NAIFA, GAMA Partner On Advocacy, Member Benefits

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Jan. 18, 2018 – The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and GAMA International will partner to launch joint initiatives that align organizational goals and strengthen member benefits in political advocacy, leadership, networking and professional development.

Conference Programming

In March 2018, NAIFA President Keith Gillies will moderate an advocacy-focused program at GAMA’s LAMP ‘18 (Leadership and Management Program) in Nashville. In the session, agency managers will learn the value and impact political involvement brings to agency practices, and how to cultivate engagement into their agency. Among the topics to be covered:

• How agencies that cultivate political engagement can boost profits and grow clients.
• How increased involvement helps professionals stay informed on the ever-changing state and federal legislative and regulatory issues to serve clients better and attract prospects.
• How engagement promotes leadership and empowers professionals to speak with competence and authority on complex issues affecting American households and businesses.

“Sharing best practices and strategies is at the core of GAMA’s mission of setting the standard for leadership excellence,” said GAMA CEO Bonnie Godsman. “As field leaders inclusive of managers, producers, agents and advisors, we are One Industry with a compelling story to tell about the value all of our members, jointly, bring to millions of American households and businesses. NAIFA’s grassroots strength in political advocacy gives our industry an influential voice on Capitol Hill as well as in every state legislature across the country. GAMA is pleased to welcome NAIFA Advocacy to our leadership conference.”

“NAIFA is looking forward to delivering this important advocacy session at the LAMP conference, especially in the wake of recent moves in federal and state leadership - advocacy is critical,” said NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE. “NAIFA and GAMA have worked together on previous programs that benefit our members. Collaborating in political advocacy goes a step forward in industry-wide efforts to educate lawmakers through multiple facets while unifying our voice and protecting our clients.”

In September 2018, GAMA will hold the first training session at NAIFA’s Performance + Purpose Conference that will focus on how advisors – who are aspiring to become managers and CEOs – can best position themselves to reach that level of management within the industry.

“NAIFA’s P+P Conference offers a range of professional development sessions for insurance and financial advisors and agents in every stage of their career,” Mayeux said. “We are pleased to leverage GAMA’s strength in the leadership and management arena with a session uniquely designed for those considering a management role in insurance and financial services.”

Anti-Proselytizing Awareness Campaign

GAMA and NAIFA also will partner to raise awareness of the inappropriate act of “proselytizing,” the practice of recruiting other members to their companies or agencies at association meetings and events. The GAMA policy and NAIFA policy were both put in place to guard against the use of association activities as a forum or means for recruiting.

As part of the awareness campaign, GAMA and NAIFA will place print and digital ads in trade media and implement a social media campaign to engage and inform members on the damaging effects of proselytizing. GAMA and NAIFA leaders also will regularly distribute messages to all members via email and blog posts, and seek dialogue across the industry to gauge opinion and level of awareness of anti-proselytizing.

“As field leaders, GAMA understands that recruiting top-notch talent is imperative,” Godsman said. “There is a degree of ethics and professionalism that comes with networking and engaging with peers while attending GAMA events. Growth through proselytizing is destructive on so many levels, and to GAMA, it’s a nonstarter.”

“A major strength of our associations is the ability to bring together new and experienced professionals from different companies who offer a variety of idea sharing, motivation and mentoring,” Mayeux said. “This diverse community makes NAIFA meetings a great forum to advance our mission in advocacy, ethics and professional development. With this awareness campaign, we want to ensure that neither GAMA nor NAIFA members view attendance at our meetings as a threat to their business. Proselytizing has no place at NAIFA and GAMA.”

GAMA International is the only association dedicated to promoting the professional development needs and leadership skills of first-line and front-line leaders in the insurance, investment, and financial services industry. Our commitment to providing members with research-based, world-class education and training resources is second to none. GAMA boasts a neutral venue where members can network with peer professionals, and offers exclusive opportunities for professional growth and award recognition to industry leaders who achieve standards of excellence. GAMA members look to the GAMA International Journal (GIJ) for leadership solutions. The only magazine devoted to industry-specific professional development, GIJ includes topics such as how to improve selection success rates, how to effectively market your firm’s services, best coaching strategies, and top succession-planning ideas.

About NAIFA: Founded in 1890 as The National Association of Life Underwriters (NALU), NAIFA is the oldest, largest and most prestigious association representing the interests of insurance professionals from every Congressional district in the United States. Our mission – to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of its members – is the reason NAIFA has consistently and resoundingly stood up for agents and advisors and called upon members to grow their knowledge while following the highest ethical standards in the industry. Visit www.NAIFA.org.