Like every new year, 2026 brings great promise and its fair share of challenges. At NAIFA, we look forward to building on our storied past while we make the most of a rapidly changing business environment (and support our members as they do the same). The insurance and financial service industry is not immune from forces reshaping our world, from the whirlwind of developments in technology to unpredictable economic situations to an ever-shifting legislative and regulatory landscape. NAIFA is on top of it, and we remain as committed as ever to fulfilling our membership promise: to advocate for positive legislative outcomes, educate agents and advisors, and help our members differentiate themselves in a competitive marketplace.

Advocacy at the Forefront

NAIFA was founded in 1890 as an advocacy association and we remain focused on that mission. The challenges change with every administration and each new Congress, but NAIFA’s advocacy success remains constant. In 2025:

• We helped ensure that the massive tax and spending law did not include increased taxes on small businesses or new taxes on insurers or insurance products.
• The lawsuit filed by NAIFA, several NAIFA chapters, the ACLI, and others against the Department of Labor’s misguided fiduciary-only rule has nearly achieved its aims: a court-ordered stay of the rule’s effective date remains in force and DOL has made moves to withdraw the regulation.
• NAIFA moved to the forefront as a leading advocate on issues affecting Medicare agents and their clients, working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and state insurance regulators to protect the role of licensed professionals in the Medicare planning process.
• NAIFA remained the only association of insurance and financial professionals advocating at federal, state, and interstate levels.

NAIFA is poised to face new challenges in 2026. Our Congressional Conference, May 18-19, is once again our signature grassroots event, bringing financial professionals from all 50 states to Washington to receive high-level advocacy training and meet directly with lawmakers. Our year-long grassroots drumbeat will include state legislative days, in-district meetings, and other events. We will continue to help our members be the best advocates they can be by offering our Financial Security Advocate Academy. Also, watch for webinars, publications, and other content diving into issues that affect industry professionals, their practices, and clients.

Protectors, Powered by NAIFA

As always, NAIFA looks in 2026 to offer our members top-flight professional learning opportunities. First up is our FSP Institute, February 17-20 in Orlando, Fla. Now in its 80th year, this is an advanced planning experience that brings together top-rated faculty and some of the most successful professionals in the country. The coming year will also bring more of NAIFA’s popular webinars and impact days, and NAIFA members have exclusive online access to the Journal of Financial Service Professionals.

New, this year, NAIFA is proud to introduce Protectors, Powered by NAIFA, an extraordinary, high-energy, high-impact event for professionals in the life and annuity industry. We have partnered with Connectiv, the group that created the highly successful InsureTech Connect and Medicarians conferences, to produce this can’t-miss event. The inaugural Protectors, Powered by NAIFA will take place November 9-11 at the Venetian in Las Vegas. It is sure to be a game-changer for our industry.

As we close out a successful 2025, I am excited about all that 2026 has in store. I want to sincerely thank every NAIFA member for your support and participation. I also want to thank you for the important work you do to provide American families and businesses with opportunities to achieve financial security. It is an honor to serve you. As NAIFA’s CEO, and on behalf of our Board of Trustees and professional staff, I wish each of you a happy, healthy, and successful year.

Best regards,

Kevin Mayeux, CAE