Ethics

All agents of all companies in Florida have a common obligation to work together in serving the best interests of the insuring public, by:

• understanding and observing the laws governing Life Insurance;
• presenting accurately and completely every fact necessary to a client's decision;
• being fair in all relations with colleagues and competitors; and
• always placing the policyholder's interests first.

Use of designations

The punchline here is that if you do not have a designation, then don't put one at then end of your name on your business card, website, applications, or other identifying information. This is obvious. The rule is attempting to protect consumers from dishonest, deceptive, misleading, and fraudulent trade practice with respect to the use of certifications and professional designations in the marketing, solicitation, negotiation, sale, or advice made in connection with an insurance transaction by any license. The Department does NOT endorse any professional designation.

For purposes of this rule:

(a) a designation is any combination of words, any acronym or job title that indicates or implies that a licensee has special knowledge or training in advising or servicing consumers beyond the knowledge or training required for the license held; and

(b) a certification is any designation that indicates or implies that any individual or organization meets certain established criteria beyond the criteria required for the license held.

The only way a designation may be lawfully used under the Insurance Code is if it is obtained from an organization that has published standards and procedures for assuring the competency of its certificates or designees on specific subject matters. The organization or entity giving the designation must approve any terminology, combination of words and/or acronym to be used by the designee.

Agents are not allowed to use designations in many circumstances, including, but is not limited to:

• use of a designation by a person who has actually not earned such designation;
• use of a nonexistent self-configured designation;
• use of a designation that indicates qualifications obtained through education, training or experience that the person does not have; and
• use of any designation not obtained in compliance with Florida Law.