BLIS 2024 SPEAKERS
Aamir Chalisa, MBA, LUTCF
As the General Manager of the Oak Brook, IL branch of Futurity First Insurance Group (FFIG), Aamir leads a team of 50 agents, and his branch was a leading performer for FFIG in 2022. He currently serves as the International Advisory Council Chairman for GAMA Global, leveraging his 33 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry. Known for his successful record of promoting diversity in corporate America, Aamir brings a wealth of expertise to share with the #BLISExperience audience.
Abraham Zaarour, A wealth management business owner
Abraham has over 31 years of experience in business, sales, and management in the US and UAE. He worked as a financial advisor in California before moving to the UAE. In Dubai, he held roles at Standard Chartered Bank and MFC before founding his own wealth management business. Today, he provides training in sales, management, and technical skills.
Amber Forte, #1 female wingsuiter in the world
Amber, a wingsuit athlete from Devon, UK, holds the world record for the fastest female in a wingsuit. Despite a serious injury in 2019, she made a remarkable comeback to her sport, now inspiring others with her story of resilience.
Asvin Chauhan,
Master of Ceremony (MC)
With 32 years of experience in life insurance, Asvin is a respected veteran in the industry. He holds 8 Court of the Table and 9 Top of the Table qualifications, showcasing his exceptional success. Asvin is an active volunteer for MDRT, currently leading the Business Strategy and Planning Task Force. He is also a dedicated supporter of the MDRT Charitable Foundation, recognized as a Diamond Knight Status and Inner Circle Member. Asvin is a Level 4 Qualified Financial Adviser and a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), sharing his knowledge as a speaker at MDRT events to inspire financial advisers worldwide.
Brian Heckert, A 34-year MDRT member, 22-year Court of the Table qualifier, and 15-year Top of the Table achiever
Brian, CLU, ChFC, AIF®, QPFC, has 39 years of industry experience. He held leadership roles, including 5 years on the MDRT Executive Committee and as the 2016 MDRT President. Brian authored “401(k)nowhow” and “A Study-Group Success Story.” Featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, CNN Money, Business Wire, and ThinkAdvisor. Presented globally to audiences of up to 15,000 on various topics. Community advocate as past president of the Nashville Lions Club and local Chamber of Commerce, and served on the Nashville Community High School Board.
Jade W. Dagher, Business and income strategist, CMC certified
Bringing over 20 years of experience, he specializes in aiding SMEs and family businesses in expanding sales, going global, navigating succession, franchising, and optimizing investments and wealth. As a Certified Management Consultant and member of the CMC-GI Institute, he has operated in the EMEA region, engaging with diverse nationalities. He founded Expand Strategies in 2002, focusing on banking, feasibility studies, and financial planning for startups and medium-sized businesses.
Kaplan Mobray, Master of Ceremony (MC)
Kaplan is a renowned business speaker and author of “The 10Ks of Personal Branding.” He graduated from Wharton School and has appeared in top global media outlets like CNN, FOX Business, and The Wall Street Journal. Kaplan delivers inspirational speeches at the Super Bowl and consults for multinational companies on performance, branding, innovation, and diversity.
Khaled Younes, Regional EMEA Face-to-Face overseer
Khaled oversees Agency and Independent operations in EMEA, focusing on strategies for face-to-face executives and digital/AI solutions. Previously, he led Distribution and Strategic Projects at MetLife Egypt, driving business growth and insurance awareness. Khaled also inspires financial education through his podcast and coaching insurance leaders in Egypt.
Naji Haddad, BLIS Founder
A self-taught financial expert, dedicated to making a real difference in people’s lives. After studying economics and financial management, Naji started in banking before shifting to financial advisory. He developed his skills through coaching, training, and attending global events like the MDRT, then became an MDRT member, speaker, and now holds leadership roles in the organization. In parallel, Naji founded “Legacy Builders,” a consultancy firm aimed at helping people plan for the future.
Panos Leledakis, A pioneer in the insurance industry
Panos is a respected figure in the insurance industry, known for his expertise in digital transformation and new technologies. He has received numerous awards as an insurance consultant and manager, including being a member of MDRT Top of the Table since 1999. Panos has developed 2 innovative software solutions that have won 11 global InsurTech awards. An accomplished public speaker, he is recognized for his motivational speeches. He holds certifications from LUTCF, IRMA, BRMA, and recently completed a certification in “AI for Business” from the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, Panos is the president and CEO of IFAAcademy, an organization that trains insurable risk managers worldwide.
Ray Bassil, An accomplished shotgun shooter and former UNDP Youth and Gender Goodwill Ambassador
Ray, an accomplished trap shooter, has made a name for herself in the sports world. She is a trailblazer as the only Arab athlete to compete in 4 Olympic Games and has won numerous World Cup medals. Ray is not only a champion in her sport but also a dedicated advocate for social and environmental causes, embodying Lebanese values through her work.
Solomon Hicks, CEO of Hicks Global Services
CEO of Hicks Global Services, Solomon is an internationally renowned speaker, career coach, and consultant with over 50 years of experience in the life insurance business. His name is synonymous with excellence in the industry. Despite his extensive career, Solomon shows no signs of slowing down, continuously adding exciting and inspiring chapters to his already remarkable life.
Stuart Shee, An experienced speaker and author
Stuart is an experienced speaker, having presented in over 60 cities across 16 countries on a variety of topics. His signature topic, mirroring the title of his book, is “Work of Heart,” which he has previously presented as “Hardware Vs Heartware” at the MDRT Annual Meeting and Global Conference. Another of Stuart’s popular topics is “Gift of Empathy,” focusing on how to quickly connect with people and encourage open dialogue. He also conducts workshops on the MARKSync@ Toolkit, a framework for building a profitable and sustainable financial services profession.
Tariq Khan, A Clinical Professor of Leadership and Marketing at New York University
Tariq is a sought-after global speaker on leadership, strategy, marketing, and diversity. With 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles at global Fortune companies, Tariq is an accomplished business leader based in New York. In 2010, Tariq founded a marketing consulting firm, Global Diversity Marketing, in New York. He also serves on the board of directors at major non-profit organizations in the US. Additionally, Tariq is a published author of the book “Leadership in Changing Times,” which is used at several universities and companies around the world.
Veejay Madhavan, A distinguished business executive with over 26 years of experience in strategic management and people strategy.
Veejay, a thought leader in nurturing individual potential and cultivating future leaders, founded OulbyZ to empower Gen Z through innovative concepts like the Founders’ Mentality and Ikigai. Guiding C-suite leadership across ASEAN and the Middle East since October 2022, his work focuses on building empowered multi-generational teams with Generative AI. Currently pursuing a doctoral degree, Veejay's research explores the impact of Generative AI on Gen Z, earning him an Outstanding Leadership Award for contributions to Gen Z learning and education.
BLIS 2023 Speakers
Naji Haddad, BLIS Founder
Lebanese Financial Advisor Naji Haddad is a self-made, self-taught financial professional who is determined to make a real difference in people's lives by giving them access to a safer tomorrow. After studying Economics & Financial Management at CNAM-ISAE, Lebanon, Haddad kicked off his career in banking before realizing that his true passion lied in offering reliable and sound financial advice to individuals about how to secure their life as well as their families' future.
Tony Gordon, Chief Patron of the event
Tony Gordon is one of the best-known names in the world of financial services.
In 2001 he became the first President of MDRT from outside North America – having had the unique distinction of having served both as Chairman of MDRT’s Top of the Table and as President of the UK’s insurance agents association.
Solomon Hicks, CEO of Hicks Global Services
If you are familiar at all with the life insurance business, you know the name Solomon Hicks. He is an internationally sought-after speaker, career coach, and consultant. With more than 49 years in the business, Sol is showing no signs of slowing down as he continues to add exciting and inspiring chapters to his already remarkable life.
Dr. Sanjay Tolani, Inter-Generational Planner | Financial Structure Innovator | Philanthropist | Mentor To Over 100K Professionals
Over the last decade, Dr Sanjay Tolani has mentored over hundreds of thousands of financial advisors on how to do proper financial planning through his own community: Sanjay Mentoring Family. He is also a 20-year member of the Million Dollar Round Table – The Premier Association of Financial Professionals, with 2 Court of the Table, 16 Top of the Table honors and 9 years Platinum Dragon.
Kaplan Mobray, Internationally Acclaimed Author, Motivational Speaker, Career Consultant and Founder of the Kaplan Mobray Leadership Institute
Kaplan Mobray is one of the world’s most dynamic and motivational business speakers and award-winning author of The 10Ks of Personal Branding.
Wharton-educated, Kaplan draws from his extensive corporate experience as a successful business executive where he led corporate marketing, advertising, brand development, and workforce diversity initiatives for Fortune 500 companies.Kaplan has received worldwide acclaim and numerous awards for his leadership and branding insights.
Regina Bedoya, 30-year MDRT member with seven Court of the Table and 7 Top of the Table honors.
Regina is president of RB Financial Advisors, a financial consulting firm in South Florida, specializing in retirement and insurance planning. As a result of the impact she has had in her community, she was awarded the American Free Enterprise Companion Medal by Palm Beach Atlantic University.
In 2016 she accepted the nomination to the MDRT Executive Committee and served as the 2020 MDRT President.
She is an Excalibur Knight of the MDRT Foundation and a member of its Inner Circle Society.
Svetlana Plitin, Finance advisor, BNI chapter‘s co-founder and Ambassador
One of the top finance advisors in Lithuania and the best in Allianz Lithuania for the last several years with the highest career qualification level, as well as a co-founder and an ambassador of a business referrals chapter. In only 7 years, since her start in the life insurance business, she has learned how to balance between being a wife, a mother and a business woman, and has qualified for MDRT 6 years in a row and reached the highest production rates ever achieved in the company since the establishment.
Rickson D'souza, Life Insurance Specialist to High Networth Individuals
Rickson is a Life Insurance specialist with expertise in products and solutions for high net worth individuals. A true man of the trade, Rickson draws from six decades of family experience in the Life Insurance and Financial Services industry.
He is a proud member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) and the prestigious Top of the Table for 14 years now; the Top of the Table being an elite circle of the top 1% of Life Insurance and Finance professionals globally.
Tom Hegna, CLU, ChFC, CASL
Tom Hegna is an economist, author, and retirement expert. He has been an incredibly popular industry speaker for many years and is considered by many to be THE Retirement Income Expert!.
As a former First Vice President at New York Life, retired Lieutenant Colonel, and economist, Tom has delivered over 5,000 seminars on his signature "Paychecks and Playchecks" retirement approach, helping Baby Boomers and seniors retire the "optimal" way. He has condensed a large chunk of his considerable knowledge into 5 books.
Ghassan Kosta, Senior Leader at Google Cloud
As a member of the senior leadership of Google Cloud in the META region, Ghassan is responsible for driving step-change growth through strategic partnerships and initiatives. In a high-growth environment, He brings strong market experience of managing successful teams and leading great revenue growth. He managed to get the Google Cloud business off the ground and has taken part in major digital transformation projects for Enterprise and public sector entities across the region.
Bhupinder Anand, Owner, and Financial Architect at Anand Financial Architecture & Anand Wills and Trusts
Bhupinder Anand is Managing Director of ‘Anand Financial Architecture’, based in London, England. He is a 27-year member of MDRT with 22 years as Top of the Table and has twice been awarded UK ‘Independent Financial Adviser of the Year’ and is one of the profession’s favourite speakers, having spoken at major conferences all around the world including MDRT Annual Meetings many times.
He also runs the ‘Advisor Master Class’ coaching programme and is author of ‘Smashing the Glass Ceiling – Breaking Through Your Personal Barriers to Success’.
Jim Ruta, BA, RHU, EPC
Jim Ruta wrote over 100 lives in his first year as a life insurance agent at age 22. He joined management at 25 and led one of Canada’s largest life insurance agencies with 250 agents by age 40.
Today, he helps transform life insurance agents from MDRT aspirants to Top of the Table qualifiers and beyond. His clients include industry icon Van Mueller of Milwaukee.
Michael Morrow, Financial Planner l Employee Benefits l Speaker l Workshop Leader l Author
Mike Morrow is a Financial Planner, MDRT Member, International Speaker and Author of three books best-selling books: The Loyalty Edge, The Picture Sells the Story™ and released March 2016, The Little Book of Woww!™, co-authored with Michelle Hoskin.
Mike has been helping families and business owners in Northwestern Ontario for 25 years. He is internationally recognized as a leader among Financial Advisors, having spoken to over 40,000 advisors in 12 countries about client and prospect engagement, client appreciation and financial services marketing.
Cynthia Hick, Managing Partner at Hicks Global Services
As a 9-time MDRT qualifier, 4-time Court of the Table, and 3-time Top of the Table
honoree, earned her Series 6 designation, 63 licenses, commercial PC, certificate of
Project Management, and diligently working toward her CFP - Cynthia Hicks-Middleton is
a powerhouse life insurance agent and keen businesswoman.
Panos Leledakis, The president and CEO of IFA Academy
Founder & CEO of IFAAcademy- International Financial Architects. MDRT member, unit manager, Branch Manager and since 2010 an independent Broker specialized in the field of Business Insurance.
Ashok Sardana, Managing Director at Continental Insurance Brokers & Financial Services
A veteran of the industry, Ashok Sardana, founder and Managing Director of the Continental International Group, has been advising clients on a range of financial services for over 30 years. A dynamic individual, Ashok, believes in leading from the front and is passionate about spreading financial awareness and the need for proper financial planning.
Christopher Noonan, Senior Executive Vice President – Central Mountain Complex
Chris is a visionary leader and highly accomplished professional in the financial services industry. Early in his career, he discovered his passion was to help others achieve their greatness within. He has a proven track record of leading people to exceptional results and recognizing their unique ability. With a fluid marketplace and change a constant, he and his team consistently challenge the status quo, assume a responsible mindset and focus on encouraging and inspiring others to live a life of significance.
Aamir Chalisa, MBA, LUTCF
LACP, MDRT
Aamir Chalisa is a General Manager at the Oak Brook, IL branch of Futurity First Insurance Group (FFIG). He leads this branch with 50 agents; it was a leading Branch at Futurity in 2022
Aamir currently serves as the International Advisory Council Chairman for GAMA Global.
With a successful record of accomplishment in growing diversity in corporate America, Aamir has 32 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry.