 4/0
Cylinda Clark, Secretary

4/1
Alan Carl, Immediate Past President 4/0
Ron Mullen, National Committeeman

2/0
Des Taylor, CEO/CLO

2/2

Total to Date.............3

NAIFA-TX Directors:

Kirk Haworth, Director, Reg. 1

4/0
Lane Boozer, Director Reg. 2

3/0
Douglas Massey, Director Reg. 3

3/0
Lesley Pinckard, Director Reg. 4

3/0
Paul Eisen, Director Reg. 6

5/0
Bobby Simpson, Director Reg. 7

4/0
Jason Talley, Director Reg. 8

3/2
Steve Ehlers, Director Reg. 9

4/1

Total to Date...............3

Grand Total.................6/47

A Message from NAIFA-Texas President

Earl A. Thompson, RFC, LUTCF

Happy New Year and thank you for being a member of YOUR professional association!

After a tumultuous 2008, the dawning of a new year is certainly welcome. 2009 brings with it endless possibilities for each of us to excel as individuals, professionals and members of NAIFA-Texas. Together, we will continue to overcome the challenges of unstable financial markets, taking the opportunity to demonstrate the value of the agent and financial advisor in helping Texans find peace of mind in troubling times.

As the 81st Session of the Texas Legislature convenes January 13, our lawmakers will have to provide solutions to difficult problems, including a $1 billion shortfall in the anticipated revenue generated by the Business Activity/"Margin" Tax, funding for the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and determining the effectiveness and future goals of the Texas Department of Insurance through the adoption of sunset legislation. Additionally, all of this must occur under new leadership in the Texas House of Representatives, as San Antonio Representative Joe Straus is now positioned to become House Speaker.

I encourage you to help make 2009 the year of the Texas insurance agent and financial advisor. Become a member of NAIFA-Texas PAC, attend Legislative Day on January 27and become a key contact for lawmakers in your district. Working together, we are a force that cannot be ignored.

May your New Year be filled with good health and success!

Sincerely,

Earl A. Thompson, RFC, LUTCF
NAIFA-Texas President

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NAIFA-Texas/IIAT

Joint Legislative Day

January 27, 2009

Register for Legislative Day Online

Download Registration Form

Who Represents Me?

Hotel Reservations must be made by January 9, 2009. Please call the Holiday Inn Town Lake at 1-888-615-0509 to make a reservation. Please specify, "NAIFA Legislative Day to receive a special room rate.

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TDI Issues Report to 81^st Texas Legislature

The Biennial Report of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) to the 81^st Texas Legislature, issued December 23, 2008, summarizes proposed changes, supported by TDI, in laws relating to regulation of the industry.

Of particular interest to agents are recommendations to:

Enact legislation that grants TDI rulemaking authority to place additional qualifications on agent licenses before agents are authorized to sell specific products;
Provide the Commissioner authority to order carriers to change their commission payment schedules when the schedules are found to incentivize inappropriate sales behavior;
Provide rulemaking authority to require Long-term care insurers to use Texas experience, if credible, or another actuarial method adopted by rule, to prevent Texas consumers from having to pay higher premiums to subsidize lower rates paid in states in which companies' rate increases have been denied; and
Enact legislation establishing a Healthy Texas premium stabilization fund to assist the insurance market in providing affordable health care coverage for lower income, working Texas families, addressing a portion of the estimated 5.9 million uninsured Texans.

To view the entire report online, go to http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/reports/documents/finalbie09.pdf.

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Aon Launches Pilot Program to Expand Texas Base
In an ongoing effort to increase participation in the Aon/NAIFA Professional Liability Program (PLP) as well as increase NAIFA membership, Aon and NAIFA are joining in a collaborative effort to test a one-year pilot-program.

This trial program will allow agents that are not NAIFA Members, and who reside in either the state of California or Texas, to apply and qualify for the E&O program. Those eligible to join NAIFA will then pay full state and local dues, however, NAIFA national dues will be set at zero for the first year of membership. At the time of renewal, and in order to maintain E&O insurance coverage, members who joined NAIFA as a result of this pilot program will then pay full dues.

The pilot program will launch on Monday, January 12. Aon and NAIFA will continuously track the results of this pilot program and will make definitive determinations of a possible pilot expansion depending on final results and figures.

Currently, all NAIFA members are eligible to receive E&O Coverage through Aon. To learn more, and to get a quick rate quote, please visit www.naifainsurance.com.

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Download 2009 Application Form

Download Production Certification Form

Join the Ranks of Texas Leaders Today!

Texas Leaders Round Table (TLRT) is now accepting applications for membership in 2009. TLRT is Texas' own honor organization, recognizing top producers in the state and offering a great opportunity to network with other leaders.

As a member of TLRT, you'll receive a plaque recognizing your production achievement in 2008 and $100 off the registration to the Texas Leaders Round Table Roundup, an annual event held each July featuring sales ideas and MDRT-level educational and motivational speakers from across the country.

Become a member of TLRT today and join the ranks of Texas Leaders!

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PHOTO: Ann Baker Ronn (left) with her business partners,
Gilbert J. Baker and Karin Tyson.

LILI Profile: Ann Baker Ronn, LUTCF

When the 2009 Leadership in Life Institute (LILI) begins in February, NAIFA-Houston's Ann Baker Ronn, LUTCF will be one of the ten students beginning the LILI journey. In the next several months, we'll be profiling some of the members of the 2009 LILI class.

Q. What interested you in the LILI Program?
A. So many of my colleagues have participated in LILI and told me about the impact it has had on their lives. It seems like a life-changing opportunity. I decided to "find the time" in my busy life to participate in the LILI program. My husband, David, was incredibly supportive. He told me he would make it possible for me to be out of town one day a month for the next several months.

Q. What are your expectations of the program?
A. It is difficult to answer what my expectations are, since the impact it has on each participant has been so different.
I hope it will help me to be a better wife to my husband, David, a better mother to my 3 girls, a better team member to The AFP Group and a more effective advocate for my clients.

Q. How are you currently involved in your local?
A. I am currently serving on the board of Houston NAIFA as Vice President of Operations. That means I am in charge of our planning our Lone Star Symposiums (regional meetings) and as MDRT Liaison, educating NAIFA members about the incredible value that MDRT can bring to their lives.

Q. What is the greatest asset that you bring to the LILI program?
A. This last question is the toughest...I think the biggest asset I bring to the LILI program is my passion for the insurance industry. I am third generation in our business and it is much more than just a job to me.

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LILI Summit Scheduled for January 27-28

Are you an alumnus of the Leadership in Life Institute and looking to refresh the concepts that inspired you to go on and do great things?

Well, you've been asking for it for 8 years and it is finally here. The first Alumni Summit for Texas' Leadership In Life Institute is scheduled for January 27, immediately following our Legislative Luncheon in Austin, through Wednesday January 28. Alumni will revisit their business plans, see where the plans have taken them, and tweak them as needed. They also will discuss a couple of new books, as well as have a little fun in Austin and participate in NAIFA-Texas Legislative Day.

Download the LILI Summit Registration Form

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Special Board Meeting Called for January 26

The NAIFA-Texas Board of Directors will meet in Austin on Monday, January 26, 2009. Among the issues the board will be considering are:

NAIFA-Texas legislative agenda, including possible changes in the Texas Guaranty law;
Receipt of a report from the investment committee; and
Approval of changes to the administrative office policies.