Maryland Adopts Revised NAIC Model Regulation – Updated Training Requirements

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Maryland Adopts Revised NAIC
Suitability Model Regulation

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) revised the Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation 275 in February 2020. Maryland now joins a growing number of states which have adopted the Regulation. 

Revisions to the Model Regulation include:

• Insurance producers and companies must act with a heightened standard of care in the solicitation and sale of annuities. 
• Producers must act in the “best interest” of their customers. 
• The best-interest standard is met by satisfying four distinct levels of obligation:
  • Care
  • Disclosure
  • Conflict-of-interest
  • Documentation 
• Insurers must establish and maintain a system of supervision to assure that the insurance needs and financial objectives of customers are effectively met at the time of the sale.  

Click here for more detail

How to Comply with the Revised Model Regulation in Maryland

To solicit and sell annuities in Maryland, producers must comply with regulations adopted by the Maryland Insurance Administration. Producers doing business in Maryland are now required to complete General Annuity Training CE. 

The revisions to the Model Regulation require completion of EITHER a 1-hour General Annuity Training CE course available to producers who have taken the previous NAIC Annuity Suitability training, OR a new 4-hour General Annuity Training CE for those who have not taken it previously. General Annuity Training CE must be completed with a training vendor approved by the Maryland Insurance Administration. 

General Annuity Continuing Education (CE)

• Access to approved vendors, training dates, times and fees are available on the Maryland Insurance Administration website – click here. 
• You must fulfill your General Annuity Training requirement and provide a certificate of completion to EquiTrust prior to soliciting or selling. Send by FAX to 515-226-5102, or email: [email protected].
• For information about General Annuity Training vendors, visit Agents.EquiTrust.com. In the upper right corner, click Agent Training. Or, click here.

Carrier Product Training – No additional or new requirement 

To complete EquiTrust Annuity Product Training visit Agents.EquiTrust.com, then click Agent Training in the upper right hand corner. Or, click here. You may view your personal training history upon login to the Agent Gateway website. 

Avoid Potential Business Delays

Applications received without completion of EquiTrust carrier-specific product training and state-required General Annuity Training CE will not be accepted.

Maryland Training Completion Deadlines

Training Requirements By State

See the most current status for each state’s adoption status deadlines for completing CE training for both newly licensed and currently licensed agents visit Agents.EquiTrust.com, then click Agent Training in the upper right hand corner. Or, Click Here. You will be notified as additional states adopt the new training requirements.

Products underwritten and issued by EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, West Des Moines, Iowa. Products distributed by EquiTrust Insurance Marketing Services; in California doing business as EQT Insurance Marketing Services.