For Marc Sigmon, advocating before lawmakers is more than a professional responsibility. It is a mission shaped by personal experience.
Sigmon represented insurance professionals in legislative meetings in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., discussing insurance, retirement planning and financial security issues that affect families across California and the nation.
Sigmon, CEO of Marc Sigmon Insurance Agency and San Diego regional coordinator for the Government Relations Committee of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA)-California, traveled to Sacramento in April for NAIFA-California’s Legislative Day before attending his fifth consecutive NAIFA Congressional Conference in Washington, D.C., in May.
In Sacramento, Sigmon coordinated meetings with eight Assembly offices and four Senate offices, helping lawmakers better understand insurance underwriting, consumer protections and proposed legislation affecting life insurance.
“Most people don’t realize that our local offices represent roughly 10% of our legislative offices,” Sigmon said. “I bring a consistent nonpartisan message to every legislator I meet. NAIFA has been representing Main Street since 1890.”
His advocacy is rooted in a painful family experience.
While serving in the U.S. Navy, Sigmon lost his stepfather unexpectedly. During the aftermath, his family discovered a life insurance policy’s beneficiaries had never been updated following a divorce and remarriage, leaving his mother without the benefits the family expected.
“It changed everything for me,” Sigmon said. “It showed how important these conversations really are and how one missed detail can affect a family for years.”
That experience continues to shape his conversations with lawmakers as he works to explain how legislation affects families in real-world situations.
One of the key issues discussed in Sacramento was Assembly Bill 1798, which addresses life insurance underwriting and genetic testing. Sigmon said lawmakers heard concerns about balancing consumer privacy protections with insurers’ ability to accurately assess risk.
“Consumer privacy matters, and those protections are important,” Sigmon said. “At the same time, lawmakers also heard that medical information isn’t always one-sided. In some situations, genetic markers may indicate increased risk. In others, they may provide favorable information that contributes to a broader and more accurate medical evaluation.”
According to Sigmon, many commonly available tests through companies such as “23andMe” do not meet the same clinical standards typically required to become part of a medical record.
He also emphasized that life insurance carriers could not require an applicant to complete genetic testing and could not deny coverage solely based on those results.
Sigmon said one of the most important conversations involved helping lawmakers better understand how underwriting works in practice.
“Life insurance underwriting is often the one opportunity an insurance carrier has to properly assess the risks associated with providing coverage,” Sigmon said.
A key discussion involved consumer-market genetic testing and how those results intersect with underwriting decisions.
Just weeks later, Sigmon brought those conversations to Washington, D.C., where NAIFA members met with congressional offices to discuss legislation involving financial advisor compensation, retirement planning and long-term care awareness.
Among the proposals was the Clarity for Compensation Act, which supporters say would modernize how financial advisors are compensated and help attract new professionals to an industry facing a projected workforce shortage.
“Over the next 20 years, we’re expecting a significant shortage of financial advisors,” Sigmon said. “Preserving access to trusted financial guidance is important for future generations.”
Other discussions focused on simplifying retirement-plan communications for employees leaving jobs and increasing public awareness about long-term care planning.
“Many families are surprised to learn that Medicare and traditional health insurance generally don’t cover extended assistance with everyday activities such as bathing, dressing and personal care,” Sigmon said. “Planning early creates more options later.”
Accompanying Sigmon throughout both trips was Kiara, his service dog and constant companion. From legislative meetings in Sacramento to congressional offices in Washington, Kiara remained by his side.
“Kiara is with me every step of the way,” Sigmon said. “She’s a trusted companion and part of the work I do serving clients and representing our community.”
A retired Navy veteran with 20 years of active-duty service, Sigmon said advocacy remains one of the most meaningful aspects of his career.
“Our work in Sacramento and Washington has helped create positive changes that affect advisors and the clients they serve,” he said. “I’m proud to bring a strong local voice to those conversations.”
As discussions continue on financial literacy, retirement security and long-term planning, Sigmon said his focus remains unchanged: helping families make informed decisions that protect their financial futures.
