After having last year’s national conference in Florida canceled by Hurricane Irma, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is raring to get started with its 2018 Performance + Purpose annual conference in San Antonio later this week.
NAIFA, which is in the midst of change with its 20/20 Strategic Plan, has significantly revamped the Performance + Purpose conference, incorporating added flexibility to allow attendees to customize their learning and networking experiences — whether they are new to the industry, advanced, or somewhere in between.
The event runs Thursday-Sunday at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.
“I am looking forward to a fantastic Performance + Purpose conference, with valuable educational, motivational, and networking opportunities for everyone in attendance,” said NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE. “With programming geared toward young advisors, the top-tier of seasoned veterans, and everyone in between, we have placed special emphasis on providing our members with the ability to customize sessions for maximum learning.”
Also new this year, Mayeux says, is Braindate, which “redefines networking and re-invents what a professional-development conference can be.”
Every registrant for the conference received an invitation to join Braindate, which is described as “a new way to find the people you want to meet, learn what you want to learn, and share what you want to share.”
The Braindate app, matchmakers, and lounge are intended to take the luck out of networking and help achieve meaningful connections. After creating a personal P+P Braindate profile, attendees can search and browse other profiles to find people with shared interests, and schedule face-to-face meetings in the Braindate lounge at P+P in San Antonio.
Programming for every advisor and career track
Earlier this year, NAIFA introduced new partnerships with Society of Financial Service Professionals (FSP) and GAMA International. FSP collaborated with NAIFA to deliver a new advanced markets educational track at P+P 2018. GAMA International will host a P+P workshop on how advisors – who aspire to become managers and CEOs – can best position themselves to reach that level of management.
Programming for the conference also includes main stage presentations by two highly sought-after speakers, Leigh Ann Tuohy (“The Blind Side”) and Forbes publisher Rich Karlgaard, as well as a “Women Leaders in Insurance” panel moderated by NAIFA President-Elect Jill Judd.
Conference sessions are organized under topics tailored to the different interests and needs of NAIFA members, including:
- Life insurance and annuities
- Multiline
- Health and employee benefits
- Financial advising and investments
- Sales and marketing
On Sept. 16, members of NAIFA’s Government Relations Team will provide a briefing on the critical legislative and regulatory challenges facing the industry.
Session highlights from P + P 2018
- Sept. 14: Women’s Leadership Panel: NAIFA Trustee and President-Elect Jill Judd will moderate a panel with participants including JoAnn Martin, CEO of Ameritas; Salene Hitchcock-Gear, President of Prudential Individual Life; and Colleen Bell, Senior Vice President, Chief Fiduciary Service Officer of Cambridge Investment Research Inc.
- Sept. 14: Leigh Anne Tuohy, whose personal journey was documented in Michael Lewis’ New York Times best-selling book, “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game,” and the film “The Blind Side,” will talk of the importance of recognizing the full potential of individuals.
- Sept. 15: “Insuring Success and Succession,” led by NAIFA member Barbara Pietrangelo, will discuss the importance of succession planning for advisors.
- Sept. 15: “Prospecting and Marketing Your Way to the Top” will be led by NAIFA member Marc Silverman, CLU, ChFC, a 33-year MDRT member with 23 Top of the Table and six Court of the Table qualifications.
- Sept. 15: Each year, Life Happens – sponsor of Life Insurance Awareness Month each September – highlights stories that show how life, health, disability income and long-term care insurance and the people who sell them positively impact the lives of so many.
- Sept. 15: Reginald N. Rabjohns, CLU, ChFC, a 47-year insurance professional, NAIFA member and former MDRT president, will be recognized with the annual John Newton Russell Memorial Award, the highest honor accorded by the insurance industry.
- Sept. 16: Forbes publisher and columnist Rich Karlgaard will draw from his roles as a Silicon Valley-based journalist, investor and board director, to deliver a practical understanding of the events that are changing the world and the imminent disruption ahead — from tech to Trump — and the impacts on business and industry.
Other recognitions
- Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, former president and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers, will receive NAIFA’s inaugural Defender of Financial Freedom Award.
- Jill M. Judd, LUTCF, FSS, of State Farm Insurance Companies in Capitola, Calif. will be welcomed as the 2018-19 NAIFA president.
- Cherri Coombs Ohmer will receive the prestigious C. Carney Smith Award in association management.
- John D. Richardson, RICP, LACP, of NAIFA-Tennessee is the 2018 Young Advisors Team Leader of the Year.
- NAIFA’s Diversity Task Force will recognize a member with the 2018 Diversity Champion Award.
And on Sept. 14, attendees will enjoy entertainment from the Thomas Nicholas Band, led by the well-known Hollywood actor of “American Pie” and “Rookie of the Year.” The event will be held at the Aztec Theatre in the heart of downtown San Antonio.
Look for coverage of conference sessions to be posted regularly throughout the conference on the Advisor Today blog and on www.naifa.org.
