Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner shall have sole and exclusive authority to regulate the issuance and sale of variable contracts; except for the examination, issuance or renewal, suspension or revocation, of a security salesperson’s license issued to persons selling variable contracts. To carry out the purposes and provisions of this chapter, he or she may independently, and in concert with the director of financial institutions, issue such reasonable rules and regulations as may be appropriate.