NAIFA, FSP boards approve merger

NAIFA’s Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of the Society of Financial Service Professionals have both voted unanimously to approve a merger agreement between the two associations. The votes come after the membership of NAIFA and FSP both voted overwhelmingly in favor of the merger earlier this year.

Three officers from the FSP Board and one from Life Happens, which also has joined the NAIFA enterprise, will serve on NAIFA's 2024 Board of Trustees.

With the mission of “Empowering financial professionals and consumers through world-class advocacy and education,” the unified organization will be known as NAIFA but will encompass a robust professional development wing led by and branded as FSP. 

In other NAIFA news, the organization had a ribbon-cutting ceremony on its new headquarters in the Rosslyn section of Arlington, Va. The facility features a newly renovated conference space that is available to NAIFA, as well as members and chapters, to host meetings, training sessions, and other events. NAIFA recently held its Apex East event there.

NAIFA has formally elected its officers and Board of Trustees at its annual business meeting as part of the National Leadership Conference and Belong awards celebration in Washington.

Thomas M. Cothron, LUTCF, FSCP, agency manager at Southern Farm Bureau Insurance in Ocala, Fla., a member since 1981, will serve as NAIFA’s 2024 president. Douglas B. Massey, LUTCF, CLU, ChFC, FSS, owner of Doug Massey Financial Services in San Angelo, Texas, a member since 1987, will be the 2024 president-elect. Both Cothron and Massey have served the association in multiple roles including national trustee, state president and specialty committee roles throughout their leadership tenure.

Brock T. Jolly, CFP, CLU, LACP, ChFC, CLTC, CASL, RICP, partner at Veritas Financial LLC/MassMutual Financial Group in McLean, Va., a member since 2001, was elected to continue to serve as NAIFA’s treasurer. Bryon A. Holz, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL, LACP, president of Bryon Holz & Associates in Brandon, Fla., and a member since 1987, will serve as immediate past president beginning January 1, 2024.

Christopher L. Gandy, LACP, founder of the Midwest Legacy Group in Lisle, Ill., will be the 2024 NAIFA secretary. A current member of NAIFA’s Board of Trustees, Gandy has been a NAIFA member since 2003. As incoming secretary, Gandy will be in line to serve as president-elect in 2025 and president in 2026.

Stephen Kagawa, FSS, LUTCF, was elected to serve a two-year term on the NAIFA Board of Trustees. Kagawa, a NAIFA member since 1986, is founder and CEO of the Pacific Bridge Companies in Monrovia, Calif. This will be Kagawa’s first time serving as a national trustee for NAIFA.

Dennis Cuccinelli, LACP, a financial representative with Certified Financial Services in Paramus, N.J., and a member since 1986, is a current member of the Board of Trustees and was elected to serve an additional two-year term. This will be Cuccinelli’s fourth term as a trustee, which is unprecedented in NAIFA history. He has served as NAIFA’s National Membership Chair and is the trustee liaison to the Grassroots Committee.

Returning to serve the second year of their two-year terms as NAIFA Trustee are Carina Hatfield, LUTCF, CLCS, LACP, owner of Weigner Insurance & Financial Services Inc. in Pottstown, Pa., a member since 2005 and Brian J. Haney, CLTC, CFS, CIS, CFBS, LACP, LUFCF, CAE, RF, founder and CEO of the Haney Company in Silver Spring, Md., a member since 2013. Both Weigner Insurance & Financial Services and The Haney Company are participants in NAIFA’s 100% Agency program. Both trustees have been honored as past NAIFA Young Advisor Team Leaders of the Year.