Code of Professional Conduct

Honesty & Integrity

The Code of Professional Conduct regulates your personal and professional conduct as an Associate Member and Registered Member of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts. Both Associate and Registered Members agree to a standard of business conduct that demonstrates professionalism, integrity, and honesty.

Independence

Both Associate and Registered Members agree to act lawfully in the best interests of their clients. In activities that may arise in relation to a conflict of interest, members agree to abide by the Department of Labor Fiduciary Rule.

Education & Competence

Both Associate and Registered Members agree to make reasonable efforts to be informed of laws, regulations, and legislation which impact their ability to accurately advise clients on issues related to Social Security and Medicare. Members must maintain knowledge and skills relevant to the advisory services provided. Members must take reasonable care in ascertaining the needs of their clients and their financial resources when advising such clients on issues related to Social Security and Medicare, since each client's needs and financial resources are unique to their particular situation.

Confidentiality & Data Breach Security

Unless required by law, both Associate and Registered Members agree not to disclose any confidential personal or financial information relating to a client's affairs to a third party without their client's permission. Members are obligated to make a reasonable effort to deploy safeguards that adequately protect confidential client data such as social security numbers and dates of birth. In the case of an unauthorized data breach, consideration will be given to whether the member had processes and procedures in place to ensure that client data were secure and that these processes were kept current, communicated to the member's staff, and enforced.

Filing a Complaint Against an RSSA

The mission of NARSSA is to benefit the public by granting the RSSA designation and upholding it as the recognized standard for providing competent and ethical Social Security advisory services. As part of that mission, Associate and Registered Members agree to abide by the organization's Code of Professional Conduct.

If you believe that an RSSA has violated the Code of Professional Conduct and would like to report the alleged misconduct, you may submit a complaint to the NARSSA Board. Please carefully consider your complaint before filing, and be advised that it takes more than a mere disagreement with an RSSA or an unsubstantiated claim of misconduct to justify an investigation and potential follow-on disciplinary action. Thus, with any complaint against an RSSA, you must provide the Board with documents and other evidence to support your claim of unprofessional or unethical conduct.

Please understand that because NARSSA is strictly a standards-setting body for those professionals who have met its initial and ongoing certification requirements, jurisdiction only extends to the rights of professionals to use the RSSA acronym and the term Registered Social Security Analyst. NARSSA does not have the ability to help you obtain any financial relief. Please be aware that there may be other remedies available for you to pursue under state and federal laws and regulations with applicable regulatory bodies. NARSSA is unable to provide you with any legal advice, and it is your responsibility to pursue any such remedies.

Submit complaints by mail. Your complaint should include your full name, address, phone number, the RSSA's full name, company name, address, phone number and a summary of the complaint along with any supporting materials. NARSSA staff may contact you to request additional information if needed and may request an interview if necessary. We do NOT accept anonymous complaints.