Plus Special Luncheon Presentation:
GUEST SPEAKER:
At just five feet tall, Ernie Bono has been told his whole life that he would fail because he was too short. Ernie has used this challenge as a great source of motivation and fought with all his power to prove people wrong. It all started when the 5'1'', 140 pound running back received a football scholarship to Cheyney State, one of the oldest Historically Black Colleges in America. From there, he rose through the ranks of the Prudential Insurance Company eventually becoming one of the youngest vice presidents in company history. Throughout his successful career with Prudential, he gave over 400 presentations.
 
Following retirement as Managing Director of Prudential Select in 1995 at the age of 47, Ernie has devoted his days to family, friends and church ministry. For the last 5 years, he has traveled the country speaking to various conferences and parishes on a variety of topics including Stewardship and The Balanced Catholic Life. He has also been a featured guest on several Catholic Radio Stations including "Seize the Day" with Gus Lloyd, The Catholic Channel on SiriusXM 129. In that time, Ernie has also published a book titled, There Are No Shortcuts: Enjoying the Balance of Faith, Family and Career. It details his life experiences from his childhood days growing up in the tough "Devil's Pocket" neighborhood of 1950's Philadelphia to his career as an executive with Prudential Insurance and how God has been there every step of the way.
 
In addition, Ernie has put his business knowledge to use consulting with such companies as Fidelity National Capital, Acosta Sales and Marketing, PineRidge Film & Television Company and Rug Décor. He shares his passion for developing and motivating others to enhance positive communication and innovation with a wonderful ability to inform and inspire audiences toward peak performance and high levels of achievement.
 
In addition to Ernie's travel schedule, he is a Knight of Malta, Jacksonville Chapter as well as a member of the special planning committee for the Bishop of St. Augustine (FL) Diocese and is a board member for Catholic Charities. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation where he has helped raise over 5 million dollars to help area families who have been stricken with childhood cancers. He spends his Fridays cooking and serving at the St. Francis Soup Kitchen in downtown Jacksonville.
 

The cost is $20.00 for members and
$25.00 for non-members and guests.
  

Online registration and prepayment is
necessary by Friday, May 17th.
   
For more information, please contact Association Executive Cherri Coombs-Ohmer, LUTCF at (904) 695-2300 or e-mail info@naifa-jacksonville.org.
 
 
   
  
  

Submitted by 
Maureen Kirschhofer, CLU, ChFC
National Committeeperson
 
In April I spent several days in Washington, DC meeting with our legislators with the NAIFA group.  As Washington and our States look for ways to reduce deficits and create new sources of revenue funding, our industry and our clients are under attack like never before.
 
We had a wonderful contingent from Jacksonville with Mike Halloran, Paul Broome, Kyle Mooney, Bill Kirschhofer and myself. Over 1,000 agents (53 from Florida) spent time explaining how valuable the insurance that we sell is to the public.  Hopefully we conveyed the importance of the job we are doing for our clients to our legislative aides who met with us.  They listened and had many questions so we hope it hit home.  
 
READ MORE...
   
  

The 2013 Legislature adjourned Friday evening, and won't be back in regular session until next year.  The 2013 legislative session was dominated by a proposed elimination of the premium tax credit on insurers that locate employees in Florida (it failed), State Implementation of Federal health care reform, creation of a Citizens Clearinghouse (both passed), and expansion of Medicaid by allowing recipients to purchase private health insurance with Federal Medicaid dollars (failed).

NAIFA-Florida scored major victories in regulating Navigators, and creating a Citizens clearinghouse which will allow our exclusive agent members to place policies with private insurers before they go into Citizens.  We slowed the progress of hedge funds trying to declare war on life insurers for STOLI audits, and killed a number of other bad amendments which would have harmed agents.

It was a tense legislative session, but NAIFA-Florida laid the predicate for a successful session during its March Legislative Day On the Hill, and brought many issues over the finish line.