Leaders Blog

The campaigns are done, the voting is over, and the results are becoming clear. Donald Trump will return to the White House as the 47^th President of the United States. Republicans will also control the Senate with at least 52 seats. Races determining which party controls the House of Representatives have yet to be decided (and may not be for some time).

We are proud of NAIFA alumni who fared well yesterday. Austin Scott (R-GA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), and Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) were re-elected to the House of Representatives. Montana Insurance & Securities Commissioner Troy Downing (R-MT) is a newly elected first-term Representative. Former NAIFA members in the Senate, Tim Scott (R-SC) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), were not on the ballot this cycle and continue to serve in the upper house. As past members of our association, all of these lawmakers understand our industry and the great work NAIFA members do. 

NAIFA Webinar: A Conversation About the Courts
August 8 | 12 pm eastern

A federal court has granted a stay in the lawsuit NAIFA, several NAIFA chapters, ACLI, and other partners filed to stop the Department of Labor from implementing its fiduciary-only rule. The stay means the DOL rule will not go into effect in September, giving the court more time to consider NAIFA's lawsuit. Furthermore, the court stated that NAIFA's lawsuit is "virtually certain to succeed on the merits." 

Join us for an important webinar that will explain what the stay means for financial professionals and your clients. Our panelists will also discuss other recent court rulings, including Supreme Court decisions overturning the Chevron Doctrine (Loper v. Raimondo), sidestepping the constitutionality of taxing unrealized income (Moore v. US), and narrowing buy-sell agreement tax benefits (Connelly v. United States). 

Summer is no time for us to take our foot off the pedal when it comes to NAIFA advocacy efforts. Last year, NAIFA members held more than 135 meetings with members of Congress and their staff in their home districts during the annual summer Congressional recess. 

Major federal tax legislation is all but certain to be coming from Washington, D.C., in 2025. Many provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire at the end of next year and Congress will need to address the situation. This NAIFA advocacy webinar will give you a better understanding of what is being dubbed the "Super Bowl of Tax" and provide insights into some of the proposals likely to shape the debate.

June 13 | 1:30 pm eastern

An ongoing survey of NAIFA members will provide updated data to help NAIFA and our industry partners in future actions on the Department of Labor’s final fiduciary-only rule. The results will help us educate policymakers – and potentially the courts – on how the proposal will impact consumers and your business.

The Congressional Conference is NAIFA members' best opportunity to experience the power of grassroots advocacy first-hand in our nation's capital. Attendees really do make a difference on behalf of their businesses, clients, and communities. Networking allows them to be inspired and share ideas with politically involved colleagues. Training, policy briefings, and expert speakers give them the knowledge and guidance they need to be effective advocates. Meetings with lawmakers allow NAIFA members to speak with a unified voice and forge meaningful relationships with people whose decisions impact the financial security of every American.

The Department of Labor thinks it knows what's best for Americans preparing for retirement. NAIFA President Bryon Holz, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL, LACP, and his long-time client Chuck Ross think the DOL is wrong and bring their real-life experience to the argument.

November 12 | 3-5 eastern

NAIFA's Advocacy Team is producing a special Financial Security Academy this month. NAIFA and Society of FSP members who complete the academy receive their Financial Security Advocate badge they can use to differentiate themselves on social media and their online profile. All NAIFA and Society of FSP members are eligible to complete the Financial Security Advocate Academy course for free.

NAIFA members held more than 120 In-District Meetings with federal lawmakers and senior staff during the recent Congressional recess. This is the second post-COVID year in a row that the number of meetings has reached triple digits. In addition, many NAIFA members also met with state officials over the summer.

It is National Employee Voter Registration Week and NAIFA is promoting the cause with a series of blog and social media posts. We are encouraging members to use sample emails, social media posts, and graphics to encourage their clients and members of their communities to get registered.