Advocacy in action blog

The Indiana Department of Insurance, led by Commissioner Amy Beard, has adopted a new rule that strengthens protections for consumers seeking lifetime income through annuities. Indiana is the 45^th state to adopt a measure that closely tracks the ‘best interest of consumer enhancements’ in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)  Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation. These new laws and regulations also align with the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest, providing consumers with comprehensive state and federal protections. Over 90% of Americans now live in a state that has adopted a best interest standard for annuities.

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.”

American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) President and CEO Susan Neely and NAIFA-New Hampshire Past President Dawn Chambers issued the following joint statement on the best interest annuity rule adopted recently by the New Hampshire Insurance Department:

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.

Senators Ted Cruz and Bill Hagerty have introduced legislation, the Protecting Innovation in Investments Act, that would prevent the SEC from moving forward with a proposed rule that would deter technological innovation by financial services companies. The SEC's proposal would also stifle financial professionals' use of technology to benefit clients. 

The Senators, in a release entitled "What They're Saying," quoted NAIFA President Tom Cothron, LUTCF, FSCP, on the importance of technology in the financial services industry and NAIFA's opposition to the SEC proposal.

Lawmakers in California, and particularly in the city of Los Angeles, know the importance of life insurance and understand the critical work financial professionals do. NAIFA-Los Angeles has been key to their education. For the past 20 consecutive years, NAIFA-Los Angeles members, including the chapter’s Past President Gilbert Mares, LUTCF,  Grassroots Chair Jose Rodriguez, and President Alvin Parra, have worked with Los Angeles Mayors and members of the City Council to have September proclaimed Life Insurance Awareness Month. They have also been instrumental in getting similar proclamations issued by the state Senate and the County of Los Angeles.