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Contact Name: Clay Birdwell
Agency Name: Baker Birdwell, LLC
Address: 5200 Maryland Way, Suite 302
City: Brentwood
State: Tennessee
Phone: 615-309-5958    Toll-Free: 877-309-5958
Fax: 615-309-5950
Email: Clay@bakerbirdwell.com
 
Experience
 
Activities Memberships
   
   
Contact Name: Andy Mathews
Agency Name: Berkshire Advisor Resource
Address: 7900 E. Berry Place
Suite 200
City: Greenwood Village
State: Colorado
Phone: 303-221-2100    Toll-Free: 800-530-2360
Fax: 303-328-2454
Email: AMathews@berkadvisor.com
 
Experience
Principal of Berkshire Advisor Resource, L.L.C., a brokerage general agency specializing in disability and long-term care insurance. Andy is a Registered Securities Representative and Investment Advisor Representative, as well as Registered Securities Principal. A graduate of the University of Colorado with degrees in political science and history, Andy has twelve years experience in the financial services industry. He is currently attending the University of Denver for a Master of Taxation.
 
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Contact Name: Bill Barrett,
Agency Name: Bill Barrett Agency
Address: 65 Marbella
City: San Clemente
State: California
Phone: 888-254-7675
Fax: 949-493-7325
Email: bill@plusgroupca.com
 
Experience
Founder & President of W.J. Barrett Insurance Agency, Inc., founded in 1976 as a brokerage general agency specializing in disability insurance. Bill is also a founding partner of The Plus Group, LLC.
 
Activities Memberships
Bill has served as Chairman of the Health Insurance committee for the LA County Life Underwriters Assoc. and DI consultant for the LA County Medical Association. Bill is a consultant on DI product design and distribution systems. Bill also serves as Vice President of the International Disability Insurance Society (IDIS).
   
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Contact Name: Philip S. Zima, RFC
Agency Name: CC Brokerage, LLC
Address: 3421 North Causeway Boulevard
Suite 401
City: Metairie
State: Louisiana
Phone: 504-837-7177    Toll-Free: 800-522-9471
Fax: 504-837-7311
Email: philip.zima@compasscapitalweb.com
 
Experience
Philip S. Zima, LUTCF, RFC a licensed insurance agent in the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas also holds the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Series 6, 7, 63 and 66 licenses. Specializing in the individual disability and long term care market, Phil is the Managing General Agent of CC Brokerage, LLC. An active member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, unanimously elected to the New Orleans Chapter’s Board of Directors in May, 2003, he is also a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters. Phil is considered by his peers as one of the Gulf South’s premier individual disability specialists and regularly conducts continuing education classes and seminars throughout the Gulf South in his specialty. Phil, his wife Beth of 27 years, daughter Anne Marie and son Nicholas have been residents of the New Orleans, LA area since 1994.
 
Activities Memberships
Considered by his peers as one of the Gulf South’s leading specialists in individual disability matters, he has been appointed Master General Agent for the states of Louisiana and Mississippi by the Standard Insurance Company. Phil is a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) and holds the National Association of Securities Dealers Series 6, 7, 63 and 66 licenses.
   
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Contact Name: Kenneth Sapon R.Ph., LUTCF
Agency Name: Champion Agency, Inc.
Address: 8801 Horizon Blvd.
Suite 320
City: Albuquerque
State: New Mexico
Phone: 505-265-8511    Toll-Free: 800-274-0433
Fax: 505-265-8513
Email: ken@champion-agency.com
 
Experience
Ken joined Champion Agency, Inc. in 1984 as VP and CMO.

Champion Agency, Inc. has just celebrated its 25th year of business. The agency provides quality, multi-company product lines. Strict due diligence is adhered to with all companies. Specializing in life, disability, qualified pension plans, and annuities to brokers and agents throughout the Southwest. As an independent brokerage agency, Champion Agency, Inc. searches out and expands product offerings to help agents and brokers get the best products and the best rates for their clientele.
 
Activities Memberships
Ken Sapon specializes in Disability, Estate, and Business planning. He has served on marketing boards of Security-Connecticut Life and Royal Maccabees Life. Currently he is serving on the product development board of Pacific Life. Ken Sapon as a LUTCF has taught Disability Sales and the Advanced Sales classes. Ken has conducted over 50 continuing education seminars throughout the Southwest.
   
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Contact Name: Jack Schmitz
Agency Name: DI and LTC Insurance Services
Address: 4302 Redwood Hwy
Suite 400
City: San Rafael
State: California
Phone: 800-924-2294    Toll-Free: 800-924-2294
Fax: 415-472-7637
Email: jack@plusgroupus.com
 
Experience
President of Bay Area Disability Insurance Services, Inc, a brokerage general agency specializing in disability and long term care insurances. The agency was founded in 1978. Jack joined the agency in 1981. He manages the marketing and accounting side of the business and his wife, Diana, oversees the underwriting department.
 
Activities Memberships
Jack is a past president and current board member of both the Marin Society of Financial Service Professionals and the Marin Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He is a member of the North Coast Association of Health Underwriters, and the Financial Planning Association of San Francisco.
   
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Contact Name: Jeffrey D. Mohr, Director
Agency Name: Diversified Brokerage, Inc.
Address: 30 West Third Street
2nd Floor
City: Cincinnati
State: Ohio
Phone: 513-621-9650    Toll-Free: 800-621-6161
Fax: 513-621-0672
Email: jeff@plusgroupus.com
 
Experience
Jeff Mohr is the third generation in a 53 year experienced disability income agency which changed it's name to Diversified Brokerage Specialists in 1985. Formerly known as W.R. Dignan Associates this firm has pioneered many products and concepts in the disability income insurance market. Diversified Brokerage Specialists success has resulted in our being one of a very elite group of disability income agencies to have refunded over $4,000,000.00 in disability premium refunds to our policyholders, through the attractive 80% every 10 years disability insurance Return of Premium rider.
 
Activities Memberships
Jeff Mohr is the past president of the Greater Cincinnati Association of Health Underwriters. Other memberships include National Association of Health Underwriters, The Cincinnati Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors and the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors, and the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies. Diversified Brokerage Specialists has achieved membership in the Zurich Kemper Life President's Cabinet of leading brokerage agencies.
   
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Contact Name: Eugene Cohen
Agency Name: Eugene Cohen Agency
Address: 9933 North Lawler
Suite 140
City: Skokie
State: lllinois
Phone: 847-674-4390    Toll-Free: 800-333-4340
Fax: 847-674-0402
Email:
 
Experience
Eugene started selling disability insurance as an agent in 1963. He was asked to run his first disability general agency in 1967. In 1970 he was asked to run the agency in Chicago and eventually became Vice President. For twelve years he ran the Chicago agency as well as supervising agencies in twelve additional states. In 1981 he started his own disability brokerage agency, the Eugene Cohen Insurance Agency, Inc. The agency has received awards and accolades for the agency's high disability production and low claim's ratios.
 
Activities Memberships
Eugene has served on several companies' agency advisory councils. He actively supports the local health and life underwriter groups.
   
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Contact Name: Ben Feigenbaum
Agency Name: Feigenbaum Agency
Address: 3605 Sparrow Pond Circle
City: Akron
State: Ohio
Phone: 330-670-8103    Toll-Free: 800-453-6277
Fax: 330-670-8105
Email: Ben@TFAGroup.com
 
Experience
President of TFA Group, Ben entered the insurance industry in 1986, specializing in disability income insurance. He has also worked in numerous capacities in the employee benefits field such as group health insurance, pension design, estate planning, and financial consulting.
 
Activities Memberships
Activities & Membership: Ben is a member of The Northeast Ohio Health Underwriters Association and has served as an officer. Active in several Life Underwriters Associations, he teaches Continuing Education and LUTCF. Ben is a member of SFSP, NAIFA, AALU and continues to be certified each year with The Million Dollar Round Table.
   
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Contact Name: Reed H. Schnittker
Agency Name: Financial Group
Address: 2400 Dallas Parkway
Suite 430
City: Plano
State: Texas
Phone: 972-943-9999    Toll-Free: 888-325-0091
Fax: 972-943-9988
Email: reed@plusgroupus.com
 
Experience
Reed started Schnittker Insurance Group, a disability brokerage operation in 1987. The name was changed to Financial Group in 1998. Prior to starting his own brokerage operation, Reed was a disability consultant for Provident Life & Accident in Dallas, TX. He started his career as a college agent with Northwestern Mutual in Akron, Ohio prior to graduating from Kent State University in 1979.
 
Activities Memberships
Reed received his RHU designation in 1991. He served a two year term as president of the Dallas Association of Health Underwriters and was recognized as Health Underwriter of the Year in 1989.
   
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Contact Name: E. Gregory Jachelski, CLU, RFC, LUTCF
Agency Name: Financial Solutions Group
Address: 5114 Dorsey Hall Dr.
City: Ellicott City
State: Maryland
Phone: 410-995-4969    Toll-Free: 800-995-6532
Fax: 410-995-4982
Email: greg@fsgbrokerage.com
 
Experience
Greg is Founder & President of Financial Solutions Group, Inc.; an Independent Brokerage General Agency, which specializes in the sale of disability income insurance, long term care insurance and other related insurance coverage’s. Prior to establishing Financial Solutions Group, Inc., Greg was with The Berkshire Life Insurance Company for 20 years. He started with Berkshire Life in a dual capacity as a Million Dollar Round Table Producing Agent & Brokerage Manager for Berkshire Life’s Baltimore, MD Agency. He then became the General Agent for Berkshire Life’s Washington, D.C. Agency. Greg served Berkshire Life as a General Agent for eleven years and was the recipient of numerous company and industry awards. In 1974, prior to joining Berkshire, Greg started as Special Agent for Prudential Life Insurance Company, where he soon qualified for The Million Dollar Round Table and received the National Sales Achievement & Quality Award.
 
Activities Memberships
Greg is Co-Founder of the Baltimore Health Underwriters Association. He is also a seven times Moderator for LUTC`s Disability Income Course and has served as a member of the Contents & Review Committee for LUTC`s Disability Income Course. Greg actively supports local Life & Health Underwriters Groups. He is a frequent guest speaker at many local insurance agencies, financial planning firms, CPA firms and local N.A.I.F.A. chapters; providing continuing education for disability, long term care & related coverage’s.
   
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Contact Name: Pat Jackson
Agency Name: Income Replacement Agency
Address: 34405 West 12 Mile Road
Suite 377
City: Farmington Hills
State: Michigan
Phone: 248-553-9505    Toll-Free: 800-269-2097
Fax: 248-553-9534
Email: patrick@plusgroupus.com
 
Experience
Patrick T. Jackson formed Income Replacement Ageny Inc. in 1995 after 16 years in the insurance industry. He has represented Provident Life, Monarch Life and Chubb Life prior to founding Income Replacement Agency Inc. He is a founding partner of The Plus Group/US.
 
Activities Memberships
Patrick T. Jackson graduated from Michigan State University with a BA degree in economics. He earned his CLU designation in 1983. Pat is a member of The Greater Detriot Association of Life Underwriters and The Detroit Chapter of The Society of Financial Service Professionals. He is currently serving on the board of directors of The Detroit Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals.
   
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Contact Name: Ken Bloch
Agency Name: Kenneth A. Bloch Agency
Address: 5950 Fairview Road
Suite 330
City: Charlotte
State: North Carolina
Phone: 704-643-0999    Toll-Free: 800-696-1791
Fax: 704-643-2999
Email: kenb@plusgroupus.com
 
Experience
Founder of the Kenneth A. Bloch Agency, a disability income brokerage agency founded in 1996. The Kenneth A. Bloch Agency exclusively specializes in disability income and related coverages. Prior to establishing the Kenneth A. Bloch Agency, Ken was a Brokerage General Manager for Paul Revere in Charlotte, NC from 1983-1996. Prior to 1983, Ken held several Home Office and Field positions for Paul Revere. Ken was a speaker at the Disability Income Officers Roundtable Meeting in 1996.
 
Activities Memberships
Ken is a CLU and is a member of the Local Life Underwriters and CLU organizations.
   
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Contact Name: Jeff Peterson
Agency Name: Pacific Advisors
Address: 1702 N. 34th Street
City: Seattle
State: Washington
Phone: 206-633-2922    Toll-Free: 877-455-9580
Fax: 206-633-0185
Email: jeff@pacificadvisors.net
 
Experience
Jeff served as DI Director with Mass Mutual Agency after the merger between CML and Mass Mutual. He was an Assistant GA for Berkshire Life 1997-2000. Jeff and his father formed Pacific Advisors in 2000.
 
Activities Memberships
   
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Contact Name: Michael Plaks, RHU
Agency Name: Plaks Brokerage Services, Inc.
Address: 7540 NW 5th Street
Suite 6
City: Plantation
State: Florida
Phone: 954-587-1002    Toll-Free: 866-863-9051
Fax: 954-587-0907
Email: michaelp@plusgroupus.com
 
Experience
Michael has been a disability income specialist for the past 25 years. Upon graduation from Ohio University in 1973, Michael moved from Athens, Ohio to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He was in personal production with Equitable Life for a few years then joined Paul Revere Insurance Group as a brokerage representative in 1978. He worked his way up to General Manager of the Paul Revere Ft. Lauderdale/Miami agency, a position held from 1986 to 1995. Michael founded Plaks Brokerage Services, Inc. in 1996 with the goal of providing personalized service to the disability insurance brokerage community in South Florida and throughout the state. PBS, Inc. continues to provide excellent service coupled with extensive sales and field underwriting expertise while maintaining the personal touch not readily found in today’s business environment. Michael’s professional credentials include: Registered Health Underwriter, Life Underwriters Training Council moderator for DI, Continuing Education moderator for DI, Gold Coast Health Underwriters Treasurer, and guest expert on local radio and television programs discussing disability income insurance.
 
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Contact Name: George G Davidson, CLU, ChFC, RHU
Agency Name: SecuraDI Consultants, LLC (SDIC)
Address: Parkdale IV
5353 Gamble Drive, Suite 300
City: Minneapolis
State: Minnesota
Phone: 952-224-5400    Toll-Free: 800-335-7544
Fax: 952-224-5409
Email: georged@plusgroupus.com
 
Experience
George is a nationally recognized expert on disability income insurance and has been a frequent speaker at regional and national trade meetings. In March, George will be a presenter at the John Hewitt & Associates 11th Annual Dynamics of Disability Strategic Management Seminar in Bonita Springs, FL. Entering the financial services industry as an agent in 1982, George quickly gravitated to the insurance brokerage, joining Provident Life & Accident in 1984. George’s career with Provident included his working as a Brokerage Consultant, District Manager and finally the Branch Manager of one of Provident’s largest DI brokerage offices in Minneapolis, MN. In April of 1995, George left Provident to start an independent brokerage agency focused on helping financial professionals find the best answers to client’s income and asset protection needs.
 
Activities Memberships
George is a founding partner and current board member of the only national organization of independent disability brokerage specialists, The Plus Group/US. You can find out more about The Plus Group by visiting www.plusgroupus.com. He is also a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Minneapolis Financial Planning Association and the Society of Financial Services Professionals, having served the local chapter as President.
   
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Contact Name: Timothy (Tim) J. O'Brien, CLU
Agency Name: T. J. O'Brien & Associates, Inc.
Address: 1899 Powers Ferry Road NW
Suite 232
City: Atlanta
State: Georgia
Phone: 770-955-5630    Toll-Free: 800-997-9058
Fax: 770-955-5631
Email: tjobrien@mindspring.com
 
Experience
Timothy J. O’Brien formed T. J. O’Brien & Associates, Inc. in June, 1998 after 17 years with The Principal Financial Group as brokerage manager in both the Memphis, TN and Atlanta, GA offices. During his tenure with the Principal, Tim built one of their most profitable brokerage units – qualifying for the Management Achievement Round Table eight consecutive years, three times as a member of Principal’s Inner Circle. In 1998, Tim changed his relationship with Principal by becoming a brokerage general agent and opened his own full service independent brokerage general agency selling disability insurance, fixed and variable life insurance, annuity products and long term care insurance. His agency specializes in the design, development and implementation of disability income benefits, nonqualified executive benefits, business continuation and estate planning concepts – with a focus on small to medium size businesses and their highly compensated executives.
 
Activities Memberships
CLU designation in 1996; member of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU); member of The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers (NAIFA); member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFSP)
   
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Contact Name: Ray Phillips, CLU, LTCP
Agency Name: The Brokers Source, Ltd
Address: ONE FORESTWOOD DRIVE
SUITE 111
City: Pittsburgh
State: Pennsylvania
Phone: 412-847-0770    Toll-Free: 800-245-5078
Fax: 412-231-5676
Email: ray@plusgroupus.com
 
Experience
Raymond Phillips, CLU, LTCP is President of The Brokers Source, Ltd. a full service independent brokerage agency founded in 1978. It offers long term care insurance, disability income insurance, critical illness coverage and many other products across the life and annuity lines. Joining the firm in 1988, he led its entry into the long term care insurance market and has spoken to numerous industry and consumer groups on this and other insurance topics.
 
Activities Memberships
Ray has served as President of both the Pittsburgh Association of Health Underwriters, and the Pittsburgh Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors - the only person to have held those positions with both associations. He is currently the President of The Society of Underwriting Brokers (SubCenters) and currenty serves on the board of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. He's a founding member of The Marketing Alliance, and is a member of the Pittsburgh Estate Planning council.
   
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Contact Name: Dave Chittenden
Agency Name: The Chittendens
Address: 3821 E. Indian School Road
City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Phone: 602-955-4773    Toll-Free: 800-999-4773
Fax: 602-956-3442
Email: dave@thechittendens.com
 
Experience
 
Activities Memberships