Ditch The Suitability Model

March 31, 2002 at 07:00 PM
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We are still marvelling at the breathtaking stance articulated by National Association of Insurance Commissioners President Terri Vaughan regarding the life insurance and annuities model act and regulation.

"I am told agents don't like it, companies don't like it and consumer advocates don't like it," Vaughan said, while making it plain she would pursue full adoption of the model anyway.

This misguided model has been wending its way like an unfortunate pig through a python's bowels for the last five years.

Vaughan and other NAIC leaders would do well to consider why this regulation has united factions that are usually at each other's throats. The fact that they are all dead set against it should not make it automatically worthy of adoption, even in regulators' eyes.

It is also of interest that one of the few commissioners with actual experience selling insurance thinks this regulation stinks. Carroll Fisher of Oklahoma says it will never become law in his state.

There are enough laws and regulations on the books already regarding suitable sales. It's time to ditch this model.

If the NAIC leadership must have something to fret about, we're confident other pigs for the regulatory python can be found.


Reproduced from National Underwriter Life & Health/Financial Services Edition, April 1, 2002. Copyright 2002 by The National Underwriter Company in the serial publication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.


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