The 2023 NAIFA-Texas Annual State Conference and Day at the Capitol was held February 21-23, 2023, at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton in Austin, Texas with more than 130 guests in attendance over the three day event. To view the digital program, please click here.

We are grateful for the NAIFA-Texas sponsors that make events like this possible including Harbor Life, The DI Center, Fairway Mortgage, Solve Ur Puzzles, Principal Financial Group, EMG Insurance Brokerage, Next Level Insurance, Capital Strategies, Financial Seminar Services, Kansas City Life, North Star Resource Group, GPM Life, One Protection, NAELA, Four Oaks, Illinois Mutual, Mass Mutual Brokerage, ACLI, Abacus Life, Assurity, and College In Roads. 

To start the conference, NAIFA President, Bryon Holz, joined us and shared details of his "first times", both in personal and professional life, revealing the true value of what we do as professionals and as NAIFA members. Mr. Holz also led the 2023 Board of Directors Induction Ceremony and shared his personal insights during the 2022-2023 LILI Graduation Ceremony.

College In Roads duo Annmarie Hatfield and Mike Davila then discussed "Planning for College 2023: Helping Your Clients Navigate the Crazy Road to College". Lastly, we were joined by legendary inspirational speaker, Joe Jordan who led his session titled "Prospering in a Post-Covid World". 

Tuesday evening concluded with a welcome reception and the 2022-2023 Leadership and Life Institute (LILI) Graduation Ceremony that honored the now LILI Alumni: Michael Ferrara, CFP, LUTCF, Julian Garza, Dominique Miles, and Roel Rodriguez. To view a digital copy of the graduation program, please click here.

Wednesday morning started off with fraud-busting, body language expert, Traci Brown. Traci taught us how to win the game of 'two truths and a lie' that we play every day with our clients, boss, our team, and prospects. In addition, Traci brought copies of her book "How to Detect Lies, Fraud and Identity Theft" for each member of the audience. 

In preparation for our Day at the Capitol we then heard an update from the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) on their 2023 Legislative Priorities given by Insurance Commissioner, Cassie Brown. Following the Commissioner's presentation, NAIFA-Texas Government Relations Committee Chair, Jason Talley and NAIFA-Texas Lobbyist Elizabeth Hadley, led a Legislative Briefing for the NAIFA-Texas members who planned to participate in meetings at the Capitol Building. Important topics of discussion included the Insurance 101 Handbook and the Legislative Watch List. Members then departed for their individual meetings with legislators. The evening concluded with a Legislative Reception. 

The Texas Leaders Round Table (TLRT) held an exclusive, members only dinner on Wednesday evening with guest speaker, Ed Deutschlander, with North Star Resource Group. To learn more about TLRT and how to become a member, please click here.

The final day of the conference welcomed international speaker, Dr. Travis Parry with his session titled "Living a Balanced Life as an Advisor". Thanks to our generous sponsors, each guest in attendance received a copy of his book. We were also welcomed by professional speaker and hit reality show 'Survivor Nicaragua' contestant, Holly Hoffman, who taught us that challenges allow us to step out of our comfort-zone to push ourselves beyond our own self-limitations.

The conference concluded with an Awards Luncheon that honored the recipients of the Local Leader of the Yar Award, Lel Arandela, LUTCF, ChFC, CLU, CASL of Eagle Strategies and New York Life Insurance, the Young Advisor Team (YAT) Leader of the Year Award, David Tucker, RICP of Cadence Wealth Management. In addition, the Bruce Murray Tall Texan Award was presented to Frank Correa, LUTCF, FSCP of TransAmerica Agency Network, and Joey Ussery, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF of John Hancock was honored with our most prestigious award, the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Thank you to everyone in attendance for making our event special and memorable. Please enjoy some of the photos we were able to capture during the conference. To view the digital program, please click here.

Capitol Building	GR Committee Chair Jason Talley and Lobbyist Elizabeth Hadley	Platinum Sponsor The DI Center - Mike Evans and Derek True
Sponsors Thank You Sign	LILI Moderator Jason Talley	LILI Graduate Julian Garza
Rodney Mogen, Bryon Holz, and Danny OConnell	Capitol Building Rotunda	LILI Graduate Michael Ferrara
LILI Graduate Dominique Miles	Presenter Travis Parry	Bronze Sponsor One Protection - Michael Sir
Presenter Traci Brown	Emcee Joey Ussery	LILI Moderator Apprentice Bailey Baker
NAIFA National President Bryon Holz	GR Committee Chair Jason Talley and Lobbyist Elizabeth Hadley	LILI Co-Moderator Davin Bell
Presenter Ed Deutschlander	Silver Sponsor Financial Seminar Services - Robert McAlister	Presenters Annmarie Hatfield and Mike Davila
Silver Sponsor Kansas City Life - Melissa Stitz	Rodney Mogen and Bryon Holz	Immediate Past President Andra Grava
Platinum Sponsor Fairway Mortgage - Michael Inkman	Insurance Commissioner Cassie Brown	LILI Graduate Roel Rodriguez
Luncheon Sponsor Abacus Life - Scott Kirby	Local Leader of the Year Award - Lel Arandela with Hollie Gandy	YAT Leader of the Year Award - David Tucker with Rodney Mogen and Hollie Gandy
Bruce Murray Tall Texan Award - Frank Correa with Hollie Gandy and Stacy Wasserman	Lifetime Achievement Award - Joey Ussery with John Ruckel and Darla Ussery	President-Elect Jim Thompson

Insurance Commissioner Cassie Brown - Crowd Shot	TLRT Dinner
LILI Graduate Julian Garza - Certificate Presentation	LILI Graduate Dominique Miles - Certificate Presentation
LILI Graduate Michael Ferrara - Certificate Presentation	LILI Graduate Roel Rodriguez - Certificate Presentation
Rodney Mogen	Presenter Joe Jordan
2023 Board of Directors	Legislative Appt with Legislative Director for Rep. Ann Johnson, Vice Chair, House Insurance Committee
Legislative Appt with Senator Tan Parker	Legislative Appt with Chief of Staff for Rep. Tom Oliverson, Chair, House Insurance Committee
Doug Massey and Bryon Holz	Rodney Mogen, Michael Ferrara, Rep. Carrie Isaac, Fred Steubing, and Mark Olson
New Members Pinning Ceremony	LILI Graduates with Bryon Holz
LILI Graduation Certificate	LILI Graduation Ceremony
Day at the Capitol - Corpus Christi Members	Holly Hoffman and Joey Ussery
NAIFA-Texas Members in front of the Capitol Building