CEO COLUMN
New
opportunities to
ENGAGE!
Seems like just a few weeks ago that we as an industry were
preparing to sprint through the COVID-19 pandemic and return
to business as usual. Little did we know, this was going to be a
marathon, not a one-hundred-meter dash. Usain Bolt has left
the building.
Dan LaBert, CEO
NAILBA
[email protected]
To quote one of
my favorite movies,
Top Gun, “Engage,
Maverick, engage!”
Zoom call, anyone?
Realizing the devastating impact to our economy and life as we know it, the need to
“Pandemic Pivot” became top priority. In true entrepreneur fashion, independent distribution
(ID) responded by pivoting to virtual and telephonic sales, accelerated underwriting,
professional development webinars and product enhancements. The emphasis placed on
technology toward future engagement is vital to our success. Not just as industry but to
consumers across the country and bridging the life insurance gap.
While no one could predict our “disruption” finally arriving, NAILBA was well positioned to
be an even stronger voice for all independent brokerage distribution. This year, we debuted
the ID Network. Dozens of interviews with carrier executives and BGA principals discussing
new products, services, regulatory challenges and technology trends. These videos have
thousands of views! Our print publication, Perspectives, with its new look from 2019 and
drastically improved content, earned the 2020 ASAE Gold Circle Award for being the top
e-publication in the association world. We also significantly expanded our digital footprint,
communicating with over 1,400 BGAs and 330,000 independent advisors, not to forget the
hundreds of carrier representatives and industry service providers. To say NAILBA’s value
prop has changed would simply be an understatement. We’ve pivoted our direction to serve
independent distribution the way NAILBA was intended, not by just offering the premier
industry conference but with new resources and content to grow your business all year round.
Reimagine human mobility
António Guterres, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations said, “the COVID-19
crisis is an opportunity to reimagine human mobility.” While his reference was health related,
people on the move, virtually, are part of the solution. Let us remove unwarranted barriers
and explore models to regularize new pathways to engage!
NAILBA’s August announcement of moving the NAILBA 39 Annual Meeting to a virtual
platform (NAILBA 39: ENGAGE) embraces the crisis and presents a virtual experience over
the course of 90 days with complimentary general admission for the entire industry! That’s
three months of professional development and industry updates from carrier executives and
product/service leaders with dedicated “live days” for specific business topics. Of course, there
will also be VIP virtual experiences (professional and social) for members and sponsors only.
COVID-19 has impacted our world, creating fear, indecision and confusion in the market.
While we all may be weary with webinar fatigue, seeing our clients, our colleagues and our
friends, doing business virtually is the present and future.
To quote one of my favorite movies, Top Gun, “Engage, Maverick, engage!” Getting into
action, facing fears head on, is often the antidote to paralyzing fear. So, we must continue this
pandemic pivot, we must ENGAGE. NAILBA begins the experience starting November 19!
4 Perspectives Q3 2020