Annuity Best Interest Standards Training Course

On February 13, 2020 the NAIC Executive Committee and the Plenary voted to approve an update to the NAICs Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation (Model # 275). The revisions, specifically Section 1A defines the purpose of this regulation to require producers, as defined in this regulation, to act in the best interest of the consumer when making a recommendation of an annuity and to require insurers to establish and maintain a system to supervise recommendations so that the insurance needs and financial objectives of consumers at the time of the transaction are effectively addressed. Specifically, Section 7B of the Model Regulation, requires a one-time, minimum four credit hour general annuity training course offered by an insurance-department approved education provider and approved by an insurance department in accordance with applicable insurance education training laws or regulations. Additionally, under Section 7A of the Model Regulation, insurance producers will also need to complete product-specific training through the insurance carriers whose products they sell. (Note that Oklahoma has not mandated product specific training). Section 7A states a producer shall not solicit the sale of an annuity product unless the producer has adequate knowledge of the product to recommend the annuity, and that the producer is in compliance with the insurer’s standards for product training. A producer may rely on insurer-provided product-specific training standards and materials to comply with this subsection.