NAIFA members have been meeting with lawmakers in their home districts to advocate for policies that support financial security for families and small businesses. Recent meetings have taken place in South Carolina, California, Tennessee and Montana, where NAIFA members have discussed the impact of public policy on their clients and communities.

Medicare beneficiaries are facing significant disruptions during this year's annual enrollment period, including premium and prescription drug cost increases, benefit reductions and discontinuation of plans by carriers. The elimination of the "donut hole" has shifted costs elsewhere, and the recently passed tax and spending legislation is expected to trigger automatic spending cuts, potentially reducing provider reimbursement rates. Advisors should proactively monitor plan changes and inform clients to mitigate the effects, writes Ted Wallus of Next Stage Benefits.

What else to know about Medicare in 2026:

• Medicare Part B premiums, deductibles to increase sharply in 2026
• Rising Medicare premiums could absorb much of 2026 COLA
• Projected IRMAA income brackets, surcharges for 2026

A Retirement Living survey finds that more than 50% of older Americans worry about outliving their retirement savings, with 11% citing it as their top financial fear, while 15% say it is medical costs. Many Americans over 60 are working or considering returning to work due to insufficient savings, and 77% rely on Social Security, with 19% saying it is their only retirement income.

Minutes released Wednesday showed the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its July policy meeting, even as officials flagged risks to both inflation and the labor market. Policymakers cited "upside risk to inflation and downside risk to employment," underscoring tensions in the Fed's dual mandate. Governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman dissented, favoring rate cuts.

Top annuity producers succeed by mastering fundamentals, following a structured process, staying focused in a fast-moving market and continuously learning, writes Tad Fifer of AmeriLife. Fifer emphasizes the importance of habits such as intentional calendar management and consistent client follow-up in building trust and long-term success.

Agentic AI has the potential to transform financial advising by handling end-to-end processes with minimal human intervention, said panelists at Financial Planning's AI Virtual Summit. "Agents can do the jobs that we don't want to do, and they could deliver instantaneous execution," said David Breakstone of Salesforce. However, experts caution that the technology is still in its early stages, and advisors must ensure the accuracy of AI-generated outputs.