Summertime brings grassroots alive

Every summer, members of Congress return to their home districts to connect with voters and visit with the constituents they represent in Washington. This is often referred to as the August recess, but in reality, it extends beyond the month of August and is a time when grassroots efforts have a chance to really flourish.

Those of us who meet regularly with lawmakers in Washington understand that we carry only so much influence. Elected officials really want to hear from the voters and employers who they represent and who vote in the elections that determine their political futures. We can talk about what you do, but we generally don’t have your firsthand experiences to share. We lack your hometown connections.

I would go so far as to say that insurance and financial professionals make ideal advocates. You represent your Main Street clients and have personal stories to share about how the products and services you provide help members of your community achieve financial security and prosper. You are also highly knowledgeable about your industry and profession and can educate your senators and representatives on how laws and regulations affect consumers. 

The most successful insurance and financial professionals I know understand their clients’ financial needs and goals as well as the products and services that are in their clients’ best interests. They know how laws and regulations intersect with those products and services. They naturally create meaningful connections with consumers, truly care about their clients’ well-being, and are excellent storytellers.

The same things that make you a successful financial professional will make you a great political advocate. 

Grassroots with a home-field advantage

The summer recess is an ideal time to exert your advocacy influence to benefit your business, clients and community. What makes this a fantastic grassroots opportunity?

» Lawmakers in Washington are continuously in meetings with all sorts of people. When they are in their districts, they are at home and know they are meeting with their actual constituents.

» Meeting in-district reinforces that you are a part of their communities and that you represent the views of clients, neighbors, friends and family who are voters in your district.

» You are building relationships with lawmakers — like you build relationships with clients. That requires you to check in often. Connecting in the home district is convenient and easy.

» Advocacy never stops and repetition is important. We want to continuously reinforce our message and remind lawmakers of the important work you do for your clients and communities.

Connecting with lawmakers during the summer recess is as important as ever. In an election year, it’s especially vital to keep the issues critical to the insurance and financial services industry and your clients front-of-mind for lawmakers. Adding to the urgency this year is the fact that we will soon be facing the Super Bowl of tax reform.

Someone is going to pay

It is very likely Congress will pass major tax legislation in 2025. Congress is in a race against the clock to provide a legislative fix prior to the expiration at the end of next year of the individual tax cuts in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Complicating matters, the Congressional Budget Office has raised its projected federal budget deficit for this year by $400 billion, up 27% over its original estimate in February. Concern among lawmakers is growing, and they are certain to be looking high and low for sources of revenue. Insurance and financial services cannot escape scrutiny. It falls to us to ensure lawmakers know how critical the tax treatment of these products and services is to consumers and the U.S. economy.  

Ideas being formulated and debated now will shape Congress’ future tax overhaul. Will individual tax rates go up? Will estate tax exemptions go down? Will changes in the law affect the tax treatment of employee benefits or passthrough businesses? 

These are all questions that will be answered over the coming 18 months with potentially profound implications for your business and clients. It is critical that as many insurance and financial professionals as possible be involved in the discussion. If you don’t tell your senators and representatives how their tax law decisions will impact your clients, no one will.

Fortunately, NAIFA makes it easy for you to speak out during in-district meetings. NAIFA is coordinating meetings and providing materials you can use to make a strong impression with your lawmakers. Our Financial Security Advocacy Academy provides training to help you be the best advocate you can be. To learn more about how you can get involved and advocate for your business and clients during the congressional summer recess, contact NAIFA at [email protected]. 

Diane Boyle is NAIFA’s senior vice president, government relations. She may be contacted at [email protected].