May 2022 Education Meeting
FREE TO FPA MEMBERS ($60 for in-person non-members; $40 fee for virtual non-members)
TOPIC #1: Health Insurance Planning
SPEAKER: Francie Dunlop and Dana Dunlop
About the Speakers: Francie Dunlop, president of Dunlop Health Insurance Services (DHIS), has been in the health insurance business for over 25 years. Francie has a talent for breaking down the basics and helping clients understand all options so each person can make the best decision for him/herself, regardless of age. Francie holds insurance licenses in the states of Ohio and Florida.
Dana Dunlop joined DHIS in 2019, prior to joining DHIS, Dana held a position as a banker in the finance industry. She is dedicated to providing a superior client experience and prides herself on taking a thorough approach to find the best solution for each individual client. Dana holds life and health insurance licenses in the state of Ohio. Dana lives in Twinsburg with her husband, three children, and the office greeter, Sherman.
TOPIC #2: Updates in the Property and Causality Insurance Industry
SPEAKER: Michelle Hirsch
About the Speaker: Michelle Hirsch is Sr. Vice President and third generation family business owner of Brunswick Companies, the boutique property and casualty risk management consultancy based in Cleveland with clients nationwide. Her 15+ years of experience working with family offices, high net worth individuals, professional athletes and celebrities have given her a deep understanding about the potential risks, exposures and complexities that are unique to today’s affluent and those in the public eye. Her insights, solutions and partnership has helped countless advisors attract and deepen the relationship with high net worth clients. Michelle earned her undergraduate degree from Penn State University and her MBA from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Business. Michelle lives in Orange Village and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.
Continuing Education: FPA NEO will request credit for these programs, which will total two hours of CE from the CFP® Board of Standards for CFP® designation holders. A general certificate of completion and one for CPA designees who feel the program satisfies their continuing education requirements will also be available.
Reservation Policy:
IN PERSON: All attendees are encouraged to register in advance before noon 05/18/22 and walk-in reservations will be accepted on a space-available basis only. In person meeting cost is free for FPA members and $60 for non-members. If you reserve and are unable to attend, please call the office or email admin@fpa-neo.org to cancel by noon 05/18/22 to avoid a no-show reservation billing of $10.00.
VIRUTAL: All attendees must register in advance before noon on 05/18/22. Virtual meeting cost is free for FPA members and $40 for non-members. You will receive login credentials the day before the event.
About the speaker: Ryan Fischer is a Villanova University graduate and fourth generation real estate investor. He is presently the Account Executive of CAMA Self-Directed IRA, LLC (dba CamaPlan). CamaPlan is a national company headquartered in Ambler, PA. Ryan has implemented plans and managed millions of dollars in real estate transactions. He has been able to increase his personal net worth and control many endeavors with the self-direction tools available. In addition to his hands-on experience, he has the opportunity to speak to many groups including real estate investors and brokers, CPAs, financial advisors, and mortgage professionals about the power and possibilities of IRA, 401(k), and qualified plan self-direction. Ryan’s unique background, education, experience, and empirical information relating to business, finance, technical requirements, and overall management makes him a key element in the success of his clients controlling their own financial future.
About the Speaker: Jeffrey R. Brooks is a wealth strategist at Capital Group, home of American Funds. He has 25 years of industry experience and has been with Capital Group for three years. Prior to joining Capital, Jeff worked in the role of senior wealth strategist at UBS Financial Services and before that in a similar role at Merrill Lynch/Bank of America. Earlier in his career, Jeff practiced law exclusively in the areas of probate, trust and estate administration and worked for a Probate Court. He received a juris doctor degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism (broadcast sequence), also from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Jeff is based in Los Angeles.
About the Speaker: Joseph Fragapane is Senior Vice President & Team Leader, Private Banking Group at First National Bank. Joe has over 37 years of comprehensive experience in consumer banking and commercial private banking working with affluent individuals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. He’s an accomplished lender focused on providing credit solutions and customizing loans for personal, business and investment purposes. Joe works closely with accountants, attorneys, financial planners, investment advisors and insurance consultants as a collaborative and vested partner in the best interest of shared clients. His approach and passion as a banking advisor is relationship-driven, being value added and having impact on improving the clients’ financial condition. Clientele consist of highly successful financial achievers as well as the emerging affluent. They include physicians and other medical professionals and groups, small business owners, real estate investors and developers, business executives and family-owned companies, law firms and attorneys, accounting firms and CPA’s, financial planners, investment and insurance advisors, and other professionals. Joe has an undergraduate degree in Finance from Miami University and an MBA from Baldwin Wallace University
About the Speaker: Patrick Clunan is the manager of the Learning Center, the value-add program for Columbia Threadneedle Investments. He is responsible for the implementation of the Learning Center’s resources with the company’s wholesaling teams. Patrick also manages the various business units that make up the value-add resource. He has been featured as a keynote speaker at numerous regional and national conferences. Patrick also travels the country working with advisors, clients and other financial professionals, offering education and insight into retirement planning strategies and other in-focus topics. Prior to his current role, he was a regional sales director. Patrick joined one of the Columbia Threadneedle Investments firms in 2010. Previously, he worked as an internal wholesaler with John Hancock Annuities. Patrick has been a member of the investment community since 2005. He received a B. A. in Business Administration from Saint Michael’s College. Patrick holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses with FINRA.
About the speaker: Michael Kitces is the Chief Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com, dedicated to advancing knowledge in financial planning and helping to make financial advisors better and more successful. In addition, he is the Head of Planning Strategy at Buckingham Wealth Partners, the co-founder of the XY Planning Network, AdvicePay, New Planner Recruiting, fpPathfinder, and FA BeanCounters, the former Practitioner Editor of the Journal of Financial Planning, the host of the Financial Advisor Success podcast, and the publisher of the popular financial planning industry blog Nerd’s Eye View. In 2010, Michael was recognized with one of the FPA’s “Heart of Financial Planning” awards for his dedication and work in advancing the profession.
About the speaker: Leon LaBrecque has invested more than thirty years in pursuit of one goal, enriching the lives of everyday people by helping them understand their financial lives. As an attorney, a CPA, a CFP®, and a CFA, he is passionate about making the complex world of financial planning, investing, retirement planning and taxation simpler and more accessible. Whether he is spending time with college students or CEOs and business owners, Leon embodies the principle of placing the best interest of his client at the heart of everything he does. After growing up in Hazel Park, Michigan, graduating magna cum laude from University of Detroit Mercy with degrees in accounting and law, Leon has devoted his life to advancing financial literacy. He has spent countless hours serving his community as a speaker, an author and champion for causes like the Hazel Park Promise Zone. He’s authored multiple books sharing ideas for retirement planning and financial literacy. He’s been featured in media outlets like InvestmentNews, CNBC, USA Today, and Forbes. He is a blogger and a regular contributor to Forbes.com. Leon is more than a talking head, he’s a leading voice drawing attention to the benefits of financial literacy and comprehensive planning. As the Chief Growth Officer of Sequoia Financial Group, he serves a team of experienced advisors, assisting them in their pursuit of providing unparalleled excellence in client service and financial planning. His leadership is anchored in his lifelong belief that collaboration and teamwork result in stronger communities, he freely shares ideas and practical know-how. LaBrecque brings to the table a mind that never rests and a catalog of life experiences that allows him to deeply connect with his clients and understand their individual needs. He is dedicated to helping people reach their financial goals and live their best possible life. When he’s not helping his clients prepare for a thriving retirement he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, hunting and fishing in Michigan’s beautiful outdoors, and relaxing through yoga and poetry.
About the speaker: As executive director of the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority, Tim Gorrell is responsible for leading the agency and its 35 employees, recommending and implementing the investment strategy as approved by an 11-member fiduciary OTTA board, and managing the overall operations of the CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Program. Having held organizational leadership positions throughout his 34-year career, Gorrell most recently served for as the director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, where he led the daily operations of a cabinet-level department of 900 employees serving Ohio’s 877,000 veterans. As director, he oversaw a 7.7% increase in the number of Ohio veterans connecting to services, was recognized nationally for the department’s work with the Defense Personnel Records Information System, and implemented education provisions of Ohio law to better support veterans and their spouses in pursuing college degrees and professional licenses. During his nine years in Ohio public service positions, he also served as an Ohio Deputy Inspector General and as Command Inspector General for the Ohio National Guard. Colonel Gorrell, who retired from the U.S. Army after serving 31 years, is a highly awarded and decorated military leader. Throughout his military career, he served in such senior positions as Chief of Staff to the Commander of the U.S. Third Army in Kuwait and as the Military Assistant/Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment at the Pentagon. His service has spanned the globe. He is a native of Toronto, Ohio and received his undergraduate degree in education from The University of Akron. He holds master’s degrees in history and strategic studies from the University of Monmouth and the U.S. Army War College, respectively. He and his wife reside in Powell, Ohio and are the parents of two daughters.
Terri Bradford Eason, MBA, manages the Cleveland Foundation’s Gift Planning Program as a member of the Advancement team. Her primary focus is cultivating relationships that help individuals establish current and deferred philanthropic funds, legacy gifts and charitable giving strategic plans. As such, Terri works closely with professional advisors and their clients to identify, create and provide charitable planning options tailored to achieve specific philanthropic goals. Terri joined the Foundation in October 2008 after gaining two decades of experience in the financial services industry. She had several positions with National City (now PNC). Terri has served the nonprofit community as a director on several area nonprofit boards. Currently, she serves on the Board of Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, Northern Ohio Charitable Gift Planners Council, Milestone Autism Resources, Inc., AKA Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc., and member of the Board of Trustees for Ohio North First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. Terri is a member of the National Black MBA Association, Inc., NAACP, Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society, Cleveland Chapter of Links, Inc., Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. and Jack & Jill of America, Inc. She earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Cleveland State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Penn State University. Terri resides in South Euclid, Ohio with her husband Clayton Eason, Sr.
Sandy Lucas, JD, joined the Cleveland Foundation as a Gift Planning Advisor in March 2020. She collaborates with individuals, families and their professional advisors to develop charitable giving strategies that meet donors’ philanthropic goals. She also helps the Cleveland Foundation’s organizational partners identify both current and deferred giving opportunities. Sandy previously worked at the Catholic Community Foundation, most recently serving as Director of Planned Giving. Earlier in her career, Sandy was a partner at Schneider, Smeltz, Ranney & LaFond, P.L.L., in Cleveland, focusing her practice in the areas of estate planning, charitable giving, probate and trust administration. Sandy received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history and English from John Carroll University and her law degree from Case Western Reserve University. She is a member of the Northern Ohio Charitable Gift Planners, the Estate Planning Section of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland and the Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.
Dave Stokley, JD, joined the Cleveland Foundation’s Advancement team as a Gift Planning Advisor in July 2019. He focuses on providing individuals, families and organizations with information regarding current and deferred charitable giving options. In addition, Dave works closely with professional advisors and their clients to identify those options that will achieve specific philanthropic planning goals. Prior to joining the Foundation, Dave ran The Cleveland Orchestra’s gift planning program for several years. Dave previously held positions at the Cleveland Museum of Art and Stark & Knoll LPA. Dave serves as the President of Northern Ohio Charitable Gift Planners and is also on the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Baseball Federation. Dave maintains memberships with the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, Northern Ohio Charitable Gift Planners, and Estate Planning Council of Cleveland. He earned his law degree from Ohio State University following undergraduate work at Wittenberg University.
About the speaker: Michelle Hirsch is Sr. Vice President and third generation family business owner of Brunswick Companies, the boutique property and casualty risk management consultancy based in Cleveland with clients nationwide. Her 15+ years of experience working with family offices, high net worth individuals, professional athletes and celebrities have given her a deep understanding about the potential risks, exposures and complexities that are unique to today’s affluent and those in the public eye. Her insights, solutions and partnership has helped countless advisors attract and deepen the relationship with high net worth clients. Michelle earned her undergraduate degree from Penn State University and her MBA from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Business. Michelle lives in Orange Village and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.
About the speaker: As Education and Partnership manager at College Inside Track, Cozy Wittman speaks nationally about college search, educating families and training financial advisors and other professionals who work with families with high schoolers. College search has become increasingly complex, the nuances hard to understand; Cozy is passionate about dispelling myths that cost families money! Cozy is excited to connect with organizations and families interested in learning more about the complex college search process. She is a mom of 5 kids with very different goals for college so she is no stranger to the challenges around college search.
About the speaker: Steve Hamilton, J.D., CLU, ChFC is a Director of the Advanced Consulting Group at Nationwide. Steve has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked for two trust companies and held various positions in the insurance industry including: multi-line agent, Director of Advanced Markets, and Senior Counsel for Compliance. His areas of specialty include estate planning, business succession, and IRA/annuity distribution options. Steve believes that the most important element in the financial planning process is starting with what the client wants and understanding their unique situation.