Advocacy in action blog

Members of NAIFA’s New York chapter (NAIFA-NY) held a virtual meeting with officials from the state Department of Financial Services (DFS). State President Gary Cappon, CLU, LUTCF, RICP, FSCP, CLTC, provided introductions and a brief rundown of NAIFA’s advocacy work and support for the agent and advisor community and the consumers they serve. He also discussed challenges with financial product availability in the state. President-Elect Vinny Dallo, ChFC, CLU, CLTC, LUTCF, and Vice President of Advocacy Paul Sciacca presented “A Day in the Life of a Financial Professional,” highlighting how NAIFA members serve families and businesses in the state.

NAIFA is proud to announce that Robert A. Miller, M.S., M.A., Partner at Miller-Pomerantz Insurance and Financial Services in New York City, is the recipient of NAIFA’s Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award.

Miller, a loyal member since 1983, was NAIFA’s national President for the 2011-2012 term. He had previously served as President of the NAIFA-New York state chapter and NAIFA-New York City. He was elected to the NAIFA Board of Trustees in 2005 and has served as trustee liaison to the CEO Outreach Program, the Young Advisor Team, and the Corporate Partnerships Program. He also served as chair of the NAIFA Governance Committee and was a member of the NAIFA Finance Committee.

NAIFA Senior Vice President for Government Relations Diane Boyle appeared with other industry thought leaders on the National & Federal Insurance Perspective Panel at the Life Insurance Council of New York (LICONY) Annual Meeting and Planning Conference in Albany. She discussed with other panelists the top issues facing the insurance and financial services industry, the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the insurance sector, issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and NAIFA’s work with the American Council of Life Insurance (ACLI) to remove unnecessary barriers to recruiting new insurance professionals.

On Tuesday, October 11, 2022, the Department of Labor (DOL) released a proposed rule that would replace the existing 2021 test under the Fair Labor Standards Act used to determine worker classification as either an independent contractor or an employee.

NAIFA congratulates Lisa Gomez on her confirmation as Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).  

NAIFA is excited to partner with BIPAC to support Employee Voter Registration Week.

NAIFA Trustee Christopher Gandy, LACP, loyal member since 2003 and Founder of Midwest Legacy Group, said during a “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Producer Licensing,” panel discussion at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) 2022 Insurance Summit that he faced many challenges as an African American breaking into the insurance and financial services industry.

A NAIFA Action Alert asks agents and advisors to contact their members of Congress and express concerns over a new Medicare marketing rule and request that lawmakers ask the Department of Health and Human Services for a delay of six to twelve months, during which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can work with stakeholders to improve the rule.

NAIFA Trustee Christopher Gandy, LACP, loyal member since 2003 and Founder of Midwest Legacy Group, is participating in a panel discussion at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) 2022 Insurance Summit. The session, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Producer Licensing,” is exploring how regulators and the insurance industry are addressing DEI issues in the distribution of insurance through pre-licensing and licensing exam procedures.

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance announced earlier this year that the state insurance licensing exam will now be offered in Spanish. NAIFA's Massachusetts chapter has been working with the Division of Insurance on this initiative and advocated for its adoption.