NAILBA 44 Agenda

In this honest conversation, we’ll unpack the real challenges BGAs face when trying to hire and retain rockstar staff, and share creative, people-first strategies for building strong, committed teams. In this breakout session, you will take away practical tools and actionable insights to attract top talent and create a workplace where employees want to stay.

Behind every meaningful change in our industry are leaders who bring vision, resilience, and a relentless focus on people. This isn’t just a conversation about leadership—it’s a candid look at personal journeys, hard-earned lessons, and bold strategies that continue to drive performance across the financial security ecosystem.

These leaders will share how they stay grounded while leading through change, how they develop talent at all levels, and why partnering with the independent brokerage community is essential to their long-term vision. You’ll leave energized and ready to make the most of your time at NAILBA 44—sharing ideas, asking big questions, and shaping what comes next.

In this dynamic and interactive keynote, Mindset Digital CEO Debra Jasper goes even deeper, sharing actionable strategies you can implement right away to:

• Meet as equals – Shift from a vendor voice to an advisor voice

• Recruit like a pro – Tell the powerful story of the work you do (Hint: Don’t be a “dynamic leader”)

• Prepare for what’s next – From Agentic AI to the future of client engagement

If you’ve heard Debra speak, you know she’s all about cutting through the noise to get today’s hyper-distracted audiences to tune in.

In this deep-dive session, Debra Jasper—named one of Ernst & Young’s Top “Winning Women” Entrepreneurs in North America—will introduce a powerful framework to elevate every client touchpoint.

She’ll guide you in mastering one of today’s most critical leadership skills: Attention Design. Because, as she tells her management students at Ohio State University:
“To inform, you must first engage.

In this breakout session, Tiffany Markarian leads a practical conversation with two BGAs who have successfully positioned themselves as trusted partners in these channels. Walk away with language, tools, and strategies that resonate with these firms and open new doors for your business.

We’re moving beyond abstract conversations about AI. From workflow inefficiencies to advisor onboarding to in-force management, these speakers will guide you through their decision-making process, lessons learned, and the measurable impact of their tech choices. In this breakout session, you will learn practical strategies and insights to tackle your own operational challenges with technology. Real problems, real solutions, and insights you can take back to your own business.

Hosted by those dedicated to brokerage, you won’t want to miss this blast from the past! Watch for more details!

First, hear from a powerhouse carrier panel, followed by the return of The Washington Update — LIVE! Get exclusive insights from leading political strategists and policy experts as they unpack the future of tax reform. Then, Finseca’s expert tax team will connect the dots between politics and policy, helping you understand the real-world impact on financial security and your business.

We’ll close the session with a keynote from Bobby Samuelson, Editor of The Life Product Review. A respected voice in the industry, Bobby is a frequent speaker at top conferences, a contributor to publications like Trusts & Estates, and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal. Expect thought-provoking commentary and fresh perspectives on the evolving life insurance landscape.

Then, Finseca’s expert tax team will connect the dots between politics and policy, helping you understand the real-world impact on financial security and your business.

Technology, regulation, and shifting consumer expectations are redefining what underwriting looks like—and who’s driving it. Learn what’s coming, what’s already here, and how BGAs can stay ahead in a world where speed, accuracy, and automation are no longer optional.

Grounded in the topics covered by the NAILBA certifications, this fast-paced AMA features seasoned pros who’ve been in your shoes—and are ready to share what works (and what doesn’t).

This panel brings together leaders from Simplicity, Integrity, LIBRA, and AIMCOR to explore how marketing organizations, BGAs, and other stakeholders can work together to strengthen the independent channel. Discover new ways to align interests, share capabilities, and build a more resilient, innovative, and client-focused future—together.

NAILBA’s most prestigious and coveted honor. Don’t miss this special opportunity to toast the winners, connect with industry peers, and keep the celebration going!

The businesses that will win are those that leverage the most impactful human traits that A.I. won’t be able to replicate—at least not for the foreseeable future: creativity, intuition, curiosity, and imagination.

As Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney for the past decade, I learned there is a huge gap in the market. CEOs everywhere look to us—the world’s most creative company—for guidance on how to build a culture of innovation and equip their organizations with the tools needed to leverage their most important asset: their people.

But here’s the challenge: until now, no one has made innovation tangible. Many companies hire innovation consultancies or build “innovation departments,” only to find they haven’t truly driven cultural change or embedded innovation across the entire enterprise.

What if, instead, there was a Design Thinking Innovation Toolkit—one that everyone could use, making creativity tangible, innovation easy, and the process enjoyable? That’s exactly what I’ve built, drawing on my years of experience at Disney, and exactly what I’ll share with you in my presentation, Embedding a Culture of Innovation into Everyone’s DNA.