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Collective Experience. Insightful Solutions. The Advanced Planning Group Team

Through your New York Life financial professional, you’ll have the opportunity to consult with the Advanced Planning Group.

Collective Experience. Insightful Solutions.

A nationally‐recognized team of knowledgeable professionals who are specially trained to listen to your goals and objectives, evaluate your current planning strategies, and offer thoughtful, researched suggestions and solutions to help you optimize your financial goals. Their collective experience supports a variety of wealth strategies and business planning objectives. 

Business protection and succession

Nonqualified executive benefit strategies

Wealth transfer and distribution strategies

Transnational planning (non-U.S. citizen)

Estate tax mitigation

Charitable planning

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Stephanie Bagwell, J.D

Stephanie is an Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents as a member of the Case Design Team. Stephanie came to New York Life with substantial experience in the areas of estate planning, taxation, and trusts providing her with a keen understanding of various sophisticated estate planning strategies and their most effective and lucrative applications. Stephanie obtained her Juris Doctor from Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth, Texas. She studied Japanese and received her Bachelor of Science from Texas Christian University, also in Fort Worth, Texas. Stephanie is admitted to the State Bar of Texas and is a member of the Trusts and Estates, International Law, and Securities sections of the Dallas Bar Association.

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Douglas E. Brisco, J.D., LL.M., CLU®, CHFC®, CAP®, CASL®, CHSNC®

Doug is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents as a member of the Virtual Team. Doug has nearly 40 years’ experience working in trusts, estate planning, taxation, business development, and charitable planning, as well as extensive consultant work for financial service groups and insurance companies. Doug obtained his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law; his LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University School of Law; and his B.S. in Finance from the University of Connecticut. Doug has also earned multiple professional designations and holds Series 6 and 63 FINRA registrations. Doug is admitted to the State Bar of Connecticut.

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Jaehong “Jake” Choi, J.D.

Jake is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents working in the Pacific Zone and the Korean Cultural market. Jake came to New York Life with over 20 years’ estate and business planning experience. His areas of focus include advanced estate planning strategies, business succession planning, estate taxation, and various tax savings vehicles for both individual and business owner clientele. Jake earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts, and a B.A. in Economics from the University of California in Berkeley. He is admitted to the State Bar of California. Jake is fluent in both English and Korean.

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Chunxia (Violet) Cole, J.M., LL.M, MBA

Violet is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents working in the Northeast Zone. Violet came to New York Life with nearly 20 years of substantial client relations, sales, and legal experience. Her combined skillset makes her a highly knowledgeable, effective, and collaborative consultant. Violet obtained her bachelor’s degree and J.M. (Juris Magister) from Dalian Maritime University in Dalian, China. She earned her LL.M. from St. John’s University School of Law in Queens, New York, and her MBA in Logistics Management from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, China. She is pending admittance to the State Bar of New York. Violet is fluent in English and Mandarin.

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Dale T. Facey, J.D.

Dale leads the Compliance and Marketing efforts for New York Life’s Advanced Planning Group and oversees compliance on major projects of The Nautilus Group®, a service of New York Life. Dale collaborates with agents and staff on solutions that address their goals and objectives, meet regulatory requirements, and protect the Company’s clients and their interests. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Human Resources Management from Western New England University in Springfield, MA, and his law degree from Villanova University School of Law in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Dale holds Series 6, 7, 24, 26 and 66 FINRA registrations.

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Filka Forkin, J.D.

Filka Forkin is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents working in the South Central Zone and the Latino Cultural market. Filka joined New York Life as a dynamic and disciplined professional, collaborating with agents and their clients on sophisticated estate, business and insurance planning cases. As a practicing attorney with a concentration in estate planning, Filka helps clients realize their overall financial goals by implementing optimal estate planning strategies for wealthy individuals and business owners. Filka earned his law degree from Barry University School of Law, Orlando, Florida and his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Florida International University. Filka served in the United States Air Force and is fluent in English and Spanish.

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Jesus O. Garcia-Briales, J.D., LL.M.

Jesus is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents working in the West Central Zone and the Latino Cultural market. Jesus has significant experience in the areas of retirement, financial, and estate planning having served as an insurance professional and financial advisor, as well as a practicing attorney with an emphasis in estate planning, immigration, and litigation. Jesus earned his J.D. from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law; his LL.M. in Financial Services Law from the Chicago-Kent College of Law; and his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico. He is admitted to the State Bar of Illinois and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Jesus is a Series 6 and 63 FINRA registered representative and is fluent in Spanish and English.

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J.D. Harness, J.D.

J.D. supports the agents of New York Life as an Advanced Planning Consultant on the Case Design Unit. J.D. is a skilled consultant, coaching agents on the identification and presentation of sophisticated insurance-based advanced planning solutions for affluent individuals and business owners. J.D. applies his experience and expertise in the areas of business and estate planning; and, executive benefit arrangements. J.D. started with New York Life as a Case Development Consultant with The Nautilus Group® in 2000; and, later helped manage the Coaching Series. Earlier in his career, J.D. was a Tax Auditor for the Internal Revenue Service. J.D. earned his law degree from the University of Houston and his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the University of Texas at Austin.

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Allen Hensley, MSFS, CLU®, ChFC®,  AEP

Allen Hensley, MSFS, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP is an Advanced Agent Development Officer with New York Life Insurance Company and member of the Coaching Series team. For over 25 years, Allen has worked to protect and grow wealth for clients and their families. The majority of his tenure with New York Life has been dedicated to training and supporting financial service professionals, to create more value for their clients. Allen conducts national training events, client educational seminars, and helps design solutions for the clients of our agents and financial service professionals. Allen is an Accredited Estate Planner, with a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) from The American College and a BA from Western Kentucky University. Allen has also earned the Chartered Life Underwriter®, Chartered Financial Consultant®, and AEP designations. He is a member of the Dallas Estate Planning Council and a Registered Representative of NYLIFE Distributors LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

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Elizabeth Hill, J.D.

Elizabeth is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents as a member of the Case Design Team. Elizabeth came to New York Life with substantial experience in trusts, estate planning, and estate settlement matters. She worked for a prominent national trust company where she managed the wind down of complex estates and trusts. Prior to that, Elizabeth established and successfully grew her own law practice focused on estate planning, probate administration, and business litigation, among other areas. Elizabeth obtained her J.D. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and her B.B.A. from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. She is admitted to the State Bar of Texas.

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Jeanmarie Holm, J.D.

Jeanmarie is a manager at the Advanced Planning Group. She oversees the team of advanced planning professionals on the Case Design Unit. Jeanmarie joined New York Life in 2009 with more than 23 years’ experience in estate planning, business planning, executive benefits, qualified plans and charitable planning. Jeanmarie has been a featured speaker at industry-sponsored meetings and has been published in The Journal of Financial Service Professionals. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (cum laude), from Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ, and earned her law degree from Western New England University School of Law in Springfield, MA, where she served as the Research Editor of the Law Review.

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Frank Huang, J.D., LL.M.

Frank Huang, J.D., LL.M. is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents working in the Pacific Zone. Frank has over 20 years’ experience in estate planning, trust administration, business succession planning and substantial practice working with tax professionals, life insurance specialists, and other professional advisors to help high-net-worth clientele to maximize asset protection and reduce tax liabilities. Frank obtained his J.D. and LL.M. in International Legal Studies from Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco, California. He received a B.A. in International Relations and a B.A. in Economics from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Frank is admitted to the State Bar of California. He is fluent in English and Mandarin.

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John Irvin, CLU®, ChFC®, CPA

John is a manager at the Advanced Planning Group. He is dedicated to helping agents understand complex legal and financial techniques that may help clients accomplish personal and financial goals. John has an extensive professional background in corporate and personal taxation and debt restructuring. With more than 23 years at New York Life, he has had the opportunity to work closely with the best agents in the industry. John graduated from Mississippi State University.

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Amine M. Khater, J.D.

Amine is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents working in the Northeastern Zone. Amine came to New York Life with significant experience in wealth management, wealth transfers, taxation, and insurance matters. His experience provides Amine with an acute understanding of how to utilize insurance products to effectuate sophisticated estate and business planning strategies for New York Life’s agents’ affluent clientele. Amine obtained his J.D., with an emphasis on Tax Law, Securities Law, and Estate Planning from Delaware Law Widener University in Wilmington, Delaware; he received his B.S. in Finance from Kean University in Union, New Jersey.

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Jeff Klein, CFP®

Jeff provides agent development resources, services and training as a member of Agent Development. A skilled and thoughtful project manager, Jeff shepherds major sales and marketing initiatives from creation to implementation. Jeff joined New York Life with 27 years’ technical and practical experience. He managed a variety of business units including recruiting and marketing for a prominent financial services firm; and, as a licensed life insurance agent, worked exclusively with affluent individuals and business owners. Jeff is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in economics; and, is a Certified Financial Planner®.

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Tony Li

Tony Li is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Manager for New York Life Insurance Company, serving the General Offices in the Pacific Zone. Tony’s broad advanced planning experience and product expertise make him as a knowledgeable and skilled resource for agents working with high-net-worth individuals and business owners. Tony collaborates with agents on the use, selection, and presentation of life insurance products. He also designs customized proposals offering advanced and popular insurance-based solutions. Tony received his B.A. in Finance from Baruch College in New York, New York, and he holds a Series 6 FINRA registration.

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Ting Liao, J.D., MBA

Ting Liao, J.D., MBA is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents working in the Pacific Zone and Chinese cultural market. Ting came to New York Life with experience in insurance, complex trust and estate planning matters, taxation, financial services, and business planning. Her experience provides her with a keen understanding of how to assist New York Life agents and their affluent client base to meet their advanced planning needs. Ting obtained her J.D. from Southwestern Law School; her MBA with a focus in Finance from California State University in Fullerton, CA; and her B.A. in Finance from California State University in San Bernardino, CA. She is admitted to the State Bar of California. Ting is fluent in English and Mandarin.

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Antoinette Marshall, J.D., LL.M, CPA

Antoinette supports New York Life agents as an Advanced Planning Consultant with the Case Design team. Antoinette came to New York Life with substantial experience in corporate, estate, and tax planning having worked as an estate planning attorney for two prominent law practices, as well as having owned her own firm. She has also served as a tax consultant and wealth planner for high-net worth clientele. Antoinette obtained her J.D. from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana; her LL.M. in Tax Law from the University of Denver; and her B.S. in Accounting from Loyola University. She is also a licensed CPA in California and Virginia. She is admitted to the State Bars of Nevada and Virginia and is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Tax Court.

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Gina M. Ostrovich, J.D.

Gina Ostrovich, J.D., is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant, serving agents working in the West Central Zone. Lending her expertise in the area of advanced estate and tax planning strategies, Gina collaborates with agents to provide thoughtful skillful guidance in the identification and application of insurance-based solutions for affluent clients and business owners. Gina has significant experience in the financial services industry and legal field, having worked for two prominent national trust companies and several respected law firms. Gina obtained her Juris Doctor from Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth, Texas, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (cum laude) from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Gina is a member of the State Bar of Texas.

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Brad Penny, LUTC

Brad Penny, LUTCF, is a Corporate Vice President and the Advanced Planning Manager for New York Life Insurance Company, serving the General Offices in the West Central Zone. Brad brings 20 years' insurance and financial services experience to the Advanced Planning Group. After graduating with a degree in financial planning from the University of North Texas, Brad began his career in the life insurance and financial services industry in 1996 as an agent and fee-based advisor. In 2000, he transitioned from personal production to sales management and joined New York Life as a Life Product Consultant in 2002. 

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Geoff Pfeiffer, J.D., CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®, FLMI®

Geoff supports New York Life agents in his role as an Advanced Planning Consultant on the Case Design Unit. His areas of expertise include estate planning, executive benefit plans, and business exit strategies. Geoff is active in industry organizations, including the General Agents and Managers Association, NALU, NAIFA, and NAECP. He served as a member of the National Board for the Society of Financial Services Professionals and is past-president of the Greater Phoenix and Rocky Mountain chapters. Geoff obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati and his law degree from Cincinnati Law School.

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Glenn Plotkin, J.D., CLU®, CHFC®, CFP®, CTFA®

Glenn is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents working in the West Central Zone. Glenn came to New York Life with over 30 years’ experience in estate and business planning law, as well as substantial experience in the insurance and financial services industries. Glenn obtained his J.D. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He received his M.S. in Business and his B.A. in Economics and Political Science, with honors, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is admitted to the State Bar of Kansas. Glenn has also earned the Chartered Life Underwriter®, Chartered Financial Consultant®, Certified Financial Planner®, and the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor® designations.

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Rick Popper, J.D.

Rick Popper, J.D., is a Corporate Vice President and the Advanced Planning Manager for New York Life Insurance Company, serving the General Offices in the South Central Zone. Rick leads a team that works with top agents, their clients, and their clients' professional advisors to develop estate planning, business succession, and tax planning strategies. With 20 years' industry-related experience, Rick's past professional accomplishments as a practitioner, consultant, and business owner enable him to bring a unique perspective to his agents and their clients. Rick is a graduate of Auburn University, Alabama, and received his law degree from the University of Mississippi.

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Leilani K. Rivers, J.D.

Leilani K. Rivers, J.D. is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents as a member of the Northeast Zone and the African American cultural market. Leilani came to New York Life with a wealth of legal experience serving  as a highly regarded attorney and advanced planning consultant to her clientele in myriad areas of estate, tax, and business planning. Her experience places her in an excellent position to serve New York Life agents, their professional advisors, and their high-net-worth clients to determine sophisticated insurance-based solutions for complex planning matters. Leilani obtained her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law in Jamaica, New York, and her B.A. in Political Science from Union College in Schenectady, New York. She is admitted to the State Bar of New York.

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Luke I. Robinson, J.D., CLU®

Luke I. Robinson, J.D., CLU® is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents working in the South Central Zone. Luke came to New York Life with over 20 years’ experience in insurance, financial, and legal services. In addition to practicing law in the areas of estate and business planning, he also served as a consultant for creating life insurance-based solutions for advanced estate planning, business succession, and retirement matters. Luke obtained his J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota and his B.A. in History from the University of Minnesota. Luke has also earned the Chartered Life Underwriter® designation, and he holds Series 7 and 66 FINRA registrations. Luke is admitted to the State Bar of Minnesota.

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Amanda Sarp, J.D.

Amanda SARP, J.D., is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant supporting New York Life agents working in the South Central Zone. An engaging and thoughtful consultant, Amanda collaborates with agents, clients and other professional advisors in the area of estate planning, with an emphasis on the intricacies of trust planning and, resolving estate planning gaps for wealthy individuals. Amanda earned her law degree from Texas A&M University School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas; and, her Bachelor of Arts degree (summa cum laude) from the University of Texas at Arlington.

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Ross Sims, III, J.D.

Ross Sims, III, J.D., is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant, serving agents working in the West Central Zone. Ross collaborates with agents to identify and implement optimal estate planning strategies and business solutions using complex insurance-based solutions. Earlier in his career, Ross worked as an agent for New York Life. This experience has given him a keen aptitude for developing planning techniques for large estates, successful businesses, and executive compensation. Ross earned his law degree from the Paul M. Herbert Law Center at Louisiana State University, where he received numerous academic awards, and his Bachelor of Business Administration from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.

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Kirrupan Theivakumar, J.D.

Kirrupan Theivakumar, J.D., is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant serving agents in the West Central Zone and the Asian-Indian cultural market. Kirrupan collaborates with agents to develop sophisticated and personalized insurance-based estate and business planning solutions for affluent individuals and business owners. Previously, Kirrupan worked as a case design consultant for the Case Design Team. This experience provided him with the acumen to develop effective strategies to handle in-depth estate planning matters, retirement planning concepts, business planning, and complex tax issues. In addition to receiving numerous prestigious academic awards in law school, Kirrupan also earned an advanced Corporate and Business Law Certificate. Kirrupan received his J.D. from Rutgers Law School in Newark, New Jersey and his B.A. in Economics from Drew University.

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David R. Toups, J.D.

David R. Toups, J.D., MBA, CFA®, CFP®, CTFA®, is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents working in the South Central Zone. David joined New York Life in 2016 as a case design consultant for The Nautilus Group®, a service of New York Life, where he provided in-depth analyses of multi-faceted estate planning matters. Prior to that, David spent more than 14 years in private practice focused on estate, trust, and business litigation. David obtained his B.A. in business from Texas A&M University; his MBA, with an emphasis in finance, from Sam Houston State University; and his J.D. from South Texas College of Law. He has also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst®, Certified Financial Planner®, and the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor® designations. David is admitted to the State Bar of Texas.

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Brad Trevino, J.D., LL.M, MBA, MS

Brad Trevino, J.D., LL.M, MBA, M.S., is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant, supporting agents working in the West Central Zone. Brad came to New York Life with a strong background in the life insurance industry having served as both an agent and sales manager earlier in his career. Additionally, Brad worked as an attorney and litigator in private practice where he provided complex tax, business, and estate planning advice to ultra-high-net worth clientele. Brad eventually combined his expertise in estate planning and taxation with his significant knowledge of insurance products and started with New York Life as a case design consultant for the prestigious Nautilus Group®, a service of New York Life. He later moved to the Advanced Planning Group where he skillfully served as a member of the Virtual Team before joining the Field Team. Brad earned his J.D. from Louisiana State University; his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Alabama; an MBA and MS from Indiana University; and a B.S. in Marketing from Santa Clara University.

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Sarah M. Trevino, J.D., MBA, LL.M., MA

Sarah M. Trevino, J.D., MBA, LL.M., MA, is the peer review specialist assisting with the Compliance and Marketing efforts for New York Life’s Advanced Planning Group and serving as editor of the Advanced Planning Library. Prior to coming to New York Life, Sarah worked as a Trust Compliance Officer for a prominent national trust company. There, she monitored compliance in trust administration and complex estate settlement matters to ensure appropriate fiduciary conformity with federal securities laws, state laws, and internal bank policy. Sarah earned her J.D. from Texas A&M University in Fort Worth, Texas; her LL.M. in Estate Planning and Trusts from the University of Illinois at Chicago; her MBA from Regis University in Denver, Colorado (summa cum laude); an M.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology; and a B.A. in Business Communications from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas (summa cum laude). Sarah is admitted to the State Bar of Texas.

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Angela M. Wethor, J.D., CPA

Angela M. Wethor, J.D., CPA, is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant supporting agents working in the Pacific Zone. Angela has over 20 years of experience working with money managers and their clients to help plan and implement strategies designed to meet their life insurance needs. Angela earned her J.D. (magna cum laude) from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. Angela attended undergrad at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she earned a B.A. (summa cum laude) in Business and a second B.A. (summa cum laude) in Accounting. Angela is a member of the State Bar of Minnesota.

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Adam M. Zack, J.D.

Adam M. Zack, J.D., is a Corporate Vice President and Advanced Planning Consultant with New York Life Insurance Company, supporting agents working in the Northeastern Zone. He joined New York Life with significant experience in complex estate planning matters and wealth management strategies. Adam spent several years working as a consultant in the financial services industry, as well as over ten years working with high-net worth clientele for a prominent national trust company. Adam earned his J.D. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He also received a B.B.A. in Finance and a B.A. in Philosophy from The University of Texas at Austin. He is admitted to the State Bar of Texas and is a member of the Dallas Bar Association.

New York Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, Agents, and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Individuals should consult with their own tax, legal, or accounting advisors before implementing any planning strategies.