Advocacy in action blog

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 943 (sponsored by Assembly member Rodriguez) into law, making California the latest state to eliminate its insurance producer pre-licensing education requirement, a major win for the industry and aspiring professionals.

Mark your calendar for May 18–19, 2026, when NAIFA members will gather in Washington, D.C., for a highly impactful grassroots advocacy event for financial professionals: the Congressional Conference. This signature event is central to NAIFA’s mission, uniting members from across the country to advocate for their businesses, clients, and the insurance and financial services industry.

NAIFA members across the country during August and early September met face-to-face with lawmakers in their home districts to ensure the voices of Main Street Americans are represented in critical policy conversations. These in-district visits are a cornerstone of NAIFA’s grassroots advocacy, strengthening relationships with legislators while highlighting the essential role financial professionals play in helping families and businesses achieve financial security.

NAIFA endorses the House budget reconciliation bill for its provisions that assist families and businesses. Ensuring the long-term stability of favorable tax policies will give families and small businesses the predictability essential for smart financial planning, empowering them to make well-informed choices, invest wisely, and strengthen their financial futures.

In today’s ever-changing regulatory landscape, financial professionals face a growing number of legislative and policy challenges that can directly impact their ability to serve clients and sustain their businesses. Many of these challenges come from well-intended but often misguided attempts to regulate the industry in ways that could limit consumer access to financial guidance, increase operational burdens, or even threaten advisors' ability to earn a living.

At NAIFA, our mission is clear: We are the voice of the financial professional in Washington, D.C., and in state capitals across the country. We are here to ensure that laws and regulations support—not hinder—your ability to provide the essential services that individuals, families, and businesses rely on every day.

Why Advocacy Matters

Without a strong, unified advocacy effort, financial professionals could face serious obstacles that disrupt their business models. Consider some of the critical battles NAIFA has fought on behalf of the industry:

NAIFA is proud to announce that John M. Ruckel, LUTCF, a Financial Professional with MassMutual and owner of Ruckel Insurance and Financial Group in Nacogdoches, Texas, is the 2024 recipient of NAIFA’s Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award.

Congratulations to NAIFA-California for its advocacy work that contributed to the California Legislature passing (and the Governor signing) AB 2927 by Assemblyman McCarty (D-Sacramento). The bill reflects years of efforts to require financial literacy be included in high school curriculum and required for graduation. 

The recently agreed-to compromise was supported by NAIFA-California and resulted in the proposed November ballot initiative being pulled by its sponsor NGPF Mission 2030, an affiliate of Next Gen Personal Finance. The Governor and Legislative leaders praised the compromise and expressed their strong support of ensuring students are given the life tools necessary to make sound financial decisions at a young age. Students will begin to see the curriculum in the 2027-28 school year. 

NAIFA-California’s advocacy win is NAIFA grassroots at its best.

Washington, D.C.—The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), Finseca, Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) and National Association for Fixed Annuities (NAFA) issued the following statement on legislation advanced today by the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies that would block funding for the Labor Department’s fiduciary-only regulation:

NAIFA encourages all insurance and financial professionals to vote in local, state, and federal elections and to encourage others to follow their example. Approximately 63 million Americans who are eligible are not even registered to vote. Encouraging your colleagues, team, and clients to register is a great first step and a way to show your dedication to participating in the democratic process.

NAIFA is the only association for insurance and financial professionals with a strong political advocacy presence in Washington, D.C., and every state capital.

Last month, NAIFA members in Connecticut amplified NAIFA's advocacy message in Hartford. NAIFA-Connecticut's Legislative Day created great momentum heading into the Congressional Conference, May 22-23, in Washington, D.C.