We have seen a flight to quality and a “back to basics” mentality with an interest in more security. Insurance is a conversation more and more Americans are open to and willing to explore.

As brokers and independent marketing organizations, we are always looking for opportunities to support producers in having meaningful conversations with their prospects and clients. I have found the LIFE Foundation materials to be helpful in doing just that. There are myriads of excellent resources and tools that can be used to educate and motivate prospects and clients.

The campaigns and programs provide opportunities to utilize the marketing elements in parts and as a whole—a “campaign in a box” scenario. The social media elements are excellent, too, for those using Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media platforms. For each campaign I use elements that help drive my business.

LIFE Foundation serves as a partner, a third party, trusted resource that each of us can access and leverage in the following ways at no cost!

• Insure Your Love. January/February campaign to celebrate and promote the importance of protecting those we love. Resources are available throughout the year (www.insureyourlove.org).

• Disability Insurance Awareness Month (DIAM) with its May campaign theme—Protect Your Paycheck—promotes the importance of disability insurance (www.protectyourpaycheck.org).

• Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM). September campaign to promote the importance of life insurance (www.lifehappens.org/liam).

• Long Term Care—November program to promote the importance of long term care insurance (www.lifehappens.org/long-term-care-insurance).

• Life Insurance Needs Calculator. A user-friendly way for clients to evaluate their insurance needs (www.lifehappens.org/lifecalculator).

• Life Lessons. A scholarship program to assist college-bound students who are impacted by the loss of a parent or guardian (www.lifehappens.org/life-lessons).

• Multi-Cultural Markets. LIFE materials and resources are available in Spanish and other languages to reach multi-cultural target markets (www.lifehappens.org/multicultural).

• NextGen3. An interactive educational program targeted at high school students having reached more than 63,000 teachers and 26 million students (www.nextgen3.org).

• realLIFEstories. High impact stories illustrating the importance of insurance (www.lifehappens.org/reallifestories).

• Speaker Bureau. Industry professionals available to speak at your next meeting (www.lifehappens.org).

• White Papers. Studies and white papers about relevant topics and trends available as a trusted third party resource (www.lifehappens.org).

• Marketing and Educational Materi­als. Materials and resources in support of insurance: life, health, disability, long term care; small business insurance needs; worksite benefits and more (www.­lifehappens.org/catalog).

Get started by contacting Jaimee C. Niles, vice president of communications at the LIFE Foundation. Email: [email protected], 703-888-4450 or visit www.lifehappens.org.

Cindy V. Gentry, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF

BBA Life Brokerage Agency

CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, is president of BBA Life Brokerage, an independent life and annuity brokerage agency. She began her insurance career in 1980, and has been in marketing and management with BBA Life Brokerage since 1987.Most of Gentry's insurance career has been in the brokerage business, starting as a service representative in the group health business. She moved to Texas in 1982, and landed a position with a small health brokerage, later moving on to personal production, then joining BBA Life Brokerage.Gentry has been an active member of Corpus Christi Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors since 1989, serving on the board and executive committees and ultimately as president of the local chapter in 1996. She is a member of the Society of Financial Services Professionals. In 1997 she was presented the “Agent of the Year” award.Gentry has served as education chair of the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA), going on to serve on the board in 2000, on the executive committee in 2001, and serving as chairman for NAILBA in 2004. In 2007, she was presented with the inaugural NAILBA Education Excellence Award. Gentry served as the chairperson of Life Happens in 2014, a nonprofit organization formerly known as the LIFE Foundation.Gentry may be reached at BBA Life Brokerage Agency, 4838 Holly Road, Suite 102, Corpus Christi, TX 78411. Telephone: 800-747-4445 or 361-993-3820. Email: [email protected].