LILI’s Lasting Impression

By Brian C. Cooper, CLTC, LUTCF, CLU, Loyal Member Since 1998

To leave a legacy... For me, this means striving to be a better person and leave a legacy, not of money but my name and my word, what it means and what you can expect. One of my favorite aspects of the LILI experience is the writing of the eulogy. This was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Not only did I have to write what I hoped other people would say about me, I had to present this to my classmates.

Writing my eulogy inspired me to change parts of myself, and I have done that for the better. This is one of many reasons why I am passionate about NAIFA’s Leadership in Life Institute (LILI) and why I am privileged to serve as a LILI Moderator again in 2022.

Prior to LILI, I was raised in central Mississippi and graduated from Mississippi State University in 1994. My lifelong dream at that time was to be a golf pro. I went into the golf business in 1995 in Brooksville, Florida. That lasted about two years. I realized that there was no money in golf unless you were on the PGA tour, and I was not THAT good. You could say that I was missing one of the three elements of the Hedgehog Concept, and golf did not drive my economic engine.

I moved back to Jackson, Mississippi, and went to work for John Hancock in a long-term care-based practice. I accepted the position of Estate Planning Specialist for North Carolina Farm Bureau in 2005. I married Lori Yancey Cooper in 1995, and we have two golden doodles, one cat and an aquarium full of fish. She has been a huge supporter over my career. Without her encouragement,

I would never have made it this far in this demanding industry.

To sharpen the saw, my LILI class of 2014 gets together each year for a reunion. We watch and discuss a movie. We also share ideas in a group discussion on how to better our financial practices. It feels like a work family reunion.

In addition to these annual reunions, I enjoy reading. My favorite LILI text is 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John Maxwell. Two laws stand out to me in particular:

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NAIFA’s Leadership in Life Institute forms classes throughout the year. It provides value to those who complete the course by:

• Enhancing your personal vision and mission statements as well as your guiding principles

• Increasing your understanding of yourself

• Giving you the tools to improve your professional and personal relationships

• Providing leadership insights to help you grow your career and run your business

LILI consists of six courses over six months. It is offered exclusively to NAIFA members who are committed to growing intellectually and professionally through deep introspection and discussion. Classes – whether they are in-person or virtual – are interactive, with LILI classmates and moderators working together to achieve results. Learn more about the program. See if in-person LILI classes are forming in your region. Explore whether Online LILI might be right for you. Go to tdc.naifa.org/lili.

1) Law of Influence -Leading is influencing, not just occupying a position of management or authority.

2) Law of Timing - By slowing down and not making hasty decisions I become a better leader.

At the end of my LILI class, my classmates and I made a commitment to be involved in NAIFA and I really took that to heart. NAIFA does so much for us as individuals and for our industry.

Did You Know?

LILI Alumni have moved their online discussion into NAIFAConnect— NAIFA’s own private, online community that is available to every member. Not only does NAIFAConnect power your personal profile that is proudly displayed on the “Find an Advisor” directory on the www.financialsecurity.org consumer site, but now NAIFAConnect also includes an online community for LILI classes and LILI Alumni! Log in today at www.naifaconnect.org.