Financial Professionals to Gather in Washington for NAIFA’s Congressional Conference

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.

“NAIFA members show up in Washington because they understand that policy decisions directly impact the clients and communities we serve every day,” said NAIFA President Christopher L. Gandy, LACP. “When our members share their stories, they bring real-world perspective to the policymaking process that help lawmakers see how their decisions affect Main Street families’ ability to protect what matters most and plan for their financial futures.”

The conference opens May 18 at the Capitol Hilton, where attendees will participate in policy briefings, advocacy training, and strategy sessions designed to prepare them for meetings with members of Congress and their staffs. Sessions are designed to align participants around key legislative priorities, equipping them with unified messaging and effective storytelling techniques.

Featured speakers will include journalist and author Brody Mullins, on “Navigating Power, Policy, and Influence in the New Political Era.” Punchbowl News financial services reporter Brendan Pedersen will moderate a panel, “Preparing for the Age Wave: Policy, Planning, and the Future of Financial Security,” featuring NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE, Gandy, and ACLI’s Jill Kozeny. NAIFA’s Diane Boyle will moderate the “Legislative Power Panel” featuring NAIFA government relations staff and consultants who will brief attendees on policy issues impacting the industry and what needs to happen to ensure policies support financial security for all Americans. See complete schedule.

On May 19, NAIFA members will bring their advocacy directly to Capitol Hill, meeting with lawmakers on key issues impacting retirement, advisors’ business operations, and long-term care.

• In particular:H.R. 6324, Retirement Simplification and Clarity Act. The Act would allow workers age 50 and older to roll over some or all of their 401(k) assets into an individual retirement annuity while still employed, giving them more flexibility to secure guaranteed lifetime income and diversify their retirement strategy over time. It also directs the IRS to simplify 402(f) distribution notices, making them easier to understand and ensuring individuals clearly see their options and the tax implications before making decisions.
• H.R. 7187, Clarity for Compensation Act. The Act would permanently allow advisors’ commissions to be paid directly to an advisor’s business entity instead of the individual. This change reflects the evolution of advisory firms into team-based practices and aims to reduce administrative burdens while helping firms better manage expenses, pay staff, and reinvest in their businesses.
• Long-term care public education campaign. As most Americans will require some form of long-term care during their lifetimes, this bill introduced by Rep. Suozzi (D-NY) directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a long-term public education initiative as part of the National Clearinghouse to educate the public about the need for long-term care.

“NAIFA’s Congressional Conference represents more than 135 years of unwavering advocacy on behalf of insurance and financial professionals,” Mayeux said. “Since our founding in 1890, NAIFA has been the leading voice for advisors and their clients, shaping policy before Congress, regulators, and in state capitals nationwide. That legacy continues as our members come to Washington to engage and ensure the future of our profession and the financial security of American families is protected and strengthened.”