Thomas Petersen did not set out to build a career in insurance. In fact, for much of his early life, he ran in the opposite direction.

Growing up in a family deeply rooted in the business, insurance was a constant presence at the dinner table. His father, who entered the disability insurance field in the late 1940s after witnessing firsthand how the lack of coverage cost his own family their farm, viewed the profession as a calling. To him, disability insurance was not a product. It was a way to protect livelihoods and preserve dignity in moments that could otherwise be devastating.

For many Americans, the Social Security claiming decision feels simple. They log into their Social Security account, review the estimated monthly benefit amounts, and decide when to begin payments. But as Martha Shedden, president and co founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, explained during NAIFA’s recent webinar, Social Security literacy goes far beyond choosing a claiming age.

This week marked another important step toward the launch of 530A “Trump Accounts,” as the U.S. Department of Treasury confirmed that the app millions of Americans will use to manage these accounts for their children is set to launch today.

Most people picture a financial advisor as someone who followed a straight path, graduated, got licensed and built a career. Someone who always had things neatly planned, never missing a step. Paul Szkotak, ChFC took a different route, one shaped by experience, not perfection. It is “realness” that’s obvious in the way he meets people where they are without judgment.

NAIFA members from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., on Monday, May 18, for the 2026 Congressional Conference to advocate for their industry, their clients, and the financial security of Main Street America. The annual conference opened at the Capitol Hilton with a full day of policy briefings, advocacy training, and strategy sessions designed to prepare members for meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

As America faces a historic surge in retirements, a panel at NAIFA’s 2026 Congressional Conference examined what the industry and policymakers must do to prepare for the growing demands of an aging population. Moderated by Punchbowl News policy reporter Brendan Pedersen, the panel featured NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE, NAIFA President Christopher L. Gandy, LACP, and ACLI’s Jill Kozeny, who discussed the challenges surrounding retirement income, healthcare costs, and long-term financial security.

Michael Davis, CFP, ChFC, CLU, CLTC, didn’t follow a traditional path into financial services, but his journey reflects a pattern that’s common among some of the most committed advisors, a mid-career realization that success without balance isn’t sustainable. After nearly two decades in the auto industry, where he had worked his way into upper management and built a strong income, Mike reached a turning point. The long retail hours and constant demands of the job were taking a toll, especially with a young family at home. A moment that stuck with him was driving to work on a holiday morning and seeing other families spending time together, something his career rarely allowed. Within months, he made the decision to step away and start over.

How Esther Greenhouse Is Helping Advisors Protect Clients Beyond the Portfolio

Esther Greenhouse, President of Silver to Gold Strategic Consulting, works at the intersection of aging, design, and financial security. Silver To Gold is a financial gerontology consultancy, a B2B firm providing expertise in aging to financial planning and long term care insurance firms so they can provide holistic planning and unique support to the generations. As an environmental gerontologist, Esther is an expert in the relationship between older adults and the built environment. For 30 years, she has been working with organizations to help them understand, and positively shape, how housing and community design directly affect long term care needs, family caregiving, and financial outcomes.

Home equity is often one of the largest assets clients hold in retirement, yet it is frequently overlooked in the planning process. For clients age 55 and older, housing wealth can help strengthen retirement income strategies, improve liquidity, and address risks tied to longevity, healthcare costs, and market volatility.

Financial professionals from across the country will gather May 18–19 in Washington, D.C., for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ (NAIFA) 2026 Congressional Conference, the industry’s leading grassroots advocacy event.