In This Issue

Next YAT/YPAJ Social on May 19th

FREE One-Year NAIFA Membership!

Next NAIFA-Jacksonville Membership Luncheon Meeting

NAIFA-Florida Top Advisors Under 40

Disability Insurance Awareness Month

40-Hour Prelicensing Course LIVE and ONLINE

NAIFA Legislative Update

APIC: Advisors Political Involvement Committee

Your Support of IFAPAC is Appreciated!

Let's Go to New Orleans!

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

Thurs., May 19, 2015
YAT / YPAJ Social Event
Sponsored by Society of FSP Northeast Florida Chapter and Principal
Click HERE to register online!

May 19 - 20, 2015
NAIFA Congressional Conference in Washington, DC - Click HERE for complete details and registration.

Thurs, May 28, 2015
NAIFA-Jacksonville Membership Luncheon:
Annual Meeting and Elections plus MDRT Producers Panel. Click HERE to register online!

Thurs., June 25, 2015
NAIFA-Jacksonville Membership Luncheon:
Featuring the Installation of NAIFA-Jacksonville's 2015-2016 Officers and Board of Directors

June 26-27, 2015
NAIFA-Florida Annual Conference
Ritz-Carlton Luxury Hotel, Sarasota, FL
Click HERE for complete details and registration.

Check our website for
the latest updates.

Quick Links

Officers & Board of Directors

40-Hour Prelicensing Course

Member Benefit of the Month...

NAIFA's Members-Only FREE Webinar Series!

Next FREE Webinar "Steer Clients Clear of These Common Retirement Planning Mistakes" on Thursday, May 14th, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Click HERE for complete details and registration.

It Pays to Be a Member

For a complete and comprehensive list of all the exclusive benefits of NAIFA membership, click HERE.

Thought of the Month...

"If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse."

- Submitted by Cindi Cook

For the latest
NAIFA-Jacksonville
news and events,
please visit our website
at www.naifa-jacksonville.org,
or contact Association
Executive Cherri
Coombs Ohmer, LUTCF
at (904) 695-2300
or email
info@naifa-jacksonville.org.

Message From the President

Frank Mantay, CFP�

NAIFA-Jacksonville President

Exciting Times Ahead!

What an exciting time of year! Spring activities are in full gear and even the economy seems to have shaken off the winter blues. Your NAIFA-Jacksonville is also in overdrive with a complete slate of events. We have an awesome YAT event on May 19th at the Rooftop of Black Sheep with young attorneys and accountants. During our Annual Meeting on May 28th we will hold the elections of our 2015-2016 directors and feature a dynamic program with MDRT producers sharing their best practices on marketing, selling and running their practices while leading a balanced life. Also, if you know a YAT who deserves recognition for our 40 under 40 award, please submit an application for them by May 15th (see our website).

I've saved the best news for last . . . for many years the association has had requests from many voices to reduce membership dues for new advisors. Your voice has been heard. For the first time ever, agents/advisors 3 years and under can join NAIFA with NO memberships dues for a year! That's right, your new advisor can join and get involved in the many benefits of NAIFA membership for a year. What an outstanding opportunity for advisors to add credibility, knowledge, networking opportunities, etc., all to help them grow a successful business! Please see the link in this newsletter for important promotion codes and to learn more. I would like to congratulate Nathan Moore's AXA team for jumping on this opportunity and signing up FIFTEEN new advisors!!

This year NAIFA has had its first female president. We are excited to announce that our NAIFA National President Juli McNeely, CFP, CLU, LUTCF will be our featured speaker at the June 25th luncheon program. Your 2015-2016 NAIFA Jacksonville board will be installed during that program. A new member orientation will be held prior to the luncheon. Please make plans to attend and help us give Juli a warm Florida welcome.

Get the word out and let's get onboard this train before it leaves the station... exciting times ahead!

Register Today!

Next YAT / YPAJ Social Event!

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

The Rooftop at Black Sheep
5:30 - 7:30 pm

1534 Oak Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204

The cost is $10.00.

Members of NAIFA YAT, WIFS, Jacksonville Bar Association, FiCPA, JWLA or SFSP pay only $5.00!

Price includes a drink ticket and appetizers.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

NORTHEAST FLORIDA CHAPTER

and

YPAJ was created by NAIFA-Jacksonville's Young Advisors Team (YAT) in order to help 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.

Our vision is for you 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.

For more information, please contact YAT co-chair Rebecca Brothers at 904-999-3105 or brothers.rebecca@principal.com.

FREE One-Year NAIFA Membership!

Submitted by Margie Harner
NAIFA-Jacksonville President Elect

Calling all members!

Do you know someone just staring out in the business? NAIFA and NAIFA-Florida are offering a membership offering like never before. In an effort to expose as many new advisors as possible to the benefits of NAIFA, they are offering FREE membership to any advisor who has been in the industry for less than 3 years, has entered into an agent contract, has never been a member of NAIFA, and lives or works in Florida.

This initiative is an attempt to complement our efforts to grow NAIFA membership by adding a new generation of advisors as well as show the value to our corporate partners by enhancing the perspective and education of the new advisor, leading to greater retention and quality of the professionals in the industry.

If you know of someone who meets the qualifications, please use the code "NAIFAFLFREE" via www.NAIFA.org/join or click HERE for a printable PDF application.

Click HERE for a promotional flyer with complete details. For more information, please contact contact Tom Ashley at 850-422-1701 ext. 202 or tom.ashley@naifa-florida.org.

* Eligible advisors must join by September 30, 2015 in order to receive the one year of free membership. The membership pilot is open to new NAIFA members only.

Next NAIFA-Jacksonville Membership Luncheon

You're Invited to NAIFA-Jacksonville's
Next Membership Luncheon Meeting!

Thursday, May 28, 2015

11:15 AM - 1:00 PM

Ramada Baymeadows

9150 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Featuring the Election of NAIFA-Jacksonville's 2015-2016 Officers & Board of Directors

Take Your Career to the Next Level!

Million Dollar Round Table Producers Panel

at our Next Membership Luncheon Meeting!

MDRT is a global, independent association of more than 42,000 of the world's leading life insurance and financial services professionals from more than 470 companies in 71 countries. MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services business.

The cost is $25.00.

NAIFA members who register by 5/22 pay only $20.00!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE!

Check our website for the latest updates.

For more information, please contact NAIFA-Jacksonville at

(904) 695-2300 or info@NAIFA-Jacksonville.org.

NAIFA-Florida Top Advisors Under 40

NAIFA-Florida YAT is proud to announce our 2nd annual recognition of young agents within our industry!

Candidates will consist of insurance and financial professionals throughout the state of Florida, and final recipients will be chosen by a panel of NAIFA-Florida board members. The award will be based on an advisor's 2014 commissions, NAIFA association involvement, community involvement, and volunteer efforts in other organizations. As an individual advisor, this program presents an opportunity for you to be recognized for your efforts. If you are a manager this program provides a recognition opportunity to motivate other young producers to reach their maximum performance potential!

Registration is now open!

The deadline is May 15th. Please click HERE for more information.

Disability Insurance Awareness Month

May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month. Disability insurance is the most overlooked of the major types of insurance.

That's likely because many people think a disabling illness or injury will never happen to them. But according to a Life Happens survey, a person has a three in 10 chance of suffering a disabling illness or injury that would keep them out of work for three months or more during their career.

That's why each May Life Happens coordinates Disability Insurance Awareness Month. This campaign offers you the perfect opportunity to talk to people in your community about their disability insurance needs-at a time when it may already be on their minds. Life Happens offers you a wide range of tools and resources to make that job easier.

Click HERE for complete details.

NAIFA-Jax 40-Hour Prelicensing Course!

NEW ONLINE COURSE OPPORTUNITY!

Take the Pre-licensing Course online!

NAIFA-Jacksonville has partnered with XCEL Testing Solutions to provide online pre-licensing courses through NAIFA-Jacksonville. XCEL Testing Solutions headquartered in Jacksonville is a national leader in online insurance education.

In partnership with NAIFA-Jacksonville students can now enroll in their industry-leading Prepare to Pass Course Bundle Pre-Licensing courses for only $99.00! The bundle include the Florida-approved 214 - Life & Variable Annuity, 215 - Life, Health and Variable Annuity, or 240 - Health and Accident course, Cliff Notes, Prep Review Course, State Exam Simulator and Student Mentoring.

Use the promo code NAIFAJAX to receive the $100 discount off tuition!

CLICK HERE to enroll and save $100 by enrolling through NAIFA today!

NAIFA-Jacksonville

NEXT LIVE CLASSROOM COURSE DATES:

June 26 - 29, 2015

(Friday - Monday)

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
UNF Herbert University Center
12000 Alumni Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32224

Fee: $149.00

Looking to broaden your career opportunities? Jobs are available now for those with a 2-15 license. Many of these career positions pay on average $51K+ per year.

To prepare you for the test and a career in healthcare insurance sales, you will learn Federal and State regulations, legal concepts of the insurance contract, life and health insurance, health and accident insurance, and disability and medical reimbursements.

Course is designed and expertly taught in compliance with the State of Florida's rules.
Successful completion qualifies you to take the state exam to obtain a Life, Health & Variable Annuity License.
Becoming a 2-15 Agent allows you to sell fixed and variable annuities and all forms of life, health and accident insurance policies representing insurers in Florida.

Complete details or register online by clicking HERE.

NAIFA Legislative Update

NAIFA Responds to Department of Labor's Proposed Regulation Redefining Fiduciary under ERISA

On May 4, NAIFA President Juli McNeely and Past President Terry Headley, along with NAIFA staff and counsel, met with White House and key Department of Labor (DOL) representatives to discuss the DOL's proposed fiduciary rule. During the hour-long meeting, NAIFA expressed support for a workable best interest standard and outlined NAIFA's areas of concern with the current DOL proposal. The meeting concluded with a commitment to a continued dialogue between NAIFA and the Administration.

Representatives from the DOL provided a summary of the proposal and invited NAIFA to offer feedback. Acting CEO Michael Gerber provided an overview of NAIFA, including our mission and member profile, and emphasized our representation of Main Street and promotion of ethical conduct for 125 years.

We acknowledged the improvements from the 2010 withdrawn DOL proposal, and noted we have NAIFA members in the every Congressional district that can provide field information on the practical application of the proposed rule. We then introduced Juli and Terry as practitioners who would be able to provide examples of how they work with clients. We also noted that because they travel the country as NAIFA leaders, Juli and Terry would be able to share the experience of NAIFA members serving the middle market in a variety of different community settings.

Juli described her small town and business clientele, and her fact finding and due diligence procedures. She provided examples of how her recommendation process is in her clients' best interest. She also detailed her broker-dealer relationship, consumer protection procedures and compliance. The DOL representatives wanted to know more about Juli's selection of a broker-dealer, which allowed her to explain that it wasn't compensation that motivated the change, but a desire for a broker-dealer with enhanced technology so that she could better serve her clients. She was also able to share the prolonged time it took to re-paper her clients because of compliance requirements and the challenges that this year-long process posed for her clients.

Terry mentioned there appeared to be a focus on accumulation in the proposal, and emphasized that both the accumulation and long-term distribution phases of retirement planning need to be considered. He explained the services our members provide to small businesses and the need for encouragement by advisors for employers to set up retirement plans and for participants to contribute. He stressed that both the employer and employees need help with menu options and investment decisions. Terry explained longevity risk and how only annuities can address that risk and provide guarantee income for life.

The DOL representatives asked many specific questions of Juli and Terry to learn more about the business practices of NAIFA members and seemed to understand that the rule will impact our members differently depending on their relationships with financial institutions (independent, affiliated or captive). They requested an ongoing discussion of our concerns and requested that we offer remedies to address our concerns.

The DOL proposal is very problematic for many reasons, including the inevitable cost increases it will cause, the lack of access and fewer choices the rule will engender, and the enormous data disclosure and retention burdens the rule imposes for both B-Ds and registered reps. The proposal also increases potential liability, limits education, and does not adequately address advice to plan distributions or rollovers to other plans, including IRAs. NAIFA will continue to work with the DOL to address the unintended consequences of the proposal in the rule-making process as well as with Congress to ensure a workable solution is ultimately crafted.

Please CLICK HERE to find a NAIFA Fact Sheet including a list of initial concerns that we are working to have addressed. We want to hear from you on specific concerns you see that we might have missed. We will be sending a survey to members to gather specific information in the near future.

Diane Boyle

Senior Vice President

NAIFA Government Relations

703-770-8252 | dboyle@naifa.org

Also... BREAKING STATE LEGISLATIVE NEWS

NAIFA-Florida's Tim Meenan provided some very valuable legislative updates in the April 2015 NAIFA-Florida Advisor:

CLICK HERE

APIC: Advisors Political Involvement Committee

NAIFA is at Work for YOU!

"... I found it was really easy to establish a relationship with our elected Representative. We just have to keep in mind they're our neighbors who happen to be working in Washington and they want to hear what their neighbors have to say."

- David B. Malkin, CLU, ChFC
Past NAIFA President, Livingston, NJ

In less than a minute, you can help NAIFA!

Have your met with your legislator or attended a political fund raiser in the last six months?

Do you personally know a current legislator or a member of their staff? Are you neighbors? Do your children play on the same sports team? Do you go to the same house of worship?

If so, please report your relationship with the legislator by emailing mfogg@naifa.org or calling 703-770-8154 or completing the online form at www.naifa.org/advocacy/apic/legislative-contact-form.

You may have never run for public office. You might not know much about politics. But with NAIFA's Advisors Political Involvement Committee (APIC), you can still make a difference. Influence how Congress votes on legislation important to insurance and financial services professionals. You can get involved in a number of ways. The level of involvement is up to you.

Your IFAPAC Contribution is Appreciated!

Please consider a contribution to YOUR Political Action Committee!

The Insurance and Financial Advisors Political Action Committee (IFAPAC) is a term used to describe collectively the PAC sponsored by NAIFA at the federal level and the PACs sponsored by each state association. Each PAC is a fund that supports the campaigns of candidates for public office who understand issues important to insurance agents and financial advisors. IFAPAC's goal is to help the associations advance the legislative and regulatory interests of the members of NAIFA. While any U.S. citizen can contribute to IFAPAC, only members of local NAIFA associations may be solicited to do so. Contributions must be voluntary. Contributions are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Of approximately 4,600 political action committees registered with the Federal Election Commission, IFAPAC ranks in the top tier. IFAPAC is the largest insurance PAC in the country. In the last election cycle, the national IFAPAC contributed approximately $1.1 million to federal candidates and committees.

For more information about IFAPAC and to contribute securely online, please click HERE.

Let's Go to New Orleans!

NAIFA 2015 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The NAIFA 2015 Career Conference and Annual Meeting will take place October 3-5, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Conference events will take place in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center at 900 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130. The headquarters hotel is the Hilton New Orleans Riverside at 2 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130.

NAIFA will have an additional hotel room block available at the Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans Convention Center at 1201 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130.

Registration and housing now online! For the latest updates, please visit www.naifa.org/events/naifa-2015-annual-conference.

Don't Lose Us in Your Spam Filter!

Please add info@NAIFA-Jacksonville.org to your e-mail "Contacts" list and update your spam filters to allow us to deliver the latest NAIFA-Jacksonville news and events! For more information, contact the Association office at (904) 695-2300.

Please keep us up to date with your contact information!

To update your membership information with NAIFA, click HERE.