Dear NAIFA Members,

It’s a true honor to serve as NAIFA’s new Chief Executive Officer. It’s been an exciting month, relocating from my home base in Florida to the D.C. area, getting to know the NAIFA staff, meeting many of our members, leaders and executives, and helping deliver the message of how much value and service NAIFA members bring to American families.

I feel a real connection to NAIFA members. Just as you have dedicated your careers to ensuring the financial security of your clients, NAIFA must work with similar passion and dedication to secure your professional and business success.

We are currently facing a substantial challenge to the viability of the very fabric of the advisor-client relationship with the Department of Labor’s proposed “investment advice fiduciary rule.” NAIFA, in collaboration with our industry partners, is leading the effort to educate the DOL and Congress of the severe impacts of the proposed regulation, and suggesting practical, workable alternatives that won’t adversely impact everyday citizens and the special relationship they have with their advisors. Our members’ response to NAIFA’s GovAlert highlighted these concerns to more than 95 percent of Congress. NAIFA President Juli McNeely and her client Dr. Jennifer Knoll did a superb job expressing NAIFA’s concerns through live testimony to a DOL panel on Tuesday.

Our Government Relations activities are critical to protecting this industry, but equally important is NAIFA’s work in helping you grow and succeed in your business. Over the next year, our practice resources and professional development products will offer more ways to help you succeed. Look for my weekly updates on the Advisor Today blog.

I look forward to meeting our leaders, execs and members at the Career Conference and Annual Meeting in New Orleans in October. I’m confident this event will invigorate and motivate the Federation to start anew, and to rethink how we, as ONE NAIFA, ensure that we are an indispensable resource to our members and potential members. As we embrace our 125-year legacy, we will deliver on the many opportunities to ensure that you have the industry protection, knowledge and resources to succeed in your business.

Exciting times are ahead. See you in the Big Easy!

Best regards,

Kevin M. Mayeux, CAE
Chief Executive Officer