Kate Shafer is the Director of Member Engagement & Communications at the American Fraternal Alliance, a nonprofit that supports fraternal benefit societies across the US and Canada by offering advocacy, education, and financial services to over seven million members. In her role, she leads initiatives to enhance member engagement, communications, and programming across the Alliance’s network. Kate plays a key part in organizing signature events like the Spring Symposium, which focuses on member engagement, digital transformation, and governance.

Fraternal benefit societies have quietly served millions for generations, blending life insurance with a mission to build stronger communities. But in an increasingly digital world, these purpose-driven organizations face a crucial challenge: staying relevant while remaining true to their roots. So how can fraternal societies expand their reach and impact in today's fast-changing financial landscape?

According to Kate Shafer, a passionate advocate for community-driven insurance, the key lies in modernizing distribution and strengthening cross-sector partnerships. She highlights how fraternal societies are shedding outdated perceptions, embracing digital tools, and evolving beyond captive models to engage independent advisors. This transformation is unlocking new opportunities for growth, connection, and accessibility. From digitized member portals to cross-industry collaboration, Kate emphasizes that technology and advocacy together can help fraternal organizations thrive while honoring their founding values.

In this episode of the Advisor Today podcast, Chris Gandy and Zack Huels sit down with Kate Shafer, Director of Member Engagement & Communications at the American Fraternal Alliance, to discuss expanding the reach of fraternal benefit societies through digital innovation and government advocacy. They explore how awareness gaps are being closed, why collaboration with advisors is essential, and how younger generations are entering the space.

Chris Gandy is the Founder of Midwest Legacy Group LLC, a boutique concierge insurance group for executives, professional athletes, physicians, business owners, and entrepreneurs. It focuses on the client's interests in wealth accumulation, wealth preservation, retirement strategies, insurance, asset protection, and investments. He previously worked as a Representative for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, the APEX Consulting Group LLC, and was the Senior Vice President of Sales at MassMutual Chicago.

Carina Hatfield is a Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow (LUTCF), Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS), and Life and Annuity Certified Professional (LACP). As a third-generation insurance agent, she specializes in property and casualty insurance and works with locally owned businesses. Carina serves NAIFA as a National Trustee and a moderator for Pennsylvania’s Leadership in Life Institute. She is also the immediate past President of NAIFA Pennsylvania. Recently, Carina helped develop the organization’s new online LACP prep course.

Kathleen Owings is the Principal and Financial Advisor of Westbilt Financial Group, an independent financial advisory firm providing comprehensive planning for clients wanting to achieve personal goals. Graduating from the US Military Academy at West Point in 2000, Kathleen served for eight years as an active duty officer in the Army Corp of Engineers. In 2007, she began her career in the financial services industry, obtaining licensure in life and health insurance and maintaining Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations. Kathleen’s book, Put Your Money to Work: A Woman's Guide to Financial Confidence, helps women take control of their finances.

Leadership conferences and networking events often spark fresh ideas and motivation, but many attendees struggle to translate those insights into action within their organizations. Without widespread participation, valuable strategies are easily lost in translation. How can leaders ensure that what’s learned at these events effectively spreads, drives growth, and truly impacts their teams?

Chris Gandy, Carina Hatfield, and Kathleen Owings explore this challenge and offer practical strategies to overcome it. Carina, a leadership and membership development expert, suggests creating engaging cross-state activities like collectible pins and gamified networking to encourage broader interaction. Kathleen, an experienced financial advisor, emphasizes the importance of stepping outside comfort zones and using structured engagement tools, like participation-based incentives, to build stronger connections. Chris, a seasoned industry leader, highlights the need for leaders to embrace vulnerability, seek continuous self-improvement, and adopt a mindset of climbing rather than camping, meaning leaders must consistently push themselves beyond their current achievements to drive lasting change.

In this episode of the Advisor Today podcast, Chris Gandy, Carina Hatfield, and Kathleen Owings, financial experts, talk about building leadership endurance and fostering meaningful engagement. They discuss the power of community, the benefits of self-reflection, and the resources available through Life Happens to help advisors better serve their clients.

Ryan Ross is a seasoned marketing professional helping independent financial advisors grow their businesses through strategic content, SEO, and digital automation. With a background in financial services and marketing technology, he brings a unique perspective on how advisors can effectively build their online presence. Ryan is passionate about equipping financial professionals with the tools and strategies they need to stand out in a competitive marketplace. Outside of work, he enjoys endurance sports and has completed multiple triathlons, including several IRONMAN races.

Many financial advisors struggle to market themselves effectively in an industry crowded with misinformation and unqualified voices. Despite a growing public demand for financial advice, many professionals find it challenging to break through the noise, attract the right clients, and balance marketing with client service. How can advisors build trust, reach their audience, and remain competitive in today’s fast-moving digital world?

Marketing expert Ryan Ross helps financial advisors create impactful digital strategies. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on a niche to improve clarity and outreach. He encourages advisors to use AI tools to streamline content creation and build visibility across emerging answer engines like ChatGPT. Ryan also suggests balancing professionalism with authenticity, using personal stories and everyday moments to foster stronger client connections. He encourages advisors to start with their strengths, whether that’s writing, speaking, or social media, and develop simple, sustainable marketing systems.

In this episode of the Advisor Today podcast, co-hosts Chris Gandy and Carina Hatfield interview financial marketing strategist Ryan Ross about how advisors can grow their digital presence. Ryan shares insights on the power of niche marketing, the role of AI in modern outreach, and how to balance content creation with client service. He also discusses the rise of financial influencers, best practices for answering client questions online, and the benefits of using a consistent, strategic marketing calendar.

Carina Hatfield is a Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow, Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist, and Life and Annuity Certified Professional. As a third-generation insurance agent, she specializes in property and casualty insurance and works with locally owned businesses. Carina serves NAIFA as a National Trustee and a moderator for Pennsylvania’s Leadership in Life Institute. She is also the immediate past President of NAIFA Pennsylvania. Recently, Carina helped develop the organization’s new online LACP prep course. Her passion and dedication to the association earned her the 2020 Young Advisor Team Leader of the Year Award.

Balancing career demands, personal wellness, and community leadership can feel overwhelming, especially for those in high-impact, client-focused professions. Many professionals struggle to manage time effectively, maintain healthy boundaries with technology, and prioritize self-care while meeting professional expectations. How can busy leaders stay present, productive, and aligned with their personal goals amid constant external demands?

Experienced financial advisor and advocate Carina Hatfield explores practical strategies to address these challenges. She emphasizes disciplined calendar management, the importance of scheduling self-care as non-negotiable appointments, and the power of incremental progress over perfection. Carina encourages professionals to create intentional time blocks for wellness, embrace personalized routines, and push back against the pressures of instant communication. She shares insights on focusing on internal priorities instead of adopting others' agendas and highlights the value of building professional networks that support individual growth and authenticity.

In this episode of the Advisor Today podcast, co-hosts Chris Gandy and Zack Huels interview Carina Hatfield, a LUTCF, CLCS, and LACP, about creating balance in life and business. Carina shares her approaches to time management, personal well-being, and leadership through community involvement. She also discusses her experiences with advocacy events, the benefits of disconnecting from technology, and the importance of customized success strategies.

For over 30 years, Diane Boyle has been the Senior Vice President of Government Relations for NAIFA. Diane advocates for state, interstate, and federal laws that benefit the good of the people. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in political science and government.

Creating effective government relations in a rapidly shifting political and regulatory environment can feel overwhelming, especially for professionals navigating federal and state-level advocacy. With political landscapes evolving and stakeholder engagement becoming more nuanced, how can organizations build a cohesive and influential advocacy strategy that drives policy impact?

Diane Boyle, a seasoned expert in government relations, outlines a dynamic, team-centered approach to advocacy. She emphasizes hiring team members with technical experience and collaborative personalities, ensuring everyone contributes to a shared mission. She shares how policy development begins with committee recommendations and moves strategically through lobbying channels. Diane also stresses mentorship and pairing new members with veterans to foster inclusive engagement. She recommends relationship-building over partisanship and highlights the need for personalized, respectful interactions with lawmakers.

In this episode of the Advisor Today podcast, co-hosts Chris Gandy and Bianca Alonso Weiss interview Diane Boyle, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at NAIFA, about building and leading high-performing advocacy teams. Diane discusses tips for attracting emerging talent, creating effective policy pipelines, and coordinating grassroots efforts. She also shares tips for navigating Congressional Conference meetings, aligning generational perspectives, and handling politically sensitive moments professionally.

Grace Staten is a seasoned marketing executive with over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has led comprehensive initiatives in branding, digital strategy, public relations, and advisor development, significantly enhancing organizational growth and visibility. Grace holds a MBA in finance from San Jose State University, FSCP designation, and multiple FINRA licenses. A passionate advocate for women in finance, she serves as National President of the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance and was named a Top 50 Woman Leader in Finance for 2025 by Women We Admire.

Many financial advisors rely heavily on referrals and outdated methods for business growth — often avoiding modern marketing out of fear, budget concerns, or a lack of understanding. Without a clear branding strategy, advisors struggle to differentiate themselves and connect meaningfully with target clients. How can advisors effectively build a recognizable presence and grow their business through intentional marketing?

Grace Staten, a seasoned communications and marketing expert in the financial services space, provides clarity on this challenge by breaking down the essentials of branding versus marketing and advertising. She emphasizes starting with foundational branding — understanding mission, values, and client experience — before promoting that identity through campaigns. She offers tactical advice such as developing 12-week marketing plans, leveraging video and podcast content, using AI to simplify content creation, and measuring ROI through specific metrics like engagement and lead quality. Grace also shares a compelling story about an advisor who found unexpected success by narrowing his niche market.

In this episode of the Advisor Today Podcast, Chris Gandy and Kathleen Owings interview Grace Staten, a seasoned marketing executive, about building effective marketing strategies for financial advisors. Grace outlines the importance of personal branding, how to start small and build up marketing efforts, and why embracing imperfect video content can humanize your brand. She discusses AI’s role in marketing, retention strategies for professional organizations, and the value of storytelling in advisor growth.

Juli McNeely, CFP, CLU, LUTCF, is a seasoned financial services professional with over 25 years of experience. Through her consulting work and speaking engagements, she continues to empower financial professionals, particularly women, to define success on their own terms and excel in their careers. In 2014, Juli made history as the first female president of NAIFA. She is also an accomplished author of No Necktie Needed: A Woman’s Guide to Success in Financial Services, which offers insights into achieving a balanced and fulfilling career in the industry.

The financial services industry is shrinking advisor workforce, limited succession planning, and growing demand from clients across generations. As seasoned professionals retire, firms must grapple with maintaining client relationships, scaling services, and attracting new talent. So, what can advisors and firm leaders do today to build sustainable practices for the future?

Juli McNeely, a veteran financial advisor and industry leader, shares how she addressed these issues through vision, mentoring, and succession planning. She emphasizes the importance of finding your advisory style, particularly for women entering the field. She suggests that firms implement structured internship programs to build future pipelines, adopt team-based service models to share client loads, and embrace self-care to improve career longevity. Juli also advocates for financial literacy outreach and proactively engaging the next generation of clients.

In this episode of the Advisor Today podcast, Chris Gandy and Kathleen Owings interview Juli McNeely, a certified financial planner, about building a sustainable and scalable financial practice. Juli shares her journey from reluctant advisor to NAIFA’s first female president and highlights the power of personalized leadership. She also discusses her succession strategy, tips for women in finance, and leveraging team collaboration to meet growing client demand.

David Wood is a seasoned financial services professional with nearly four decades of industry experience. He began his career in 1986, navigating early challenges like the 1987 market crash, which shaped his resilient approach to financial advising. Together with his firm, David has been empowering independent financial advisors through strategic support, innovative growth solutions, and client-centric strategies. Beyond his professional endeavors, he is actively involved in industry advocacy and mentorship, contributing to the advancement and education within the financial advisory community.

As the financial services industry faces accelerating technological disruption and a wave of advisor retirements, professionals are grappling with how to scale sustainably, meet rising client expectations, and remain competitive. Traditional models of independent practice are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. So, what does the future hold for advisors who want to grow and thrive in this rapidly evolving environment?

David Wood, a longtime financial industry leader and growth strategist, shares deep insights on navigating these challenges through strategic vision, smart acquisitions, and operational scalability. He emphasizes the importance of identifying whether advisors are best suited to hunt for new clients or serve existing ones — and then building teams accordingly. He advocates for leveraging technology, including AI, to enhance client experience at scale, and discusses how acquiring practices with outdated service models can yield significant opportunity. David also shares the value of internships and mentorship to attract younger talent and create longevity in the industry.

In this episode of the Advisor Today podcast, Chris Gandy and Kathleen Owings interview David Wood, a seasoned financial services professional, about the future of financial advising. David discusses scalable growth, advisor succession, and evolving client expectations. He also explores how mindset shifts, peer collaboration, and targeted acquisitions can help advisors thrive in the modern landscape.