Here is the article, I don't look at this as a good sign.
Regulations Batter Independent Agent Channel - InsuranceNewsNet
Regulations Batter Independent Agent Channel - InsuranceNewsNet
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Insurance brokers, who are authorized to sell mutual funds in addition to insurance and annuities don't collect an override, or commission, from insurers.
Chow’s research, based on interviews with 18 life and annuity insurance companies, found that all the companies sold life and annuity products through five different channels: independent agents, broker-dealers, investment advisors, career or captive agents and multi-line exclusive agents.
Half of the insurance companies reported that they offer the independent agent channel for distribution and half of the companies also reported that they use an insurance broker-dealer for life and annuity distribution.
New fiduciary rules by the U.S. Department of Labor raising investment advice standards for the sale of financial services products into retirement accounts are widely seen as burdensome for independent insurance agents.
Forget about having freedom of choice of contracts to sell... you'll be limited to whatever the broker/dealer lets you sell. I predict that it might end up being the same with RIAs.