Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

All 50 States Now Aligned on Annuity Sales Standards

Posted on May 8th, 2025 at 1:57 PM
All 50 States Now Aligned on Annuity Sales Standards

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

The annuity industry officially has secured uniformity in sales regulations across all 50 states. As reported by ThinkAdvisor, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance approved a new annuity sales regulation modeled after an update from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). This model aligns with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) requirements.

New Jersey’s adoption makes it the 49th state to follow the NAIC’s model. New York remains the lone outlier, maintaining stricter annuity sales rules rooted in a fiduciary standard of care. States acted swiftly in updating their regulations to avoid federal oversight of fixed annuities by the SEC, as reported by ThinkAdvisor.

While industry groups have celebrated those moves, some fiduciary standard advocates remain skeptical. ThinkAdvisor reports that critics question whether a best-interest standard will materially change the annuity sales process or simply require clients to complete different paperwork.

Under the best-interest standard, annuity sellers must document the reasons for their recommendations and disclose compensation details. However, this framework still permits traditional commission structures and does not necessarily require comprehensive compensation disclosures to all clients.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

Fantastic news!!!!  Your professionalism, support and expertise were greatly appreciated.  You made a difficult situation much more bearable.

Marci M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1774622627 Law
March 27, 2026
FINRA Charges Former Pruco Securities Representative With Forging Dozens of Customer Signatures on Annuity Applications

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) filed a disciplinary complaint against former Pruco Securities representative Avinesh Shankar alleging he forged customer signatures on annuity paperwork to obtain commissions, according to ThinkAdvisor.

1774540693 Law
March 26, 2026
FINRA Bars Former Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor After Refusal to Cooperate with Investigation

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred former Morgan Stanley financial advisor Gregory V.

1774452488 Law
March 25, 2026
Inspired Healthcare Collapse Triggers Investor Claims and Heightened FINRA Scrutiny

The collapse of Inspired Healthcare Capital has left investors facing significant losses and has intensified legal exposure for broker-dealers and financial advisors who sold the company's private offerings.