NAIFA members from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., on Monday, May 18, for the 2026 Congressional Conference to advocate for their industry, their clients, and the financial security of Main Street America. The annual conference opened at the Capitol Hilton with a full day of policy briefings, advocacy training, and strategy sessions designed to prepare members for meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

As America faces a historic surge in retirements, a panel at NAIFA’s 2026 Congressional Conference examined what the industry and policymakers must do to prepare for the growing demands of an aging population. Moderated by Punchbowl News policy reporter Brendan Pedersen, the panel featured NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE, NAIFA President Christopher L. Gandy, LACP, and ACLI’s Jill Kozeny, who discussed the challenges surrounding retirement income, healthcare costs, and long-term financial security.

Home equity is often one of the largest assets clients hold in retirement, yet it is frequently overlooked in the planning process. For clients age 55 and older, housing wealth can help strengthen retirement income strategies, improve liquidity, and address risks tied to longevity, healthcare costs, and market volatility.

Financial professionals from across the country will gather May 18–19 in Washington, D.C., for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ (NAIFA) 2026 Congressional Conference, the industry’s leading grassroots advocacy event.

May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month (DIAM), a national awareness
campaign that Life Happens, a NAIFA community, created and coordinates each
year, and we encourage you to participate.

At this year’s Medicarians conference, one message came through loud and clear: if you’re not engaged in advocacy, you’re leaving your profession and your clients vulnerable. In a panel featuring NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE Nicole LePetri of NABIP, and Ronnell Nolan of Health Agents for America, the conversation centered on the critical role associations play in protecting agents, advancing the profession, and ensuring consumers continue to have access to trusted guidance. Across organizations and specialties, the panelists reinforced a shared truth: decisions that shape your business are being made every day and if you’re not at the table, someone else is making them for you.

$10 Could Buy You the Best 4th of July of Your Life!

Congratulations to our 2026 PAC Madness champions!

Financial professionals are increasingly being asked to evaluate all available options when a client’s life insurance policy no longer aligns with their goals. As the secondary market for life insurance continues to grow, understanding how and when to incorporate life settlement strategies into planning conversations has become an important part of delivering comprehensive guidance. 

Join NAIFA on Tuesday, April 28 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Eastern for a webinar exploring how the secondary market for life insurance is creating new planning opportunities for financial professionals. Sponsored by Coventry, this session will focus on the trends driving market growth and how these strategies are being applied in real client situations.

Peter Hershon, Senior Vice President of Account Services at Coventry, will lead the discussion. With more than two decades of experience in life insurance and life settlements, Hershon brings a deep understanding of the marketplace and the evolving role these solutions play in financial planning. He will walk attendees through the most common applications advisors are using, including term settlements, policy replacement strategies, and retained death benefit options.

NAIFA is proud to announce that the Journal of Financial Service Professionals has been honored with a 2026 Trendy Award in the category of Best Monthly Professional Society Magazine, recognizing excellence in association publishing and communications.