Last month we asked you about regulatory, business, and other pandemic-related challenges facing you, your clients, and your practice.  Your responses were critically important, and we relayed them to top regulators at the Department of Financial Services (DFS).  Today, we have a few additional questions to help inform us in the days and weeks to come.  We ask that you respond by Monday, June 1.
                                                                                                                                         

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* 1. Name

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* 2. New Agent Issues
    The DFS has temporarily suspended new agent exams.  Has this hurt your ability to bring
    new agents online?

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* 3. Since the pandemic crisis began, have you taken on a new advisor (1 to 5 years in the business)?

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* 4. Workforce Downsizing
    New York's stay-at-home orders have been in effect for more than two months, and millions of
    New Yorkers have filed for unemployment benefits.  Have you furloughed anyone in your office
    as a result of the pandemic?

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* 5. If you have downsized, when did you do so?  (Check all that apply.)

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* 6. Economic Outlook
    Are you more or less optimistic about the economy than you were one month ago?

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* 7. Priority Concerns
    As the COVID-19 crisis in NYS slips into its third month, what are your top concerns? 
    Please rank the items below.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
the economy
health & safety of loved ones / clients
future of the industry
personal finances
job security

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* 8. If you have an additional concern, what is it?

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* 9. Product Sales
    Some NAIFA-NYS members are seeing increased sales of life insurance and annuity products. 
    If this is your experience, which products have become more popular as a result of COVID-19? 
    (Check all that apply.)

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* 10. If you chose "other" in Question 9 above, what other product(s) are selling more quickly now?

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* 11. Commission Payments
      Has your carrier stopped paying commissions on conversions?

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* 12. Associate Membership
      NAIFA-NYS announced earlier this year a new category of associate membership—designed
      specifically for third-party companies that play a role in the life insurance business but are not
      insurance producers themselves.  Only NYS has such company-level NAIFA associate
      membership.

      Please rank the professions you'd like represented in this new company-level NAIFA-NYS
      membership category (select at least two).  

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
accounting / bookkeeping
information technology (IT) / computer support
marketing / communications
mutual fund provider
medical exam service

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* 13. Are there other professions you'd like represented in NAIFA-NYS
      associate membership?  If so, please specify.

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* 14. Market Practices & Concerns
     What market issue(s)—not related to advocacy—would you like NAIFA-NYS to address in a future
     town hall webinar or other fashion?

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* 15. How long have you been in the business?

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* 16. Other Comments?

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