Florida is moving to become the 20th state to impose suitability standards of sales of annuities.
In legislation that recently passed the Florida House, the state is enacting an NAIC model law originally designed to protect seniors when they purchase or exchange annuity products.
The model law was expanded in 2010 to provide annuity protections for consumers of any age. A copy of the standard can be accessed here.
The new law also implements Sec. 989A of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Under this provision of Dodd-Frank, a state must adopt annuity suitability standards similar to those in the NAIC model in order for annuities issued by companies within the state to remain exempt from securities law.
