Upload
abraham-walton
View
215
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Why Be Involved?
• Legislators are accountable to you – their constituents
• Legislators need your first-hand knowledge and expertise
• There is strength in numbers
The Power of Individual Involvement
You are uniquely suited to advocate on behalf of your clients
Using personal stories has enormous impact with lawmakers
Your clients are their constituents
Herb ThompsonNAIFA MemberApril 1940
“Now in the past we have felt . . . that possibly the people who are in the life insurance business
have placed too much reliance upon the generosity and the activity of a few strong men,
and so consequently . . . we have been endeavoring to set up . . . a grassroots organization which will build a broader
foundation for legislative activity from this time on.”
It’s very important for NAIFA members to develop a relationship built on mutual trust with a member of Congress, because many of the issues we cover are very complicated, certainly tax and insurance issues.”
- Rep. Charles Boustany
It’s important that all members of NAIFA get involved and not take anything for granted. Certainly, I appreciate hearing from NAIFA.”- Rep. Adrian Smith
There is no way members of Congress and their staff can have any comprehension of all the ways the federal government is trying to put out of business- YOU have to come and YOU have to educate us.
- Senator Ron Johnson
NAIFA Members Make A Difference
• Where did you both grow up?• Know any of the same people?• Common high school activities (e.g. sports, theatre,
clubs)?• Same college, university, military branch?• Same fraternity/sorority or other organization
involvement?• Community or charitable organizations you have in
common?• Shared relationships with colleagues, clients, friends,
family & other elected representatives - “Third Party Validators”
Look for Common Ground
Do Research:
• What political issues do you agree on?
• What recent vote can you thank him/her for?
• What “pet project” can you support?
• Is there a staff member you are familiar with and can compliment?
Common Ground a Little Thin?
The Many Ways to Be Involved
• Set up a meeting with your legislator and bring three to four others who share the same interests to the meeting
• Read NAIFA’s GovTalk and GovUpdate
• Volunteer for your representative’s reelection campaign
• Attend a fundraiser for your legislator
• Donate meaningfully to IFAPAC
• Host a fundraiser for your legislator
The Many Ways to Be Involved
• Attend town hall meetings and offer to provide content for a future meeting (e.g. “How to Fund Your Child’s College Education” )
• Sign up for your legislator’s email list to keep yourself abreast of the issues
• Sign up to receive NAIFA’s blog• Join a charity board on which your legislator
serves• Compile an email list of colleagues to whom you
can forward legislative information and NAIFA GovAlerts
• Respond to all NAIFA GovAlerts
more
The Many Ways to Be Involved• Organize your business colleagues and clients in a letter-
writing campaign on an issue
• Recruit volunteers for the legislator’s reelection campaign
• Write a letter about a legislative issue to the editor of your local newspaper
• Outline your issue position (e.g. “life insurance is for the living; don’t tax dependents”) on your email signature block
• Encourage the involvement of individuals in other organizations with similar interests
• Invite your representative to speak at your association
• Mentor a YAT in the ways of grassroots politics
EVEN MORE!
Mission, Challenges & The Political Environment
Ed Anderson, LUTCF, CLU Chair
National APIC Subcommittee
APIC MISSION
The Advisors Political Involvement Committee shall actively promote the involvement of agents and
advisors in the election of candidates for local, state and national office, consistent with the legislative
interests of the NAIFA federation.
APIC volunteers shall identify and foster the creation of significant insurance agent and financial advisor
relationships with elected officials.
Purpose of Meeting
To Demonstrate:
• How to build and maintain relationships with your elected officials
• Your ability to influence lawmakers
• That if insurance is your profession, politics is your business
• Develop relationships with elected officials & their staff
• Communicate our industry’s benefit to the U.S. economy & American businesses & families
• Ultimately get agreement on stated objectives
• Identify a bench team & future leaders
Objectives of APIC
1,612 bills of interest to NAIFA members introduced in the 113th Congress:
• 267 financial services bills• 674 health insurance bills• 329 retirement and employee benefits bills• 150 long-term care bills• 68 life insurance bills• 55 property & casualty bills• 13 estate tax bills• 56 annuity bills
Legislation is Introduced Every Day That Effects Us
What is Grassroots Activity?
• Grassroots vs. Grasstops
• APIC Structure– Federal Coordinator– Key Contact– Legislative Contact– Constituent Group
• Reporting Your Activities to NAIFA
Your Role & Influence
• Now is the time to build the foundation
• Lawmakers want to hear from you
• You are the most effective advocate
• Collectively, we can reach every Member of Congress
• “Trusted Advisor” does not mean you agree on all issues with the Member of Congress
• APIC contacts represent the entire Federation and must adhere to a certain Standards of Conduct
• Find common ground when issues divide
Professional Conduct
www.NAIFA.org
• APIC contacts must be current IFAPAC contributors in order to deliver PAC checks to a Member of Congress
• Never just assume your fellow NAIFA member is contributing to the PAC; verify it
• To find out who has contributed:– Contact a NAIFA National IFAPAC staff person– Ask your State Executive or State IFAPAC
Chair; they receive monthly reports
Delivering IFAPAC Contributions
Survey Question
Most of the social media postings to our platforms provide us enough information and context to determine if the post is from a constituent
In the next 5-10 years more constituent communications will come in via social media than email, phone, and other means
Social media have made Members/Senators more accountable to constituents
Social media enables us to have more meaningful interactions with constituents
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
5%
33%
15%
25%
31%
30%
55%
51%
Strongly Agree Agree
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements:
Using Social Media - Overview
• Facebook: share articles, ideas, photos, etc. with a controlled personal and/or professional network
• LinkedIn: keep track of professional connections
• Twitter: (re-)broadcast news publicly
Using Twitter
• Why Twitter?• It’s Quick and Easy• It’s Social
• Legislator’s office can easily respond• It’s PUBLIC• Makes it easy to share
• It’s Ubiquitous
Using Twitter
• Be Positive• Tag Your
Legislators (@)• Use Hashtags
When Possible (#)
Make the Most of 140 Characters
Survey Question
Other
Number of comments
The prominence or influence of those engaged
Quality of comments
Whether issue/post gets press coverage
The number of new followers a post generates
Number of likes
Number of shares and/or retweets
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
7%
20%
21%
26%
31%
40%
61%
84%
What does your office consider to be the most important metrics for the success of your social media postings?
Survey Question (LA/LD Only)
79%
11%
Have you or your office ever followed advocacy groups, businesses, individuals or others on Social Media for the Mem-
ber/Senator?
YesNo
GR Mobile
Report your meetings and let us know about
your relationships with legislators
Access to GovCommunications Up to date
Talking Points
Communicating with NAIFA
• Report relationships with Members of Congress to the APIC office @ NAIFA
• Fill out Meeting Debriefing Forms
• Let us know when you attend an event for a Legislator
www.NAIFA.org
Washington Representatives Panel
Magenta M.R. IshakVice PresidentPolitical Affairs
Jill E. HoffmanVice PresidentGovernment Relations
Judi CarsrudDirectorGovernment Relations
Public Policy• Fiduciary (Retirement Accounts)• Tax Reform• Fiduciary (Investment Accounts)• NARAB• Medigap Coverage• Medical Loss Ratio• ACA (Targeted Revisions)• State Health Exchanges/Navigator Regulation• State-Sponsored Retirement Plans
Public Relations
• Advertising• Media outreach• Industry voice & influence• Social media & community
Political Action Committee - IFAPAC
• Helps fund campaigns• Establishes industry credibility • Enhances relationship development • Strengthens existing relationships
NAIFA’s PAC Strength
Insurance PACs
1. National Assn of Insurance & Financial Advisors
2. New York Life Insurance
3. AFLAC Inc
4. Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers/America
5. USAA
6. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance
7. Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers
8. Association for Advanced Life Underwriting
9. Metlife Inc
10. Liberty Mutual Insurance
Top PACs Overall (out of 4,000+)
1. National Assn of Realtors
2. National Beer Wholesalers Assn
3. National Auto Dealers Assn
4. Honeywell International
5. Lockheed Martin
6. American Bankers Assn
7. AT&T Inc
8. Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
9. Credit Union National Assn
10. Operating Engineers Union
11. Northrop Grumman
12. National Assn of Insurance & Financial Advisors
Largest in Insurance Industry & 12th Largest in U.S.
People
• APIC Key Contacts• APIC Legislative Contacts• Constituents• Company CEOs • Association Leaders• Industry Experts• Professional Lobbyists
The Role of Congressional Staff
John Wheeler, Jr. CLU, CRP, ChFC, CRPC
Regional Vice Chair National APIC Subcommittee
Hosting Fundraisers
• If you host a fundraiser in your home, you and your spouse may spend $1,000 each on food, beverage, and invitations and it does not count against the contribution limit of ($2,600 per person per election)
• Partner with the campaign staff from the start
• NAIFA has guidelines available
• The U.S. House and Senate restrict gifts to Members and employees. A gift is defined as “anything of value.” (Always check with the legislator’s staff first!)
District Meeting Request
• Contact the scheduler 2 to 4 weeks in advance
• Include: topics, primary contact’s name & email address, a short description of the group, the requested meeting dates/times
• Be flexible about time and location• Keep the number of attendees below seven
District Meeting Agenda
• We are members of NAIFA
• We develop relationships & educate clients about how to manage financial risks
• We serve Main Street not Wall Street
• Personal stories
• The Ask
District Meeting Protocol
• Request 20-30 minutes – no more (although you may get more time anyway)
• Representative may not make the meeting. Be cool with that• Say you are representing yourself, your clients & NAIFA• Provide client stories to illustrate your points• Leave the “leave-behind” packet with your business card in the
Business Card Jacket• Don’t discuss campaign contributions!• Thank the Representative for sponsoring NAIFA-backed
legislation• Offer to serve as a resource• Turn off your cell phone before you go into the meeting• Stay on NAIFA issue messaging
Follow Up After the Meeting!
• Send a “thank you” letter
• If you’re sending reference materials, send them electronically, send them in a timely manner and don’t send a bevy of documents!
Some Final Thoughts
• NAIFA’s issues do not fall neatly on the “D” side of the aisle or the “R” side of the aisle
• Our issues are unique - Offer your expertise to your legislators
• Don’t confuse general agreement on an Issue with everlasting commitment
I can think of no more effective agent in advancing our freedom to live as we choose than the insurance sales person… They are respected and they are friends.
Cultivate Relationships With Legislators
President John F. Kennedy