NAIFA-Texas Trustee Jason Talley (right), pictured with Governor Rick Perry (left) in June 2011.

Prompted by an April 25th federation-wide leadership call -- conducted to explain NAIFA Board action in response to the Presidential Blue Ribbon Task Force report -- Texas Trustee Jason Talley asks for answers to specific questions in a letter to NAIFA President Robert Miller as a follow up to statements and queries raised on the call.

Miller said the NAIFA Board would ask the National Council for a national dues increase effective January 1, 2013. Following the call, Miller said he misspoke when he cited a one-third reduction in NAIFA staff over the past two and one-half years as an example of cost-saving measures taken by NAIFA.

Prior to the NAIFA Board's recommendations revealed April 25th, NAIFA-Texas CEO/CLO Des Taylor also submitted a letter outlining several specific, positive, actionable reforms for Miller's consideration. Neither letter has received a written response from Miller to date.

NAIFA-Texas and Kelsey National have teamed together to provide our members disability income protection--the NAIFA Advantage Plus Disability Income Plan--at a special member discount.

No matter what your lifestyle needs are or what life stage you are in--single, married with children, middle-aged or on your way to retirement--it is essential that you protect the financial well-being and security of you and your family.

To learn more visit www.kelsey.com/naifa or call 800-366-5656, option 3. Be sure to identify yourself as a NAIFA member.

NAIFA-Texas is currently accepting applications for the Leadership in Life Institute (LILI) Class of 2013, set to begin in August 2012. Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2012.

LILI is a six-month leadership-development course offered exclusively to NAIFA members. The program 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
• Continued opportunities for growth through LILI alumni programs
• Skills graduates will use to strengthen their local association

The tuition fee for the LILI course is $880.00. Scholarships are available (reimbursement provided upon completion of course) from NAIFA-Texas and often available from local NAIFA associations, as well.

For further details, including session dates, curriculum, scholarship information, and an application, click here.

Former state Senator Carlos Truan, a long-time association member and agent for New York Life, died Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at his home in Corpus Christi.

He began his insurance career in 1959 and retired as a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He was also a member of TLRT. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1968 and immediately championed TALU issues. In 1976 he was elected to the Texas Senate where he served for 26 years. Throughout his political career Sen. Truan was a life underwriter association ally and played a leading role as advocate and watch dog of legislation in the best interest of agents. He was a speaker at two state conventions and participated in the leadership conferences.

Carlos was one of my true friends in the Legislature for years....He was our 'go-to-guy'..... He was also there for us when we reached the stage where our voice was the most sought after of any in the Legislature on issues of insurance and the public it served, i.e he started early and stayed late with us all those years. Many, many others became our strong and vigorous supporters, but a special place in my heart is reserved for this unique person who believed in, then TALU, and helped me with the 'heavy lifting for years.' If anyone has earned the right to be laid to rest in our beautiful State Cemetery, it is our friend Carlos. -- C. Dean Davis, NAIFA-Texas former counsel

According to a survey of 861 NAIFA members who sell health insurance, agent commissions have declined dramatically since the medical loss ratio (MLR) provision of the health care reform law went into effect. Seventy percent of respondents who sell health insurance have seen a decrease in commissions, forcing many agents to reduce their services to clients, consider charging fees for services they had been providing at no additional charge, and in some cases, laying off employees and leaving the health insurance market.

With almost a third ready to leave the market, agents are anxiously awaiting the U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding the constitutionality of the federal healthcare law, which is expected next month. The Supreme Court Justices may strike the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) completely, strike certain portions of the law, or leave it intact. If the PPACA remains upheld, other legislative fixes could provide relief for agents. Specifically, Senate Bill 2288 would change the way agent compensation is considered in PPACA's MLR provision, while a broader bill, H.R. 1206, has more than 200 bipartisan cosponsors and may get a markup after months of languishing in the House. Full story.

The profound demographic trend that is boosting demand for investment advice - the millions of baby boomers retiring or planning their retirement - also is threatening the financial advisory sector with a talent shortage. Even as more and more older Americans seek advice on bolstering their nest eggs, advisers themselves are looking to head off into the sunset. Too few younger advisers are in the pipeline to replace them. Full story.

There are questions about the future of the group long-term care market, as two insurers have stopped offering the product in the past 17 months.

In November 2010, MetLife announced it would discontinue the sale of new LTC insurance, and Unum announced it would do the same for group sales in February. This leaves just two companies - Genworth and Prudential - offering group LTC insurance. Full story.

While the stock market has been relatively strong and steady this year, one need only look at the direction of flows into mutual funds to see that most investors aren't participating. Full story.

NAIFA's Government Relations Committee and the NAIFA Board recently changed its policy on commission disclosure in life insurance and securities sales. Full story.