2007 Annual Meeting Speakers

The International Forum 2007 Annual Meeting
January 13-17, 2007
Caesars Palace
Las Vegas, Nevada
January 13 sessions begin at 3:30 p.m. and January 17 sessions end at noon

The International Forum has assembled the best and the brightest to speak on their areas of expertise at the 2007 Annual Meeting. See speaker biographical sketches below. Speakers are subject to change.

 

 Frank W. Abagnale is one of the world's most respected authorities on the subjects of forgery, embezzlement and secure documents. Abagnale has been associated with the FBI for over 25 years and lectures extensively at the FBI Academy and for the field offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He began to acquire his rare blend of knowledge and expertise as a teenager. More than 30 years ago, he was known as one of the world's most famous confidence men, as depicted in his best-selling book, Catch Me if You Can. He cashed $2.5 million in fraudulent checks in every state and 26 foreign countries over a five-year period. Apprehended by the French police when he was 21 years old, he served time in French, Swedish and U.S. prison systems. After five years, he was released on the condition that he would help the U.S. government by teaching and assisting federal law enforcement agencies. Abagnale was the subject of a major motion picture, Catch Me if You Can (2002), directed by Steven Spielberg.
   
H. Brian Adcock graduated from Auburn University in 1996, where he received a BS in marketing education. The same year, he joined Adcock Financial Group, which has provided services to businesses and high net-worth individuals in the Tampa Bay area for 38 years. Over the past few years, Adcock has focused on efficient investment planning and non-qualified planning. In addition to being a member of the Million Dollar Round Table since 2000, Adcock is also a member of The International Forum and is currently the president of Partners Protégé. Adcock is a leader in his church and is on the board of directors for Hope Children's Home and Hillsborough Education Foundation.
   
Johnny R. Adcock, CLU, is president of Adcock Financial Group, an affiliate of National Financial Partners. He is a financial and insurance advisor concentrating in the areas of estate, business succession and insurance planning. Adcock is a frequent speaker on estate planning and insurance related topics to accounting firms, insurance companies, planned giving groups and industry-sponsored seminars. Adcock received his BA from Auburn University. He is a member of the American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters (CLU) as well as an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) and a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). Adcock is a registered representative with NFP Securities.
   
Norm Bevan is a highly acclaimed wealth coach entrusted to safeguard the financial futures of many of America's wealthier families. Throughout his career Bevan has earned a well-deserved reputation for his mastery of blending the science of income tax management, wealth transfer planning, technical knowledge and expertise. Bevan has been involved in the financial services field since 1963, and is today a leading practitioner in the design, communication and financial management of both wealth transfer planning and retirement planning for public and private companies and their executives and owners. He is a founder of First Financial Resources; a national financial services company recognized for its wealth accumulation and wealth transfer strategies. He is presently the president and chief executive officer of INNOVUS Financial Solutions.
 
William Beynon is the founder of Capital Wealth Advisors, a boutique insurance and estate planning firm in Naples, Fla. Capital Wealth Advisors specializes in helping high net-worth families preserve and enhance their wealth through advanced insurance, estate and premium finance strategies. Beynon began his career 12 years ago working as an agent for a major life insurance carrier and trained in their advanced planning department. He later went on to be the director of estate planning for Creative Asset Services in Pittsburgh, Pa. Over the past five years, Beynon has focused his practice in the areas of wealth preservation and premium finance. In 2005, he joined Potomac Partners in a strategic partnership working with firms and independent agents throughout the country assisting them in growing their business through proprietary premium finance and wealth preservation programs.
   
J. David Briggs is a native of New York state, graduated from the University of Denver and has been in the financial services and life insurance industries since 1974. In 1987, Briggs formed the Colorado Financial Group. Briggs' honors include life and qualifying status 30 times in the Million Dollar Round Table, Court of the Round Table qualifications since 1989 and Top of the Table qualifications since 1995. He has also qualified for The International Forum since 1991. Briggs received the Colorado Springs General Agents and Management Association Distinguished Life Underwriter Award. Briggs is a frequent speaker for industry organizations on the subject of business and estate planning.
   
John. H. Brown, president of Business Enterprise Institute, Inc., a single source for education, marketing support and exit plan design for advisors of business owners. Brown teaches professionals in a variety of disciplines (accounting, law, business consulting, valuation, banking, insurance and financial planning) how to use exit planning to attract and keep high-caliber business owners in their practices. Brown is also a founder of the Denver law firm of Minor & Brown, P.C. Brown began his practice as an estate planner, but over the last 25 years has represented hundreds of business owners as they work to orchestrate successful exits from their companies.
   
Judi Carsrud is president of Niche Marketing, Inc. and Niche Plan Sponsors, Inc. Niche is a 419 provider of single employer plans. Carsrud has been in the life insurance business since 1979. She has specialized in 419 plans since 1991, from designing plans for participating employers to helping the litigation team for the Booth v. Commissioner U.S. Tax Court case, to extensive work in Washington, D.C., helping to perfect the multiple employer regulations. Carsrud, working nationally with Deloitte Touche and Bryan Cave, has been the primary designer of the National Benefit Plan, which is the 419(e) single employer plan currently offered by Niche Plan Sponsors. Her technical expertise on 419 is well known and respected throughout the life insurance industry.
   
Dean Chatlain is with Lincoln Financial Advisors. After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University and Vanderbilt Law School, Chatlain became an IRS trial attorney, with a combined seven years in the New Orleans and Greensboro, N.C. offices. Chatlain then became the corporate tax counsel for Jefferson Pilot, responsible for all company and policyholder tax issues, including providing legal and tax advice on employee and executive benefit plans, the design of life insurance and annuity products and the development of insurance marketing programs. Over the years he served on various industry tax committees and has spoken at several Federal Bar Association Insurance Tax Conferences. Following the acquisition of Jefferson Pilot by Lincoln National Corporation, Chatlain transferred to the advanced sales and marketing area to provide advice on emerging issues in the industry, including retirement income security and long-term care.
   
Michael Coben is senior vice president, account services for Coventry. Coventry is a leader in the secondary market for life insurance. With more than 22 years of experience in building successful sales teams, Coben leads the company's sales initiatives as the secondary market for life insurance continues to expand. He is also a respected national educator and speaker on the secondary market for life insurance. Coben is instrumental in developing national strategic alliances and increasing broker/dealer distribution for the company as well as overseeing Coventry's 20 account services teams. A graduate of Dickinson College, Coben holds his Series 6, 26 and 63 licenses.
   
Michael P. Corry, CLU, has helped the clients of The Todd Organization provide customized nonqualified retirement and savings plans for the benefit of their key executives. Corry's consulting approach has served hundreds of companies and helped them recruit, retain and reward their key executives. In recent years, Corry has spoken at The International Forum, the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting, the Society of Financial Service Professionals’ Arizona Institute and the Institute of International Research. Currently, Corry is a member of the Executive Committee of the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting. He also served as president of The International Forum, and as a faculty member of the American Society of Symposiums and Institutes from 1984-1986. Corry has been widely published on the topics of executive benefits and the uses of corporate owned life insurance, including articles for The Journal of Compensation and Benefits and The Journal of Taxation of Employee Benefits.
   
David Downey founded The Downey Group, Inc. in 1980. He has over 40 years of experience as a life insurance producer. A native of Canton, Ill., he became an agent for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1962, while still an undergraduate. He received his BS and JD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After admission to the Illinois Bar in 1966, Downey received his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation the same year and decided to continue his career in life insurance. The Downey Group, Inc. became a member of the M Financial Group in 1983. Downey is currently a member of the board of directors of M Financial Holdings and of M Life Insurance Company, a reinsurance company. He is a frequent speaker at local, state and national meetings of lawyers, accountants, life insurance agents and various business groups.
   
Nancy Friedman, president, Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training, is a two-time MDRT speaker. Born and raised in Chicago, Ill., Friedman started her career at WGN TV and worked with her husband at both radio stations they owned in San Diego and St. Louis, Mo., where they live today. She is the author of five best selling books on her topics and the spokesperson for the popular Telephone Doctor Training Library.
   
William Harris, president of W.V.H., Inc. is the founder of five insurance agencies, which did over one billion dollars of life, health and annuity premium. Harris has appeared in Money Magazine and The Wall Street Journal as an expert spokesperson. He has appeared on TV and radio as both host and guest and has testified in State Superior Court as an expert witness. Harris has done over 3,000 seminars and web conferences for consumers, financial professionals and for some of the largest insurance companies, broker-dealers, banks, mutual funds and accounting firms in the United States.
   
Kenneth R. Hartstein, CLU, ChFC, is president and chief operating officer of Economic Concepts, Inc. (ECI) in Scottsdale, Ariz.. Hartstein earned his BS in finance from Long Island University. From 1968 to 1980, he was a partner in an east coast firm doing financial planning and pension plan consulting. In 1980, he moved to Phoenix as a principal in both investment and retirement systems and actuarial and administrative services (AAS). ECI is a product marketing and pension consulting firm formed in 1991. Hartstein’s principal area of expertise is in qualified plans, and over the years has designed and successfully marketed tax advantaged programs used to assist clients in minimizing their business pretax profits. Hartstein is a member of MDRT's Top of the Table and is a member of and serves on the board of directors of The International Forum.
   
Amy Holmwood is president of Potomac Partners Group. She is a 20-year veteran of the life insurance industry and began her career with Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company with her father. In 1994, she took over her father's business and now specializes in the ultra high net-worth marketplace to exclusively provide her clients estate and gift tax reduction strategies combined with life insurance premium financing arrangements and annuity arbitrage strategies. Holmwood has been a featured speaker at the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) annual meeting, The International Forum and NYU Tax Institute. She is a past president of The International Forum, a member of the MDRT's Top of the Table and the Association for the Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU). Holmwood is currently serving on the board of directors of the AALU.
   
Roger Hubley, CFP, ChFC, CLU, is the president and managing partner of NetWorth, Inc. NetWorth, Inc. has three offices in Minneapolis, Minn. and one in Marco Island, Fla. There are 12 associates with nine of those associates qualifying for the internationally recognized Million Dollar Round Table. He has over 33 years of experience in investment portfolio management and financial and insurance planning services. Hubley specializes in helping clients minimize taxes via zero tax concepts. He is a 28-year life and qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table. Hubley has been the portfolio manager for NetWorth, Inc. since the inception of the asset management program.
   
Randy Johnson, The Johnson Company, operates out of a barn on what he describes as “40 acres of paradise” between Lincoln and Omaha, Neb. The natural setting is affectionately called “within the wild,” but Johnson says all the work is done in boardroom settings. “I made a vow 15 years ago that I would not work with a client without their most trusted advisor at the table. We've partnered with the top tax, legal, property & casualty, investment, benefit and trust professionals in our state, and that group refers 100 percent of our business.” Areas of specialty are business succession/owner exit strategies with executive benefits all dovetailing with wealth transfer planning.
   
Gregory Kasten, MD, MBA, CFP, CPC, AIFA, serves as founder, president and CEO of Unified Trust Company, NA. Following graduation from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in 1980, he completed an internal medicine internship and anesthesiology residency at the University of Kentucky Medical Center and is a board certified anesthesiologist. He received an MBA with an emphasis on finance and investment management from the University of Kentucky College of Business Graduate School. Kasten has published more than 60 papers on financial planning and investment-related topics in various financial and business journals, wrote two editions of the book Retirement Success and has developed the Unified Fiduciary Monitoring Index® as a method of measuring mutual fund and predictive performance factors when observed from a fiduciary standpoint.
   
Theodore F. Kilkuskie Jr., senior vice president, account services at Coventry, a leader in the secondary market for life insurance. He is responsible for managing sales initiatives with Coventry 's insurance distribution and is instrumental in developing strategic alliances and increasing national distribution. With more than 26 years of experience in the financial services industry, Kilkuskie is a recognized leader in the emerging secondary market for life insurance. Prior to joining Coventry, Kilkuskie served as the chief marketing officer for Hartford Life, where he was responsible for the overall strategic direction of the life insurance division and the independent broker-dealer sales force. A graduate of Villanova University, Kilkuskie holds Series 7, 24 and 63 licenses.
   
Patrick A. Lang, JD, CLU, ChFC, CFP, CFS, FLMI, Lincoln Financial Group. With 34 years of experience in the life insurance industry, Lang began his career as a home office underwriter with Massachusetts Mutual from 1972-1979. Now, a part of Lincoln Financial Distributors, Lang's responsibilities include overseeing advanced market support for Lincoln's wholesalers and producers in the areas of estate and business planning and charitable giving, marketing programs and continuing education. Lang holds a BA (cum laude) from the University of Massachusetts, an MBA and JD from Western New England College.
   
Clarke Langrall Jr., LUTCF, has been the president of Forecast Strategic Advisors since 1985. Forecast Strategic Advisors focuses on closely held business owners and high net-worth individuals to help them make more intelligent use of their money so they can plan, manage and prosper. Langrall has also been a life and qualifying member of The Million Dollar Round Table since 1978, and a member of The International Forum since 1987. He has been a member of The International Forum Board of Directors since 2003, and currently serves as treasurer. He has also been a member of The International Association of Financial Planners for over 27 years. He authored a book, A Life Underwriter's Guide to the Federal Civil Service Market, and has been featured in Life Insurance Selling Magazine.
   
Michael Lloyd is one of the founding partners of Williams Coulson and the head of its ERISA Department. Williams Coulson is a Pittsburgh-based firm which concentrates its practice in estate, business, tax and retirement planning services. After earning both a BA in political science and a JD from University of Pittsburgh, Lloyd graduated with distinction with a masters in laws of taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. Lloyd was a senior tax attorney for the office of the Associate Chief Counsel, Employee Benefits and Exempt Organizations, Internal Revenue Service, Washington, D.C. At the IRS he worked primarily in the areas of executive compensation and qualified plans. He was the docket attorney of the Code Section 401 (a)(26) Regulations Project and a member of the group of attorneys responsible for drafting the Code Section 401 (a)(4) Nondiscrimination Regulations.
   
Brent Longnecker, CCC, CCP, CBP, has over 20 years of experience in executive compensation and corporate governance. He was selected by Consulting Magazine as one of the 2005 Top 25 Most Influential Consultants in the U.S., and is the first executive compensation specialist to receive this honor. His consulting engagements with numerous CEOs, boards of directors, investment bankers, attorneys and certified public accountants for all major industries have embraced a wide range of operational, organizational, strategic and ethical business issues. He's frequently quoted in the national print and broadcast media and has authored hundreds of articles and more than a half-dozen books on this increasingly complex area.
   
Matthew J. Madsen, Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C., is a partner in the St. Louis office of Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C. where he focuses his practice on wealth planning for private clients. Madsen also works with charitable organizations to structure and implement sophisticated planned giving strategies and advises them on governance and compliance issues. He has authored two articles on innovative uses of charitable lead trusts, which appeared in Estate Planning (October 2003 and December 2005) and is a frequent speaker on wealth planning. Madsen earned a BBA in finance at the University of Iowa and his JD at Stanford Law School. Most recently Madsen was named as one of "The 100 Top" attorneys in the December 2006 issue of Worth Magazine.
   
Jerry Mainardi is with Lighthouse Strategic Projects Group. With 28 years of marketing experience, Mainardi has seen the good, the bad and the ugly. His marketing skills were developed directing film for some of the nation's top financial services companies, pioneering interactive television in conjunction with Bell Atlantic in 1995 and winning the Top 100 Multimedia Producer title in the U.S. in 1996. His directing skills culminated in 2004, with his first feature length motion picture, The Final Patient. His passion for creating meaningful, engaging marketing resulted in the formation of Selling Technologies, a software company established in 1995. The company's focus is developing emotionally compelling sales tools for the financial services market, with a heavy reliance on video content. There are two CD-ROM based titles presently in the insurance marketplace, businessKillers ® and Family Matters™, with another scheduled for release in the first half of 2007.
   
Peter L. McCarthy, JD, RU, ChFC, ING LifeDesign, is a senior advanced marketing attorney on ING's national sales support team. McCarthy has nearly 30 years of experience in estate planning. He graduated from Rollins College with a BA in 1972 and an MBA in 1973. In 1975, he earned his JD from the University of Miami. After graduating, he practiced law as an estate planning attorney with a large Minneapolis law firm for five years. Since then he has served as advanced marketing counsel for Minnesota Life, Prudential Insurance Co. and American Express Financial Advisors. He joined ING's advanced marketing department in 2000. He has earned his CLU and ChFC designations from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pa. A number of his articles on estate, business and charitable planning concepts have been published in national financial journals and magazines. McCarthy frequently speaks on estate and business planning topics to the financial, legal and accounting communities.
   
 
 John McSwaney, CLU, ChFC, AEP, is with McSwaney & Associates Consulting, Inc. He has been a member of The International Forum since 1979.
   
Sally Mulhern, JD, is a founding partner in the law firm Mulhern & Scott, PLLC, Portsmouth, N.H. Mulhern received her JD in 1982 from Cornell Law School and her undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Boston College in 1979. Mulhern speaks nationally to global financial institutions, universities, charities, trust departments, financial advisors and professional organizations. She has spoken three times at MDRT and was a main platform speaker at the AALU annual meeting where she shared the podium with Colin Powell and James Carville. Mulhern is regularly quoted in the regional and national press, and recently appeared on CBS MarketWatch and in the Wall Street Journal. Mulhern has just finished her first book, Estate Planning To Die For®: An Insider's Guide For Financial Professionals.
   
Scott L. Olson is the branch manager of Investment Advisor Assoc. and general securities principal for Mutual Service Corporation, one of the largest broker-dealer firms in the U.S. Olson is the owner of Atlantic Financial Advisors, an investment, financial and estate planning firm. He began his career in investment, financial and estate planning in 1978 and carries insurance and/or investment licenses in 27 states.
   
Deborah O’Neil, JD, CFP, CLU, AXA Equitable Insurance Company joined AXA Equitable Insurance Company in July 1993 after serving in the U.S. Air Force for eight years in Nebraska and Germany. While in Heidelberg, Germany, she received her BS in business management from the University of Maryland, European Division. In May 1994, she was awarded her JD from the University of Denver, College of Law. O'Neil's positions with AXA have included advanced underwriter, director of advance planning, assistant director, life marketing and estate planning and director, wealth planning team. In her current position O'Neil is responsible for assisting Paramount Planning Group (PPG) members with advanced planning issues for case design and technical matters.
   
Albert W. Papa, CLU, ChFC, is chairman and chief executive officer of Cambridge Financial Services, Inc. Cambridge is a financial services firm specializing in estate and financial planning for high net-worth individuals, executive benefit plans and employee benefits. Cambridge's clients include public and privately held companies in the midwest, N.Y., Fla. and Calif. In 2003, he became the managing director of the Paramount Planning Group, a hybrid producer group which is a division of AXA Advisors, LLC. In 2005, Papa was named a member of the executive management committee, responsible for producer segmentation and experienced hire initiatives. Papa is also involved with AXA's 2012 Initiative, which is dedicated to developing “best in industry” sales, support and service for AXA Equitable.
   
John R. Powers, is a professional speaker and author of four books, his most recent being The Junk Drawer, Corner Store, Front Porch Blues. He is also the playwright and co-producer of the Broadway musical Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? The musical is presently playing in over a dozen cities. Powers holds a PhD in communications from Northwestern University and was a professor at Northeastern Illinois University.
   
Mike Richardson has served in the financial services industry since 1969. In 1972, he started his own financial services firm, which is now named Richardson Financial Group. Richardson has spent his career developing sophisticated tax and estate planning strategies to address the special needs of individuals and families that have accumulated significant wealth. With unique professional knowledge and insights gained through years of experience, Richardson has developed and utilizes his Informed Decision Approach™ and other proprietary processes and tools to help clients organize and analyze their thinking on important decisions. He serves on the Board of Directors of the M&I Bank of Menomonee Falls and is a past member of The International Forum's Board of Directors.
   
Scott Richardson has served in the financial services industry since 1989. As a manager for Deloitte & Touche, LLP, he was a specialist in designing sophisticated wealth transfer techniques for the firm's wealthiest clients. In 1999, he joined Richardson Financial Group, Inc. where he continues to provide comprehensive wealth planning advice to high net-worth individuals and their families. Richardson earned his BBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double major in finance and risk management. He received his JD from Marquette University Law School and his LLM in taxation from New York University School of Law. He has earned his certifications as a Chartered Life Underwriter and a Chartered Financial Consultant from the American College.
   
Mark Riesenberg is the founder and owner of Human Resources Unlimited, LLC, a company that can help you achieve extraordinary personal and professional success. Riesenberg's expertise is in creating breakthrough results by helping individuals to think big while remaining focused and organized. Riesenberg is a professional speaker and coach. He is the author of How to Stop Whining and Start Winning, which is now in its third printing. Riesenberg has also produced two audio programs, The Power of the Goal Achievement Process and 10 Tips to Stop Whining and Start Winning.
   
Michael T. Rodman, CFP, is president of Advanced Planning Services, Inc. (APS). APS offers value added consulting on the more complex advanced planning techniques that financial professionals consider using. Rodman graduated from the University of Notre Dame and is a member of The International Forum.
   
Stephen O. Rothschild, CLU, ChFC, CRC, RFC, is a national expert in wealth accumulation and transfer, providing advanced estate planning and business continuity strategies for successful entrepreneurs and their professional advisors. Rothschild is president of Rothschild & Sale, a St. Louis wealth planning firm. Rothschild is a member of the Million Dollar Round Table, the Association for Advanced Life Underwriters, where he currently sits on the advisory board for Trusts & Estates magazine and was past president of both Estate Planning Council Chapter and Financial Planning Association of St. Louis. A renowned international speaker, Rothschild is known for lectures to attorneys, accountants and financial service professional about advanced and creative estate planning and business continuity strategies.
   
Robert Rubin, CLU, ChFC, Wachovia Insurance Services, is a senior vice president and insurance advisor at Wachovia Insurance Services. Rubin has been a consistent sales leader at Wachovia for over seven years. Rubin has over 20 years of experience providing estate and business insurance counsel to the ultra high net-worth market. Prior to Wachovia, he was an estate planning specialist with Solomon Smith Barney. Rubin started in the insurance business with Home Life of New York. Rubin is a member of NAIFA, The International Forum and holds leadership positions at the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU).
   
Andrew I. Shapiro, CLU, ChFC, is director of special projects for Nationwide Financial Services, Advanced Sales. Shapiro began his financial services career as an agent. After winning several sales awards, he chose to focus his efforts on training and educating producers in the areas of non-qualified and business planning issues. Recognized as a dynamic industry speaker and author, Shapiro is still active in actual plan design and implementation throughout the country. Shapiro graduated from Long Island University.
   
Howard E. Sharfman, president of Schwartz Benefit Services, Inc., manages one of the nation's premier insurance and benefit consulting firms. Sharfman's practice concentrates on effective wealth transfer strategies for his high net-worth clientele. Sharfman's strategies for wealth transfer, including the “ZERO ESTATE TAX PLAN” have been implemented by many of the nation's leading families. Known throughout the insurance industry as an estate tax and executive benefits authority, Sharfman is a frequent lecturer to a variety of industry groups as well as a contributor to numerous publications. Sharfman has a BA from Babson College where he majored in accounting and entrepreneurial studies. He is a member of The International Forum, Million Dollar Round Table and Top of the Table.
   
Randy Snow and R&R Partners are behind the well-known Las Vegas campaign – what happens here, stays here. Snow maintains a competitive edge as razor sharp as his instincts. He recently beat out I-Pod, McDonald's and other marketing goliaths for Brand Marketer of the Year honors. He'll tell you that marketing success comes from creativity and perseverance, not necessarily from having the biggest budget. During his tenure at R&R, Snow has recruited a world-class team of no-holds-barred creatives who produce work that consistently lands in the pages of The Wall Street Journal, Archive, Adweek, Shoot and Communication Arts. Under his direction, R&R Partners' work has been honored locally and regionally – including finalist positions for several Golden Pencils in The One Show Awards and back-to-back "Best of Show" ADDY® awards.
   
Steven Solys has 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. He joined Sagemark Consulting/Lincoln Financial Group in July 1992 as a planner. His current national practice specializes in estate, charitable, business and insurance and investment planning solutions for his highly affluent clientele. Solys is a frequent speaker at Lincoln 's national sales conferences and agency meetings. He is a consultant to several Lincoln/Sagemark offices for working with the affluent and their advisors using sophisticated estate and charitable plan design. He has degrees in biochemistry and genetic engineering from the University of Michigan and the University of Toledo.
   
Pete Swisher, CFP, QPA, is a pension consultant and head of institutional sales for Unified Trust in Lexington, Ky. In 1988, he graduated with a degree in linguistics from the University of Virginia. He accepted a commission in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Gulf War as executive officer of an infantry company. He was promoted to captain in the top two percent of his class and awarded the Navy Achievement Medal. Swisher joined the financial planning profession after several years' management experience with a Fortune 1000 company. Swisher is the author of numerous articles, and his work has appeared in Financial Planning Magazine, the Journal of Financial Planning, The ASPPA Journal, Employee Benefits News, ABA Trust & Investments and other venues. His expertise in qualified plans led him to accept his current position as vice president of advisory services for Unified Trust Company in 2000.
   
Brian Tracy, CEO, Brian Tracy International, is one of the top business and personal success speakers in the world today. He has given talks and seminars in every major city in the U.S. and Canada and in 45 other countries. Each year, Tracy speaks to 250,000 people worldwide on the subjects of leadership, business strategy, sales and personal success. He has started, built, managed or turned around 22 businesses. In the last 25 years, he has consulted and worked with more than 1,000 companies in 42 countries, including IBM, Ford, Federal Express, Hewlett Packard and the Million Dollar Round Table. Tracy has written 40 books that have been translated into 35 languages and are sold in 52 countries. He has produced more than 300 audio and video learning programs and is the president of Brian Tracy University, an Internet-based college teaching business, sales and entrepreneurship worldwide.
   
Stephen P. Toth, CLU, ChFC, has spent over 35 years in the financial services industry. As owner of National Pension Associates, he supports the marketing activities of independent financial professionals located throughout the U.S His background includes attending New Hampshire College and The American College. Toth is a charter member of Professional Achievement in Continuing Education sponsored by the Society of Financial Service Professionals. Other organizational involvement includes the Central Florida Association of Financial Service Professionals, Florida Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Life and Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table, including multiple Top of the Table and Court of the Table achievements.
   
Norman H. Winer, CLU, founded National Benefits Group (NBG) in 2002, where he serves as chief executive officer. His responsibilities include joint marketing opportunities for executive benefit programs and the design of the non-qualified plans for both private and public companies. NBG's management group includes employees with more than 18 years as NBG associates. The associates will, over the next six years, be the majority owners of NBG. Winer is a frequent lecturer and was selected by the insurance industry to represent small business before the U.S. Senate. He serves on the Board of Directors of The International Forum, the AALU nonqualified plans committee and AALU's' accounting for life insurance task force.
   

Randy L. Zipse is vice president and senior counsel of John Hancock's advanced markets group. His expertise is exhibited throughout the country in professional speaking events, teleconferences and trade publications. He is a co-author with Stephan R. Leimberg of Tools and Techniques of Charitable Planning. Zipse is on the Board of Advisers of Keeping Current. Prior to joining Manulife Financial, Zipse worked as an attorney in the private practice, was associated with several large firms and worked as a CPA with Deloitte Haskins & Sells.