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Founding Member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Harley Gordon Founding Member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Harley Gordon is a founding member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, a professional organization that deals with legal and ethical issues facing the elderly. He has been voted as one of the 100 most influential people in long-term care by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. His views on the consequences of not having a plan for long-term care have been featured in the national media including, The CBS Evening News, The Today Show, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Gordon has spoken at numerous national conferences including, The Financial Planning Association, The National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors, and The National Association of Health Underwriters. Mr. Gordon’s experience led him to create the Certified in Long-Term Care (CLTC) program (www.ltc-cltc.com ). It is the country’s first designation focused on training financial service professionals. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Founder of Fretzin, Inc and Origination Station Steve Fretzin Founder of Fretzin, Inc and Origination Station Driven, focused and undeniably passionate in his pursuit to help attorneys reach their full potential, Steve Fretzin is the Chicago area’s premier lawyer coach and business development trainer. He has redefined the business development experience, transforming hundreds of attorneys into top performers. His clients are thrilled because of the growth that happens after completing his program. A typical client should expect to double or triple their book of business within 12-16 months of working with him. Fretzin credits two life-changing events as influencing his career. In 1996, he was one of six passengers aboard a single-engine Cherokee Piper airplane that crash-landed into a house in suburban Crystal Lake, IL. The experience left him crippled for months, but more importantly taught him to value the sacredness of each day. A few years later, another shift occurred when he sought the advice of top-level business coaches who helped him unleash his full potential and double his personal income in less than a year. This led Fretzin to pursue his real passion: providing structure and efficiency to the business development process, which helps attorneys all over the country to develop more business in less time. Fretzin’s mantra? In order to have real change, you need to make real changes. Today, he teaches “Sales-Free Selling,” which is also the name of his recently published book. Fretzin’s expertise in business development, time management and marketing has landed him features in the Attorney at Law Magazine, ABA, ISBA, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and Crains, as well as guest appearances on NBC News and WGN Radio. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Business Development Coach, Recognized Industry Advocate Kim Skermer Business Development Coach, Recognized Industry Advocate Kim's approach to coaching incorporates a unique Athletic and Sr. Leadership perspective, drawing on over two decades of experience which has taken her to World stages. Her methods have been tried and tested, proving effective for the individuals she champions. With a background in mentoring, training small business teams, facilitating seminars, and accumulating over 26,000 professional coaching hours, Kim has become an expert in guiding ambitious individuals to reach their peak performance. Kim encourages her clients to "Find the I" and "Find the Calm." Just like an athlete searching for their inner strength and focus, individuals are urged to look inward, discover their true selves, and determine their genuine desires. Kim believes that by diving into the "I" of the storm, individuals can find the calm that will propel them beyond the plateaus experienced by every high-achiever. Kim's coaching philosophy challenges the conventional notion of success, urging clients to stop conforming to a single path and instead carve out their own journey. Tuning out external noise and opinions, individuals are encouraged to find direction from within, unlocking their true potential. The core principles of Kim's coaching philosophy are encapsulated in the mantra: "Create in wonderment, Align with structure, Lead with wisdom, and Master your authority." These principles form the foundation of all pillars within RST Private Planning Group, reflecting Kim's holistic and athletic approach to coaching for sustained success. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Inspirational Speaker, Bestselling Author Dave Sanderson Inspirational Speaker, Bestselling Author Dave Sanderson is an inspirational survivor, speaker and author. His thoughts on leadership have made him an internationally sought-out speaker. When US Airways Flight 1549, or “The Miracle on the Hudson,” ditched into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009, Dave Sanderson knew he was exactly where he was supposed to be. The last passenger off the back of the plane on that fateful day, he was largely responsible for the well-being and safety of others, risking his own life in frigid water to help other passengers off the plane. Despite the hazards to himself, Sanderson thought only of helping others and emerged from the wreckage with a mission: to encourage others to do the right thing. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Owner/Founder - Playmaker Coaching & Consulting LLC Jennifer Hensley CLU, ChFC Owner/Founder - Playmaker Coaching & Consulting LLC Jennifer leverages 20+ years of marketing and sales experience both in the agency system and Northwestern Mutual's corporate headquarters, as a master business coach, and playing sports to address complex problems with a big-picture understanding. She helps business owners act quickly on opportunities with strategic and creative thinking that delivers results. Jennifer zones in on the most impactful plays to advance the ball and build systems to positively impact the bottom line. Jennifer’s best teammates are her husband, Keith and daughter, Samantha who always push her to play her own game and stay on offense. She believes it’s important to live with intention. This year her word for the year is GO. It’s time to go be great! Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Sought after Speaker, Kemp Financial Group Jessica Kemp MBA, CLU Sought after Speaker, Kemp Financial Group Dedicated to the financial services industry, Jessica’s passion for the business is evident when working with her clients. A graduate of Niagara University in Lewiston NY, Jessica received an undergraduate degree in Business commerce and an MBA degree in General Management. In order to provide her clients with a total financial security plan, Jessica has both the Canadian Investment Funds Course (CIFC) and the Life License Qualification Program (LLQP) certification. Jessica has been a sought-after speaker for many of her industries Financial Centers across Canada, as well as home office events over the past 4 years. She has addressed nine different regions and two major venues including the GTA women’s forum and the Advocis organization in Toronto. Her topics include “Building her Business”, having a passion for what you do and the sharing of how she has achieved the successes in qualifying for major conferences including the International Million Dollar Round Table organization. The feedback has been overwhelming on the passion she displays in her delivery and the love she has for her chosen career in helping people achieve their financial goals. Please visit Jessica’s website to learn more about her speaking engagements, and to book her to inspire and motivate your employees to take their practice to the next level. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

HPN University has been reimagined to meet the demands of today’s evolving financial world—equipping advisors with modern tools, real-world strategies, and on-demand development. Inspire. Educate. Empower. This Life Insurance Awareness Month. Give your advisors on-demand access to industry experts and top producers -- curated resources that build confidence and drive meaningful conversations with clients. Inspire. Educate. Empower. This Life Insurance Awareness Month. Give your advisors on-demand access to industry experts and top producers -- curated resources that build confidence and drive meaningful conversations with clients. Check out samples of some of our life insurance resources designed to educate and inspire your advisors: Positioning the Greed Sale to Younger Clients with Analogies – Eszylfie Taylor Field-Tested: Three Reasons to Own Life Insurance in Today’s Environment – Tom Hegna & Joey Davenport A Life Insurance Story – Shauna Weatherspoon Book a Demo Built by Experts Created by top producers and thought leaders who know what it takes to succeed in today’s competitive landscape. Proven to Drive Results Field-tested resources backed by data and performance metrics—real strategies, real outcomes. Saves You Time Turn hours of manual coaching into minutes with scalable, ready-to-use training content. Targeted Learning Paths Content crafted for every level: New Advisors, Experienced Reps, and Team Managers—with clear paths and outcomes. Trusted by Thousands Over 70,000 users in 30+ countries rely on HPNU—the #1 digital learning platform in financial services. Revolutionizing Advisor Growth from the Inside Out Accelerate Growth with the New HPN University HPN-U has been reimagined to meet the demands of today’s rapidly evolving financial services world—equipping advisors and field leaders with modern tools, real-world strategies, and on-demand development. Stay Ahead of the Curve. The One Big Beautiful Bill is reshaping tax law in the United States and beyond, creating new opportunities and challenges for financial professionals and their clients. Our brand-new eLearning course series, produced by industry experts, delivers clear, engaging, and compliant content that keeps your team - and your clients - well informed. Contact Us Agency Leaders and Managing Partners Empower consistent, high-impact coaching at every level. Boost underperforming segments with proven development strategies. Shift from micromanaging to strategic growth. Financial Advisors and Agents Access on-demand training to boost confidence and close more deals. Strengthen skills with immediate, real-world strategies. Stay motivated and on track with a clear path to growth. Growing Firms (25–75+ Advisors) Launch a scalable training system, fast. Reclaim your time; multiply team productivity. Build leadership bench strength without burnout. Who It's Designed For Whether you're leading a team of 25 or scaling beyond 75 advisors, HPN-U delivers the structure, strategy, and scalability modern firms need to recruit, train, and retain top performers—faster and smarter than ever before. Connect for Enterprise Pricing at info@hoopis.com Try It Free for 14 Days Get full access to the platform—risk-free. No credit card. No commitment. Just results. Start building your advisor bench today. Why Firms Choose HPN-U Plug-and-Play Training: Zero Guesswork. Proven Strategies from Top Performers. Tailored Learning for Every Advisor's Journey. Field-Ready Sales Coaching: Real-World, Not Theory. Seamless Hybrid Delivery: In-Person or Virtual. Saves Time. Reduces Attrition. Drives Performance. Why It Matters Now The market demands more than just skill—it demands strategic excellence. Just 14% of advisors are still in business after four years HPN-U’s structured, high-activity programs drive early wins Empower your leadership team to scale impact without sacrificing their sanity Real Advisors. Real Impact. What Your Peers Are Saying: "HPNU helped us cut onboarding time in half while increasing first-year production. It’s like giving every new rep a personal mentor—on-demand.” – Managing Director, NY "HPN has really impacted my growth with the motivational content and real advisor stories." – Joshua J. "When I hit a slump, the videos on overcoming obstacles keep me going." – Sharon H. Ready to Transform Advisor Development? Start your 14-day free trial today—and see what’s possible for your team.

Chief Investment Officer of Redwing Financial Dina Renee Weiss Chief Investment Officer of Redwing Financial Dina Renee Weiss serves as a financial, life and business coach, as well as the Chief Investment Officer of Redwing Financial. She began her career in the financial services industry in 2005, and built her reputation from the foundation up, focusing initially on the clients themselves, building trust and establishing a strong rapport prior to engaging in a financial planning and investment management relationship. She has carried that client-centered and educational philosophy into her investment and financial planning approach, working with generations of families to ensure proper and full understanding of the financial responsibility of daily life, as well as the investment process and those options available in today’s diverse and complicated investment marketplace. Dina aims to help individuals determine their goals, truly understand their individual risk-philosophies, manage that risk through the design of a comprehensive planning package, implement a well-organized plan of action, and finally embrace a disciplined approach to accountability and investing. She is firmly committed to serving her clients and looks to add value by providing timely, consistent and ongoing communication. Outside of her professional pursuits, Dina also holds her certification as a holistic health practitioner and has philanthropically provided health coaching services to more than 1,100 individuals seeking to live their best life. She volunteers her time and efforts as much as possible and sees the greatest reward in her life as the success of those who seek her guidance. In addition, she is the co-author of Ready to Launch – How Prepared are they for the Real World, a book aimed at assisting families in preparing their children for the realities of life beyond their childhood home. She has long been a writer, primarily in theatrical arts, comedy and poetry, but now tailors her writing towards practical and easily-implemented guides to developing a sense of ownership and personal responsibility for every aspect of an individual’s life. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Next Item Previous Item Go back to White Papers List For its 2016 “Great Place to Work” rankings, Fortune magazine chose seven insurance and financial service providers. An announcement noted, “These companies develop managers and policies that build employee trust through active listening and creative problem solving, and they foster a workplace culture where individual success and performance trumps overall productivity benchmarks.” In financial services, it can be difficult to “value collaboration and integrity over bean counting,” which is one of the factors the Fortune selection committee uses to recognize companies with winning cultures. Your culture is defined by what you believe in and how you treat people. Your culture makes a difference in how eager your team members are to go to work every day and how good they feel while they’re there. Experts say culture is important in minimizing employee turnover, increasing retention, improving employee engagement and attracting talent. Once your firm builds a reputation for being a great place to work, it helps you attract high-quality candidates because your reputation starts to precede you in the marketplace. Ultimately, that will make you or break you. Here are some specific ideas for building a dynamic company culture that will help you attract and retain the high-quality associates who are necessary to build a high-performance firm or company. Build your culture around your company’s or firm’s values. Many of today’s top candidates want to believe they are working for a cause; this is particularly the case of millennials. They want to believe they are building better communities by teaching sound financial principles. Many highperformance firms have core values that promote what they value most. Design these values to attract the kind of people you want in your organization. Filter out candidates who don’t fit your culture. Occasionally, you may have candidates who say your core values are not for them. Although we read a lot about the importance of inclusion, and we never want to do things to make people feel uncomfortable, sometimes this is a sign that a person would be happier somewhere else. Part of being a high performer is to know who you are and to be authentic. Even the best firms are not a fit for everyone, but they want to attract like-minded individuals. Before posting your values, as well as your philosophy or mission, we suggest you get them approved by your home office. Support causes that are important to the people in your company or firm. Some firms take nominations from their associates and staff and get behind two or three worthwhile causes that galvanize the team. Updating the list on an annual basis gives you an opportunity to support different causes and involve more people who have various passions. Some great examples of how firms can support those causes are to have teams that participate in walks, bike rides, bowling tournaments and golfing for charity. You can enhance the camaraderie by having the participants wear team T-shirts or hats featuring your logo. This shows that your firm or company supports the cause. You can increase the visibility and fun for participants by posting photos from the event on your social media sites and website and also in your newsletter. Some firms allocate a day annually for team members to represent the firm by volunteering at a company-approved charitable event, or an event hosted by their favorite charity, without being required to take vacation time. Have “casual day” one day per month. Allow team members to wear casual clothing, even jeans, to work if they donate to the firm-approved charity. Although some people think this seems unprofessional and worry what visitors might think, you can post a sign in the reception area that says, “Please pardon our casual attire today. Some of our staff members have chosen to donate in support of (list the charity) to have this privilege.” An article in the Harvard Business Review stated that it is important to create a fun environment, but great corporate culture is more about a common sense of purpose and belief that “we are in this together.” Have fun at work. According to Fast Company, prioritizing fun in the workplace is essential to a company’s success. It boosts morale; lifts spirits; and creates a friendlier, happier and healthier environment for everyone. And some studies show that high-performance teams have fun while they are at work. Having fun often starts with the leaders not taking themselves too seriously. Everyone loves it when the boss has a good sense of humor and can take a fun jab or be self-deprecating. When the company celebrates, the leaders should not be working in their offices; that sends the message that their tasks are more important to them than enjoying the company of their team members. The leaders should be first to join in the karaoke or even to sing at a holiday party. They should wear the silly hats and participate in the activities. If the group is dancing, everyone will be more likely to join in when the leaders lead by example. If the leaders act as if they are above the rest, they send a message that their real goal is to check ‘have a fun event’ off their task list. Take opportunities to celebrate as often as possible. This is an excellent way to build morale. Some prominent examples are to recognize major holidays and birthdays. Larger firms may host monthly parties for everyone celebrating a birthday or company anniversary in a month. Still other companies may have an employee of the month who gets special recognition at a staff meeting, plus a gift card or a meal with the boss as thanks. Yet other firms will celebrate any month in which they hit or exceed a sales goal or top their performance from the same month the previous year. Say “thank you” in person, and often. As the leader, you can never say “thank you” enough, and people never tire of being acknowledged or shown they are valued and appreciated. Associates and staff alike live for encouragement and to be recognized when they do a great job. When they do well, shout it from the mountaintop! Make sure everyone knows when a team member gets a compliment. Here are some ways to share the news of your team members’ successes: 1) If you receive an email acknowledging that a team associate did particularly well, send a copy to everyone in the company when you reply to the sender. 2) Have a board where people post notes or emails commending the team. 3) Read notes of praise in a staff meeting or firm meetings. This builds up team members in front of their peers and lets everyone know this type of great performance is a great way to get noticed and stand out. On the other hand, if you get a call or email about below-average performance, always handle them privately, so the team member will not be embarrassed publicly. One embarrassing incident that is publicized can cancel out many incidences of encouragement—it can even cause someone to quit. Take time to show people you care. Stopping by someone’s desk to see how they are doing is a good investment of your day. If you know someone has a sick family member or loved one, ask how they are doing. As the leader, “You reap what you sow.” Leaders who say thanks and take the time to encourage people often are surprised to find out how much it meant to others, and they tend to receive notes or calls telling them how they impacted people’s lives and made a difference. There is a time in most people’s lives when this form of affirmation and encouragement may mean as much as, or even more than, the money they make. As we like to say, leadership is about influence, and taking the time to influence others positively can pay eternal dividends. Always be there in your team members’ times of need. Some firms are full of people who take the time to check on them when they are sick. Caring leaders take the time to attend weddings and funerals that are important to their key team members. As busy as people are today, few gestures will show your associates you care more about them than being there with them at critical times in their lives. While making the time may seem burdensome at times, the savings on lower turnover, higher retention and deeper relationships will be a great return on your time invested. Communicate the company’s or firm’s vision to all members of your team. Some high-performance teams have an annual staff meeting off-site that features team-building activities and fun. This is especially important when a firm has multiple locations because it gives people who are in different offices a chance to get to know each other. It lets them all feel part of something larger than just their location. It is also wise to have an annual update to the strategic plan, business plan or marketing plan the leader shares with the team annually. It is important to write the vision and make it plain. Then the team can run with it after they read it. Building a company culture takes time, effort and consistency. But you can create a great culture in small ways. Do what you can each day, week and month to have happier, healthier, more engaged and loyal team members, and you will never regret any of the effort spent. When your team members are motivated and happy, your clients and potential recruits will notice, which will lead to success for the overall organization. Consider Hoopis Performance Network for Training To help build your culture, consider using our virtual training videos in your company, agency or firm. HPN brings you winning training for sales associates, and training for sales leaders. They can access training and information on their smartphones and tablets when they have spare time, learn at their own pace and customize their curriculum based on what interests them the most. How to Build a Great Culture

President of Disability Resource Group, Inc. John Nichols MSM, CLU President of Disability Resource Group, Inc. John F. Nichols, MSM, CLU is a nationally recognized disability benefits consultant, the creator of disability products and administration systems and an expert witness in disability proceedings. Nichols serves as president of Disability Resource Group, Inc., a national insurance agency that he founded in 1999. John Nichols joined the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors in 1985 and was elected NAIFA Secretary in 2011. He was the 124th National President for the year 2013-2014. In 2007, NAIFA Chicago Region recognized John with their Leadership in Life Award. He is in the top 20 of lifetime contributors for NAIFA’s IFAPAC. He is a frequent speaker at an array of national meetings, including MDRT Main Platform 2012, a session speaker in 2004, 2010 and 2015, NAIFA National, and over 500 state and local NAIFA programs. He obtained his CLU designation in 2003 and graduated with his Masters in Science Management with an emphasis in Leadership in 2011 from The American College. John is a member of the President’s Circle contributor level at the American College. As a life and qualifying MDRT member, John has two Court of the Table and ten Top of the Table qualifications. Additionally, he is an Excalibur knight level contributor and Legion of Honor member to the MDRT Foundation. In 1993, John had a near-death experience from a water skiing accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down to his toes. Through six years of rehabilitation, he reached a level of recovery that less than 1 percent of all spinal cord injury patients attain. John, who in 2010 and 2012 was LIFE’s industry spokesperson for Disability Insurance Awareness Month, has chronicled his story in his first book for the financial advisor world, Income Protection, The Conversation. His second book released in 2014 entitled, Passion, Purpose, Protection, The Ability of Disability Insurance is to help the consumer understand the value of protecting their ability to earn an income. In 2012, John received the Richard M. Daley and Maggie Daley “Golden Shoe” Award for being the #1 Bank of America Chicago Marathon fundraisers for non-for-profits. John spends time in Chicago, IL and Lyons, CO and loves to travel, hike and train for marathons. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker