Speakers

Roger Hubley, CLU, ChFC, CFP, MSFS, MSM, is the CEO and President of NetWorth Asset Management, Inc. Roger has been in business since 1970 and has experience in financial planning with an emphasis on investment portfolio management. Roger has been the Portfolio Manager for NetWorth Asset Management, Inc. (formerly NetWorth, Inc.) since the inception of the Asset Management Program. The fundamental investment strategy used for the NetWorth clientele is asset allocation. This is normally referred to as Modern Portfolio Theory.

Mr. Hubley's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, and two Master's Degrees in Financial Services (MSFS) and Business Management (MSM). In addition, he has earned several professional designations, including Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant and Certified Financial Planner.

Roger has been a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) since 1971. He has also qualified for the MDRT "Top of the Table". In the past, Roger has served as President of the Minnesota Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Vice Chairman of the Education Committee for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Board Member of the Minneapolis Society of Financial Service Professionals, Financial Planning Association and member of the Forum 400. Consumer's Research Council of America - Announced that Mr. Hubley is included in the "Guide to America's Top Financial Planners". He has qualified for this honor for several years. In addition, Roger was chosen as One of America's 2014 Select Financial Advisers Forty-nine advisers were chosen for this honor nationwide.

Mr. Hubley has also authored an article entitled "A License to Steal" which was published during the A.L. Williams term insurance vs permanent insurance battle. In 1989 he copyrighted and published a simple approach to financial planning entitled "Accumulate Capital for Tomorrow" (ACT).

Shannon Berry, CLU, CFP® is 2nd Vice President, Practice Management & Development at Ameritas. Shannon has earned a bachelor’s degree in Management as well as the Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designations. She holds Finra series 7,24,and 66 licenses as well as life and health and property casualty licenses. She is a member of National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers (NAIFA), Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS), and the Financial Planning Association (FPA).

Her determination to build industry leading practice management and development programs at Ameritas is founded by her experience as a producer herself as well as her time as a Regional Vice President charged with helping associated firms grow their practices and streamline processes.

Shannon’s Practice Management team at Ameritas recently launched Ameritas Centricity™, a future facing program to provide Ameritas financial professionals the tools and resources needed to become the center of the client’s universe. Ameritas Centricity Focuses on building teams, tools, resources, and expertise to complement your practice, help you deliver an exceptional client experience, and build a profitable business. The Field Development portion of Shannon’s team has delivered an impactful platform of live in-person, hybrid, virtual, and on-demand learning and development opportunities for financial professionals.

As a member of NAIFA, WIFS, and FPA and alumni of The American College, Shannon and her team have collaborated with these organizations to design programs to empower women and less experienced financial professionals.

dblake@insmedinsurance.com

David Blake began his insurance career thirty-six years ago as a disability insurance brokerage representative in New York City and he has been a member of NAIFA since 1999.

Several years into his career Blake chose to pursue personal production and has exclusively dedicated his efforts on developing a worksite marketing firm that offers portable disability insurance opportunities to doctors in training and employed healthcare professionals across the country.

In recent years Blake has begun to spend a significant portion of his time working with charities to create events that help these organizations increase their impact while strengthening his company’s relationship with its clients, business associates and the communities it serves.

These efforts have introduced Blake to charities throughout the world that focus on a wide range of issues such as human rights, food insecurity, reduction of recidivism rates, access to fresh water, music therapy and confidential mental health counseling for first responders.

David currently is on the board of the Green Bronx Machine, a Bronx based charity that focuses on addressing food insecurity issues in challenged communities, is on a board of trustees of the Million Dollar Round Table and is the current Chair of MDRT’s United States Community Leaders Committee.

Rick Demko is the Director of Insurance for Centric Risk Strategies, LLC, a rapidly growing financial services organization within Centric Advisors, LLC.

Focused predominately on the protection side, Rick and his team lead the development and implementation of all lines of insurance. One prevailing theme that those around Rick quickly discover is his message that Life Insurance is a tool. An asset in the right hands, particularly in alignment with a well thought out and executed plan.

Originally from St. Louis, Rick and his young family moved to Houston in January of 2015 and currently reside in Cypress, Texas. He is a Past NAIFA Houston President, Texas PAC Board Member, National 4 Under 40 recipient, IFAPAC Diplomat, annual Quality Award winner, member of Finseca | AALU + GAMA and the Million Dollar Roundtable. Rick has his Life Underwriting Training Council Fellowship (LUTCF), Life and Annuity Certified Professional (LACP), Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) and is currently finishing the CLU.

Rick’s local involvement includes being a member of The Woodlands Church, Assistant Governor for Rotary District 5890, BNI Cypress NW Business Exchange, Wing for the Texas Interstate Touring Side Rugby Club, Competition member of the Rafter 7 Cookers, and a Firefighter/EMT in Spring, TX. Mentoring, consulting, and volunteering are all part of Rick’s core beliefs, civically as well as vocationally.

Julianne Hertel started her financial practice in 2007 with the primary goal of providing an inclusive, compassionate and friendly environment in which her clients could enjoy planning their financial future. She understands that the process can feel overwhelming for many, but it doesn’t have to be. She will listen to your unique story and share her knowledge to find the best solution.

Before starting her practice, Julianne gained invaluable experience while working in higher education and counseling at area colleges. She also served for two years on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers (NAIFA), Massachusetts, where she acted as its Federal Political Involvement Chair. During her time with NAIFA, Julianne often traveled to Washington, DC, to meet with legislators on important issues that impacted her clients. In 2015, she provided testimony at the Massachusetts Statehouse to the Financial Services Committee regarding a bill that would affect her client’s ability to purchase disability insurance. Since 2015, she has also been a qualifying member of The Million Dollar Roundtable* (MDRT), achieving Court of the Table status in 2018 and 2020. In 2017, Julianne was recognized as Worcester Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Currently, she serves as the Political Involvement Leader for the Boston General Office of New York Life.

Julianne is proud to work with individuals and families who do great things in this world.

Beyond her profession, Julianne finds joy in traveling and loves to visit her family home in Ireland. She is an active volunteer in industry organizations and volunteered as a driver for Meals on Wheels at the height of the Covid crisis. She is also a passionate foster parent for dogs with local shelters and animal rescues around her home in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Having delivered thousands of presentations over 2 decades, Jason Hewlett is the only speaker in the world teaching leadership in a performance of uncanny musical and comedy impressions, utilizing the legends of the stage.

“The Promise” is a keynote speech that feels like a show, with proven processes and immediately implementable takeaways to
transform your business and leadership skills.

Jason is the author of the Facebook post entitled, “I Saw My Wife at Target Today”, which has been seen by more than 100 million people. A recent, and one of the youngest inductees in the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame, his talks inspire leadership from the perspective of a Promise, while giving attendees an engaging, entertaining, and educational experience all in one.

Holly Hoffman was the last remaining member of the Espada Tribe and the last woman standing on Season 21 of CBS’ hit reality show “Survivor Nicaragua”. Through that experience and others throughout her life, Holly was inspired to share her message of survival.

A professional motivational speaker and the author of Your Winner Within and Write Yourself a Note, Holly acknowledges that life is made up of challenges, and we are oftentimes faced with situations that seem insurmountable. But within each of us is an ability to focus our thoughts, emotions, and energy to succeed—if only we have the knowledge, tools, and discipline to do so.

Delvin joined Prudential Advisors in 2006 after a brief NFL career with the New York Giants. He has held several leadership roles with Prudential including most recently, Managing Director of the South Florida Financial Group, before relocating to Charlotte, NC to work with his own individual clients as Founder and President of Prosperity Wealth Group, LLC.

Delvin’s focus is improving the financial wellness of his clients while promoting prosperity in the community through financial literacy and education. He has been a frequent contributor to financial articles for various media publications including the Washington Post, USA Today, and Money Magazine, and has been a featured speaker for multiple industry conferences and events. In 2019 he was named by Black Enterprise as a B.E. Modern Man, a campaign designed to celebrate black men making valuable contributions in every profession, industry, community, and area of endeavor. He and his wife Ebony have 3 children and reside in the Highland Creek community of north Charlotte.

Attorney Yael N. Lazar’s tax and estate planning practice places an emphasis on protecting families today while securing their unpredictable future. Her unique legal expertise includes the preservation of wealth and values-based planning, but most importantly the protection of our greatest asset, our children.

Yael graduated from St. John’s University School of Law in 1995 and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ira J. Raab in the 1st District Court of Nassau County. She worked briefly for the Law Offices of Martin H. Scher before starting her own practice. After finding that many of her clients were left with tax issues following their divorces, Yael formed IRSAngel, a separate department of her firm, that handled all aspects of tax resolution work, including tax preparation and tax planning. As the cryptocurrency field develops and matures, Yael has been aiding her clients in navigating cryptocurrency taxes and has been speaking on the subject for several organizations advising their members on how to stay compliant with the IRS and some tax avoidance/saving strategies within their retirement and estate plans.

Yael is recognized as a specialist in the IRS Problem-Solving Niche and won Long Island Press’s Best of Long Island in 2012. She is the author of the book, Help for Your IRS Problem & co-author of the best-selling book Protect and Defend: Proven Strategies from America’s Leading Attorneys to Help You Protect and Defend Your Business, Family and Wealth. Yael was featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX on Meet The Experts. Yael has been a frequent guest on the WNYH radio show Give Yourself Credit, the local TV show The Hot Seat and a frequent guest on Business Talk Radio hosted by celebrity host Jill Nicolini.

As Founder and Chief Executive Officer at InsurTech Express, Ken brings more than 34 years of insurance industry experience, with an extensive background in insurance technology for distribution and back office systems. Prior to founding InsurTech Express, Leibow worked for Genworth Financial, Mutual of Omaha, and as vice president of operations at Diversified Underwriters Services, Inc.

As Chief Operating Officer of Integrated Insurance Technologies, Ken built the largest life insurance data exchange hub in the industry, processing over one million policies per year and $30 billion of annuities (now owned by Oracle, Inc.). Some of Ken’s key initiatives he implemented include innovation in quoting and illustration tools, CRM’s, agency management systems, eApp platforms and ePolicy Delivery.

Ken is a leader for industry technology standards, working with ACORD, LBTC, LIDMA, NAILBA, LIMRA, LOMA and IRI. In 2019, Leibow was appointed to sit on the ACLI Innovation Committee. Ken is on the ACORD Life & Annuity Program Advisory Council, and in 2020 he won the ACORD Leadership Award and the ACORD Community 50th Anniversary Award. He is also a past winner of the NAILBA Chairman’s Award and NAILBA’s ID20 Award.

Contact

Ph. 1-402-740-7356
ken@insurtechexpress.com

Stephen Mathieu, founder of Legacy Financial Solutions, Inc., received his Bachelor Degree in Accounting from the UMass-Amherst. He has also earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) designations.

Steve owns LFS Tax Group, LLC, has taught courses in tax, business and estate planning. He has taught CE courses for the NH Society of CPAs, the NH Bar Association, the NH Society of Financial Service Professionals and NAIFA - NH. Steve received the Scroll of Appreciation from the American College for dedicated service in the teaching of courses. He has conducted hundreds of educational workshops for the public and professional groups and has written numerous articles dealing with financial and estate planning issues.

Steve is a Quarter Century Club/Life Member of MDRT, having qualified 11 times for Court of the Table and once for Top of the Table, past President of NH Society of Financial Services Professionals and past Continuing Education Chair for NAIFA NH. He has appeared as a guest on radio and television programs including CBS Good Morning and his articles have appeared in the Elder Law Journal of the American Bar Association, as well as Wall Street Select, ABC, CBS, CEO World Magazine, Fox and NBC.

A Partner in the Community. Steve received the Paul Harris Fellow award from Rotary International for his community service. He is a co-founder of the St. Catherine School Charitable Foundation and the St. Joseph School Charitable Foundation. He is a well-known hockey coach in New Hampshire, having coached many years with the NH Jr. Monarchs and most recently with Central High School. Steve also served 10 years on the Board of Directors for The New Hampshire Legends of Hockey.

Rodney graduated from Macalester College, 1999, with a double major in Economics/Finance, minors Psychology/History/Art. He started off as a financial planner with Ameriprise/IDS-1999, grew a 500 client annual planning practice, went into management, and ran their financial planning unit.

Rodney opened his own business as an Advisor Consultant/Small business specialist, SolveUrPuzzles, after being a sales manager and home office perosn with a couple companies. Rodney has built a strong advisor consulting practice as an expert in Advanced Life Insurance strategies, long Term Care, Disability Insurance, and Small Business Solutions helping advisers/agents protect thier clients. Rodney became a well known small business expert for start-ups and growth stage businesses, advising and working with incubators all over the country helping create a strong system and process by doing business plans and helping mentor structure and leaders.

Rodney focuses on technology and systems and processes when coaching and working with advisers, helping them identify gaps in their business, processing and paying for over 50 policies a week, and stays on top of all the tools out there, and figures out ways to make them work. Rodney works with small business owners helping them write or re-write their business plans, organize their businesses correctly. He has written several articles on small business development, thinking, and planning.

With his wife of 15 years, Myrta, Rodney also runs a non profit for physically abused children and battered/trafficked women to give them outlets. Rodney also sits on several boards including the NAIFA Texas board, the Red Cross of Austin, Red Cross of Texas, The National DBA Society, International Disability Insurance Society, Insurance Industry Government Regulations, and also the Norwegian Society of Austin Board.

Dana Perino is a revered political commentator and journalist, New York Times best-selling author, and a former White House Press Secretary. She currently co-anchors America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer & Dana Perino, and is a co-host on the hit show The Five, both on the Fox News Channel. The Five was an instant hit when it debuted on Fox in July 2011. Since then,  and as it makes its 10th anniversary in July 2021, The Five has consistently ranked one of the most-watched programs in all of cable. Part of an ensemble cast, some viewers have nicknamed Perino “The Voice of Reason” on The Five. A Fox News political commentator, she also appears weekly on other Fox programs and previously served as anchor of The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino.

Gib is principal and founder of The Forrest Group, L.L.C., an estate management firm in Houston, Texas, that specializes in wealth transfer and business succession planning.

Gib graduated from Texas A & M University in 1985 with a B.B.A in Marketing and received his Masters of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) from The American College in 2001. He was awarded the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) in 1996, Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) in 1997, Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) in 1997, and Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) in 1999.

Gib joined the New York Life Insurance Company in June 1985 and while maintaining his primary relationship with them, he formed The Forrest Group, LLC in 1995. He is a life and qualifying member of The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), having earned both Court of the Table and Top of the Table. Gib currently serves as Treasurer of the Houston Business and Estate Planning Council. He is a Past President of The Houston Chapter of SFSP and has also served as President of the Houston Estate and Financial Forum (HEFF). Gib served as President of AALU during the 2011-2012 year. He also served on the Board of the Houston chapter of NAIFA. Gib also served as the 2017 President of New York Life Insurance Company’s Agent’s Advisory Council (AAC). He is the 2011 recipient of the Benjamin “Woody” Woodson Award, for outstanding service in the community and the industry and is the 2013 recipient of the NAIFA Houston John N. Neighbors Award.

Gib is proudly married and the father of 3 great kids. He is an active member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, TX, where he serves on the Vestry. He also serves on the Board of the Houston Safari Club and is a loyal supporter of the Hunters for the Hungry.

David Warren is Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board as well as a member of the Trust Administrative Committee of Bridgeford Trust Company. He is also President and CEO of Bridgeford Advisors, a sister company of Bridgeford Trust Company. David is an attorney with over 15 years of professional experience practicing law and working in the financial services industry serving the trust and wealth management needs of high and ultra-high net worth families across the nation and around the world.

Previously, David was recruited out of a large and prestigious law firm, to join the Wealth Management/Trust Department of a bank as a Vice President/Senior Trust Administrator. In this position, he worked extensively with wealthy families and individuals on a variety of trust and fiduciary issues. David subsequently transitioned his career to Bank of New York Mellon and later PNC Wealth Management where he worked exclusively and extensively with high and ultra-high net worth families on various wealth management issues including asset protection and legacy planning.

David is very active in the community having served in leadership roles for many non-profit organizations over the years, including both the Lancaster Bar Association and Central Pennsylvania Estate Planning Council. He is active in STEP (Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners) and a past member of Vistage International – the world’s foremost executive leadership organization, as well as a 2012 recipient of the prestigious “Forty Under 40″ award by the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal. David speaks throughout the country on modern and progressive U.S. trust law, is a lecturer for the PA Bar Institute (the continuing education arm of the PA Bar Association), and is a former adjunct professor at Harrisburg Area Community College where he taught courses in business law and paralegal programs, such as Trusts and Estates and Business Law.