NAIFA Addresses Financial Advisors When the 110-year-old National Association of Life Underwriters changed its name to the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, it took an important step on behalf of its nearly 100,000 members. Some would say that professional life insurance agents have always been financial advisors - and there is a great deal of truth in that, but at least the outmoded "life underwriter" term has been discarded. While some agents have been mere policy peddlers, most association members have helped clients establish and accomplish far-reaching goals. NAIFA has also partnered with Thomson Financial, publishers of Financial Planning magazine and the powerful Financial Planning Interactive website. Thomson's respected conference department will work with NAIFA in presenting outstanding new educational venues. The publication is now available to NAIFA members who have expressed a broad financial services interest. The first professional education event just for financial services will be held May 18-20 in Dallas. The NAIFA Division of Financial Advisors is bringing in 32 nationally recognized outstanding speakers, writers and industry leaders, including Ed Morrow and Jim McCarty, regular columnists for Financial Services Journal Online and Bill OíQuin the Internet expert and Publisher of Financial Services Online. All persons in financial services are welcomed, and interested persons should call 800-607-1967. For a conference brochure or go to www.financial-planning.com/Advisors_Forum for details and online registration. The Association (NAIFA) is moving forward in several respects. First, under the leadership of Dr. Jerry Mason, it is restructuring its national convention to be far more CE oriented. Yes, there will still be the elections of trustees and officers - but a strong emphasis will now be devoted to professional education. More than 12 hours of outstanding presentations will be delivered. The NAIFA national conference will be held September 9-12 in Boston. For more information, call 877-866-2432 or go to www.naifa.org. Later in November, another educational conference will focus on practice management. The end of the year is the ideal time for a financial advisors to revise (or create) marketing and business plans. This includes assessing the current position and client services - and charting a course for the next year. One unique feature of the conference will be a component for the financial advisor's staff members. Nearly every financial advisor needs to leverage his or her skills and knowledge through technology, technique and personnel. The Practice Management conference will include national authorities on business planning, website marketing, coaching, personnel, office operations, computerization, marketing and public relations. If you'd like to be involved in the program or wish to receive information on the program, call 513-424-1656 and ask for Pat Ross.