NAIFA Programs Focus on Advocacy Issues for Hispanic and Women Advisors

Members who completed the courses prior to the Apex sales summit in Phoenix earned NAIFA’s Financial Security Advocate Badge.

By Diane Boyle, NAIFA Senior Vice President of Government Relations

NAIFA’s Advocacy Accelerator Couse for women and Hispanic members taught during Apex adds over 30 new Financial Security Advocates. NAIFA’s integrated advocacy program that includes state, interstate, and federal advocacy is the largest and most comprehensive advocacy program in the industry. The critical element in our 130+ year advocacy track record of success remains, and will always be, in our members’ participation—otherwise known as grassroots engagement. Several hundred members have participated in online and in-person training courses to gain skills and confidence in the advocacy process earning the coveted Financial Security Advocate badge.

The pre-conference course offered in Phoenix was designed specifically for female and Hispanic advisors. The session featured NAIFA member and Trustee Evelyn Gellar, LUTCF, RICP, CLTC, FSCP; NAIFA Trustee and past Diversity Champion Aprilyn Chavez Geissler, LACP; NAIFA member and Optimized Financial and Insurance Services President Jose Rodriguez, Jr.; NAIFA member and Vice President of Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS) Toni Gonzales, LACP; WIFS President Darlene Flagg; and NAIFA Senior Vice President of Government Relations Diane Boyle.

The participants were awarded the Financial Security Advocate badge for learning why and how to engage in political advocacy. These newly badged Hispanic and female advisors are eager to assist government officials in the development of policies, laws, and regulations that promote financial literacy, ensure access and choices for consumers, and help all Americans achieve financial security.

NAIFA invites you to join your colleagues and earn your Financial Security Advocate badge today. The three-part online series will take you from the fundamentals of advocacy and step you through an at-your-own pace series to allow you to graduate to advanced concepts and develop skills that you can put into action with confidence.

“Grassroots Training 101: Start Your Advocacy Journey” is the introductory module in the program. It introduces key concepts and resources to help you get started as a Grassroots Advocate using NAIFA’s tools and experience. This first level also serves as a great refresher course for NAIFA advocacy veterans.

“Grassroots Training 201: Expand Your Advocacy Skills” builds on the lessons from the 101 course. The intermediate-level module helps NAIFA members improve on their advocacy skills by learning to navigate more challenging relationships with lawmakers, as well as how to build the Grassroots Advocacy program using site visits and recruitment strategies.

“Grassroots Training 301: Grasstops Strategies” completes the series. The advanced-level module is for NAIFA members who want to move to the next level of advocacy by becoming “grasstops” contacts, hosting political fundraisers, and potentially even running for office themselves. Once a NAIFA member has completed all three modules, they are a NAIFA Financial Security Advocate, will receive recognition on NAIFA’s website and in publications, and may display the Financial Security Advocate badge on their social media and other online channels.

Ways to Get Involved

• Get Out the Vote – Great information for you and your clients on how to register to vote, election information, and how to find your elected officials is available at gotv4financialsecurity.org.

• Advocacy in Action Blog – Sign up to receive updates at a frequency that works for you. Visit advocacy.naifa.org/news.

• Advocacy Action Center – This site, advocacy.naifa.org/center, provides tools to report relationships with your state and federal lawmakers, and to take action on issues.

• Online Financial Security Advocate course – Earn your Financial Security Advocate badge by completing this three-part course. Visit advocacy.naifa.org/grassroots.