6:30 - 8:00 pm

Ramada Jacksonville
9150 Baymeadows Road
Jacksonville, FL  32256

PRESENTATION:

HONORING:

Black & White Business & Cocktail attire is encouraged but optional! Members, spouses & guests are welcome!

The cost is $35.00 per person, $60.00 per couple. The non-member cost is $40.00 per person, $70.00 per couple.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE TODAY!

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

       

For more information, please contact NAIFA-Jacksonville at 904-695-2300 or email [email protected]. 

Becky Brothers
YAT Chair & Board Member

This year our socials are going to focus on COI's so we have put together a plan for local young industry professionals - the YPAJ.  Our vision is to build and develop lasting mutually beneficial relationships and referral sources between Young Advisors, Attorneys, and CPA's so that they may meet each other in an informal, non-threatening/intimidating environment to network with like-minded industry professionals that they think they would work best with as lasting professional relationships. This will insure the success and growth of our young industry professionals in developing mutually beneficial relationships that are a part of building a thriving and sound practice. We have already sent a copy of our plan to the local FiCPA - YCPA Chair and local bar and legal associations for them to review and help us gain support.  

Our first social will be in January/February so keep your eyes peeled and your ears open. We the YAT's need your support, participation, experience to help us forge the same key relationships that you have all done so successfully over the years.  Please join us and, once the dates and locations are announced, please reach out to your own COI's and their firms, ask them to share this information with their young professionals who have the same need for these relationships as we do.

YOU are the KEY to our YAT's SUCCESS.  Please promote YAT and NAIFA in your culture at the office.  In our vision to build a strong YAT Network with local professionals, Bar Associations, and  the FiCPA' s Young CPA Committee we need YOU on our TEAM as well as  your leadership and support. The success of our local YAT Initiative isn't done by YAT's alone. It's done as a chapter, it's done as a team, the success and growth of our YAT's and chapter is done through YOU, NAIFA- Jacksonville.
NAIFA- Florida's Top 40 Under 40- Managers, start nominating your YAT's after the first of the year. If you're a YAT, apply yourself and have your manager sign off for you - all YAT's are eligible.  If you don't apply and don't try you will never win and the answer will always be no.  Never doubt yourselves or your abilities EVER!   I know I don't - I've seen first-hand just how much young talent we have in Jacksonville and nothing would make me prouder than to see NAIFA-Jacksonville's YAT team dominate at the state conference this June. The recognition you receive statewide along with the press release has a positive impact for you the advisor and your firm, but don't take my word for it. Ask Angela Brown, Jeremy Pratchard, or Philip Rogero, just a few of last year's recipients from NAIFA-Jacksonville.

Any advisor 40 years or under may apply, member or not.  If selected as one of NAIFA-Florida's Top 40 Under 40, the selectee will need to be a NAIFA member by the set deadline (usually in May) in order to receive the award and the benefits that come with being one of NAIFA-Florida's Top 40 Under 40.  Please see Cheryl Canzanella, me, or a member of the YAT Committee with questions.  Details are available on our website along with the application.  Click HERE for more information. Don't forget NAIFA National's Top Four Advisors Under Forty. Our very own Deanna Brown was selected for this honor last year - who will it be this year?  Why not you?  Profiles of all Four Under 40 winners appear in September/October 2014 issue of Advisor Today.  

Know anybody YAT or otherwise studying for a designation?  The YAT team would like to form study groups for anyone that is, if you have any interest please email me at [email protected] no matter the designation you are working towards.

Please join us in welcoming Curtis James to our YAT Committee this year! If you have any questions about our vision and mission about YAT and the vital role we have in our organization and industry please feel free to ask me or any member of the YAT Committee.  A YAT may join the committee at any time and any NAIFA member may join us at our meetings.  It's an honor to be surrounded by so much talent. Together we can achieve any goal we set for ourselves and the chapter.
 

Please remember to watch our Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts for important updates and news on industry socials and mixers coming your way and remember the more the merrier - all of NAIFA-Jacksonville membership is welcome to attend any YAT event we have.  We encourage and welcome your participation and what a great way to LEAD by EXAMPLE and show your support for your own YAT's and new advisors.  Let's start this year off strong!  I CHALLENGE each of you to bring a NEW YAT to our next luncheon as your guest.  I promise you I will.  Let's see how many of you will rise to the challenge. 

Game on!

For more information about NAIFA's Young Advisors Team, please click HERE.

Citizens is pleased to partner with agent associations to present free webinars about PolicyCenter� for appointed agents and their support staff.

PolicyCenter will replace ePAS for all personal lines new-business submissions and renewal policies that are effective on or after February 1, 2015. Citizens is making every effort to ensure that there are training opportunities available to smoothly transition agents and agency staff from ePAS to PolicyCenter.

Before participating in the webinars, all attendees are encouraged to take the online training.

During the webinar, Citizens will present the following information:

• PolicyCenter overview
• New-business submissions
• Servicing personal lines policies
• Additional resources and job aids

Notes:

• These webinars do not provide continuing education credits for maintaining a Florida insurance license.
• Attendees do not need to be members of the association to attend.
• Seating is limited.

Register for any of these webinars using the links below:

Professional Insurance Agents of Florida (PIA)
Dec. 11, 2-4 p.m.
Register Here

Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies (LAAIA)
Dec. 12, 2-4 p.m.
Register Here

National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA)
Dec. 16, 2-4 p.m.
Register Here

Specialty Insurance Agents of Florida (SIAoF)
Dec. 17, 2-4 p.m.
Register Here

* We urge attendees to log in 15 minutes early to confirm connectivity. See minimum computer requirements on each association's registration page or in confirmation emails. The associations nor Citizens can provide computer connectivity assistance.

Please visit the Agents section of our website for more information such as online and classroom training opportunities, underwriting manuals and forms, reference information and FAQs.

Timothy J. Meenan
NAIFA-Florida Lobbyist

The 2014 election cycle has ended after two long years of fundraising requests, endless campaign ads, and a tight election for Governor. How did NAIFA fare during these elections? Pretty darn good! In all, NAIFA's "Insurance and Financial Advisors PAC" gave to 89 different races, with 23 being democrats and 66 being republicans, and only suffered two losses.

By now you are aware that this governors' race was as close as any in recent history. It seemed like every day polls were out, and the Governor and Charlie Crist took turns topping the poll on a daily basis. In the end, a lower than expected turnout in Broward County is what most pundits point to explaining Charlie Crist's loss. One thing is for certain, Governor Scott has demonstrated his understanding of financial markets, and will be more favorable to your industry as we look to the next four years.

I expect Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty to stay right where he is, and that's a good thing for agents, as Kevin has been a strong supporter of streamlining agency licensing, opposing stranger originated life insurance, and uplifting the role of the agent in a world of Navigators and Federal Health Reform.

CFO Jeff Atwater, with whom I spent election night, easily cruised to re-election, along with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. Expect strong cooperation at the Cabinet level with Rick Scott's pro-business agenda... for about 18 months, and then several of these cabinet members may begin a quiet campaign for Governor.

Let's just enjoy the harmony for now!

All of the 120 seats in the House and half of the 40 Senate seats were up for election in 2014. Leadership in both the House and Senate turns over every two years, so this fall brings new leaders and new committee assignments. Republicans in the House consolidated their hold to gain a supermajority, meaning they have a veto proof lead of more than two thirds of the chamber once again.   The Senate ratio of control remains unchanged. Steve Crisafulli, R - Merritt Island, won his reelection and will be sworn in as the next Speaker of the House. Andy Gardiner, R - Orlando, who was not up for reelection this year, but slated to be the next Senate President.

It's not clear who will be appointed to lead the House and Senate committees overseeing insurance, but a betting person might lay some money on Representative Bill Hager R-Boca Raton becoming House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee Chairman, and Senator Garret Richter, R-Naples, being slotted for the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Chair.  

In the State Senate, there were only two hotly contested races. The second showdown between incumbent democratic Senator Maria Sachs and former senator Ellyn Bogdanoff ended with Senator Sachs retaining her seat by a two point margin. Republican Senator Jeff Brandes easily defeated Judithanne McLaughlin by an 8% margin. The final count in the Senate remains 26 Republican to 14 democrats.

In the House, many seats were up for grabs, several changed hands, and we face a good number of new members. In Hernando County, Republican Blaise Ingoglia is headed to the House, having defeated Democrat Ross Rocco (42%), and no-party candidates James Scavetta (4%) and Hamilton Hanson (3%) with 51% of the vote. In Pasco County, incumbent Rep. Amanda Murphy, D-New Port Richey, was victorious over Republican Chris Gregg, winning with 54% of the vote. In Osceola County, Democrat John Cortes defeated Republican Carlos Irizarry with 66% of the vote to Irizarry's 34% in an open seat. In Pinellas County, Republican Chris Latvala cruised to victory over Democratic opponent Stephen Sarnoff with 53% of the vote to Sarnoff's 47% in an open seat. In District 68, incumbent Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg, managed to defeat Republican opponent Bill Young II by a margin of 53% to 47%. In Fort Lauderdale, incumbent Rep. Larry Lee Jr., D-Port St. Lucie, won re-election with a more than comfortable margin over Republican challenger Robert Siedlecki Jr.   In Boca Raton, incumbent Rep. Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, won re-election with a comfortable margin over Democrat David Silvers. Hager held on to close to 53% of the vote, while Silvers only garnered 47%.

There were some upsets this election. In Orlando, Republican Mike Miller narrowly defeated incumbent Rep. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, with 52% of the vote to Stewart's 48%. In Orange and Seminole Counties, Republican Bob Cortes unseated incumbent Rep. Karen Castor Dentel, D-Maitland, by winning 51% of the vote. In Seminole County, Republican Scott Plakon defeated incumbent Rep. Mike Clelland, D-Lake Mary, 57% to 43%. In Orlando, Rep. Joe Saunders, D-Orlando, was unseated by Republican challenger Rene "Coach P" Plasencia, who carried 51% of the vote to Saunders' 49%. In Tampa, former representative Shawn Harrison (R) retook the District 63 seat he lost to Rep. Mark Danish, D-Tampa, in 2012, winning a close victory with 52% of the vote to Danish's 47%. In St. Petersburg, Republican Chris Sprowls bested freshman Rep. Carl Zimmerman, D-Palm Harbor, with 52% of the vote to Zimmermann's 48%.

The final count in the House is 86 Republicans to 34 Democrats.

Now that the elections are over, we will begin to see insurance and other legislation filed in the House and Senate. NAIFA is looking at action on the health, life and property insurance fronts.

We expect to ask for some amendments to be made to reduce the confusion in the health marketplace being caused by differences in both Florida and Federal law. Why are we forced to offer the Standard, Basic and High Deductible Health plans when no one purchases them and they don't comply with Federal Law? Is full time employment indicated by a workweek of 26 or 30 hours? Are dependents up to age 26 or 30 covered? Are supplemental plans converted into mini med plans allowed to be sold in Florida? These and other questions confound our health insurance market.

NAIFA is currently fighting attempts surfacing for next year to reduce the number of pre-licensing hours needed to sell life insurance, opposing a "term life only" agents license, and other attempts to water down important consumer protection provided by assuring new agents are educated and ready to handle life insurance, annuity, and other financial issues.  

Stranger Owned Life Insurance has a way of rearing its ugly head almost every session, and we stand ready to fight back against any effort to legitimize this opportunity to prey upon our senior citizens.

In the property insurance market, fights to lower the taxes coming from CAT Fund assessments by decreasing CAT Fund coverage, restricting assigning benefits on property claims, and other issues are likely to move to the forefront.

Will the legislature move to eliminate PIP and replace it with mandatory bodily injury insurance? Possibly. Will the Legislature address the growing number of automobile bad faith claims by plaintiffs' lawyers gaming the system? Maybe. In the end, hundreds of bills and thousands of amendments will be filed during the 2015 Florida legislative session that affect your business, and we will be here reviewing every single one and defending your interests.