Advocacy in action blog

NAIFA’s Congressional Conference is where you get to advocate for your business, peers, clients, and communities right at the heart of policy-making in Washington, D.C. It’s a direct line to influencing the decisions that affect millions who depend on your guidance. Engaging with Congress members this May isn’t just about representing your own interests; it's about voicing the collective needs of the financial services industry and the families and businesses that rely on you.

“NAIFA is pleased with the U.S. House panel’s decision to repeal the DOL’s independent contractor rule removing confusion and uncertainty resulting from the final rule and preserves the ability of our members to choose to operate as independent contractors. The majority of NAIFA’s members – insurance producers, broker dealer representatives, and/or independent registered investment advisors – are independent contractors who help generate economic growth and financial security to the local communities they serve across the nation.

On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, John Richardson and Mark Miller, members of NAIFA-Tennessee, showed the impact of grassroots advocacy by advocating against two sets of bills detrimental to the industry.

NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Labor’s decision to advance its proposed “Retirement Security Rule” for review by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) hosted its second Women’s Financial Security Fly-In March 6-7 in Washington, D.C. The event, designed to encourage the political involvement of women financial professionals, featured a day of grassroots advocacy training, policy briefings, inspirational discussions, and networking. On the second day of the event, attendees from 15 different states went to Capitol Hill for meetings with lawmakers representing their home states and districts.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation that incorporates the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) model for annuity transactions. NAIFA Kevin Mayeux, CAE, released the following statement:

NAIFA wholeheartedly supports a best interest standard for retirement investment professionals, but believes the Department of Labor's proposal to impose a fiduciary-only regulation goes too far, NAIFA Secretary Chris Gandy wrote in letter submitted to be part of the official record of a recent House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, & Pensions hearing entitled "Protecting American Savers and Retirees from DOL’s Regulatory Overreach.”

NAIFA is the leading advocacy voice for insurance and financial professionals at the federal and state levels. The association boasts members in every Congressional district and has a strong advocacy presence in every state capital. Last year, NAIFA tracked more than 490 state-level bills that had the potential to affect NAIFA members and the consumers they serve. NAIFA members or staff testified at more than 30 state-level hearings, providing real-world accounts of how policy proposals could benefit or harm the financial security of consumers. 

NAIFA's Congressional Conference shines a spotlight on NAIFA's unmatched advocacy influence and provides financial professionals with another way to serve clients' best interests. NAIFA members who meet with their members of Congress this May will not only be advocating for their own businesses but also for their colleagues, clients, and communities. Decisions made in Washinton, D.C., affect families and businesses nationwide that rely on NAIFA members for financial guidance.

NAIFA state legislative days allow insurance and financial professionals to share NAIFA's grassroots message and nurture relationships with state lawmakers. Many of these events occur in the first quarter of the year. So far, NAIFA chapters in Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Washington have held successful 2024 state legislative days. Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, and South Carolina have events coming soon.