Advocacy in action blog

NAIFA’s annual Congressional Conference is crucial to our grassroots advocacy strategy. The event brings NAIFA members together as a critical mass to advocate on behalf of their businesses, clients, consumers, and the insurance and financial services industry. It provides targeted advocacy training with briefings on specific legislative issues, best practices for conducting congressional meetings, and tips for developing impactful long-term relationships with legislators.

Bryon Holz, NAIFA President-Elect, urges every producer in financial services and insurance to attend this year's Congressional Conference to be an advocate for your Main Street USA clients.

Don't miss this opportunity to make your voice heard!

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is asking for NAIFA members who work with the seniors or Medicare markets to provide feedback on the draft of their Medicare & You Handbook for 2023.

If you would like to submit comments on this draft, please do so using the spreadsheet linked below. Comments must be submitted by Wednesday, April 13, by the end of the day to Cody Schoonover (cschoonover@naifa.org).

The Kentucky Legislature has passed a comprehensive tax reform package, and thanks to advocacy work by NAIFA's Kentucky chapter financial planners and investment advisors narrowly avoided a 6% sales tax on their services.

NAIFA’s Georgia chapter (NAIFA-GA) held its annual Legislative Day in Atlanta earlier this year. Speakers at the event included:

NAIFA’s Get Out the Vote (GOTV) resources are now available to NAIFA members and the general public online at gotv4financialsecurity.org. The website provides educational materials to help NAIFA members and the consumers who they help achieve financial security understand how the election process works and make informed decisions at the polls.

Over the past few weeks, NAIFA has encouraged Congressional leadership to expand access to the US Capitol campus. Numerous reports confirm Congressional leadership is working on a bicameral reopening plan for the entire Capitol grounds.  With the 2022 Congressional Conference merely two months away, we are happy to hear that leadership is working on a phased reopening plan.  By reopening the Capitol, we will be able to get back to our in-person visits which allow us to discuss issues relating to the financial services industry and explain the impact that certain policies have on your clients and businesses.

NAIFA’s Alabama chapter (NAIFA-AL) held a recent state Legislative Day in Montgomery. The event featured a welcome from NAIFA-AL President Booker Joseph and NAIFA-AL Grassroots Chair Matthew Wilson, followed by afternoon meetings with state legislators at the Capitol. Senator J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner recognized NAIFA-Alabama in the gallery during the Senate proceedings that day.

NAIFA's Iowa chapter held a state Legislative Day in Des Moines last week. The event featured a morning advocacy training session and afternoon meetings with state legislators at the Capitol. NAIFA-IA also hosted an ice cream social with lawmakers. 

Hyatt Erstad, a loyal NAIFA member since 1980 and President of Erstad & Company in Boise, ID, has been reappointed by Governor Brad Little as Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors of Your Health Idaho. His confirmation hearing before the Idaho Senate Commerce Committee was February 8. While at the hearing, Erstad spoke with Idaho Insurance Director and National Association of Insurance Commissioners Chair Dean Cameron (see photo above).

Members of NAIFA-WI gathered in Madison Feb. 1-2 for the chapter's 2022 Legislative Day. They received professional development and advocacy updates, including briefings on state issues by NAIFA-WI lobbyist Bill McClenahan and federal issues by NAIFA Assistant Vice President for Government Relations Judi Carsrud. State Representatives Dave Steffen (R-Green Bay) and Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca) delivered remarks. NAIFA members took their grassroots message to the capitol, meeting with their elected officials to discuss the importance of policies that promote financial security for everyone.