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

This was the best of all possible outcomes and I cannot thank you and the team enough.

Michael S.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1784303575 Law
July 17, 2026
FINRA Arbitrators Award $2.25 Million Over Life Insurance Strategy

A former financial advisor must pay $2.25 million to clients who alleged he recommended a high-risk life insurance strategy that resulted in significant losses, according to a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration award.

1784228879 Law
July 16, 2026
Delaware Judge Dismisses United Capital's Poaching Lawsuit Against Osaic With Leave to Amend

A Delaware judge has dismissed United Capital's lawsuit accusing Osaic of improperly recruiting financial advisors and soliciting client assets, but allowed the wealth management firm to file an amended complaint, according to AdvisorHub.

1784134373 Law
July 15, 2026
LPL Financial Faces Class Action Over Phoenix Annuity Disclosures

LPL Financial faces a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that the firm failed to warn annuity investors about the declining financial condition of Phoenix PHL Variable Insurance Company.