THE LATEST NEWS FROM NAIFA-WEST VIRGINIA - DECEMBER 2013

OFFICIAL FAMILY: Click HERE for NAIFA-West Virginia's
2013-2014 Officers, Regional Directors and Committee Chairs

President's Message

By Terry S. Mathias
2013-2014 NAIFA-West Virginia President

As we approach the end of another year, I hope you are on track to achieve your goals for the year. As we look to next year, I hope you are working on your goals and business plan for 2014. One of the keys to success in this business is to set realistic and measurable goals and then establish a written plan to accomplish them. After listening to Bill Cates at our state convention back in May (if you missed it, you missed one of the best opportunities to learn to grow your business this year), I am working toward a totally referral-based client acquisition system. This is the most effective and efficient way for us to grow our client base.

One of the strategies that I have implemented in my practice this past year was to develop an Advisory Board for my business. It serves two purposes: to develop a referral network with other professionals in my community whom I know, like, and trust; and to use them as a source for advice and feedback regarding the state of my business. My board consists of eleven members beside me, including an attorney, CPA, mortgage banker, property and casualty agent, realtor, and small business owner. We just met for the third time earlier this month, and we will be meeting quarterly in 2014. I also meet with each member individually each quarter. As everyone gets more comfortable with each other, more referrals will take place among all of the members of the board.

My Advisory Board is one of my key strategies for growing my business in 2014, and I wanted to share this idea with you so you can implement it as well, attract more clients, and help more people achieve their financial goals. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this idea (Office 304-340-4368).

Have a wonderful holiday season and a great 2014.

For information about sponsorship opportunities
with NAIFA-West Virginia, pelase contact John
Pauley at (304) 345-4343 or email
johnpauley@ft.newyorklife.com.

THANK YOU TO
OUR SPONSORS!

Advocacy Update

Robert Hurley, CLU, ChFC

NAIFA-West Virginia IFAPAC Chairman

Report on the IFAPAC/APIC Training Meeting & Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC: November 11 - November 13, 2013

As IFAPAC chair for WV I have just returned from a three day meeting in DC. I have always been impressed by our Legislative Staff in NAIFA's national office. This visit I came away even more impressed by our staff's capabilities. Rest assured that our Staff effectively communicates NAIFA's positions to our Senators and Congressional representatives.

There were IFAPAC and APIC representatives from 48 states in attendance. We spent Tuesday preparing for Day-On-The-Hill visits with our individual state representatives and spent Wednesday on the Hill meeting with the members of Congress. The staff briefed us on the issues we were to address and helped prepare us down to the smallest detail. We also did role play in preparation for our visits.

Robert Hurley, CLU, ChFC, NAIFA-West Virginia IFAPAC Chair (right)
meeting with Congressman Nick Rahall.

The two issues we were asked to address were the taxation of insurance and annuity products and, of course, The Affordable Care Act.

NAIFA's position with taxation of our products is that we ask congress to maintain the tax laws that are in place. In a time when Congress is looking for ways to provide financial security for our citizens we feel we are an integral part of the answer. We provide insurance and retirement funds to 75 million American families. We were given fact sheets for our individual states showing the benefits provided by our industry as well as jobs in our state provided by the insurance industry. You can find this information for WV by going to www.SecureFamily.org.

Thanks to John Pauley's efforts in arranging meetings, I was able to meet personally with Representatives Rahall and Capito. My meeting with Senator Manchin was upstaged by Secretary of State John Kerry calling a meeting of the Banking Committee at my arranged meeting time. I did, however, spend an hour with one of Senator Minchin's aides. We had scheduling problems that prevented me from meeting with Representative McKinley and Senator Rockefeller.

I found the representatives and their staff to be very knowledgeable about the issues we discussed. They listened carefully and asked pertinent questions. They welcomed our input. The time was very well spent.

If anyone would like more details of the points we addressed, feel free to contact me.

Executive Director's Report

John E. Pauley, CLU, ChFC, CLTC

Back the PAC!

As you know, there is a considerable amount of time being spent discussing pending legislation in Washington, DC. It is very clear that our industry is a "target" of the Obama administration as a source of revenue to offset the increasing deficit.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BACK THE PAC!

There is proposed legislation everyday that would negatively impact our products and services as Agents and Advisors.

We are asking you to make an annual contribution or upgrade to IFAPAC that will support our advocacy efforts in Washington and West Virginia. We can't do this alone, but together we can make a difference! No contribution is too small -- I would encourage everyone to consider a donation at the Century Club level, $8.50 per Month or $100 per Year.

This is a small price to pay to preserve your profession!

Please note that an SEC "pay to play" rule is in effect that is designed to limit the influence of political contributions by investment advisers and certain associated persons in the awarding of advisory contracts by state and local governments went into effect. Among other things, the rule prohibits investment advisers from receiving compensation for services provided to a state or local government for two years following political contributions to certain state or local officials. In response to the rule, a number of companies have adopted compliance requirements that limit contributions by investment adviser representatives to political action committees (PACs) and state or local officials. You must check with your company's compliance department regarding any limitations on your ability to make political contributions under the pay-to-play rule. If you are covered by the rule, your compliance department may limit your contribution to only NAIFA's federal PAC. If you are not covered, your compliance department should permit your contribution to be shared between NAIFA's federal PAC and your state association PAC.

Please click HERE for a Contribution Form with complete details on the Directive with an additional area to let NAIFA know where to direct your IFAPAC contribution.

After you have consulted your compliance department, please check the applicable boxes on the second page of the form to instruct IFAPAC regarding the appropriate distribution of your IFAPAC contribution.

Note: If you do not check a box, your entire contribution will be directed to NAIFA's federal PAC rather than West Virginia's state PAC.

You can also fill out the form securely online: www.naifa.org/ifapac/directive.html

I hope we can count on YOU for support!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you for your consideration,

John E. Pauley, CLU, ChFC, CLTC
NAIFA-West Virginia Executive Director

Congratulations to NAIFA-West Virginia's
2013 NAIFA Quality Awards Recipients!

Click HERE for a complete list!

The NAIFA Quality Award provides advisors at any career stage, the opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to exceptional:

* Professionalism through education and earned designations
* Production measured by performance metrics customized for each practice specialty
* Adherence to the NAIFA code of ethics, and
* Service to your industry association.

Advisors specializing in Life & Annuities, Financial Advising & Investments, Health & Employee Benefits, Multiline Sales or any combination of these specialties have the opportunity to demonstrate the quality that is the mark of a true professional.

For more information and to apply for the NAIFA Quality Award, please click HERE.

Think BIG!

Personal Development Coaching and Training

by Herman L. Dixon, CLU, CLF, LUTCF, LTCP, RFC, MBA

New members receive a FREE, 30-minute, no-obligation, complimentary coaching session! Click HERE for complete details!

HEALTH CARE HIGHLIGHTS

Hi, I'm Thom Stevens, NAIFA - West Virginia Lobbyist and Editor of Health Care Highlights.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR CURRENT ISSUE AND ARCHIVE.

We are celebrating the 25th anniversary of our unique health care publication and this year we welcome communications expert Andy Wessels to our team.

Our newsletter reaches more than 5,000 health professionals and health policy makers. Health Care Highlights is your best source for West Virginia Legislative and Governmental health information!

New NAIFA Membership Brochure Available

NAIFA's New Membership Brochure is downloadable and available on NAIFA's website at www.naifa.org/join/documents/NAIFA_Brochure.pdf. We encourage you to download, save and print this brochure for use in your recruiting efforts. The Membership Brochure highlights NAIFA's rich array of membership benefits and services, offers member testimonials, and includes a convenient tear-away NAIFA membership application.

Copies of the new Membership Brochure are available on the NAIFA Marketplace in limited quantities. If more than 100 copies of the Membership Brochure are needed, please contact Jodi Meier in NAIFA's Membership Department at jmeier@naifa.org or 703-770-8214.

IT PAYS TO BE A MEMBER!

For a complete and comprehensive list of all the exclusive benefits of NAIFA membership, please visit www.naifa.org/benefits.

NAIFA is the largest financial services membership association in the United States, comprised of more than 700 state and local associations representing the interests of 200,000 members and their associates nationwide. NAIFA's goal is to protect your livelihood and your clients' financial security.

To join or renew securely online, please visit www.naifa.org.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

We would like to thank the following companies for their continued support of NAIFA-West Virginia and our dedication to the industry.

The Brokers Source, Ltd.

Raymond S. Phillips, CLU, LTCP

412-847-0770

Hildebrand Insurance Servieces

Ed Hildebrand, CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC

304-422-5500

Ameritas DI

Joe Noca

724-834-3206

CONNECTIONS THAT COUNT!

For more information about the National Association of Insurance and

Financial Advisors - West Virginia, contact John Pauley, CLU, ChFC, CLTC

at (304) 345-4343 or e-mail johnpauley@ft.newyorklife.com.

Visit NAIFA-West Virginia's website at www.naifawv.org.

IT PAYS TO BELONG!