NAFA Annuity Distribution Summit Speakers

David Epstein is the author of the #1 New York Times Best Seller Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, and of the New York Times Best Seller The Sports Gene, both of which have been translated into more than 30 languages. (To his surprise, the latter was purchased not only by his sister but also by President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.) His third book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, came out on May 5, 2026, and became an instant New York Times Best Seller.

He was previously the host of Slate‘s popular “How To!” podcast, and a science and investigative reporter at ProPublica. Prior to that, he was a senior writer at Sports Illustrated, where he co-authored the story that revealed Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had used steroids. His writing has been honored by an array of organizations, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, to the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Center on Disability and Journalism, and has been included in the Best American Science and Nature Writing anthology. His story “Following the Trail of Broken Hearts,” on sudden cardiac death in athletes, was chosen as one of the top 100 stories of the last 100 years by Columbia Journalism alumni.

The keynote speaker presentation is proudly sponsored by:

Slyvie di Giusto has redefined audience engagement by blending cutting-edge technology with human connection. As the world’s first 3D immersive keynote speaker and a multi-award-winning presenter, she delivers groundbreaking presentations that change how high-performing teams maximize their human impact in client and team interactions.

Audiences can benefit from Slyvie’s deep understanding of how to drive organizational success through leadership excellence, sales performance, and brand reputation by championing a customer-centric mindset. She has leveraged this knowledge to help some of the world’s most respected organizations to excel in leadership, drive sales success, and enhance their brand’s reputation. Sylvie is the author of a dozen books, including The Image of Leadership and Discover Your Fair Advantage, as well as the creator of the online learning lab How You Impress.

Tamara Ghandour works at the forefront of human-centered innovation. Bringing together more than two decades of business experience, neuroscience, behavioral psychology and change principles, she created the first tools to truly make innovation tangible and accessible to all of us. As the creator of the Everyday Innovator Archetype assessment and author of Innovation is Everybody’s Business, she helps leaders and teams unlock their innovative potential, work in their zone of genius, drive meaningful business breakthroughs, and build high-performing teams.

She has spent her career in rooms where she was the only woman at the table, and learned that the way through wasn’t to become a different kind of leader. It was to get sharper about what she uniquely brought and to use it on purpose. That’s the work she now does with leaders everywhere.

Psychologist Hal Hershfield studies how thinking about time transforms the emotions and alters the judgments and decisions people make. His research concentrates on the psychology of long-term decision making and how time affects people’s lives — specifically at a moment when Americans are living longer and saving less. One of Hal’s most well-known discoveries suggests that when people are confronted with their “future selves” they experience an emotional sense of connection that can influence long-term financial and ethical decision making.

Hal completed his Ph.D. at Stanford and a post-doc at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University before teaching undergraduates at NYU Stern. He is now Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA Anderson, and holds the UCLA Anderson Board of Advisors Term Chair in Management, and provides consulting services to major organizations and corporations across the country.

Dennis Moseley-Williams is an expert in customer experience, which is the predominant economic offering in the world today. He delivers captivating presentations that teach organizations how to create transformative experiences for clients, customers, and employees.

Dennis is the founder of Dennis Moseley-Williams Strategic Consulting and co-founder of the Serious Shift Community for financial advisors. He’s a pioneering member of The World Experience Organization and a contributor to several online experience design courses for advisors. Dennis is also the author of Serious Shift: How Experience Staging Can Save Your Practice, a guidebook on how the experience economy can be adapted specifically to the financial services industry.

Dr. Chris Parry runs his own strategic forecasting, change leadership and trouble-shooting company, advising governments, leading commercial companies and financial institutions about geo-political and strategic issues, future warfare trends, and systemic risk in relation to every aspect of human activity.

With a doctorate in organizational and behavioral psychology, Chris mentors strategic and operational leadership and leads on psychological approaches to warfare and business at universities in the UK and abroad, as well as within major corporations. As an active author, regular geo-political commentator on broadcast and online media, and resident expert on the highly popular, long-running Times Radio YouTube series History Undone, Chris is a fantastic storyteller and speaker, leveraging his experience as an aviator and warfare officer in the Royal Navy to opine on historical and geopolitical events and trends.

Phil Brzenk, CFA, is global head of multi-asset Indices at S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI). His team is responsible for the product management of multi-asset, volatility and options indices, which cover a variety of outcome-oriented index solutions including managed volatility, asset allocation, retirement-focused, options strategies and liquid alternatives. Previously, Phil was a senior director in the Strategy Indices team, and has held various roles in other departments at S&P DJI including research and design, strategy index management, custom and development.

Kim Carpenter is a seasoned financial services professional and a passionate advocate for creating experiences that help people feel seen, supported and empowered. During her time at Ash Brokerage, she has focused on providing employees, advisors and their clients with the best experience available. Kim currently serves as Ash’s Chief Experience Officer. As part of the CX team, she spearheaded the development and implementation of the CX platform across the organization, placing a strong emphasis on using customer experience to positively impact lives.

Jay Charles leads Luma’s annuity business as director of annuity products. He joined Luma in August of 2020 from Prudential Financial, where he led teams focused on developing and commercializing new strategic solutions for Prudential Annuities, including helping launch the carrier’s annuities on multiple fintech platforms. Previously, Jay served as vice president, commercial banking strategy at JP Morgan Chase & Co., where he managed projects focused on developing commercial banking growth strategies and improving operational efficiency and effectiveness, and as an associate for McKinsey & Co.

Chuck DiVencenzo joined NAFA in 2019 as its president and CEO, overseeing the association’s efforts to promote and expand the utilization of fixed and fixed index annuity products through independent distribution. His work on advocacy at the state and federal levels, thought leadership, consumer education efforts and commitment to industry best practices have aided product acceptance and industry growth. Previously, he held positions with Allianz Life and The Hartford, as well as Edward Jones, M&T Bank and National Benefits Group, developing relationships across the industry that help propel his vision for the association forward.

Wes Fetchet is an Executive Director at MSCI, where he leads strategy and sales for the Americas insurance market. On the product issuance side, he partners with insurers to construct customized index solutions spanning a range of asset classes. He also helps insurers’ balance sheets leverage robust tools to better understand risk and develop portfolios across both public and private markets. Before joining MSCI, Wes worked at Equitable within its variable annuity business, and he is a graduate of Bucknell University.

Ben Masel, Managing Director, is the Head of Strategic Capital Solutions for BlackRock’s Insurance Solutions group. In this role, Ben seeks to grow BlackRock’s leading insurance asset management business and how BlackRock supports its insurance company clients via new or expanded partnerships. Previously, Ben oversaw Corporate Development, Investments, and Treasury for R&Q, a London-listed property and casualty insurance and reinsurance company, and was the Head of Capital Markets at Global Atlantic Financial Group, a life and annuity insurance and reinsurance company that was acquired by KKR, where he oversaw capital management, debt issuance, and supported the origination of investments for the company’s balance sheet.

Dennis Mattern is passionate about helping advisors become the best possible version of themselves. As the Vice President of Market Development at CreativeOne, he leads the communication, education and strategy initiatives for the company’s network of 2,000+ financial professionals across the country.
Leveraging 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, his credentials as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and his skills as a presenter, podcast and online talk show host, Dennis delivers engaging and informative content on topics such as retirement income, life insurance, and sales techniques. I also bridge communication gaps between sales consultants and advisors, as well as between advisors and their clients, by listening, understanding and translating their needs and goals.

Marti McLeish serves as National Sales Leader at Legacy Marketing Group, where she leads national sales strategy and strengthens strategic IMO partnerships to drive sustainable premium growth. With experience spanning personal production, advisor development, field leadership and strategic consulting, Marti possesses a deep understanding of distribution dynamics and what it takes to scale effectively. She focuses on aligning education, accountability and execution to elevate advisor performance and deepen partner engagement. Her leadership emphasizes consultative selling, structured growth initiatives and forward-thinking strategies that position advisors — and their firms — for long-term success in a rapidly evolving financial services landscape.

Andrew Payne is vice president and general counsel at CreativeOne. He currently serves as the vice chair of the NAFA Board of Directors and was previously chair of NAFA’s Government and Legal Affairs Committee. Prior to joining CreativeOne in 2016, Andrew worked in private practice where he focused on civil litigation and corporate law, and clerked for the Honorable Justice Lee A. Johnson at the Kansas Supreme Court. Away from the office, Andrew is a graduate of Leadership Overland Park and was elected to the Overland Park City Council representing Ward 5 in 2026.

Blair Prewitt is the AVP of Strategic Partnerships & Events at TruChoice Financial Group, where she leads the firm’s strategic relationships across carriers, broker-dealers and RIAs, along with its company-wide event strategy. With more than a decade of experience in financial services, Blair works across organizations to identify growth opportunities, strengthen distribution relationships and develop strategies that create value for TruChoice, its partners and the financial professionals they serve. She also oversees the strategy behind TruChoice’s event portfolio, creating experiences designed to deepen relationships, support growth and bring the right people together.

Adam Rivituso is National Director of Sales and Business Development for the U.S. Insurance and Sub-Advisory Division at Invesco. In this role, he leads a team of field consultants located around the US, focused on leveraging Invesco’s investment and practice management message across institutional, annuity licensing and retail sub-advisory clients. His team works with executives, senior leaders, analysts, field sales, and key home office personnel to share insights, research, strategies, and tools to help clients meet their investment and distribution needs. Additionally, Mr. Rivituso is responsible for business development efforts related to U.S. Insurance and Sub-Advisory services.

Julie Schneider has more than three decades of financial services industry experience across roles in sales, operations, distribution, and recruiting. After joining Global Atlantic in 2017 to lead the closely-aligned distribution channel in the life business, she was eventually tapped to support the entire financial professional community as a Director for The Consulting Group. In this role, Julie brings together a wealth of experience, her degree studies in communication and psychology, and her love for public speaking to give powerful, value-add, intelligence programs to financial professionals nationwide. She previously served as co-executive sponsor for Global Atlantic’s Women’s Business Network and as a board member of Finseca.

Lori Seaton is vice president of marketing for SILAC Insurance Company. She’s been in the insurance and financial services industry since 2005, where she has held positions within insurance organizations and a registered investment advisory firm. She also has a background in publishing, previously holding both sales and editor positions within a fortune 500 company. Lori leverages her experience and expertise to frequently speak and write about retirement confidence, annuity innovation, and the changing dynamics of wealth. She is the former founding chair of NAFA’s Women’s Annuity Network and remains active on multiple industry committees.

Kelsey Stokes is Head of Financial Institutions Sales, Americas at S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI). In this role, Kelsey oversees sales and strategy for investment banks in the Americas and for insurance globally. Previously, Kelsey held roles in both sales and marketing at S&P DJI, where she worked closely with insurance carriers to identify new multi-asset indices best suited to their needs and support their education and distribution efforts. Before joining S&P DJI, she led equity and alternative index derivatives marketing globally for CME Group.

Eric Taylor serves as Chief Distribution Officer of Avocet Partners, where he leads the company’s distribution strategy, including the development of its annuity distribution platform across independent marketing organizations and other strategic channels. Avocet Partners is an insurance-focused investment and operating platform backed by $500 million of committed equity capital from Oaktree Capital Management and Lane42 Investment Partners. The firm is focused on acquiring, operating and growing life insurance platforms and building an ecosystem of related investment and service businesses.

Sarah Williams has built her career challenging the status quo and helping insurance and financial professionals think differently about marketing and growth. As Vice President of Marketing Communications at CreativeOne, she leverages nearly 25 years of marketing and communications experience to help financial professionals strengthen their brands, generate leads and grow their businesses. A passionate advocate for women in financial services, Sarah founded CreativeWomen, served on the national board of Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS), was named the 2025 WIFS Woman of the Year and a 2026 InvestmentNews Women to Watch Allyship Champion of the Year finalist.

Tim Zawacki is Head of Financial Institutions Research and Lead North American Insurance Analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence, where he oversees a team of analysts producing data-driven research across the banking, fintech, and property and casualty, life, and health insurance sectors. A widely recognized industry voice, Tim brings nearly three decades of continuous coverage to bear on the structural forces reshaping insurance markets — from balance-sheet transformation and the accelerating influence of private capital, to the evolving intersection of sustainability and risk transfer, and the wave of consolidation redefining competitive dynamics across every segment of the industry.