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Curtis Cloke
Curtis V. Cloke is an award-winning international speaker, educator and author, as an industry recognized retirement income
specialist. He is an active Financial Life Planner with over 27 years of experience serving his clients around the US from his
Burlington, Iowa office. His presentations are entertaining and dripping with uncommon knowledge. He has created an
“industry celebrated” retirement income process uniquely developed for financial professionals.
In July of 2012, The American College utilized Curtis’ expertise as part of the educational team of experts who helped develop curriculum and
content for the new online RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professionals) designation program where Curtis also serves as an Adjunct
Instructor. In 2009, Curtis was also recognized as a top five finalist for “Advisor of the Year” by Senior Markets Advisor Magazine. He is a 15
year member of MDRT, with 3 Court of the Table and 7 Top of the Table honors. In addition to MDRT, he is also a member of the Society of FSP,
NAIFA, Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA) and the Forum 400. |
 | Gary Eckebrecht
Gary Eckebrecht is an experienced sales and marketing executive with over three decades in the financial services industry. He
has spent the last 20 years working with life and annuity manufacturers and wholesalers, and has additional experience focused
in mutual funds and separate accounts. He has supported retail sales organizations, including banks, broker/dealers and
independent financial professionals. He also spent many years in several senior management roles at Prudential Financial. As a
divisional vice president, he managed a team of regional sales professionals, covering 24 states, and was responsible for
numerous corporate initiatives introducing new financial products and services. His team led the country using a strategic approach to sales
and marketing, leading to sales of more than $1 billion annually. Eckebrecht has used his experience to benefit companies in multiple
distribution channels, most recently in leadership positions in national insurance marketing organizations. He is a FINRA registered principal
and holds insurance and securities licenses. He received his bachelor's degree in finance from Northern Arizona Universit |
 | Tom Hegna
Tom Hegna has been electrifying audiences of top producers worldwide for many years. He has led over 2,000 seminars
producing a multi-billion dollar impact on the industry. Tom specializes in simplifying retirement solutions so producers don’t
even have to sell - they just have to show. He has the unique ability to pump up a crowd and give them easily digestible
solutions to complex problems using a variety of financial vehicles such as annuities and life insurance. Tom will change the way
you manage your book of business. |
 | Stephanie Holmes-Winton
Stephanie Holmes-Winton is a financial services educator, speaker, author, CEO of The Money Finder and the founder of the
Certified Cash Flow Specialist™ Designation Program. She is on a mission to see that the financial services industry has access
to a standardized, profitable and efficient approach to help clients manage cash flow.
During Stephanie’s nearly 13 years in the Financial Services industry, her advice has been featured on a regular TV segment with
CTV in Halifax as well as numerous national radio programs, including with CBC Radio and regular appearances on various
Rogers New Radio Stations. She is also has the industry’s ear through her opinionated column with Advisor.ca.
Stephanie has written two books. Her first book Defusing The Debt Bomb for advisors and $pent for advisors and their clients!
Stephanie has been a pioneer in cash flow and debt management. The CCS™ is setting the first standard in Cash Flow Planning, and helping
advisors not only learn the math involved, but also the behavior. She is also a partner in the very first Cash Flow Planning Software, now in beta
test. Stephanie lives in Halifax with her husband, young son and three furry kids. She enjoys time with her family, horses, any Seth Godin book
and traveling. |
 | Juli McNeely
Prior to a 5-year period in the banking industry, Juli joined McNeely Financial Services in 1996 but grew up around the insurance
and financial services industry. McNeely Financial Services is a 45-year-old independent agency founded by her father Stephen
McNeely. Juli now owns/operates the Wisconsin-based firm, as her father has retired to Arizona. Juli specializes in the areas of
retirement planning, business continuity and estate planning.
Juli has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Northwestern College in Roseville, MN. She has earned the Life Underwriters Training
Council (LUTCF), Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designations. She is professionally affiliated with
the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and as of September 2014, she serves as the National President. This is
a position that, until now, has never been held by a female.
Juli also holds the Series 7 and 63 securities licenses through SII Investments Inc. Juli is a qualifying member of MDRT and a member of
WIFS. In 2011, Juli was the recipient of the NAIFA Wisconsin A. Jack Nussbaum Distinguished Service Award. In 2013, Juli was named one of
the "Top 20 Women You Need to Know" in insurance by LifeHealthPro. |
 | Anthony Morris
Anthony Morris is an international speaker, author and client-building coach. His experience spans platforms in 50 countries
over the last 23 years. Anthony has enthralled audiences from MDRT’s Annual Meetings and Top Of The Table to Dubai,
Singapore and London. Audiences and coaching groups are riveted by the “plug-and-play” nature of his marketing concepts
and income-boosting ideas. He is a pioneer in client building for financial professionals and will re-energize your prospecting
and business program. |
 | Joe Ross
Joe Ross serves as Vice President, Sales Productivity and Business Development, Life Insurance for AIG Life and Retirement
(AIGLR), the life and retirement services business of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). In this role, he is responsible for
driving sales results through the sales team and independent distribution partners. Additionally, Mr. Ross develops and delivers
sales concepts and strategies that maximize productivity, while improving overall core selling skills for agents, wire house
financial advisors, Regional Vice Presidents, Strategic Account Managers and internal sales teams. He joined AIGLR in April of
2013. |
 | Ron Shah
Ron Shah is the Vice President of Operations and Information Technology at Partners Advantage Insurance Services. He has
been with the company since 2009 and has been instrumental in positioning Partners Advantage as a technology innovator in
the insurance industry. He was promoted to vice president in 2012 to reflect the company’s accelerated focus on technology
and operations efficiencies. Ron’s expertise in project management and technology have allowed Partners Advantage to make
significant strides to enhance its corporate capabilities.
Prior to joining Partners Advantage, Shah worked in production and operations management at manufacturing and service companies where
led successful teams and helped the companies decrease costs through improved operations. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business
management at Chapman University in Orange, California. |
 | Darren Ulmer
When your life becomes a statistic, statistics no longer matter. Darren’s presentation of “Hanna’s Letter to Santa” will put a very
human face on the financial devastation of suffering from a critical illness like Cancer. Follow the journey of Darren and his
family through his personal diagnosis, treatment and eventual recovery and also experience it through the words of his then, 8-
year-old daughter Hanna.
Prior to Darren’s diagnosis with Cancer, and ever since then, Darren has been recognized as an Elite Partner Advisor with Sun
Life Financial in Canada. Darren is a Registered Health Underwriter and Certified Health Specialist. He is currently studying for his Certified
Planning Designation, which he will complete this November. He has been a member of the Million Dollar Roundtable for the past 6 years and
regularly attends the annual convention. He is also an active member on the MDRT Canadian Membership Committee. He is also an active
member of Advocis sitting on the local board.
“Hanna’s Letter to Santa” has been translated into 18 different languages and has been featured on many North American stages, including:
Banff School, World Critical Illness Conference, Taste of MDRT and most recently, the Main Platform at the MDRT Annual Meeting in Toronto. |
 | James Wong
James Wong was appointed as President of Partners Advantage in 2013. Prior to this role, he served in several senior
management positions with the company, including Chief Information Officer. Most recently he served as Senior Vice President
in charge of the company’s Platinum Partners division, which has been the fastest growing division of the company. He entered
the insurance industry in 1999 and built his own insurance marketing organization. As the Internet boom changed the way
insurance information and products were delivered to the client, he focused on internet lead generation and generated 2,000
clients, primarily through online leads. His company merged with Partners Advantage in 2006. James holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics
from University of California, San Diego. |
 | Don Yaeger
As a sports writer and author of more than a dozen books, Don Yaeger has had a front row seat with some of the greatest
winners in athletics, including Walter Payton, Jimmy Connors, Michael Jordan, John Wooden, Pat Riley and Dale Brown. They
are all legends in their own right, but does anyone believe the athletes mentioned above are really the GREATEST athletes of
their time, physically? Remember, Jordan wasn’t even the first pick in the draft. Payton had to go to a small black college
because bigger schools didn’t want to risk a scholarship on him. Each became a champion through strength and skills that had
nothing to do with physical prowess.
Using rich personal accounts gathered from more than twenty years of interviews with many of today’s sports legends and business leaders,
Don has distilled Sixteen Consistent Characteristics of Greatness. Don shares some of these characteristics with audiences, in an easy,
engaging style, which helps participants realize that they, too, can achieve a higher level of personal success. |
