It was during the 1936 Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) conference six women got together and formed the first recorded women’s organization within the insurance industry. They named it Women Leaders Round Table (WLRT) with membership based solely on production. It served as a recognition program meeting annually.
In 1979, as a result of so many of WLRT qualifying for MDRT they dissolved and joined with the National Association of Life Underwriters (NALU), becoming the Women Life Underwriters Conference (WLUC) whose primary goal was to broaden the overall perspective of women agents. Within three years local chapters of WLUC had formed providing even more training, support and leadership development opportunities to its members.
In 1987 WLUC became an independent industry organization. A year later they refocused their direction, keeping the WLUC acronym but adding the tag line “Women In Insurance and Financial Services” to encompass all women in the industry.
In 2000 keeping up with the industry changes the WLUC acronym was replaced by WIFS-Women in Insurance & Financial Services with renewed emphasis on growing membership, increased focus on education and creating corporate and public initiatives.
WIFS has over 1000 members and while other industry organizations are seeing their numbers fall, WIFS is on apath of growth and today is the fastest growing organization in the industry. We are no longer a secret, we are an Association on the rise and the only place for the industry’s successful women to come together.
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