Future Leaders

Is a Career in Financial Services in Your Future?

Former NBA player turned financial advisor, Chris Gandy, invites you to join him on what can be an exciting and rewarding career.

Are you considering a career in insurance and/or financial services? Attend NAIFA's 2024 February 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 February 2024 Session

February 2024 Schedule

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

February 2nd

Understanding the Industry

Cheryl Canzanella, LUTCF, CLU, ChSNC

As you prepare for a career in the financial services industry, what do you need to know upon graduation? Hear from NAIFA member, Cheryl Canzanella about the things she knows now, that she wished she would have known when she started her career. Cheryl is a National Young Advisor Team Leader of the Year, a graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University (where she earned college credits for having her insurance & securities licenses!), and is President-Elect in NAIFA-Florida. Cheryl's story begins as an annuity marketing coordinator, to an internal annuity specialist, to a financial advisor, and to her current role as a retirement solutions partner working with home equity!

February 9th

Finding Your Best Fit

Kathleen Owings

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.

February 16th

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.

February 26th

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.

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.