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Nebraska Heartland February 2017

ADVOCATE • EDUCATE • LEGISLATE • MOTIVATE President’s Perspective

Why We Joined NAIFA: February is the Month!

February is 100% back to the state IFAPAC month. The Insurance & Financial Advisors Political Action Committee (IFAPAC) is critical to protecting you and your clients on Capitol Hill. By contributing to IFAPAC in February, you are helping to support our State candidates and showing your appreciation for their understanding and support on the issues effecting us and our clients in Nebraska. Check out this three minute video to learn what the PAC is all about and why your contributions and support are so important. You can contribute online or print and mail a contribution form.

Block Your Calendars Now

We have multiple events coming up this winter/spring. Make sure to block the days on your calendar ahead of time so you can attend as many events as possible. Also, keep an eye on your email so you don’t miss any registration deadlines.

March 7: State Legislative Day in Lincoln, NE

March 24: Association Meeting at Riverside Golf Club (CE Available)

April 7: NAIFA Day at the Races (tentatively scheduled)

April 20-21: Keep The Promise Insurance Leaders Forum in LaVista, NE

May 4: Annual Awards Celebration Luncheon at Riverside Golf Club

May 23-24: NAIFA Congressional Conference in Washington, DC

Vision & Mission Code of Ethics

Advocacy & IFAPAC

62 Members

30 IFAPAC Contributors

Coming Up: 3/7 – State Legislative Day 3/24 – Association Meeting

Inside This Issue:

Calendar of Events 2 LUTCF – Apply for the Scholarship 3 Legislative Updates 4 Advocacy 5 Sponsor Spotlight 6 Board Members 7

We Need a few more Volunteers

Our Scholarship Committee will be reviewing all of the candidate applications on Wednesday, February 22nd. If you’re interested in helping, please contact Mary Santin for additional information.

Blessings, Michael

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2016—2017 Calendar of Events

July January No Association Meeting No Association Meeting

August February

8/26 – Golf Tournament 2/14 – FREE CE Seminars Indianhead Golf Club College Park in Grand Island 11:30 Sign In & Lunch | 1:00 Tee Time Sessions from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Get involved on a committee to help!

September March Life Insurance Awareness Month 3/7 – State Legislative Day

2016 Annual NAIFA Conference NE State Capitol | Lincoln, NE

9/17 – 9/19 | Las Vegas, NV 3/24 – Association Meeting

9/30 – Association Meeting Joint with Central | CE Available

Joint with Central | CE Available Time TBD at Riverside Golf Club

8:45 a.m. at Alda Crane Center

October April 10/5 – CE Seminars 2017 Insurance Leaders Forum

College Park in Grand Island 4/20 – 4/21 | LaVista, NE

Sessions from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 (5:00) p.m.

Member Event (tentative) 4/7 Day at the Races – TBD (tentative)

Get involved on a committee to help!

November May 11/18 – Association Meeting 5/4 – Annual Awards Celebration

Lochland Country Club in Hastings Time TBD at Riverside Golf Club

11:00 a.m. | CE Available NAIFA Congressional Conference 5/23 – 5/24 | Washington, DC

December June 12/3 – Family & Community Event

Member/Family Event (tentative)

2:00 p.m. | Movie Matinee Date, Time & Location – TBD

Grand Theater in Grand Island Get involved on a committee to help!

Get involved on a committee to help!

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The Life Underwriter Training Council FellowSM (LUTCF®)

2017 LUTCF Scholarship Program NAIFA and the College for Financial Planning (CFFP) are proud to announce that submissions for the 2017 LUTCF® Scholarship Program are now being accepted. Each scholarship recipient receives tuition credits for each of the three courses that comprise the LUTCF® designation program. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2017. NAIFA will award two scholarships by June 1, 2017. For more information and to apply, click here.

Program Summary: The College for Financial Planning and NAIFA have partnered to bring you the nation’s top credential for new agents and advisors, the LUTCF® designation. The Life Underwriter Training Council FellowSM or LUTCF® program provides you with the background you need in order to ensure a successful career in the insurance business. The program focuses on fundamental prospecting, selling and practice management skills, plus working knowledge of the four practice specialties. These are essential skills for new agents and advisors that can make or break your career. Need more proof? 50% of the students enrolled in the LUTCF® designation program made a sale as a result of a Course 1 homework assignment!

Why Choose the LUTCF®? The new LUTCF® is right for you if you identify with one or more of the following:

You are new to the industry and are looking to develop fundamental prospecting, selling and practice management skills, plus working knowledge of the four practice specialties.

You are a financial professional seeking a broad understanding of the insurance industry and how it can impact financial planning and advising.

You are an insurance agency or home office staff seeking a comprehensive overview and an understanding of the business aspects of the industry.

When you enroll in the LUTCF® program, you’re investing in yourself! Learn more at CFFPinfo.com/LUTCF

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Legislative Updates

What’s Up? The public hearing earlier this month on our continuing education credits bill, LB486, went well. After Sen. Mark Kolterman (NAIFA member from Seward) introduced the bill, Dan Scholz of Ameritas in Omaha testified in support of the bill on behalf of NAIFA-NE. He did a great job. J.J. Green, a NAIFA member from Grand Island who also is serving as president of the NE Assn of Health Underwriters, also testified in support for and was equally good. The “Big I” also testified, another Insurance Agents Association. Very important, the Insurance Department director, Bruce Ramge, sent a letter of support to the committee.

When we put together an amendment and get clearance from all, we will ask the BCI Committee to send the bill to General File. It is too soon to speculate on how we get the bill to the Governor’s desk, because there are so many options. Only one hearing on our tracking sheet this week. LB406 adds the use of Intelligent Mail barcodes to the acceptable methods of mailing notice of cancellation, nonrenewal, or nonpayment of a premium for auto liability policies. The Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee moved these bills to General File.

LB37 - Adopts the Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act; a Department of Insurance bill, modeled after a NCOIL model act.

LB148 - Changes provisions of the Securities Act of NE; a Department of Banking bill.

LB231 - Disciplinary action for failing to maintain a license in good standing.

LB239 - Burial Pre-Need Sale Act; amounts exceeding trust principal, may be distributed to the pre-need seller on request. If there is a shortage, it may be recouped from the income of the subsequent year.

LB241 - Department bill that exempts the annual privacy notice requirement under the Privacy of Insurance Consumer Information Act.

LB306 - Amends the portable electronics insurance act by clarifying the definition, compensation, notice and non payment provision.

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Advocacy

NAIFA’s Advocacy Team is a comprehensive group of volunteer leaders, professional staff, and NAIFA members. The input from this group is used to flush out NAIFA’s proposed policy positions.

What do they do?

APIC: This is the network of NAIFA members who engage in Grassroots political activity. When federal legislation hits a crucial point in the process on Capitol Hill, NAIFA activates its contact system. Agents and advisors around the country communicate NAIFA’s message on Capitol Hill about issues that affect their livelihoods; whether in the form of emails, letters, faxes, phone calls, or face-to-face meetings in congressional districts and Washington, D.C.

IFAPAC: This is NAIFA’s Political Action Committee which works to protect the interests of all agents and advisors on Capitol Hill and in all 50 state capitals.

Members of Congress and their staff rely on the feedback they receive from their constituents…that’s You. But aside from the people power of Grassroots relationships, NAIFA must also have a viable Political Action Committee so that we can support candidates for federal and state office who understand and support the important role of insurance agents and financial advisors.

Did You Know?

NAIFA is the ONLY industry organization that protects independent agents/advisors on both a federal and state level. NAIFA always has the best interests of its members in mind when advocating on our behalf. This is different from a Carrier Association or Employer PAC; where when push comes to shove, the Carrier Association or Employer PAC has the best interest of the Company first.

IFAPAC was created in 1966 to help advance the legislative and regulatory interests of NAIFA members and more importantly their clients. Financial Services is among the most heavily regulated industries. Every day state and federal governments are making decisions that affect how you do business. That’s why IFAPAC is known as “Your Career Protection Insurance!”

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Sponsor Spotlight

We consider ourselves the “boutique” of insurance brokerage companies and appreciate building relationships with individual agents and brokers looking for high quality insurance and investment products. We have a General Agency relationship with Transamerica Life Insurance Company, but we also offer contracts with several other companies offering Life, Health, Long Term Care, Annuity, and Disability Insurance products. BSI has you covered with five locations:

Nebraska: Lincoln and Herman

South Dakota: Sioux Falls and Two Rapid City locations

North Dakota: Our Lincoln office will be supporting We would be happy to help you with anything from running illustrations to negotiating with the home office and advanced sales help. We will provide prompt service assistance before, during, and after the sale.

Thank You to all of our Sponsors! To access a sponsor’s website, click on their logo.

Know someone that might be interested in being a Sponsor?

Sponsorship Includes:

Highlighted on our website

Highlighted in our monthly newsletter

Opportunity to speak at any Association Meeting

Sponsorship Cost: $350 for one year sponsorship

Contact Steve Heath for more information.

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Board Members

President Michael Hutchinson

Immediate Past President Kristy Cavanaugh

President Elect Mary Santin

Secretary/Treasurer Patti Wissing

National Committeeman Matt Green

Board Director Duane Biede

Board Director JJ Green

Board Director Ty Benton

Board Director Steve Heath

Executive Heidi Adams