America's Fraternal Benefit Societies Salute Sales Force during Fraternal Insurance Counsellors' Month

04/27/06

OAK BROOK, IL – This May the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) salutes the fraternal benefit system’s professional sales force during Fraternal Insurance Counsellors' (FIC) Month.

"The fraternal benefit system is proud of its community service and fraternal programs, but one of the most important benefits to our members are the financial services provided by our professional member recruiters and sales agents," said Michael J. Wade, 2005-2006 NFCA Chair of the Board. "While everyone who helps with member recruitment is integral, May is set aside each year to recognize the system’s FICs. Fraternal Insurance Counsellors are talented and energetic fraternalists who have worked hard, studied and completed the required coursework to achieve their well-deserved designation."

FIC History
In 1949, the Fraternal Field Managers Association (FFMA), a special interest group or "section" within the NFCA, developed its own educational program. The first course consisted of three books (a fourth was added later) to provide a self-study training program focusing on the history of fraternalism, basic life insurance concepts, recruitment techniques, individual and family needs, advanced market concepts, estate planning and ethics. The first 134 FICs were conferred in 1950, and the National Association of Fraternal Insurance Counsellors (NAFIC) was established.

NAFIC membership is open to individuals who have received their FIC education designation. There are approximately 7,000 accredited FICs, with 4,400 belonging to the NAFIC. The association consists of 36 state FIC chapters and one in Canada.

Most FICs are part of the fraternal member recruitment force, but 10-12 percent also are home office executives or sales managers. Today's FICs work closely with state fraternal congresses (SFC) and often play an organizing role in the SFC annual meetings, especially in those states without domiciled societies.

The FFMA later saw the need for education in advanced underwriting and developed a "Fellow" program consisting of additional training. Successful completion of this portion earns the designation FICF.

If you are a fraternal member recruiter/sales agent and would like to learn more about securing your FIC designation, please contact:

Ms. Anna Maener
Executive Secretary
National Association of Fraternal Insurance Counsellors (NAFIC)
211 Canal Road
Waterloo, WI 53594
Phone (866) 478-3880
E-mail:  office@nafic.org
Web Site:  www.nafic.org

Charitable, Fraternal and Recruitment Statistics
Combined, the NFCA's member-societies maintain more than $315 billion of life insurance-in-force and, in 2004 alone, contributed almost $390 million to charitable and fraternal programs.  In addition, fraternalists volunteered approximately 91.5 million hours toward community-service projects during that same period. Also, during that same period, FICs and other member-recruiters were responsible for more than 462,000 new fraternal life, annuity and accident/health certificates. Fraternal premium income was $3.1 billion on life insurance in force of $316 billion.

The 120-year-old NFCA unites 76 not-for-profit fraternal benefit societies operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. The association represents almost 10 million people in 36,000 local chapters, making it one of America's largest member networks. Fraternal benefit societies provide their members with leadership, social, educational, spiritual, patriotic, scholarship, financial and volunteer-service opportunities.

To view a list of societies with FICs, please click here.
To view the official proclamation, please click here.