Building Relationships - Questions for Rick Kleven, vice president, Government Affairs

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Rick Kleven

Education: BA, University of Minnesota-Duluth; JD, University of Minnesota Law School.
Volunteering/Outreach: Past board chair and volunteer with Person to Person, a Minneapolis nonprofit that serves low-income people through programs designed to build self-sufficiency.

Q: What is your role with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans?
A: I lead Government Affairs. Our team works with government officials and government entities to protect and advance many of our organization’s core activities, such as helping our members develop a solid financial future and care for others in their communities.

Q: Why does Thrivent Financial need a Government Affairs team?
A: Thrivent Financial is highly regulated, like all entities that provide financial services. But we are different because we are a fraternal benefit society, which is a membership group that exists to provide financial security and serve others. As laws change, we need to educate public officials to ensure that we can continue to carry out our mission. By building relationships and educating policymakers about what we do, we can advance proposals that benefit our members and also work to prevent legislation that would adversely impact members. Having strong relationships with these key people also can strengthen our community and congregational efforts.

Q: What are some of the issues you’ve dealt with?
A: Let me give you three. First, because we know our local volunteers would prefer to spend their time helping others, we were able to help modernize state law to allow us more flexibility when it comes to how many formal meetings our chapters need to hold. Second, with the increased scrutiny of all not-for-profit organizations in Washington, D.C., we’ve been working hard to educate lawmakers about the valuable contributions we and other fraternal benefit societies make across the country. And third, as state regulators have worked to create new ways to monitor the activities of insurance companies, we’ve worked to make sure those laws account for our differences as a Lutheran, not-for-profit membership organization.

Q: Are elected public officials and regulators familiar with the work that Thrivent Financial does?
A: Our organization is respected, yet many public officials still don’t understand who we are and the depth of what we do. We need key public officials to understand the difference our members make in communities across the country—government has a tremendous impact on our ability to succeed.

As a result of our valuable work in communities, we have some very good friends, but we need more people to understand us in a deeper way.

Q: What does Government Affairs do?
A: Our responsibilities fall into two categories. First, we handle issues that come up with regulatory bodies and public officials, whether in proposed legislation or a specific concern from a regulator. Second, we work to build relationships with public officials—primarily state legislators, insurance regulators and congressional leaders—so they can understand what we do and how we contribute to the public good.

Q: What does the work you do mean to me as a member?
A: Because we’re a Lutheran membership organization, the work we do is on behalf of you—we are working to protect and advance your interests as a member. Whether it’s focusing on your financial security or supporting you as you care for others in your congregations and communities, you have a team of people working to support your efforts and keep your interests top of mind with public officials.

Q: Are the issues primarily at the local, state or federal level?
A: While we watch issues at all levels, much of our focus is on the state level because that is primarily where we are regulated. In each state, there is a separate section of the law that applies to us—that tells us how we need to operate as a fraternal benefit society. We need to make sure those laws are written and enforced in a way that is fair to you, our membership. While there are fewer federal issues, the ones we deal with tend to have a larger impact. Much of the work we do is in conjunction with our trade associations, such as the American Council of Life Insurers and the National Fraternal Congress of America. For example, we’ve worked with them to support congressional initiatives that will encourage retirement savings and financial literacy.

Q: Does your work focus specifically on Thrivent Financial?
A: Very often the answer to that question is yes. Our work often centers on issues that affect the unique interest we have as a fraternal benefit society. As the largest fraternal benefit society, we need to use our voice to have an impact on these specific issues. We also pay attention to issues that affect financial services organizations generally. We enjoy a reputation as being an organization that is trusted and respected. In addition, we have some smart, expert people who provide valuable input to public officials.

Q: What makes Thrivent Financial unique?
A: We not only help our members with their financial security, we help them serve their churches and the broader communities in which they live. That is in our mission, in our articles of incorporation and in the law. What differentiates us from others—and the fun part—is that we don’t just give away money. We provide funding that encourages members to reinvest in their communities, by meeting specific needs they identify. We use our chapter system and our strength as a membership organization to make a difference in much greater ways than just giving away money. It enables our members to act on their passions and carry out the good that is in their hearts.

Q: As a member, what, if anything, can I do to help educate elected officials?
A: The most important thing you can do is to get to know your public officials and share with them the stories of what Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is doing through its members in your area. Invite public officials to your chapter events. When they attend and see the work in action, it is extremely powerful. More than anything, remember, it is OK to brag! The stories of the impact our members have everyday in their communities are among the most important that we can tell.