Hello, everyone. I’m Peggy Tsai, and thank you for welcoming me so wholeheartedly. I stand humbly before you, though extremely excited at the same time, and it is my utmost honor to be your Incoming President of MDRT.

It has been a wonderful journey for me here at MDRT. I’ve learned so much, met so many incredible people and transformed so many parts of my life.

But I have to be honest with you, being a leader and working in our profession can sometimes feel very lonely. You feel that you are by yourself out there. You are often rejected and said no to, and success seems unattainable.

Well, I’d like you to know that I felt the same way. But I also want to encourage you that because MDRT is one big family, we can all support each other on this journey. You are not alone. We are here for you.

From today onward, each and every one of us can say goodbye to mediocrity and become a person beyond the ordinary. We can begin to live fuller lives, be better persons, be extraordinary. All of us can.

I was delighted when, in January 2019, MDRT Past President Mark Hanna, as Chair of the Nominating Committee, personally flew from the United States to Taipei and invited me to join the Executive Committee. I promised Mark I would do my best and serve our members faithfully. Today, I’m proud to be the first member from Asia as the MDRT Incoming President.

There is great power in MDRT. I have so much love for all our members. We encourage each other, enlighten one another and enhance our capabilities. This is the value in membership.

Your membership in MDRT will allow you to make connections, build relationships and gain mentorships. We want to help you move forward and upward.

Over the last two years of COVID-19, we realized there was much beyond our control. We have all experienced new challenges, disappointments and frustrations. As an organization, MDRT made the decision to focus on what we can control: delivering and adding value to our members as we emerge from the pandemic.

In the short term, that means providing content, tools and resources to help our members. We adjusted the membership requirement so that members could focus on serving their clients well. In the long term, that means continuing to invest in the organization.

We will enhance our technology, introduce new individual membership associations and form new membership programs.

As a member of MDRT, you are assured that this Executive Committee is focused on driving deeper engagement for our members worldwide. The five of us on the Executive Committee understand, on a deeply personal level, the incredible power of MDRT to change members’ lives.

Every year MDRT builds on the successes of the past. As the Incoming President, I want to do that too. 

On Monday you heard about our many past accomplishments. Today you can expect that we will continue to achieve much more.

Randy talked about our five-year digital transformation. This is such an important focus for MDRT. I will continue to work with staff and the Executive Committee to advance this important initiative to enhance MDRT’s technological capabilities to personalize and improve your membership experience.

Each and every one of you is important. Your presence here at this event is important. Therefore, we are also reviewing our portfolio of meetings and developing new ways to deliver unique value at every event.

MDRT’s meetings are a key driver of my own value and engagement. I’m personally very excited to see that our meetings will evolve, improve and deliver new innovative experiences for all our members. Let us add value and meaning to your membership.

Let me share with you about new developments. Randy shared about a new professional development offering called the Capability Program. This will help drive exceptional performance and allow participants to build a competitive advantage in the financial services profession. We’ll be launching this in 2024.

Sharing is at the heart of MDRT. When you choose to step outside your comfort zone and take the initiative to share with others, you will find yourself building new friendships among our members.

Remember I spoke about the power in connections right here? Here at MDRT, there is strength in establishing good relationships.

Sixteen years ago I hit a low point in my life. I was so focused on my work that my family life was out of balance. I felt like a failure. Even if I have achieved so much in my work, what does that mean?

There are many things that you cannot control in life, but you can control your thoughts. Your attitudes, your spoken words and your actions will determine the outcome. So I choose to care about what I cherish the most and to protect and build on these cherished relationships.

Thankfully, I had encouragement and support from people around me. I realized that I shouldn’t just be dedicated to myself and my professional success. I should also be concerned about my family, friends, the important relationships.

That’s why MDRT is like a family to me. It helps me make things better. It has always been there for me through thick and thin. It allows me to grow personally and professionally and has made me a wiser person.

MDRT has shown me about responsibility, kindness and now leadership. I know it can do the same for all of you too.

I wish that you’ll discover and establish strong, healthy relationships. We can help you to do that right here.

Moving forward we want to create an MDRT culture in companies and agencies around the world. This will be MDRT’s Family of Brands. Under this big umbrella, we will include the MDRT Academy and MDRT Global Services. All this will allow us to build a strong future for MDRT and for the profession through teaching.

The MDRT Academy is an association dedicated to doing one thing: getting financial advisors to MDRT-level production. Whether it is someone new to the profession or a member who did not reach production, Academy members will have access to tried-and-true concepts that will help them increase their production and join MDRT. 

Academy members learn from the best in the business — that is all of you! They will receive the best. If you know an advisor who you think can benefit, please encourage them to join the MDRT Academy. 

MDRT Global Services will help agency managers and field leaders in absorbing new ways to develop advisors and create an MDRT culture within their own organizations. To facilitate that, Global Services will transition from its current pilot phase to a dues-paying association next year.

I’ve always felt like a sponge. Yup, just like the one you would use in the shower or at your kitchen sink. If life should throw cold water at me, then I’ll still absorb it, become fuller and more nourished, enriching myself from within. Then I’ll use myself as a sponge and slowly wipe and clean the dirt away. Whatever I’ve absorbed as new knowledge, new techniques and new essence, I will slowly squeeze out and share with others on the job! It’s all part of my training. We can all learn to do that: absorb and squeeze. 

As an Agency Manager myself, I am excited by the value that Global Services will deliver to members around the world.

You know, all these took years of planning. I’m so excited to see our efforts come to fruition finally. Our Family of Brands will support every financial professional in every step of the way with our unique and enriched teachings.

So there you have it, our grand future plan — membership, development, relationships, teaching — the foundation on which to build a bright future for MDRT.

As I step into the Presidency, I will continue to serve MDRT and our members with all my heart and give back to the organization that has given me so much.

I look forward to serving MDRT as your President. We are going to accomplish great things together. Thank you all so much for spending this time with me today.