Political Advocacy Is an Early-Career Imperative

By Emily Cabbage

dvocacy is a NAIFA cornerstone, but advisors are often reluctant to jump into advocacy early in their careers. Corey Anderson, DIA, (loyal member since 2000) and Rodney Mogen, CRPC, AAMS, LACP, (loyal member since 2011) have been politically active with NAIFA for many years. Both advisors, now in their early 40s, share their experiences and insights on why advocacy matters to young advisors and being engaged politically benefits your career, our industry, your clients and Main Street USA.

WHY GET INVOLVED?

Legislators want to hear from young advisors. They want to know what is going on with their constituents from a new advisor’s perspective to learn where change is needed and to hear fresh ideas. The more members build relationships with lawmakers, the more conversations educating decision-makers we can have. Both advisors agreed that lawmakers have the best intentions, but they do not always know or understand the unintended consequences of their proposals.

Mogen noted that in his home state of Texas, there were 9,333 bills filed between the Senate and the House during a 180day session. Lawmakers cannot be experts on every single issue in every bill. That is where NAIFA members come in. “We are really good at knowing how legislation may affect our clients and the industry,” Mogen said. “The Texas Government Relations committee went through 1,500 bills impacting the insurance industry. When we had an issue with a bill because we have the relationship, we were able to pick up the phone and say ‘Hey, this is our feeling about this bill.’”

Early in Anderson’s career, he participated in his state legislative day and saw the importance of building relationships with lawmakers. When meeting with a representative who had misconceptions about business owners, he realized that this person could “really impact my industry in a matter of a stroke of a pen, so I better get involved and try to make a difference.”

Telling Your Clients What You Are Doing To Protect Their Best Interests Improves Your Credibility

When NAIFA members go to Capitol Hill, visit their state capital, or visit legislators in-district, they take client stories with them. Explaining to lawmakers the consequences of a bill on their constituents by telling clients’ stories humanizes the legislation. In turn, you can go back to your clients and share the work you’ve done on their behalf. Mogen shares how this has impacted his client base. “Because I’ve been so active on the state level, I actually have a lot of state staffers as clients in Austin. They trust me because they see me out there lobbying for them.”

THE POWER OF YOU, THE POWER OF US

Anderson is a disability insurance specialist, and not all of the legislation that NAIFA works on has direct ties to his primary focus. Nevertheless, he still shows up to advocate for the industry with other NAIFA members. While his market may not be on the table right now, one day it will be. Anderson stays involved so that when the time comes, NAIFA Nation is there to stand side-byside with him on the issues impacting his clients and business.

“We have to look at it as what is good for the whole industry and the good of the United States, not just for the good of Corey Anderson,” he said. Mogen agreed, saying, “We want to do what’s right for our clients, but we also want to do what’s right for the entire industry. And that’s one of the reasons I’m really involved with NAIFA. We’re looking at it from a whole comprehensive perspective. When they come to knock on my door, I want to have my brethren around me to protect me.”