Insurance Agent Trade Associations - AHIA etc.

newmindfashion · 08-22-2007, 05:21 PM

Hi guys and girls,
Has anyone on the board joined any insurance agent associations/memberships such as AHIA, Independent Insurance Agents etc? Any advantages or perks to joining any of these groups? Always meant to look into this sooner but I get too busy for anything other than day to day business.

All thoughts welcome.

somarco · 08-22-2007, 07:31 PM

Years ago I was in NALU, the CLU Society and NAHU. I considered it mostly a waste of time & money. Could be different now. Last time I went to a NAHU meeting there were two kinds of people there.

Vendors and hot doggers.

The vendors were schmoozing heavily with folks they thought could throw business their way and ignoring all the rest of us.

The hot doggers were walking around with their Blue Tooth, constantly interrupting conversations to take another important call while responding to an email on their Crackberry.

Frankly, I get more from the carrier meetings where they roll out a new product line. Humana is having one next week to introduce their new low cost products.

I also get a lot from reading trade publications, both electronic & paper.

The social scene where folks are competing for face time is not my bag.

salpro22 · 08-22-2007, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by somarco

Years ago I was in NALU, the CLU Society and NAHU. I considered it mostly a waste of time & money. Could be different now. Last time I went to a NAHU meeting there were two kinds of people there.

Vendors and hot doggers.

The vendors were schmoozing heavily with folks they thought could throw business their way and ignoring all the rest of us.

The hot doggers were walking around with their Blue Tooth, constantly interrupting conversations to take another important call while responding to an email on their Crackberry.

Frankly, I get more from the carrier meetings where they roll out a new product line. Humana is having one next week to introduce their new low cost products.

I also get a lot from reading trade publications, both electronic & paper.

The social scene where folks are competing for face time is not my bag.

What trade publications do you like and recommend Bob?

BKrocko · 08-22-2007, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by somarco

Frankly, I get more from the carrier meetings where they roll out a new product line. Humana is having one next week to introduce their new low cost products.

Bob - I posted a statement about Humana maternity coverage here but decided to start a new thread on Humana. I do not want to divert the origional thread here.

David C · 08-22-2007, 09:05 PM

I guess it all depends on the local membership, but I find that our local NAIFA meetings are a good investment for me.

We do a golf tournament every year to benefit a battered ladies shelter, we've done college scholorships, and other things through the years.

We've had our state insurance commissioner, great speakers, and continuing ed providers.

I shoot leads to other members and they do the same for me.

NAIFA's magazine, Advisor Today is the best of 5 or 6 industry magazines I subscribe to.

salpro22 · 08-22-2007, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by David C

I guess it all depends on the local membership, but I find that our local NAIFA meetings are a good investment for me.

We do a golf tournament every year to benefit a battered ladies shelter, we've done college scholorships, and other things through the years.

We've had our state insurance commissioner, great speakers, and continuing ed providers.

I shoot leads to other members and they do the same for me.

NAIFA's magazine, Advisor Today is the best of 5 or 6 industry magazines I subscribe to.

Would you mind sharing with the rest of us what the other 5 magazines are you like?

WBunch · 08-22-2007, 11:06 PM

I personally think that professional associations are great. I am a member of NAIFA and I'm our Local President. I'm also a member of the CLU Society and the NOLA Financial Planners Group. In addition to those I'm a member of the MDRT Mentor Team. I feel NAIFA is one of the most important groups b/c the work we do there insures that we agents have jobs and things are fair for our clients. Now that the all mighty Democrats and their lovely entitlement programs are always looking for ways to pay for those programs i.e. taxing cash value in WL, UL, and Annuities and wanting to tax Death Benefit. They already had a hand in changing the 403(b) regs, one in particular that automatically converts a 403(b) to an IRA after the teacher retires....Why you ask...B/C a teacher can for ever access that money through loans and as long as they pay it back there are no taxes...Uncle Sam wants his money...That is why NAIFA is so important and if anyone thinks otherwise then I question their loyalty to their clients and the industry.

WBunch · 08-22-2007, 11:17 PM

Oh the Industry rags I like are The Advisor Today, Registered Rep, Investment Advisor, National Underwriter, Financial Planning, and Financial Advisor. I also read the WSJ, Financial Times and Barron's..

James · 08-22-2007, 11:36 PM

There was a great article of DI in Playboy some time ago, oh I guess that is not what you are looking for?

somarco · 08-23-2007, 06:24 AM

Brokers World is good. That is the only paid subscription. The rest are complimentary.

newmindfashion · 08-23-2007, 06:38 AM

Bob,
Thanks for your feedback as always. BTW, Which trade publications do you read?

newmindfashion · 08-23-2007, 06:39 AM

Sorry,
My web browser was from yesterday, I see there's more responses since Bob and I.

arnguy · 08-23-2007, 04:04 PM

I belong to the local chapter of NAHU. IMO it does a good job with lobbying in Harrisburg (state capitol). Their magazine often has some interesting artcles. I do not play golf, so the social aspect of membership does not interest me. However, the meetings do give me an opportunity to meet other health agents in the area. I do subscribe to Broker World. In addition, every weekday I receive an email from HealthDecisions.org. It is free and is a service of AHIP. It culls the health news from all the major newspapers, government sources (state and federal), etc. I think I receive it because of my NAHU membership. I don't recall sigining up for it.

David C · 08-23-2007, 04:35 PM

Same as Wayne, Investment Advisor, Registered Rep., National Underwriter(getting better all the time),Advisor Today, Financial Planning, and Financial Advisor. All free.

And Wayne is right about the importance of NAIFA. It is vitally important!

David C · 08-24-2007, 11:32 AM

I'll make this offer for any of you guys who've never seen an Advisor Today magazine. I'll send out a past issue to the first three people that contact me. Read it, and consider joining NAIFA(the organization that publishes the magazine).

2112Greg · 08-26-2007, 08:29 PM

Agent Sales Journal is also a good one for insurance folks.

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 09-14-2009, 04:02 PM

I know this is a very old thread, but I found an old card from AHIA. I have never been a member and know very little about them.

Is anyone a member...and if so...tell me more!

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