Good afternoon MDRT! My name is Delia Brimmer and I’m a financial planner from Boston, USA.  

It’s said that we can “go fast alone or far together”, so today I’ll be talking about the ways MDRT can help connect us and how we can help each other throughout the year.  

My first MDRT meeting was in 2022. Prior to that, I knew what MDRT was and that I had qualified, but I had no intention of attending a meeting. Then, I was at an event for the top financial advisors in Boston and was seated next to a woman I knew was successful but hadn’t had the opportunity to previously meet. She asked, are you attending the MDRT meeting in 2 weeks? I said, I wasn’t planning to, should I? We spoke for a bit, and she asked again, "So, are you attending the annual meeting in 2 weeks?” I thought, okay guess I am! I had no excuse; it was in Boston.  

I’m glad I did!  

After attending only 2 annual meetings, I earned my first Court of the table honor this year. I have no doubt that it’s attributable to the many successful people I’ve met through MDRT and the wisdom and time they have generously shared. 

I really want other members to have similar experiences and make friends with members from all around the world in between meetings and to understand that just because the meetings have ended for the day, doesn’t mean the learning has. The hotel lobby is where I have made some of the best connections and those connections are what makes the annual meeting so special. 

Volunteering for PGA, Program General Arrangements, at my first annual meeting got me involved right away and I felt what it was like to have that true MDRT experience. Volunteering for PGA means you help direct people to various locations throughout the conference but ultimately everyone who volunteers for PGA agrees, it’s a wonderful way to meet fellow members that leads to building lasting relationships. Plus, you get a cool hat! For anyone who has volunteered for PGA I’m sure you’ve been nodding your head in agreement! If you did not volunteer this year, I hope you will when you register for next year's meeting! 

Aside from the annual meeting, there are lots of ways to stay involved and network with fellow members year-round. I participate in my country's community engagement team which in the US we call community leaders. We volunteer our time to welcome new members and keep in touch with current members but what I really love about this group is the friendships I have made. You can also volunteer for the MDRT Foundation, join a book club or be a mentor. 

Participation in these areas has helped impact my career by giving me access to other members who are more successful and further along in their career than me, even members I previously knew of but didn’t have relationships with! The greatest “hack” I’ve learned is that you end up being like whoever you spend the most time with, spending time with these successful members throughout the year has certainly changed my way of thinking for the better in a record amount of time. I’m able to learn new business concepts and ask questions about issues I'm facing in that moment like training my staff and specific ways I can help my clients. 

If we learn from all of the time, money and mistakes that other MDRT members have made, it helps us to go further together.  

If you want to go alone, you certainly can make some fast adjustments from these MDRT meetings, and you’ll get there. But if you want to go further and you want a sustainable, long, successful career we should lean on our fellow MDRT members who share their wisdom to make the most out of our membership. What is the one thing that you will do this year to stay connected with your fellow MDRT members? Let’s help each other so that we can all go further together!  

Thank you.