With the completion of the 2012 election season, it is time to shift focus to January when legislators will come to Austin for the 83rd Texas Legislature, which convenes on January 8, 2013.

Two weeks into the legislative session, NAIFA-Texas will hold its Legislative Day, allowing members the chance to meet with lawmakers to discuss important issues and to cultivate relationships with them. The January 22nd legislative events will be co-hosted with the Texas Association of Health Underwriters (TAHU) and the Texas Association of Life & Health Insurers (TALHI).  

NAIFA-Texas leadership attended a reception last evening honoring Governor and Mrs. Perry. Click here for more photos. Grassroots involvement is key in making sure that the voice of Texas agents and financial advisors is heard when important issues arise at the Texas Capitol.

From one-on-one face-time with legislators to a keynote address from Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott during lunch, attendees will be sure to leave Austin with great memories and a stronger understanding of the legislative process.

NAIFA-Texas Legislative Day will be held in conjunction with the NAIFA-Texas Annual Meeting. Members have the option of attending legislative events only, business events only, or both.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to become involved in standing up for your industry. Register today!

NAIFA-TX President Doug Massey, CLU, ChFC, FSS

"With the elections decided," says President Doug Massey, "it's incumbent on us to move forward to strengthen our grassroots advocacy efforts, to protect from government overreach on our products and services, and protect the millions of Texans who rely on us to provide them financial security and peace of mind. Many of our products have significant tax advantages for our clients. We must remain proactive to preserve their unique and well-deserved tax treatment.

"Our unique franchise is that we have agents in every legislative/congressional district. We can and must carry our strong message to lawmakers in both parties at both the state and federal level," Massey added. "We are preparing now for our state 'Day at the Capitol' Jan. 22nd and our Washington D.C. fly-in April 8-9."

Noting the importance of growing Texas IFAPAC numbers and filling in gaps in our political key contacts with decision makers, Massey urged that we re-double our efforts to increase membership before year's end "to make us an even stronger voice for agents/advisors." 

The Delegate Council, comprised of local association leaders, will vote to elect officers to the NAIFA-Texas Board during the Annual Business Meeting January 22, 2013. Candidates for office are as follows:

President-Elect

Lane Boozer, LUTCF Lane is a 15 year NAIFA member and has attended every NAIFA-Texas conference during those years. He has also served on his local board for 13 years. He currently serves as the NAIFA-Texas Secretary/Treasurer and is as a LILI co-moderator. Lane is a 2003 LILI graduate and contributes to IFAPAC at the Diplomat level.

Secretary/Treasurer

Jason Talley, LUTCF Jason is currently a NAIFA-Texas Trustee and a member of the Executive Committee. He serves in a dual capacity as the Government Relations Chair and Membership Chair. He is a 2000 LILI graduate and contributes to IFAPAC at the Diplomat level.

National Committeeman

	Dee Carter, CLU, ChFC, CSA, RFC   2001-2002 TAIFA President Dee Carter is a 38 year member who contributes to IFAPAC at the Diplomat level.  He has attended countless state and national conferences. Dee was the 2012 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, NAIFA-Texas' highest honor. He is passionate about NAIFA and the industry.
	Stephen Ehlers, LUTCF   Stephen currently serves as Immediate Past President of NAIFA-Texas.  He is a 28 year member who contributes to the IFAPAC at the Diplomat level. He, following in the footsteps of his father, is an integral part of the Flag of States Ceremony at the NAIFA conference. He is a 2002 LILI graduate.

Trustee

	Hollie Gandy, CSA   Hollie has been a NAIFA member for over a decade and is the current NAIFA-Amarillo Area President. Hollie contributes to IFAPAC at the Diplomat level.
	Michael Kennedy, LUTCF, FIC, MBA Michael is an 18-year NAIFA member and 2009 LILI graduate. He currently serves as Trustee on the NAIFA-Texas Board and has served as President of his local, NAIFA-Corpus Christi. He contributes to IFAPAC at the Statesman level.
	Joseph Orr III, LUTCF   Joseph is a 7 year NAIFA member and is currently serving as NAIFA-El Paso President. He contributes to IFAPAC at the Ambassador level.
	Douglas B. Richards, JD, CLU, ChFC   Doug is a 5 year NAIFA member who has served as President of his local, NAIFA-Austin. Doug is a 2009 LILI graduate and contributes to IFAPAC at the Statesman level.

Joey Ussery, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF will become 2013-2014 NAIFA-Texas President. Doug Massey, CLU, ChFC, FSS will become Immediate Past President. Trustees whose terms continue are John Connally, Jr., LUTCF; Wesley McKnight, FSS, LUTCF; and Randy Robertson, LUTCF.

Additionally, delegates will vote on a proposed by-laws amendment that would reduce the number of NAIFA-Texas Trustees from seven (7) to five (5).

For the first time in association history, the NAIFA-Texas Annual Business Meeting will be held in January, as a result of a by-laws amendment passed in July 2012. The meeting will be held in Austin in odd-numbered years to coincide with Legislative Day events.

With November designated as Long Term Care Awareness Month, insurance agents and financial advisors are encouraged to sit down with their clients to discuss the one piece that is most often missing from their financial plan: protection from the high cost of long-term care.

The Texas Long-Term Care Partnership is now offering new tools that can help you explain the importance of long-term care planning with your clients. You can find these resources at OwnYourFutureTexas.org/LTC-partners.

Customizable materials include:

• Thirty Second Video Clip - Engaging video to help clients understand the importance of planning for long-term care to help protect what they've spent a lifetime building. This mp4 file can be downloaded and sent to clients in an email.
• Testimonials - Four personal stories from individuals who have been affected by having - or not having - long-term care insurance.
• "Did You Know" Fact Sheet
• Postcards
• Web Badge, Client PowerPoint, no-cost planning toolkit, and more!

The Texas Long-term Care Partnership was created by the Texas Legislature to increase awareness about the importance of planning for long-term care. The Partnership is a public-private partnership between state agencies and private insurance providers to encourage individuals to plan for their future long-term care needs by purchasing a Partnership-qualified insurance plan. To learn more, visit OwnYourFutureTexas.org.

Paul Jones (1947-2012)

Paul J. Jones, 64, passed away Sunday, November 11, 2012, in Abilene, after a courageous battle with ALS.

Jones was an independent insurance agent in Abilene and was a long-time member of NAIFA. He was a 2005 graduate of the Leadership in Life Institute (LILI).

Memorials may be sent to Hendrick Hospice, 1682 Hickory Street, Abilene, Texas 79601. Words of remembrance may be left here.

An Agent sold a $1,000,000 fixed universal life insurance policy to a Client to replace an older variable life insurance policy that was in danger of lapsing.

The Agent represented to the Client that he could execute a 1035 exchange and not incur any taxes. The amount of the initial premium payment initially discussed was $300,000. However, when it came to funding the new policy, instead of completing the 1035 exchange, the Agent instructed the Client to take a loan from the old policy, and send the money to the Agent who would then deposit the funds in the new policy. Allegedly to keep the new policy from becoming a modified endowment contract, the Agent withheld $50,000 from the initial deposit and intended to deposit those funds into the new policy one year later. However, that year came and went without the promised deposit. The Agent does not now have these funds and the Client's policy has lapsed. The Client filed suit alleging that the policy lapsed due to the Agent's failure to apply the entire amount of the initial premium.

Risk Management Tip:

Never commingle client funds with your business or personal accounts. Establish a diary system to track important dates and deadlines and always document agreements with your client.

For more information about CalSurance and/or to apply online, visit www.naifaeo.com or call 888-833-2304.

Additionally, save 10% on your premium by completing a new online risk management course available exclusively to NAIFA members. The course is free, or pay a nominal fee to receive CE credit as well. For more information, visit naifamember.smartpros.com.

NAIFA members are reminded to take particular care when making annuity sales to seniors in order to protect themselves from ending up in a similar situation as Glenn Neasham, the California producer who was convicted of theft for selling an annuity to a senior client who was later found to have dementia. Full story.

Mary Schapiro, Securities and Exchange Commission chairwoman, is worried about the complexities of the financial markets yet proud of the SEC's accomplishments, and perhaps most importantly, she is confident that a fiduciary standard will be adopted by next year. Full story.

Conventional wisdom is that insurance is sold, not bought. Many people claim that insurance products, especially life insurance, are complex, easily misunderstood, need detailed medical data to be underwritten, and therefore have to be "sold" to customers. Full story.

On the heels of Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM), numbers for U.S. application activity for individually underwritten life insurance point to the campaign's success. Activity was up 1.5 percent in September, year-over-year, all ages combined. The LIAM campaign, coupled with the end of the traditional summer lull, put September activity up 8.9 percent from that of August according to the MIB Life Index. Full story.