Future Leaders

Welcome Future Leaders!

Are you considering a career in insurance and/or financial services? Attend NAIFA's 2023 Fall Future Leaders Program, designed to explore all of the facets of this thriving industry.

For just 45 minutes a week for 4 weeks, our members will break down the ins and outs of this limitless career path to help you find your best fit. While we encourage you to participate live, you can also catch up on demand.

We are delighted to welcome you into our fold and help you on your educational journey as you consider a career in financial services. We understand that this industry can be daunting. But the good news is that NAIFA is here to guide you. Our members are among the industry's best and brightest and we want to ensure you have access to the tools and resources for a successful career.

Students attending all sessions will receive a certificate of completion from NAIFA.

We look forward to meeting you!

Register for the Fall 2023 Session

Fall 2023 Schedule

Each session runs from 12:00-12:45 pm eastern

October 4th

Understanding the Industry

John D. Richardson, RICP, LACP

As you prepare for a career in the financial services industry, what do you need to know upon graduation? Hear from NAIFA member, John D. Richardson about the things he knows now, that he wished he would have known when he started his career. JDR, as we affectionately call him, is a proud Eagle Scout, National Young Advisor Team Leader of the Year, a graduate of the University of Tennessee, and an elected leader in Tennessee. His high energy is infectious and you will learn about what drives him to success in his business.

October 11th

Finding Your Best Fit

Kathleen Owings, LACP

Getting started with a career in the financial services industry can often be overwhelming. It means figuring out what you want to do and where you fit. In this session, you'll hear about finding your passion and where it fits into the industry so you can hit the ground running upon graduation. Kathleen Owings had only one plan for college which was to attend West Point which she did! Learn about her military career, her love for the outdoors and running, and the new book that she just released while living in Colorado Springs as Principal and Financial Advisor at Westbilt Financial Group.

October 18th

Choose Your Own Adventure: Career Options in the Industry

Rick Demko, CLU, LUTCF, RICP, LACP, Mimie Yoon-Lee & Derek Scheetz

Let these financial services professionals pitch you to follow in their footsteps by telling you what they do, how they got there & why they love it.
After playing rugby for the University of Arizona and receiving a degree in Business Management, Rick Demko, began his career with State Farm and then moved to advanced planning with New York Life. He is currently the Head of Agency at Centric Wealth in Houston.
Derek Scheetz began his college career playing lacrosse at Denison University and later transferred to The Ohio State University to play at the Division I level. In 2012, He graduated with a degree in Consumer & Family Financial Management. Derek is currently a financial representative with Lifetime Financial Growth, one of the largest Guardian agencies, based in Columbus.
A career in financial services is not where Mimie Yoon-Lee landed after graduating from the University of California, Davis with a degree in Ag Econ with an emphasis in Managerial Economics. She left her career in retail management for a career in financial services. Mimie is currently Executive Director at Hightower Advisors in the Oakland area.

October 25th

TOOLS FOR SUCCESS: BECOMING THE 1%

Chris Gandy, LACP

According to the NCAA, the chances of going pro in men's basketball is 1.2% beyond high school, but Chris Gandy did it. The chances of making it through the first years in the financial services industry is often cited as less than 15%, but Gandy did it. Being featured in GQ? Done that. Top producer in OneAmerica? He's got that accolade, too. Hear from the former University of Illinois forward, former NBA player (and was even a teammate of MJ), and the founder of Midwest Legacy Group outside of Chicago, Chris Gandy, on his best practices for getting started and staying ahead. In a competitive industry, learn tips and discover tools to differentiate yourself.

Participating Schools

Alabama

Alabama A&M University*
Troy University
University of Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

University of Central Arkansas

California

California State University
California State University-Northridge
San Francisco State University
University of California-Irvine

Colorado

Colorado State University
University of Colorado-Boulder

Connecticut

University of Connecticut
University of Hartford

Delaware

Delaware State University*

District of Columbia

American University

Florida

Florida State University
Jacksonville University
Miami-Dade College
Polk State Community College
Rollins College
South Florida State College
University of Florida
University of North Florida
University of Tampa

Georgia

Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia State University
Mercer University
University of Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Bradley University
Harper College
Illinois State University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Roosevelt University
University of Illinois

Indiana

Ball State University
Indiana State University
Indiana Wesleyan University
Martin University
Purdue University

Iowa

Drake University
Iowa State University
Loras College
University of Iowa
University of Northern Iowa

Kansas

Hutchinson Community College
Kansas State University

Kentucky

Eastern Kentucky University
Murray State University
Western Kentucky University

Louisiana

University of Louisiana-Monroe
University of New Orleans

Maine

Maryland

University of Maryland

Massachusetts

Bentley University
Boston University
Cambridge College
Northeastern University

Michigan

Ferris State University
Michigan State University
University of Central Michigan

Minnesota

Minnesota State University
St. Cloud State University
University of Minnesota
University of St. Thomas
Walden University

Mississippi

Delta State College
Mississippi State University*
University of Mississippi

Missouri

Missouri State University
University of Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Creighton University
University of Nebraska

Nevada

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

New Hampshire

New Jersey

Rutgers University
Thomas Edison State University

New Mexico

New York

Excelsior College
St. John's University
Suffolk County Community College

North Carolina

Appalachian State University

North Dakota

Ohio

Denison University
Hondros College
Miami University
The Ohio State University
Wright State University

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Community College
Tulsa Community College

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Delaware County Community College
Immaculata University
LaSalle University
Mercyhurst University
Penn State University
Temple University
University of Pennsylvania
Ursinus College

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Clemson University
University of South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Austin Peay University
Middle Tennessee State University
University of Memphis

Texas

Baylor University
Texas A&M
Texas Tech University
University of North Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

George Mason University
Old Dominion University
University of Richmond
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech University

Washington

Seattle University
Washington State University

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Chippewa Valley Technical College
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Wyoming

Interested in Getting Your School Involved?

We look forward to learning more about you and how we can partner together to transition more students into careers in the financial services industry.