What Is the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA)?

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is a trade organization for insurance professionals and financial advisors, based in Virginia near Washington, D.C. It is one of the largest trade groups in the financial industry. NAIFA works on behalf of its members to promote a favorable regulative environment, provide professional education services, and ensure ethical professional conduct for insurance and financial advisors. NAIFA represents insurance professionals in all 50 states and has at least one local chapter in every state, as well as the District of Columbia. Its main offices are based in Falls Church, Virginia. The organization provides its members with sales training, networking facilities, and other tools to help them succeed and build their practices. In addition, the organization also lobbies on Capitol Hill to promote favorable legislation for the insurance and financial advisory industry.

Understanding the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA)

NAIFA was originally founded in 1890 as the National Association of Life Underwriters (NALU). NAIFA has many endorsements from large insurance and financial corporations, who encourage their employees to join a local NAIFA chapter. Some leading companies support NAIFA membership by contributing towards dues payments and facilitating payments for their employees.

One of the goals of NAIFA is to promote life insurance and other risk mitigation practices as the core of a solid financial plan. Above all, NAIFA exists to ensure professional and ethical conduct among all insurance representatives and financial advisors. The organization's vision plan is to "protect and promote the critical role of insurance in a sound financial plan and the essential role provided by our professional agents and advisors."

The organization calls itself the top association for producers in financial services. Members of NAIFA provide life insurance and annuities, health insurance and employee benefits, multiline insurance products, and financial advice to their clients. Insurance agents, financial advisors, multiline agents, and health insurance and employee benefits specialists are all members of NAIFA.

NAIFA offers educational offerings for its members, including professional development and continuing education programs. The organization also offers more than 50 professional programs and products that are intended to enhance skills and provide value-added business services for professionals. This programming is intended to help ensure that all insurance agents, groups, and financial advisors adhere to a framework of principles, rules, and regulations that ensure customers are given the very best services.

Requirements for Membership

NAIFA has a Code of Ethics, which all members must abide by:

• Help maintain my clients’ confidence and protect their right to privacy.
• Work diligently to satisfy the needs of my client by acting in their best interest.
• Present, accurately and honestly, all facts essential to my clients’ financial decisions.
• Render timely and proper service to my clients and ultimately their beneficiaries.
• Continually enhance professionalism by developing my skills and increasing my knowledge through education.
• Obey the letter and spirit of all laws and regulations which govern my profession.
• Conduct all business dealings in a manner that would reflect favorably on NAIFA and my profession.
• Cooperate with others whose services best promote the interests of my clients.
• Protect the financial interests of my clients, their financial products, and my profession, through political advocacy.

Benefits of NAIFA

NAIFA is the insurance industry's leading lobby in Washington, D.C. and in state legislatures, committed to protecting the careers of its members, as well as their clients' interests, from unfavorable legislation and regulation. It also runs IFAPAC, one of the largest political action committees (PACs) in the financial services industry.

NAIFA membership also comes with networking opportunities and access to the latest industry ideas and top practitioners, NAIFA members receive a free subscription to Advisor Today, the official publication of NAIFA and a resource for sales ideas and industry news for insurance and financial advisors.

In addition, NAIFA hosts a number of centers that can be resources for members. These include:

• The Advanced Practice Center: Provides thought leadership in advanced markets topics and concepts
• The Advocacy Action Center: Provides tools to contact state and federal legislators on a variety of issues, as well as information to learn more about the bills in the House and Senate that NAIFA Government Relations is monitoring.
• The Business Performance Center: Provides articles, webinars, sessions, and more that help financial entrepreneurs to grow their practice.
• Limited & Extended Care Planning Center: Empowers professionals to network with solution and service providers to share best practices, directly access subject matter experts, research, training, and resources.
• Talent Development Center: Offers materials that can be used to grow the next generation of financial professionals and ensure that advisors reflect the diversity and inclusivity of their clientele.
• The Learning Center: Access to online and in-person exam prep, continuing education, and professional development courses.