MDRT Community News

News for MDRT U.S. and Canada

News

Member survey: Your voice shapes MDRT

by

Help make MDRT better. MDRT is inviting members in Canada and the United States to participate in a survey. Your feedback is essential and will help us better understand you and your business, so we can continue improving the benefits and experiences that matter most to our members. 

How to take the survey 

  • Or, visit the survey page, and enter your MDRT ID.  

Support a good cause

MDRT has set a goal: if 10% of surveyed members respond by May 15, MDRT will donate $10,000 to the MDRT Foundation in support of Room to Read, the charity partner for the 2026 MDRT Annual Meeting. Complete your survey today to help us reach the goal.

All responses will remain confidential and will be reported only in the aggregate. The survey takes approximately five to ten minutes to complete.

What not to miss at the MDRT Annual Meeting

by

The 2026 MDRT Annual Meeting, June 7-10, in Anaheim, California, USA, is more than a conference: it’s several days of learning, connection and inspiration designed to help members grow personally and professionally. 

Featured speakers

Throughout the MDRT Annual Meeting, members can gather at the event’s largest stage, the Main Platform, for inspirational content from thought leaders. This year’s lineup includes: 

Mariana Atencio
Andrew Busch
Damon Dunn
Robert Paylor
Marc Randolph
Giselle Ugarte
  • Mariana Atencio, former NBC news TV correspondent, on how to build client trust 
  • Andrew Busch, economic futurist and former CFTC chief market intelligence officer on global market and policy trends 
  • Damon Dunn, former NFL player and entrepreneur, on leadership and strategic decision-making under pressure 
  • Dr. José M. Hernández, former astronaut, on applying lessons from his journey
  • Robert Paylor, former college athlete, on mindset and overcoming the adversity of quadriplegia 
  • Marc Randolph, co‑founder and first CEO of Netflix on innovation and entrepreneurship, in a conversation with human potential researcher Kevin Miller 
  • Eszylfie Taylor, top financial advisor, entrepreneur and MDRT member, on building a high-impact practice  
  • Giselle Ugarte, performance coach and former media host on communication, presence and leading with authenticity 





➡️ View full program





Make connections and gain specialized knowledge





Members can connect at events like Launch to Excellence and the Welcome Reception on June 7, or throughout the week in The ConneXion Zone, featuring short, focused presentations on topics ranging from technology and marketing to work‑life balance. For deeper learning, attendees can participate in more than 90 Focus Sessions — smaller, topic‑driven discussions covering areas such as finding your practice niche, multigenerational selling, and building effective referral systems.





➡️ Register 







PR consultations and how to communicate MDRT’s value to clients  













Annual Meeting PR Consultation Image








One opportunity not to miss is Elevate your story: A guide for communicating MDRT’s value to clients and peers, June 7 at 11:00 a.m., featuring Top of the Table members, Tim Daniel Clairmont, MSFS, LACP and Juli Y. McNeely, CFP, CLU, who will share how positioning MDRT as a compelling story, and not just a credential, can strengthen your success as a financial advisor. 

















Members can sign up for a PR Consultation, to practice these skills with a communications professional and gain perspective on how to clearly and confidently communicate MDRT’s value. 





➡️ Sign up for a PR consultation must be registered for the MDRT Annual Meeting










What our members say













MDRT member Irene Stolte, ChFC, CLTC, on how she benefits from attending the MDRT Annual Meeting





“The dollar amount of investment in attending an Annual Meeting is truly irrelevant in relation to the knowledge and connections you can make through this organization.” –Irene Stolte, ChFC, CLTC













MDRT Member Brandon Heckert, CFP, AAMS, on the value of the Annual Meeting





“The first time you go, you’re thinking about the airfare and the cost of the meeting. But then you realize you get one or two big ideas — that’s all it takes, just a single piece of information from that meeting — to help you become a better advisor. And you’ll make back the money you spent on the meeting itself in no time.” –Brandon Heckert, CFP, AAMS 





➡️Visit the Annual Meeting website to explore the full program and register today.









Get started as an MDRT member


 by   


Congratulations to new members and welcome back to our renewing members. Here are a few tips to get started with your membership:







Share the news





Share the good news with your networks on social media, using the image to the left, and the following message, which you’re welcome to personalize:

I’m proud to share that I’ve become an member of @MDRT in 2026, an association for top performers in the life insurance and financial services profession. Through MDRT, I’m excited to engage with a supportive network of peers and an unparalleled mix of content and resources featuring proven methods and best practices for growth. 





Additionally, you can access a full Member Toolkit with member logos and a press release template when you sign in to mdrt.org.









Update your profile, and personalize your experience





Sign in to mdrt.org and customize your member experience. Update your profile with a picture and personal biography in account settings. And don’t forget to try ChatMDRT, our new, AI-powered chat tool.









Explore MDRT events 





Attend MDRT member-exclusive events to connect with your peers, discover solutions that can impact your business immediately, network with industry thought leaders and build long-lasting relationships. For our 1-3 year members: join us on March 18 for a webinar, Unlock Your MDRT Membership, and attend the MDRT Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California June 7-10.









Plug into exclusive resources





Access MDRT insights, tools and strategies with improved search filters. Our content is curated by fellow members to help you improve productivity, run your business efficiently and achieve your goals. Focus your learning by selecting specific topics within Resources.







MDRT Member Survey


Help shape MDRT





MDRT is inviting members in Canada and the United States to participate in a member survey. Help us better understand you and your business, so we can continue improving the benefits and experiences that matter most to our members. 









Access the MDRT Academy





As an MDRT member, you now have access to the MDRT Academy, with tools, training and community to help new advisors fast track their success and give experienced advisors the edge to go even further.




Survey: Top recession concerns & cost cutting plans


 by   


MDRT has conducted a new survey on Americans’ top concerns related to the lingering risk of a recession. The survey of a representative sample of 2,000 Americans offers insights to help financial advisors anticipate their clients’ concerns and make recommendations.
















Concerns if a recession





According to the survey, Americans have these top concerns, if a recession occurred:





•Inflation 87% would be concerned about increased inflation
•Loss of income 81% would be concerned about loss or a decrease in income with Millennials (29%) more concerned than Gen Z (19%).
•Cutting back on essentials 80% would be concerned about cutting back on essentials, with women (54%) and Millennials (29%) expressing highest levels of concern.
•Healthcare 78% would be concerned about being unable to afford health care.
•Investing 77% would be concerned about being unable to save or invest for the future
















Planned cost-cutting





According to the survey, Americans would cut back on several non-essential costs:





•Dining out 55% would eliminate
•Travel and leisure 55% would eliminate
•Financial advisory services 44% would eliminate
•Investments 36% would eliminate 
•Retirement contributions 29% would eliminate 





MDRT members can read more about how to work with clients to support their financial concerns by visiting MDRT.org.


Application FAQ


 by   


Following are common questions about applying for membership in MDRT, for companies and individuals.





Application form





You have two options for applying to MDRT:





• Online Application The vast majority of applicants are eligible to use the system.





• Paper Application All members receive the paper application by mail in November. If you have an MDRT account, you can download and print the paper application. (You can create an account if you do not currently have one). Alternatively, you can request the application mailed to you by calling MDRT at +1 (847) 692–6378.





For companies: If you’re a company representative and want to support your advisors in joining MDRT, please visit our company page on MDRT.org.





For questions about qualifying for MDRT: visit MDRT Membership FAQs, or use Chat MDRT, our new, AI-powered knowledge assistant. You can also find below instructions for filling out your application and reporting your production to MDRT.





Filling out your application





For detailed instructions on filling out your online application, see this application walkthrough document.





2026 ENG Membership Online Application GuideDownload





Qualifying & reporting production





Members qualify for MDRT by attaining a certain level of premium, commission or income during the previous calendar year. You can view current production requirements for the U.S. or Canada.





Commission or Premium





If reporting by commission and/or premium, you will need to supply one or more letters from your company verifying reported production.*





• Company reporting: Some companies report commission or premium to MDRT, in which case a production certifying letter should appear as part of your application.





• Member reporting: If you report your own production numbers in commission and/or premium, fill out a Commission and Premium Certifying Letter and upload it to your application form.





Income





If you are reporting production as income, use the Income Certifying letter. Here are quick instructions for those who are using the income method. The minimum income is 151,000 USD or 176,500 CAD.





Income Method Quick GuideDownload





Here are detailed instructions, with screenshots, for those using the income reporting method.





2026 Applying for MDRT Membership Online Instructions Using Income MethodDownload












Survey: Preparing for the great wealth transfer


 by   


MDRT has conducted a new survey on the Great Wealth Transfer, which is expected to be the largest generational transfer of wealth in history, with trillions projected to pass from the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers to younger generations. To help financial advisors prepare to advise clients across all generations, MDRT surveyed 2,000 U.S. consumers, spanning four generations. A few highlights from the survey:





Wealth Transfer Expectations





    

  • 60% of consumers under 59 expect to inherit wealth in their lifetime.
    • 




  • 64% of consumers over the age of 60 plan to pass wealth to family or heirs
    • 






Estate Planning Preparedness





    

  • 29% of consumers have created a will, 57% men and 43% women.
    • 




  • Nearly half of all respondents (45%) have not taken any action to prepare an estate plan. 
    • 













MDRT members can read more about the survey and how one financial advisor discusses the wealth transfer with her clients on MDRT.org.


Recruitment toolkit


 by   


We know how much you value your membership in MDRT. We want to help you share the value with prospective members and keep a strong member base. Below are a few resources you can use to help recruit members. 












Videos As part of our new membership campaign, we’ve created a series of videos featuring you, our members, on the value of membership. Share these in your communication with members.














Web The official MDRT web page for prospective members, with information about value, benefits and how to join














Presentation A short presentation sharing the power of MDRT membership for meetings, webinars and other events














Flyer Front-and-back handout with key data points and member testimonials














Email





Subject line: Congratulations on a terrific year! 





Congratulations on achieving a production level that qualifies you for membership in MDRT! I hope you’ll consider joining or renewing your membership to advance with this extraordinary community. MDRT has made a meaningful difference for my practice, with access to resources that help me expand my business sustainably and connections to a supportive professional network that openly shares proven strategies for success.





You can watch this short video to hear from fellow members about how MDRT has transformed their practices.





I encourage you to learn more and join or renew today.





Sincerely, 





[Insert Name]














Social Post





I joined MDRT because I wanted to [insert reason: grow my network / learn from peers / improve my practice]. Since joining, I’ve [insert outcome: learned X / grown Y / gained Z]. 





One thing I love about MDRT is [insert favorite part: events, community, resources, etc.]. 





If you’re looking for [insert what others might gain: support, ideas, inspiration], I encourage you to explore MDRT: 🌐 mdrt.org/member-benefits 














Application FAQ





Common questions about applying for MDRT, including how to qualify and how to report production







💬Access additional templates for emails, social and other announcements (for companies) (for members).


MDRT members in their own words


 by   


What makes MDRT a strong investment in career growth for financial professionals? In an inspiring new series of videos, members from the U.S. and Canada share how MDRT transforms careers, strengthens connections and elevates the entire financial services profession. From powerful networking and peer learning to life-changing meetings and mentorship, MDRT members explain why the return on investment goes far beyond numbers — it’s about advancing together, every day, to serve clients better and raise the standard of the profession. Learn more at mdrt.org/member-benefits. 










2026 membership enrollment


 by   


Membership enrollment is open for the 2026 year. Below are key details and reminders to help you—and those in your network—prepare.





For current members





To maintain your MDRT membership, you’ll need to meet the annual production requirement, which can be reported as premium, commission, or income. Encourage colleagues who are eligible to renew early to continue accessing the connections and resources that make MDRT unique.





For prospective members





If you’re ready to join the MDRT community, we look forward to welcoming you. Submit your qualifying production—reported as premium, commission, or income—through the MDRT application form once enrollment opens.







Join today







Not sure if you qualify? 





There’s still time. You have until the end of the year to reach qualification for 2026.  And if you don’t make it this time, we offer the MDRT Academy, which gives advisors coaching, accountability and tools to qualify for MDRT.







Connect with experienced MDRT members


 by   


Join us for a special Ask Me Anything with MDRT and connect with experienced members to ask questions, gain practical advice and stay motivated for the final months of the year. Whether you’re seeking actionable advice, clarity or motivation, this is a valuable opportunity to engage with the MDRT community and set yourself up for success in 2026. This event is exclusively for one to three-year members of MDRT in the United States and Canada.







Choose from two sessions:












November 14










12 p.m. Eastern Time/11 a.m. Central Time












Dana Mitchell, CFP, CLU, 4-year Top of the Table member



















Tim Daniel Clairmont, MSFS, LACP, 14-year Top of the Table member









Register












November 17





10 a.m. Eastern Time/9 a.m. Central Time












Julianne Hertel, CLU, ChFC, 3-year Top of the Table member



















Mark D. Olson, CFP, MSFS, 5-Top of the Table member









Register