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.

NAIFA's consumer outreach arm, Life Happens, created and supports Life Insurance Awareness Month to spotlight life insurance products and their importance in a comprehensive financial plan.

Twenty years of recognition is a streak worth recognizing, but the chapter’s advocacy work runs much deeper. They have built strong relationships with policymakers around the state. They ensure that elected officials are not just acknowledging life insurance and other vital financial services for a day or a month but that they understand its importance year-round for the Californians they represent. They ensure lawmakers know who NAIFA is and that NAIFA members can be trusted resources on policy decisions. That is what NAIFA’s advocacy is all about.

Members of NAIFA-Los Angeles and NAIFA-California will next be making their advocacy impact felt at their State Legislative Day event in Sacramento on March 13. Financial services professionals will attend a legislative briefing and grassroots preparation lunch before they visit with their lawmakers to discuss issues that impact their businesses and the consumers they serve.

NAIFA has members in every Congressional district in the country and is the leading state and federal advocacy association for insurance and financial professionals in the United States. NAIFA-Los Angeles offers a great example of how local NAIFA chapters can have a meaningful grassroots impact. NAIFA leaders who would like to learn more about how NAIFA-Los Angeles has been able to create meaningful relationships for more than two decades with local and state officials may contact Gil Mares.

Learn more about NAIFA-California’s 2024 Legislative Day.

Get information about a NAIFA Legislative Day in your state.