Company Network

Our Mission Statement

To bring an autonomous, knowledgeable and experienced resource to the Financial Planning / Fee-Advisor community with the objective of expanding certain competencies of risk management (Insurance)in a fee environment. The focus of our program is based on the following principles:

1) Comprehensive Financial Planning is a functional responsibility that has to incorporate life insurance planning as a major component.

2) The litigious environment places advisors in harms way if holding themselves out as financial advisors when they do not incorporate insurance planning into their proposals.

3) Professional, ethical and fiduciary obligations mandate a fundamental competency in the knowledge of insurance with regard to policy style, appropriate selection, integration and premium strategy design

4) Professional, ethical and fiduciary obligations mandate an environment of full disclosure with illustrated policy assumptions, allowing the advisor and consumer to have the necessary information with regard to cost efficiencies, capital liquidity, flexibility and control so that the best decision of policy design can be developed for the client. This includes a full assessment of risk tolerance beyond that which is obvious (interest rate fluctuation and/or market variables). Hidden and undislosed variations of costs and assumptions buried in the illustration software that cannot be substantiated under Prudent Man guidelines need to be disclosed and discussed with the client, as these represent an element of risk tolerance.

5) There needs to be an awareness of the conflict between New Paradigm policy development, selection and design, and the Old "rate Book" Paradigm of insurance selling. This requires a reorientation of the mind set and perceptions that have created a barrier against growth of the fee-advisor into this area of practice.

6) The migration towards Assets Under Management has left the practice of full and comprehensive financial planning to the commission culture. This has circumvented the totality of value-added comprehensive fee planning and left the consumer void of independent, unbiased counsel. Biased planning refers to the possible motivation centered on commission generating activity by the planner, which may encompass undisclosed facts and disclaimers that are pertinent to the decision making process. By unbiased, we refer to a fully disclosed exposure of cost efficiencies and risk exposure, along with the process of educating the client on the true functionality and advantages of universal life and variable universal life policies.

7) Address the fee-advisor community's stated concerns in the area of lacking knowledge in life insurance design and integration, including advanced planning strategies that have been developed strictly from the commission insurance culture.

8) Address the fee-advisor community's stated concerns with regard to (a) not knowing how the commission planner is implementing a program for their clients and the cost of such; and (b) the possible conflict and client encroachment in asset accumulation activities between the fee-advisor and the dually licensed commission planner.

9) Address the fee-advisor community's stated concerns with regard to how insurance planning can be integrated into a fee environment, and how to benchmark fees for this expanded, value-added dimension of practice capability.

10) Address the fee-advisor community's stated concerns that their only options to this dilemma are: (a) Ignore the insurance aspect of the planning equation (not wise or prudent) (b) Network with a knowledgeable commission agent (how does one determine "knowledgeable" and what risk/cost does the client bear in such an arrangement) (c) Find someone to "facilitate" the implementation of a fee-based policy without knowledgeable guidance by the advisor with respect to design objectives for the clients specific goals. We propose a better option: Set aside the time to become educated in the fundamentals of new paradigm insurance planning and design so that you, your client, and your practice is protected.

11) To form a consortium of companies that provides products and services that can expand the fee practitioners' tools and capabilities for the benefit of the client.

Who We Are

The Fee Advisors Network was created to be an educational, training and support resource to the advisor/planner community, having our focus on the fiduciary process of fee-based life insurance planning and design. We are not anti-commission. We believe that there should be a process, in line with fiduciary standards, that guide us to a conclusion of concept and product. We also believe that there are a number of dynamics supporting the position that Universal Life (UL) and Variable Universal Life (VUL) are best suited to the consumers need when presented by an advisor in a fee environment as opposed to the commission culture.

We are autonomous and do not represent any specific insurance carrier. The Networks Executive Director, Mr. Joseph W. Maczuga, has over 20 years of experience with fee-based insurance, has written numerous articles on the concept, and is consistently invited to speak at various professional meetings and conferences.

Members of the Fee Advisors Network represent a variety of professional designations, including: CFP, CLU, ChFC, LIC, JD, CLU, CFA, CFS, CPA, ChFP, FLMI, RFC, and LLIF.

The Network also functions as a resource to broker/dealers, advisory firms and professional organizations who may elect to partner with the Network as a sponsor, giving their representatives exposure to the training and assistance we provide in regard to this concept.

Who We Are Not

The Network is not a wholesale organization, nor do we function in any manner as a product provider.

The Executive Director is Mr. Joseph W. Maczuga, LIC, who has been involved with the marketing and development of no-load insurance since 1982. Mr. Maczuga also serves as a consultant to several national independent broker/dealers and an international financial conglomerate. He also functions in an advisory capacity to no-load companies.

Networking with high caliber professionals who continue to seek after products and concepts that will benefit their clientele is an exciting and educationally rewarding experience.

If you are interested in becoming part of this cadre of advisors, go to our Membership Information section.

Thank you for visiting with us.