Financial Security Advocates Drive NAIFA’s Grassroots Success

NAIFA is the most influential grassroots association in the insurance and financial services industry. Whether it’s promoting states’ adoption of the NAIC best interest model for annuity transactions or heading off federal proposals that would change the definition of “independent contractor,” NAIFA boasts an impressive record of legislative wins.

We can credit our success in this area to the dedication and commitment of our members. Those attributes shine through in the attitudes of agents and advisors who have a passion for political advocacy and view it as an important part of looking out for the best interests of their clients.

“It’s really important for us to tell lawmakers our stories and what we’re seeing in our home legislative districts, because they don’t know all the things that are going on there,” explained Bruce Pope, CLU, ChFC, CASL, a NAIFA Financial Security Advocate and loyal member since 1989. “We can share very specific stories on the impact that our financial security resources provide to our clients and local business owners. We educate lawmakers on how regulations, laws, and taxation may impact the capacity of those financial resources and our practices to benefit constituents in their districts.”

NAIFA members’ passion for advocacy also is apparent in their willingness to participate in advocacy events – including the Congressional Conference each May, the NAIFA National Leadership Conference Day on the Hill, state Legislative Days, in-district meetings, and political fundraisers. As part of NAIFA’s membership pledge – Advocate, Educate,

Differentiate – NAIFA is committed to providing members with the education and training to help them be the best advocates they can be. That is the driving force behind NAIFA’s grassroots training series and the Financial Security Advocate badge.

The training consists of three modules that progress from political advocacy basics through mid-level skills like building relationships with lawmakers up to advanced “grasstops” concepts. The concluding segment even covers information on how NAIFA members can run for public office themselves. To date, nearly 700 NAIFA members have completed the grassroots training series and earned their Financial Security Advocate badge.

Kristin Alfheim, RICP, CLTC, a loyal member since 2004, is a great example of a NAIFA Financial Security Advocate taking her advocacy to the next level. A Councilperson for the city of Appleton, WI, Alfheim is on the ballot this November as a candidate for the state’s District 19 Senate seat.

But you don’t need to be a candidate for office to benefit from NAIFA’s grassroots training. Financial Security Advocates are most effective when they are influencing and educating lawmakers to benefit their practices, colleagues, clients, and communities. The skills they acquire help them build and nurture relationships with policymakers and serve as valuable resources for people making decisions that affect the financial security of all Americans.

“It’s important to share our voice and to tell our stories to legislators,” Pope said. “It gives us the ability to either put the brakes on legislation or taxation or to speed something up in order to promote the interests of our clients and other consumers in our lawmakers’ districts.”

NAIFA provides its grassroots training as a no-cost benefit to members. To learn more and become a Financial Security Advocate, visit advocacy.naifa.org/grassroots.