Connections That Count

From July 1st, 2010 to June 30th 2011, I have the privilege of being the President-Elect for NAIFA Washington. NAIFA”s primary function is advocacy on behalf of my clients, industry & business. I will continue to post updated info in regard to NAIFA, what I’m doing within NAIFA & Legislative updates that could impact my clients in a negative way.

About NAIFA

NAIFA comprises more than 700 state and local associations representing the interests of 200,000 members and their associates nationwide. NAIFA members focus their practices on one or more of the following: life insurance and annuities, health insurance and employee benefits, multiline, and financial advising and investments. The Association’s mission is to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of its members. There are 900 current members in Washington State.

Vision Statement

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors protects and promotes the critical role of insurance in a sound financial plan and the essential role provided by our professional agents and advisors.

Mission Statement

The mission of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors is to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of our members.

Code of Ethics

Preamble:

Those engaged in offering insurance and other related financial
services occupy the unique position of liaison between the purchasers and the suppliers of insurance and closely related financial products. Inherent in this role is the combination of professional duty to the client and to the company, as well. Ethical balance is required to avoid any conflict between these two obligations. Therefore,
I Believe It To Be My Responsibility:

  • To hold my profession in high esteem and strive to enhance its prestige.
  • To fulfill the needs of my clients to the best of my ability.
  • To maintain my clients’ confidences.
  • To render exemplary service to my clients and their beneficiaries.
  • To adhere to professional standards of conduct in helping my clients to protect insurable obligations and attain their financial security objectives.
  • To present accurately and honestly all facts essential to my clients’ decisions.
  • To perfect my skills and increase my knowledge through continuing education.
  • To conduct my business in such a way that my example might help raise the professional standards of those in my profession.
  • To keep informed with respect to applicable laws and regulations and to observe them in the practice of my
    profession.
  • To cooperate with others whose services are constructively related to meeting the needs of my clients.

President-Elect

You have begun a two-year commitment to effective leadership of your association. Make the most of your year as president-elect to prepare for your year as president. The leadership you provide will result in a stronger and more enthusiastic association.

Apart from outlining the goals and expectations for your administrative year, special duties involve reviewing the association’s bylaws, policy manuals and budgets, as well as evaluating current association activities. Your association’s policy or tradition may also assign you the responsibilities of membership or program coordination. In addition, you will:

• Preside over membership meetings in the absence of the president.

• Conduct board meetings in the absence of the president.

• Hear committee reports.

Evaluating Current Activities

Take the opportunity to become familiar with the association’s past activities and current programs and policies in order to lead the association effectively in the future.

List all the officers and co mmittees of the association and then ask what activities each leader undertook that actually benefited members this year. Then evaluate if the person responsible performed adequately and if finances were sufficient.

Compare the budget and actual expenditures of each activity. Whether an activity is above or below budget will influence the budget you develop for your presidential year.

Carefully evaluate the people in charge of these activities. Determine whether they met their goals. If they didn’t, was it because of lack of leadership, members’ participation or money? What you uncover will help you determine who are the capable and dependable members worthy of future committee appointments.

Preparing for Leadership

When planning your future activities as president, or when you require information, evaluation, technical data, consult appropriate chairs or contact the staff of your state association and NAIFA’s Association Services Department.

Review state and national association resources including NAIFA’s Leaders Center on the NAIFA website, Jack E. Bobo Award of Excellence online application, NAIFA Online Membership Reporting System, Membership Tracker and other current data.

Plan to begin appointing your leadership team as early as January. Be careful to appoint the right people on your “bus” so that your team will have a great opportunity to work together to accomplish your association goals. Complete the appointments no later than May so that you can hold a planning meeting with them in June and ensure that they plan to attend the ALC/LSP. This is your opportunity to have your entire team trained together without your having to go it alone.

Consult with your president-elect and discuss naming certain individuals for a two-year term as chair. Consider appointing a co-chair to become chair the following year. This is an excellent way to orient future leaders, especially for the membership chair position.

Make certain the association’s bylaws are up-to-date. Consult the NAIFA model bylaws to ensure that your association’s bylaws contain the mandatory provisions necessary to be in agreement with NAIFA Federation requirements, and that they are in line with any recent changes made by the National Council.

Finally, carefully review the president’s commitments, and be prepared to assist the president and to step in as needed.