NAIFA's Advisor Today Podcast Series

Scott Blake is a Wealth Management Advisor and Founder at a leading wealth management firm delivering comprehensive planning, investment, and insurance services for individuals, families, and businesses to help them achieve financial success and live rich, rewarding lives. A passionate leader in his community, Scott is a 2022 national winner of Advisor Today's 4 Under 40 Award and a board member of several organizations in Columbus, Ohio. He is the President of the Columbus chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and has an MBA in finance and financial management services from Capital University.

Are you looking for financial security? Do you want to be on the right track for retirement?

Scott Blake recommends hiring a financial advisor, an expert who can help you plan and prepare for the future. Having pivoted to the financial services industry after several years in politics, Scott discovered how making sound financial decisions impacted his clients' lives positively. According to him, wealth management services should be accessible to people of different income levels — not limited to high-net-worth individuals. He shares how he's flourishing in this industry, helping his clients achieve financial security.

On this episode of Advisor Today, Chris Gandy and Suzanne Carawan sit down with Scott Blake, a Wealth Management Advisor, to discuss his successful journey in the financial services industry. Scott shares the lessons he learned from his political career and being an athlete that he leverages in the financial service industry, the value of having a financial advisor, the challenge he had to overcome in his business career, and tips for getting clients as a financial advisor.

Rith Nou is an agent. Rith offers her clients products to help meet different insurance and financial needs including college funding, retirement, managing costs for extended care, and income strategies.

Are you a young financial advisor trying to succeed in the market? Maybe you're working tirelessly, but feel like you haven't made the progress you were hoping to at the current stage of your career. When challenges arise, you can either be overtaken by obstacles or find innovative solutions. What practical solutions can you implement to ensure your business thrives in the face of opposition?

Being a financial advisor is challenging — and even tougher for immigrants. Familiar with the adversity immigrants face, Rith Nou, a financial advisor, recommends networking, meeting other successful advisors, and having open conversations while genuinely asking the right questions to help you. She now shares how her background helping immigrants led to a successful career in the financial services industry.

On this episode of Advisor Today, Chris Gandy and Suzanne Carawan sit down with Rith Nou, to discuss how to thrive in the financial services industry. Rith shares the struggles she had to overcome as a financial advisor, time management tips, how she incorporates different cultures in the market, and the impact the industry has on future generations.

Joe Jordan is an inspirational speaker and behavioral finance expert. In 2013, he released his award-winning book Living a Life of Significance, which has sold 90,000-plus copies in five languages. Additionally, Joe is a Founder of the Insured Retirement Institute and was featured on the cover of Life Insurance Selling Magazine. He was also honored by Irish America magazine as one of the "Top 50 Irish Americans on Wall Street." Before becoming an international speaker, Joe worked in insurance and retired from his role as Senior Vice President at MetLife.

One of the issues the United States faces today is longevity. More people are living beyond 80 due to better healthcare and healthier lifestyles. Though living beyond our golden age is considered a blessing, old age is a curse for some — especially elderly women. How can we rectify this issue?

95% of financial services industry professionals are male, and the products offered by insurance companies reflect this statistic. Coincidentally, 80% of women die single — with the vast majority outliving their husbands. Financial expert Joe Jordan recommends updating insurance products and recruiting women to pursue a career in the industry. Integrating more women into the field is an effective strategy to help women receive the financial support they need.

On this episode of Advisor Today, Chris Gandy and Suzanne Carawan sit down with Joe Jordan to discuss the evolution of financial services and products. Joe talks about the genesis behind his book, why longevity is a woman's issue, and the challenges of providing housing for the elderly.

Lawrence (Larry) Holzberg is the Brokerage Director of Coastal Wealth, a single-source wealth management firm providing products and services to help address every aspect of your financial life. Larry's 20 years of experience in brokerage, advanced sales, and solutions-based advice assists his responsibility in leading the firm's financial professionals. He also serves as the National President of NAIFA, the only organization representing insurance and financial advisors regardless of the products they sell or the focus of their practice.

A career in the insurance and financial services industry can be lonely. While connecting with others in your industry is vital, it seems impossible when juggling your workload and personal life. What resources are available to help you network with like-minded professionals and grow in your knowledge and expertise?

Having extensive experience in financial services, brokerage, advanced sales, and solutions-based advice, Larry Holzberg discovered you can't succeed alone. He recommends joining an association of flourishing insurance and financial advisors. The benefits of being involved in an industry-focused organization provide advocacy, education, diversity, the opportunity to grow your network, and strengthen your professional development.

In this episode of Advisor Today, Chris Gandy and Suzanne Carawan sit down with Larry Holzberg, Brokerage Director of Coastal Wealth, to discuss how insurance agents and financial advisors can thrive as members of an association. Larry talks about how NAIFA has evolved, the importance of implementing diversity, equity, and inclusivity in your organization, the value of being an engaged NAIFA member, and the mission of NAIFAs Grassroots.

Joey Davenport is the Co-founder and President of Hoopis Performance Network (HPN), a LIMRA strategic partner providing innovative, web-based sales training and leadership development learning solutions for financial professionals. Joey is responsible for leading all sales and marketing, enterprise client relationships, solutions development, and team development for the organization. He is the executive producer for HPN and serves as a speaker, coach, and consultant to HPN clients worldwide. He served as the President of NAIFA Chicago and is a graduate of NAIFA's Leadership in Life Institute.

The insurance and financial services industry is constantly evolving. Producers and advisors in the profession have learned how to adapt to continual changes. What resources are available to foster their self-development?

The pandemic has transformed the way business is conducted. A willingness to learn and develop is a fundamental criterion for any business professional. Having been in the financial services space as an advisor, manager, and entrepreneur for over 25 years, Joey Davenport understands the necessity of pursuing self-improvement in an ever-evolving industry. Through digital learning, he shares how he provides world-class solutions to promote, uplift, and support the development of financial professionals.

In this episode of Advisor Today, Chris Gandy and Suzanne Carawan sit down with Joey Davenport, Co-founder and President of Hoopis Performance Network (HPN), to discuss the impact continual learning and self-development have on your professional life. Joey talks about HPNs introduction to the financial industry, the use of digital content as a recruiting strategy, and his thoughts on the future of career distribution.

Lara Galloway is the SVP of Channel Management at White Glove, a marketing and management firm helping financial advisors connect and engage with quality leads. Lara collaborates with White Glove's Resource Partners to provide educational resources to financial advisors on marketing practices, practice management, and presentation skills. She is also the host of White Glove's FAST Podcast, featuring industry leaders who have discovered the secret to success.

Many financial advisors excel at their jobs yet struggle to maintain longevity with clients. Why? Because they don't know how to get in front of the right people. What do you need to do as a financial advisor to get more quality leads into your pipeline?

Lara Galloway recommends providing financial education workshops. Gathering qualified prospects to glean from your expertise is a marketing technique to expand your client base. How you advertise your seminars can determine the success of your workshop initiative. Knowing what your target client is interested in is a framework for what material to include in your seminars — and which topics to avoid. Organizing workshops is a strategic way to build your professional credibility and connect with potential clients.

In this episode of Advisor Today, Chris Gandy and Suzanne Carawan sit down with Lara Galloway, SVP of Channel Management at White Glove, to discuss how financial advisors can leverage workshops to grow their clientele. Lara shares how White Gloves serves financial professionals, knowing when to incorporate development coaching, and the mistakes financial advisors make when organizing a workshop.

Andrew Holt is the Government Relations and Grassroots Manager at the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). NAIFA works on behalf of its members to promote a favorable regulatory environment, provide professional education services, and ensure ethical professional conduct for insurance and financial advisors.

Andrew spent several years of his career in the political arena, getting his start as an intern for a senate race in South Carolina, where he found his passion for connecting voters with elected officials. This eventually led to his current position at NAIFA, where he influences public and elected officials on legislative priorities, engages volunteers in grassroots efforts, and leads grassroots lobbying efforts at the state level.

Cody Schoonover is a PAC Manager for NAIFA. Before NAIFA, he was the Sr. Associate at PLUS Communications, a Beltway-based consulting firm specializing in coalition building, grassroots mobilization, advertising, digital engagement, message development, and media relations. Cody earned his BA in political science from The Ohio State University.

What is advocacy? Do you need it for your business?

According to Andrew Holt and Cody Schoonover, advocacy is fundamental for your business's success. To understand how your industry operates and to stay ahead of competitors, you need help from financial advisors who ascribe to a code of ethics and actively participate in advocating on behalf of yourself and your business. Having an advocate's involvement allows you to focus on running your business — undistracted.

In this episode of Advisor Today, Suzanne Carawan sits down with Andrew Holt, Government Relations and Grassroots Manager at NAIFA, and Cody Schoonover, PAC Manager at NAIFA to discuss why advocacy is essential to the success of your business. Andrew and Cody share how NAIFA's advocates differentiate themselves from their competitors, the political issues NAIFA represents, and tips for how business owners can leverage political advocacy to their advantage.

Former NFL player Marques Ogden is a keynote speaker, business coach, and corporate consultant, passionate about elevating his clients' success. From an early age, Marques learned how to define his values and set goals for himself. He attended Howard University from 1998-2002 on a football scholarship and received his bachelor's in finance — being drafted by the NFL in 2003. Marques is a best-selling author and host of the Get Authentic With Marques Ogden podcast.

Are you a young professional struggling to stand out in the insurance or financial service industry? You are not alone. What do you need to know to thrive in your profession?

According to Marques Ogden, it's very challenging to succeed in the insurance or financial service industry — and even more difficult for those in minority groups. As an African American making a name for himself as a young professional coming out of the NFL, Marques had to work hard to overcome obstacles. He's now a keynote speaker who shares his experience to help young professionals turn their goals into accomplishments.

In this episode of Advisor Today, Chris Gandy and Suzanne Carawan sit down with Marques Ogden, former NFL player and keynote speaker, to discuss how to succeed in the insurance and financial services industry. Marques shares his experience in the NFL and the insurance and financial services industry, actionable tips to help you thrive in your profession, what to expect from the Get Authentic With Marques Ogden podcast, and his advice for young professionals.

Kathleen Owings is the Principal and Financial Advisor of Westbilt Financial Group, an independent financial advisory firm providing comprehensive planning for clients wanting to achieve personal goals. In 2007, Kathleen began her career in the financial services industry with New England Financial. Her licensure is in life and health insurance and she maintains Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations. Kathleen's book, Put Your Money to Work: A Woman's Guide to Financial Confidence, helps women take control of their finances.

Kathleen graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2000. After serving for eight years as an active duty officer in the Army Corps of Engineers, she retired — but continued to commit herself to selfless service.

For decades, the financial service industry has been known as a male-dominated field. This has caused women to shy away from pursuing a career in the industry. How can we boost women's confidence and encourage them in the profession?

Kathleen Owings resolved to pursue a uniquely challenging and rewarding life as an army officer. After eight years of service, she transitioned to the financial service industry — two unrelated professions that share underlying values. The meticulous planning, thoughtful design, and flexible execution Kathleen learned as an army officer are what she utilizes to find confidence, traction, and success in the financial service space. She wrote Put Your Money to Work as a woman's guide to financial confidence.

In this episode of Advisor Today, Chris Gandy and Suzanne Carawan sit down with Kathleen Owings, Principal and Financial Advisor of Westbilt Financial Group, to discuss how women can gain financial confidence. Kathleen talks about her introduction to the financial service industry and the obstacles she had to overcome, advice for upcoming financial advisors, why she wrote Put Your Money to Work, and the discrepancies between men and women in the industry.

For over 30 years, Diane Boyle has been the Senior Vice President of Government Relations for NAIFA. Diane advocates for state, interstate, and federal laws that benefit the good of the people. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in political science and government.

When your passion and career revolve around making sure clients are on the right financial track, knowing how to politically advocate for them can be tricky. What should you do?

Get involved! You can help shape the policies put in place by advocating for the good of your constituents. Diane Boyle does just that. By examining the legislative component at local, state, and federal levels, Diane knows the advantage of staying active and educating political heads. But you have to be willing to continue conversations with people you disagree with — because they need education the most.

In this episode of Advisor Today, Chris Gandy and Suzanne Carawan sit down with Diane Boyle, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for NAIFA, to discuss the importance of engaging in the legislative process. Diane talks about opportunities for insurance agents to get involved with their local government, lobbying for legislation, and how familiarizing yourself with local government can bring awareness and acceptance to your community.