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July 15-18, 2010
Call the Embassy Suites Hotel direct at (512) 392-6450 to reserve your sleeping room at the discounted rate of $129, plus tax, per night. Room rate includes breakfast and manager's reception.
When making your reservation refer to the group name: NAIFA-TX 2010. Click here to reserve your room online.
Space is limited.
Sleeping rooms must be reserved prior to June 20, 2010.
Become a Sponsor or Exhibitor
Looking to make an impact where it counts?
Showcase your useful products and services to the trade leaders, buyers and decision makers in our prestigious organization!
Click here for addtional information and to download a 2010 Exhibitor & Sponsor Form |
Would you like your local to be more successful?
NAIFA-Texas' Association Leadership Conference (ALC) is the tool to your local achieving more.
Friday, July 16, 2010
2:00-6:00 p.m
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Explore with NAIFA-Texas to develop a joint goal to work together towards achieving.
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Learn new strategic planning such as "Thematic Goal Planning" and "Hacking at the Branches or Striking the Root" and "Root Cause Analysis."
- Get a deep understanding of the "Six Step Planning Process"!
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Every local will walk away from this meeting with an in-depth plan of action for 4 core NAIFA objectives!
Who Should Attend?
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Local President-Elect
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Membership Chair
- Government Relations Chair Programs/Professional Development Chair
- Local Executive
- Anyone who can contribute to the success of your local team
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 Grassroots Training Seminar
Political enthusiasts are invited to attend a grassroots training seminar by nationally renowned expert Dave Hamrick, LUTCF
Saturday, July 17, 2010
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
You'll discover the many ways to participate in grassroots and grasstops political activity. You'll learn to become a more effective "constituent lobbyist" for your clients, your business and yourself and you'll pick up the "how tos" that will augment your community connections and turn you into a trusted advisor for your local, state and federal elected representatives.
We look forward to your participation in this program! |
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Agents Can Look Up Completed CE Records Online and Courses Available in Your Area.
Need to know how many CE hours you've earned? Then take advantage of TDI's program requiring continuing education providers to report the completion of continuing education courses by licensed individuals. The reporting system which is managed by a third-party vendor, Sircon, allows individual agents to access and look up the courses they have completed from any Texas CE provider, including NAIFA-Texas. To look up your completed courses or to find course offerings in your area go to:
www.sircon.com.
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Endorsed Professional Liability Program | |
New Coverage Options and Lower Rates for NAIFA-Endorsed Professional Liability Insurance Program! |
Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. continues to work closely with NAIFA to provide members with coverage options that meet the demands of today's insurance professionals.
What's New?
The NAIFA-endorsed Professional Liability Insurance Program now offers new coverage options for:
Plus:
All coverage options include worldwide 24/7 coverage. These options also provide that no claim is settled without your consent, protection for you and your employees and coverage extends to your estate or legal representative.
New! NAIFA Rate Indicator: Are you interested in professional liability coverage but don't have a lot of time? Use the rate indicator to get a quick estimate on the cost for this valuable coverage by answering just a few quick questions.
For information on all available coverage options and features, and/or how to apply, visit www.naifainsurance.com.
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Are Exemptions from the State's Franchise Tax at Risk?
As Texas lawmakers are preparing to tackle a projected budget shortfall of at least $18 billion in the next biennium, removing some tax exemptions is going to get serious consideration as the state seeks to boost revenue. At present agents and advisors who operate as sole proprietorships or in general partnerships are not subject to the state's franchise/business activity or "margin" tax. Also, currently exempted are insurance companies that pay an annual premium tax levied under the Insurance Code
Tax exemptions overall are an attractive potential revenue source because there are scores of them totaling billions of dollars each year. At the request of House Speaker Joe Straus, Ways and Means Committee members will meet May 25th in a public hearing to look at the state's major exemptions, creating a case of jitters among lobbyists and interest groups, who are scrambling to build a case for their particular exemptions before next year's legislative session.
Any business or industry that benefits from current tax exemptions or exclusions would be well-advised to watch the interim hearings and be very involved in the session, says NAIFA-TX CEO/lobbyist Des Taylor, adding that there will not be many exemptions that are not "on the table" for scrutiny by lawmakers. |
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NAIFA-Texas Official Forecasts "The Perfect Storm" In his travels across the State, NAIFA-Texas CEO/Chief Legislative Officer Des Taylor reports on "The Perfect Storm" that has hit the industry, first in our nation's Capitol during the 111th Congress. This "storm," says Taylor, appears to be headed, with clouds gathering already, to our state Capitol in Austin, where three major issues - healthcare reform, regulatory reform and tax reform - are likely to converge during the 82nd Texas Legislature that convenes in January 2011.
While the specifics of these issues differ at the national and state levels, the impact poses a daunting challenge: agents and financial advisors must be prepared to withstand these storms or risk being swept away. The Texas Legislature will be asked to address creation of state mandated health insurance exchanges, re-creation of the Texas Department of Insurance and new revenue measures that include a hard look at current exemptions in the State's franchise tax.
"Where is agents' safe harbor?" Taylor asks, adding that NAIFA (since 1890) and NAIFA-Texas (since 1925) continually provide daily protection for all agents/financial advisors. "We are fighting on the front lines to keep agents in business and to protect the products that serve the needs of millions of families. Now more than ever, you need us and we need you."
Taylor provided this message recently to NAIFA-San Angelo, NAIFA-Texas Gulf Coast, NAIFA-Greater East Texas and to a meeting of New York Life agents in Austin. |
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TDI Clarifies Rule for "Grandfathered" Annuity Producers
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), at a compliance seminar in Austin May 12th, provided clarification to the new continuing education (CE) rules as they relate to annuity producers who are grandfathered from CE. These rules implement legislation passed by the 81st Texas Legislature last year.
Deputy Commissioner Matt Ray says that an agent who has obtained from TDI a "longevity exemption" (20 years or more continuously licensed) need only complete an initial 4-hour annuity certification course prior to the agent's license renewal date and, thereafter, the grandfathered agent will be exempt from the ongoing 4-hour annuity CE follow-up requirement.
Click here for more information relating to the certification and CE requirements for the sale of annuities and Medicare related products and plans, and to agents who wish to obtain voluntary specialty certification to market to small employer groups. |
NAIFA-TEXAS IFAPAC = CAREER INSURANCE FOR MEMBERS
Alan Kifer RFC, LTCP, LUTCF, CSA, one of only two Capitol level PAC contributors in NAIFA-Texas, receives recognition from Alyson Guest, LUTCF, National IFAPAC Committee Member for providing a $1,500 check for IFAPAC at a recent NAIFA-Houston meeting. Kifer will be a featured speaker at the Texas Leaders Round Table Roundup, July 15-16 in San Marcos, Texas. |
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Should Same Fiduciary Standard Apply to All Advisors?
On April 28 the U.S. Senate voted to proceed to debate on Senate Bill 3217, the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 (RAFSA). NAIFA lobbyists emphasize that the bill including amendments has a number of provisions important to insurance agents and financial advisors. Click here for a two-page summary of those issues and the stand NAIFA is taking on the current bill
NAIFA supports the approach championed by Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) that requires Congress first get the facts about how broker-dealers and investment advisers are regulated and then make changes to address any gaps or overlaps in regulation that are found to be harmful to investors. The Johnson-Crapo approach was approved by the Senate Banking Committee and is included in the base text of RAFSA that is currently being considered on the Senate floor. Click here for information on the Johnson-Crapo approach.
Lobby efforts by NAIFA have focused on the legal standard of care that investment advisers and broker-dealers have to their clients. Currently, investment advisers have a fiduciary standard that is enforced by state securities administrators and/or the Securities and Exchange Commission depending on how many assets the adviser has under management. Broker-dealers are held to a suitability standard enforced by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA). Throughout the regulatory reform process, there have been several efforts to impose a fiduciary standard of care on broker-dealers and their representatives, while making no changes to the standard or enforcement of the standard for investment advisers. |
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Congressman Randy Neugebauer (center) from the 19th Congressional District of Texas visited the NAIFA-Texas office in Austin to meet and discuss issues with NAIFA-Texas members including candidates in the 2010 Leadership in Life Institute on May 3rd. Members from left to right are: Tim Roels, Belinda Kohutek, Nancy Britain, Becky Raeke, Lane Boozer (LILI moderator), Jenna Gasper, Ken Stover (NAIFA-Austin President), Christie Bonczek, Cheri Stanwix, Ruben Lozoya, Ted Erck and Hagan Dial. Congressman Neugebauer, whose district stretches across 27 Texas counties and includes the cities of Abilene, Big Spring and Lubbock, has received IFAPAC support during this election cycle and in previous campaigns. |
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Officer/Trustee Candidates Share Vision for NAIFA-Texas
Candidate speeches and elections will dominate proceedings of the NAIFA-Texas Town Hall Meeting/Candidate Forum and Business Meeting on July 17th at the 85th NAIFA-Texas Annual Meeting in San Marcos. Elected leaders decide issues that affect the state association, and, more importantly, will influence federal and state issues that impact agents' livelihoods.
NAIFA members are urged to attend these meetings as we prepare for "The Perfect Storm" that threatens the industry.
Below is a list of candidates for office and their answer to: My Vision for NAIFA-Texas.
President: Cylinda Clark from NAIFA-Dallas is the incoming NAIFA-Texas President for 2010-2011. As the present President-Elect, she will move up to be only the second woman president of this association in its 85-year history.
 President-Elect: Stephen M. Ehlers LUTCF from NAIFA-Houston. Vision for NAIFA-Texas: "To continue as the premier agents'association in Texas and to be the best state association in NAIFA. To better educate the public, agents and members alike, about the quality and value that NAIFA-Texas offers. To continue to promote positive input while maintaining our integrity that we are known for with our Texas and U.S. Senators and Representatives."
 Secretary/Treasurer: Douglas "Doug" B. Massey CLU, ChFC, FSS, LUTCF from NAIFA-San Angelo. Vision for NAIFA-Texas: "...is that WE communicate the value of NAIFA, the importance of our advocacy and the unique position we have at the state and national levels to the financial services professional. That the financial services professional recognizes that value and we turn the corner on membership and build from a much stronger base."
 Secretary/Treasurer: Joey Ussery CLU, ChFC, LUTCF from NAIFA-Houston. Vision for NAIFA-Texas: "We live in exciting and challenging times. For our members and their clients to survive and thrive in this environment, NAIFA-Texas must be the driving force in the legislative and regulatory arena. NAIFA-Texas must succeed in providing education and benefits to the professionals in our industry. This value proposition will both further our profession and draw us together. NAIFA-Texas must continue to be the collective voice of professional agents and financial advisors in Texas and across the NAIFA federation."
 Trustee: Donald "Lane" Boozer LUTCF from NAIFA-Texoma. Vision for NAIFA-Texas: "To INSPIRE membership, both current and potential members, across Texas and to take ACTION. Whether that action is grass roots political involvement, monetary contribution or active participation in your local associations, the membership of NAIFA-Texas has the responsibility and the power to serve the best interests of all Texas policyholders and advocate for all who SELL insurance and financial services products. Ultimately, my vision for NAIFA-Texas is to serve to the best of our ability to represent YOU, our membership. Together, WE are the INSURANCE that protects the future of our very important industry."
 Trustee: Stella Castaneda from NAIFA-Corpus Christi. Vision for NAIFA-Texas: "...is as simple as what I do for my clients - protect and grow. By PROTECTING our clients' insurance benefits, we would automatically be protecting our businesses and ultimately our families. Alongside the protection mission, we must creatively GROW our membership base. There is power in numbers, and doing this Texas style means we need BIG numbers. So Texans, Let's get on our white horses and lead the field!"
 Trustee: Kirk Howard Haworth CLU, ChFC from NAIFA-Amarillo Area. Vision of NAIFA-Texas: "...to preserve in all areas the industry that its members make their living and to increase the average income of its members. I propose we continue to do this by efficient, effective legislation involvement at the state and federal level, providing networking opportunities at all levels and by being a facilitator of high level education and excellent sales ideas."
 Trustee: Jonathan Lee Ripley from NAIFA-Dallas. Vision of NAIFA-Texas: "...now more than ever, we need each other. Our industry is under attack. Once the healthcare legislation is complete, attacks will come across other lines of our business. We need advocacy and lots of it, but it doesn't stop there. Education and networking are needed as we move into a new generation of products and services. We have to shift our paradigms, and we can't do it alone. We need the veterans and the up-and-comers to take a more active role and WANT to be a part of the solution. Through the pillars of advocacy, networking and professional development, we will grow and change in 2010 and beyond." |
Understanding Social Security: Is This an Oxymoron?
 Robin Mueller, LUTCF will separate the myths from the facts in his fast paced course, covering two of the most talked about areas of Social Security. Robin Mueller is a two time All-American gymnast and informative speaker who combines real life experiences and insights, mixed with humor and powerful messages, to motivate you to action. You will walk away with a clear understanding of Social Security, retirement benefits and taxes.
The TLRT Roundup is open to all members of NAIFA-Texas, but qualifying members of TLRT receive a $100 discount on registration.
Click here for additional information on the TLRT Roundup and 85th NAIFA-Texas Annual Meeting. |
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NAIFA-Texas eNewsletter 
