Skip to content

2016 Advanced Sales Forum

Advanced Sales: Soaring Through Innovation

8/1/2016 - 8/3/2016
The Peninsula Chicago, Chicago, IL

Overview

Who Attends

Advanced sales and marketing executives, producers, CMOs, sales officers and estate planning advisors with accountability for serving individual markets.

Highlights

Created by advanced sales professionals, the Forum provides advice from industry leaders with unique expertise in this segment of the financial services market. Whether you are struggling to do more with less or experiencing the challenges of organizational change, attending the Forum will give you unparalleled insights from peers and implementable ideas from experts.

Speakers

Leigh-Alexandra Basha
Partner, McDermott Will & Emery LLP
  • Wednesday, August 3, 2016

    8:30 am - 9:30 pm: GENERAL SESSION 8

Leigh-Alexandra Basha

Partner, McDermott Will & Emery LLP

Leigh-Alexandra Basha is a partner with McDermott Will & Emery and heads up its Washington, DC, Private Client Practice Group. She focuses her practice on domestic and international estate and tax planning. She counsels an affluent international client base on a wide range of sophisticated matters, including estate and trust administration, family wealth preservation, tax compliance, as well as business succession, expatriation and pre-immigration planning. She is current chair of the International Estate Planning Committee of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and former chair of the International Bar Association’s Individual Tax and Private Client Committee.

Lawrence Brody, J.D., LL.M.
Partner, Bryan Cave LLP
  • Tuesday, August 2, 2016

    8:00 am - 9:00 am: GENERAL SESSION 4

Lawrence Brody, J.D., LL.M.

Partner, Bryan Cave LLP

Lawrence Brody is a member of the Private Client Service Group and the Technology, Entrepreneurial & Commercial Practice Client Service Group in the Bryan Cave St. Louis office. He is an Adjunct Professor at Washington University School of Law, and a visiting Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami Law School. Brody is the author or co-author of numerous articles and books on the use of life insurance in estate and employee benefit planning. He is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Philip E. Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, of the University of Miami School of Law, and serves on several editorial boards.
Bradford Campbell
Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP
  • Tuesday, August 2, 2016

    12:45 pm - 1:45 pm: GENERAL SESSION 5

Bradford Campbell

Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP

As partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Brad advises financial service providers and plan sponsors on ERISA Title I issues, including fiduciary conduct and prohibited transactions. A nationally-recognized figure in employer-sponsored retirement plans, he is the former Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits and head of the Employee Benefits Security Administration. As ERISA's former “top cop” and primary federal regulator, Brad provides his clients with insight and knowledge across a broad range of ERISA-plan related issues. He also serves as an expert witness in ERISA litigation. Brad has been listed as one of the 100 Most Influential Persons in Defined Contribution by 401kWire and has been listed as one of the top 15 ERISA attorneys in the country by a poll of the National Association of Plan Advisors. In addition, he testified before three Congressional Committees regarding the effects of the Department of Labor fiduciary regulation.
Thomas F. Commito, J.D., LL.M., CLU, ChFC, AEP
Director, Sales Concepts, Lincoln Financial Distributors
  • Tuesday, August 2, 2016

    8:00 am - 9:00 am: GENERAL SESSION 4

Thomas F. Commito, J.D., LL.M., CLU, ChFC, AEP

Director, Sales Concepts, Lincoln Financial Distributors

Thomas F. Commito is the author of two books, Working with LLCs: A Practitioner’s Guide to Limited Liability Companies and Comprehensive Buy-Sell Agreements, both published by the National Underwriter Company. He writes the column “Accounting and Taxation” in the Journal of Financial Services Professionals, and was formerly an assistant editor for The American Alpine Journal. He has been elected to the Estate Planning Hall of Fame and is a frequent speaker to and a member of several insurance and legal associations.
Robert Eichler, CFP, CLU, ChFC
President and Founder, CCL Financial Group
  • Tuesday, August 2, 2016

    3:15 pm - 4:15 pm: GENERAL SESSION 7

Robert Eichler, CFP, CLU, ChFC

President and Founder, CCL Financial Group

Robert specializes in working with doctors, small, closely held businesses, and investment bankers. His areas of expertise include insurance and estate planning, asset protection management, employee benefits, and pensions. Robert attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and holds a Masters in Financial Services from the American College. He is currently serving as President of the New York Center for Financial Studies and Penn Mutual’s National Advisory Council.
Jeffrey Hollander, J.D.
Assistant Vice President, Advanced Markets, MassMutual Financial Network
  • Tuesday, August 2, 2016

    8:00 am - 9:00 am: GENERAL SESSION 4
  • Wednesday, August 3, 2016

    10:00 am - 11:00 pm: GENERAL SESSION 9

Jeffrey Hollander, J.D.

Assistant Vice President, Advanced Markets, MassMutual Financial Network

As an Assistant Vice President in MassMutual’s Advanced Sales organization, Hollander focuses on providing Estate and Business Planning support to the MassMutual Advisors and Financial Planners. He has been a member of the LIMRA Advanced Sales Committee for over 20 years, is a member of AALU, and has been a regular presenter of development sessions at its Annual Meeting.  He maintains a strong business connection with MassMutual’s Diverse Markets efforts including the LGBT market, women business owners, and the MassMutual Special Care organization.  Hollander has worked at MassMutual since July of 2016.  Previously, he held a similar role at MetLife from 1991 to 2016.  Prior to that, he served as Associate Counsel, Director Advanced Markets for Mutual Benefit Life in Newark, NJ, and as Advanced Underwriting Attorney for Aetna Life and Casualty. He is a graduate of George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and the University Of Bridgeport School Of Law in Bridgeport, CT. 
Deidra W. Hubenak, J.D., CPA
Vice President, Advanced Markets, AIG Financial Distributors
  • Monday, August 1, 2016

    9:00 am - 10:00 am: GENERAL SESSION 1

Deidra W. Hubenak, J.D., CPA

Vice President, Advanced Markets, AIG Financial Distributors

Deidra joined AIG in March 2016. Prior to her current role, she served as General Counsel for Access Consciousness, LLC. From 2008 through 2014, Deidra worked as a Board Certified Tax Law Partner at the law firm of Looper, Reed & McGraw, PC. Earlier, she was Partner with the law firm of Graves & Hawkins, LLC and held previous positions including Senior Tax Consultant for International Tax Advisors, Lead International Tax Support Rep for Thomson/RIA, International Tax Manager for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, and Senior Tax Consultant for Ernst & Young. Deidra has served on the Board of Directors of the Houston CPA Society and the Texas Society of CPAs as well as serving on the International Tax Technical Resource Panel for the American Institute of CPAs. Deidra earned her A.B. in Philosophy from Duke University and J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law.
Robert Keebler, CPA/PFS, MST, AEP (Distinguished), CGMA
Partner, Keebler & Associates, LLP
  • Monday, August 1, 2016

    10:30 am - 11:30 am: GENERAL SESSION 2

Robert Keebler, CPA/PFS, MST, AEP (Distinguished), CGMA

Partner, Keebler & Associates, LLP

Robert S. Keebler has been named by CPA Magazine as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Practitioners in the United States and one of the Top 40 Tax Advisors to Know During a Recession.  His practice includes family wealth transfer and preservation planning, charitable giving, retirement distribution planning, and estate administration. Keebler frequently represents clients before the National Office of the IRS and has received more than 150 favorable private letter rulings. He is the author of over 100 articles and columns and is the editor, author or co-author of many books and treatises on wealth transfer and taxation. 
Jason Mendelsohn
President, Ashar Group
  • Tuesday, August 2, 2016

    2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: GENERAL SESSION 6

Jason Mendelsohn

President, Ashar Group

Jason works closely with executive management at insurance carriers, financial advisory firms, broker dealers, banks and trust companies, attorneys, CPAs, and philanthropic organizations. His objective is to make sure his clients get the service they expect. He is considered an expert on trends, industry dynamics, and the operational and technical details of the secondary market. Jason is both life and securities licensed. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Emory University in 1990.
Chris Morton
Executive Vice President, Government Affairs & Business Strategy, Association for Advanced Life Underwriting
  • Monday, August 1, 2016

    4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: GENERAL SESSION 3

Chris Morton

Executive Vice President, Government Affairs & Business Strategy, Association for Advanced Life Underwriting

Chris Morton, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs & Business Strategy, at AALU, acts as a principal liaison to Congress on behalf of the nation’s top life insurance producers and distribution partners, managing all policy development, political engagement, and advocacy strategy for the Association in Washington, DC.

A seasoned Washington professional with over 25 years of experience in the financial services and tax policy arena at the Federal level, Mr. Morton has demonstrated success in numerous legislative and regulatory affairs leadership roles.
Matthew Pressler
Director, M Life Insurance Company
  • Wednesday, August 3, 2016

    10:00 am - 11:00 pm: GENERAL SESSION 9

Matthew Pressler

Director, M Life Insurance Company

Matthew Pressler is Director of the Private Client Insurance Consulting team at M Financial Group. He joined M Financial in 2010, and supervises M’s Business Development, Advanced Designs and Solutions Marketing efforts.
Prior to joining M Financial, Matthew worked for 12 years as a case designer and client manager for a Member Firm, focusing on corporate benefits and estate planning.

Matthew graduated magna cum laude from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and holds the ChFC® and CLU® designations and FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities licenses. He is currently a student in the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) program at the American College.
David Rosuck, CLU
Vice President, Marketing, Pacific Life Insurance Company
  • Monday, August 1, 2016

    9:00 am - 10:00 am: GENERAL SESSION 1

David Rosuck, CLU

Vice President, Marketing, Pacific Life Insurance Company

With a 25-year career in financial services, David is responsible for marketing and positioning Pacific Life’s life insurance products in the affluent and emerging-affluent markets. He helps come up with new ways to enhance the customer’s experience and encourage new sales. After graduating from Indiana University-Bloomington, he joined MetLife in 1990, starting as an account representative and transitioning into a number of roles. His career also included stints at Penn Mutual as a regional manager and ING Security Life where he worked with advisors in advanced markets.
Lee Russell, CLU, ChFC, ALMI, RHU, CEP
Director, Advanced Markets, AIG
  • Tuesday, August 2, 2016

    2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: GENERAL SESSION 6
  • 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm: GENERAL SESSION 7

Lee Russell, CLU, ChFC, ALMI, RHU, CEP

Director, Advanced Markets, AIG

In his role with AIG, as a Director, Advanced Markets, Lee is responsible for providing advanced markets case consulting; web or in-person presentations; life insurance product and illustration expertise; as well as support for the company's sales of life insurance purchased using third party premium financing or simplified/guaranteed issue. Prior to joining AIG, he served as a Regional Vice President with Lincoln Financial Advisors.  Lee is an alumnus of the University of Houston and a former U.S. Navy cryptologic officer.
Channing Schmidt, J.D., CFP
Advanced Marketing Director, Minnesota Life
  • Tuesday, August 2, 2016

    2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: GENERAL SESSION 6

Channing Schmidt, J.D., CFP

Advanced Marketing Director, Minnesota Life

Channing manages the Advanced Marketing Department of Securian/Minnesota Life. He has been in the financial services industry since 2006, helping advisors and clients with estate planning, business succession, executive compensation strategies and personal financial planning. Prior to joining Securian, Channing practiced law privately in North Dakota and Minnesota. He has published articles on a variety of estate and business planning concepts. Channing obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota and received his Juris Doctorate from Hamline University College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Howard E. Sharfman
President, Schwartz Benefit Services, Inc

Howard E. Sharfman

President, Schwartz Benefit Services, Inc

Howard Sharfman has been recognized as an innovative leader in the insurance business for over two decades. He manages one of the premier and largest wealth transfer and planning firms in the country. Sharfman's personal practice is highly focused on servicing families with multi generational wealth, family offices and ultra high net worth advisors. His firm has additional expertise in executive benefits, corporate benefits and general insurance and risk management. Sharfman's ideas and concepts have been shared with peers and advisors around the country through many speeches, presentations and publications.
Wendell Stallings, CLU, ChFC
Advanced Markets Consultant, Case Design, MetLife
  • Tuesday, August 2, 2016

    2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: GENERAL SESSION 6

Wendell Stallings, CLU, ChFC

Advanced Markets Consultant, Case Design, MetLife

Wendell provides advanced case design for MetLife’s third-party distribution partners. He began his career with CIGNA Group Insurance. Later, Wendell advised retail clients for Northwestern Mutual before joining Lincoln Financial Group. More recently, he worked with the Assurance Group as the field manager for its Charlotte regional office. In that role, Wendell recruited, hired, and trained producers to sell life insurance and annuities in the Carolinas. He is a graduate of Harvard University.

Mark Teitelbaum, J.D., LL.M., CLU, ChFC
Vice President, Advanced Sales, AXA
  • Wednesday, August 3, 2016

    10:00 am - 11:00 pm: GENERAL SESSION 9

Mark Teitelbaum, J.D., LL.M., CLU, ChFC

Vice President, Advanced Sales, AXA

Mark manages the Advanced Markets and Marketing efforts of AXA Distributors — Life Division. He also handles field calls in business, estate, and retirement planning. His main focus is on developing sales tools and marketing campaigns to position AXA’s life insurance for optimal results. Prior to AXA, Mark’s career brought him to Metlife, Travelers, and Phoenix Life. He has published articles in several professional journals, is a graduate of Kenyon College, and got advanced degrees from Ohio Northern University and Boston University. 
Josh Winslow, J.D.
Assitant Vice President and Associate Counsel, Advanced Markets & Underwriting, John Hancock
  • Wednesday, August 3, 2016

    10:00 am - 11:00 pm: GENERAL SESSION 9

Josh Winslow, J.D.

Assitant Vice President and Associate Counsel, Advanced Markets & Underwriting, John Hancock

Winslow specializes in working with complex financial and premium-financed cases and issues related to proposed policy ownership and titling scenarios. Prior to joining John Hancock he spent ten years working in financial sales and estate planning as a wholesaler dedicated to developing new producers for a large Mutual Fund and Annuity distributor and he worked in the back office of a large private bank group.

Agenda

Registration

Registration Fees

Early-Bird Rates (Register by June 30th):
LIMRA member $1,245
LOMA (but not LIMRA) member $1,865
Nonmember $2,490

Standard Rates (After June 30th):
Member – $1,445
LOMA (but not LIMRA) member - $2,165
Nonmember – $2,890

Mail-Fax Registration

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations received before July 11, 2016, will be refunded, less a $75 processing fee. Cancellations received from July 11, 2016, to July 25, 2016, will be refunded, less a $275 processing and administrative fee. No refunds will be issued after July 25, 2016.

In the event that a scheduled meeting or event is cancelled by LIMRA for any reason, LIMRA shall refund any conference registration fees that have been paid by the registrant. Under no circumstances, however, shall LIMRA be liable to the registrant for any other expenses including, but not limited to, airfare and hotel expenses incurred by the registrant.

Hotel / Venue

The Peninsula Chicago
108 East Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60611

Book your group rate.

Make your reservations by July 5th, 2016 and mention the LIMRA Advanced Sales Conference in order to receive the group rate of $305.00 single/double (plus applicable sales taxes). Requests after July 5th, 2016 will be accepted on the basis of space availability. The group guest room rate will be offered three days prior and three days after the meeting dates subject to availability and must be booked by calling the hotel.

Please note that hotel rates will go up after the cut-off date or when the meeting room block sells out, whichever comes first.  Make your reservations early to be able to take advantage of our discounted rates.

Become a Sponsor or Exhibitor

Premier Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities
Available Now

 

REGISTER NOW AS AN EXHIBITOR!


Connect With Key Prospects
This conference is your opportunity to meet Advanced sales and marketing executives, producers, CMOs, sales officers and estate planning advisors with accountability for serving individual markets.

Sponsorship Opportunities  
Raise your level of branding with this audience by securing a Sponsorship. Options include:

To create your Sponsorship package, contact:

Barbara Kimball at 860-298-3950 or bkimball@limra.com


Exhibitor Package, $3,350, includes:

Register now as an exhibitor!

Sponsor & Exhibit Contact
Barbara Kimball
860-298-3950
bkimball@limra.com

Sponsors and Exhibitors

Strategic Partner

Sponsor

Contact us to learn more:

Joan O'Neil

Senior Conference Coordinator

LIMRA

(860) 285-7741

joneil@limra.com

Did you accomplish the goal of your visit to our site?

Yes No