NAIFA Membership?

[shonceman]

I'm just wondering if any of you are NAIFA members. Why, or why not? I'm curious because I got an email from them today encouraging me to renew my membership (which lapsed 7 years ago!)

I was a member for many years because the company where I was trained emphasized the importance of membership. After going independent, I maintained my membership because it was a great place (like this forum) to interact with other agents & learn & grow. The organization has also been our chief legislative advocate since their inception.

When I moved to Texas, however, I found the local dues to be a lot higher, & our finances were kind of tight following the relocation, so I let it go. Shortly after that I heard about a study that was done by the Texas DOI in cooperation with the Texas AIFA that took a dim view of "small face amount" life insurance - the kind I mostly sell! Therefore I had a hard time getting excited about re-upping! I mean if they're gonna use my dues to fight me, why should I?

I'm rethinking that position now partly because of the looming reality of financial reform & how it may affect our livelihood as FE agents. It seems like some of us should join partly to be a voice for our end of the business. What do y'all think?
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[shonceman]

Anybody?......anybody?........Bueller?........

 

[Justin Bilyj]

The only NAIFA members I know all are licensed series 63/ or 7...

 

[rousemark]

Was a member for years when it was the NALU.. However, with their name change it seemed the focus changed and I haven't been a member since..

 

[shonceman]

I agree. The focus has seemed to change since the name change. In the Tidewater area of Virginia, the dominant chapter is Norfolk. Even when it was still NALU, that chapter was very much focused on financial advisors & agents that worked a more upscale market. So those of us in home service & some early pioneers in FE started our own chapter (Virginia Beach) that would suit our needs better. That one is still active. Not many home service people in it now. But still focused on agents who work in the middle income & lower income markets. I'm wondering if there may be similar chapters in other cities. Obviously, the Dallas chapter is gonna be full of high-rollers, but I'm thinking of checking out the Arlington chapter. I notice that their board is dominated by MoO people, so maybe they'd be friendlier to agents like us.

 

[Tahoe Ray]

I agree. The focus has seemed to change since the name change. In the Tidewater area of Virginia, the dominant chapter is Norfolk. Even when it was still NALU, that chapter was very much focused on financial advisors & agents that worked a more upscale market. So those of us in home service & some early pioneers in FE started our own chapter (Virginia Beach) that would suit our needs better. That one is still active. Not many home service people in it now. But still focused on agents who work in the middle income & lower income markets. I'm wondering if there may be similar chapters in other cities. Obviously, the Dallas chapter is gonna be full of high-rollers, but I'm thinking of checking out the Arlington chapter. I notice that their board is dominated by MoO people, so maybe they'd be friendlier to agents like us.

I would join if I were in your market. A lot of the NAIFA reps have similar business models...you serve a unique market for many of the NAIFA folks. It may be a good opportunity for referrals and/or shared cases.

 

[shonceman]

I would join if I were in your market. A lot of the NAIFA reps have similar business models...you serve a unique market for many of the NAIFA folks. It may be a good opportunity for referrals and/or shared cases.

I hadn't thought of that. That is a great point!

 

[Newby]

I'm just getting ready to rejoin. I would prefer if there were a similar organization that served the senior market but it doesn't exist.

 

[shonceman]

I'm just getting ready to rejoin. I would prefer if there were a similar organization that served the senior market but it doesn't exist.

Yeah, I was looking for something like that, too. We've got an informal type of association at the McDonald's in S. Dallas, where home service & FE agents who work in that part of town often stop for mid-afternoon coffee. It kind of developed as we kept bumping into each other there. (For the longest time they had the only clean restrooms in the area!) It serves the purpose of networking & learning from each other, but like I said, it's informal. Casual would be an even better word.

My thinking about NAIFA is that if there are enough agents like us involved, the other advisors in the organization won't be so tempted to throw us under the bus to save their own skin when it comes to federal regulation, etc.

 

[agentjhc]

I have considered this option, but as a p/t agent can't see putting out the money. Courses seem very expensive as well.