Coming Together in a Crisis

By Kevin Mayeux, CAE

The COVID-19 outbreak forced all of us to adjust on the fly and pivot to new ways of doing business, connecting with others and living our lives.

As agents and advisors, you implemented strategies and technologies to serve your clients and communities when face-to-face meetings were out of the question. You really rose to the occasion and proved your worth as the essential workers that you are.

NAIFA, as your essential professional association, undertook a similar “pivot.” We responded quickly and effectively to address the needs of our members and the entire community of agents and advisors. This began almost immediately as the nation started going into lock down, with our virtual Town Hall Meetings.

These meetings brought us together and gave us a sense of community when many of us were feeling disconnected because of social distancing and the disruption of our normal routines.

They also afforded us the opportunity to get valuable information from our peers and some of our industry’s stalwarts: information on technology and on connecting with clients in a virtual environment; motivation and business- development ideas from the likes of Scott Brennan, Joe Jordan, Van Mueller and Tom Hogan; and deep dives into the details of the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program.

We also hosted NAIFA Nation Impact Week to offer you top-notch educational and motivational programming, break through the isolation of social distancing that many of us were experiencing, and come together as a community of financial professionals.

Our lineup of speakers for this event was nothing short of extraordinary. We provided sessions on lobbying from your living room during COVID-19, the economic benefits of diversity and inclusion, and leading with confidence in a crisis. In just two and a half months, we had more than 15,000 people register for NAIFA’s online programs. Despite the pandemic, NAIFA members are as engaged and as active as ever. Open to all financial professionals, these events also galvanized and united the insurance and financial-services industry.

This issue of Advisor Today features highlights from these NAIFA programs, and if you missed any of the sessions from

NAIFA Nation Impact Week or the Town Halls, they are available for on-demand viewing on www.NAIFA.org.

Providing Stability And Strength

As NAIFA members, you are providing a vital safety net and, in some cases, you are helping to stave off financial or health catastrophes.

You’re reaching out and forging closer bonds and stronger relationships with clients who need you today more than ever. And perhaps, most importantly, you offer those who are concerned and frightened comfort, reassurance and support. Thank you for all you did to help us through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you

In times of crisis, everyone looks to sources of stability and strength. Your clients turn to you, as trusted agents and advisors, and you can turn to your colleagues and peers and your professional association. NAIFA doubled-down on our commitment to be here for our members and all agents and advisors during the COVID-19 crisis — and we will continue to do so in the months ahead. As ACLI CEO Susan Neely said in her remarks to our NAIFA Nation Impact Week audience and referencing a hashtag ACLI is promoting on social media: we are #MeetingTheMoment.

As your professional association, we owe it to you to be nimble and to quickly adapt to your needs and interests, and we will continue to provide you with a community where we can come together to pursue shared interests and work toward a common goal.