May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month (DIAM), an important time to highlight the critical role disability insurance plays in protecting the financial well-being of American workers and their families. NAIFA is committed to raising awareness and educating about the necessity and value of disability insurance.

NAIFA proudly participates in Disability Insurance Awareness Month, a national initiative led by Life Happens. Through this campaign, we provide financial professionals with resources to educate their clients about the importance of disability insurance, helping them secure critical protection against unforeseen financial challenges.

Financial literacy is a critical life skill that’s becoming more important as today’s students prepare to navigate a changing financial landscape. According to a 2024 report by Tyton Partners and Next Gen Personal Finance, just one personal finance course in high school can translate into a lifetime benefit of nearly $100,000. That powerful statistic should prompt action from policymakers, educators, and communities nationwide. 

Recent findings from a McKinsey & Company study highlight a critical need for more financial professionals in the United States. As more Americans grow their wealth and look for financial guidance, the industry is confronted with a projected shortfall of up to 100,000 financial professionals by 2034. Increased reliance on personal savings for retirement, complex financial products, and rising client expectations all contribute to a growing demand that’s outpacing supply. While technology has improved productivity, attracting new talent is essential to ensure consumers continue to receive the comprehensive guidance they need.

Once again this May Life Happens will coordinate Disability Insurance Awareness Month (DIAM), an annual campaign Life Happens created to raise consumer awareness. Now that Life Happens is a NAIFA Community, specially curated content featuring DIAM messaging is available to NAIFA members to help them connect with their clients and consumers.

NAIFA, for a third consecutive year, has proudly hosted a Women’s Financial Security Fly-In. The event brought 37 women financial professionals from around the country to Washington, D.C., to advocate on behalf of their businesses and clients.

NAIFA is laser-focused on ensuring our members, their businesses, and the broader financial services industry thrive in a rapidly evolving world. The success of insurance and financial professionals is crucial to the financial security of American families and the strength of the U.S. economy. We build a strong professional community to serve the best financial interests of communities across the country. 

February is Insure Your Love Month, an annual campaign created and coordinated by NAIFA’s Life Happens community. The theme for this year’s commemoration is a simple yet impactful message: Life insurance is love insurance.

Happy New Year from your friends and colleagues at NAIFA. I hope you had a joyful and restful holiday season.

On behalf of myself, the NAIFA Board of Trustees, and the members of our NAIFA staff, I wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving.

I find that often this time of year we go out of our way to talk about the things we are thankful for but sometimes forget to simply say “thank you” to the people who enrich our lives and make the world a better place.

I recently sat down with NAIFA Senior Vice President for Government Relations Diane Boyle to discuss the election and its implications for the upcoming tax reform debate in the 119th Congress.