BLIS 2025 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.

Cynthia Hicks, A 9-time MDRT qualifier and 3-time Top of the Table honoree
Cynthia Hicks-Middleton is a dynamic life insurance agent and entrepreneur. Since 1996, she has traveled the U.S. and Asia with her father, Solomon Hicks, providing strategic guidance. With over 30 years in the industry, she founded SH Generations to empower individuals and communities to secure their futures and preserve their legacies. Cynthia also established Hicks Global Institute, where she and her father offer transformative training for sales professionals. Balancing her successful career, she is a devoted mother and wife, sharing her passion and wisdom with the world.

Eric Feng, Personal branding and social media marketing Expert
Eric is a seasoned financial services expert with a decade of experience in the industry, collaborating with 100+ insurance companies in 38 countries. Based in Singapore, he specializes in personal branding and social media marketing, influencing agents and leaders globally.
Eric debuted at the 2014 MDRT conference in Asia, receiving a standing ovation and launching his career. He has created training programs like “Known Loved Respected,” used by top insurance companies in Asia and the Middle East. Recognized as one of JCI’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons in Singapore, Eric is a Certified Speaking Professional with a million followers.

Irina Ungureanu, Inspiration, Performance, Leadership
Irina Ungureanu is a seasoned professional with 22 years at Metropolitan Life Romania, where she has excelled as an Agency Manager. Her drive for excellence has earned her MDRT membership for 3 years and 10 qualifications for EMEA. Beyond her career, she is a proud mother of two, who inspire her daily. Irina lives by the motto: "Do something today that your future self will thank you for."

Jade W. Dagher, Business and income strategist, CMC certified
Bringing over 23 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.

Jim Rutta, President of Advisorcraft Media
Jim began his career in the life insurance industry as a successful agent and executive manager, leading a large agency with over 250 agents. He now serves as the President of Advisorcraft Media, a coaching firm for life insurance agents. Jim is a sought-after speaker, author, and columnist in the insurance industry. He is also involved in mentoring programs and has a diverse range of hobbies and skills.

Joseph Jordan
, A distinguished motivational speaker and behavioral finance expert
Joe Jordan is the author of the acclaimed book, Living a Life of Significance, which has sold over 125,000 copies in five languages. He has addressed more than 400,000 financial professionals across 28 countries and was honored with the 2023 John Newton Russell Memorial Award, the insurance industry's highest accolade. Joe has held leadership roles at Paine Webber and MetLife, where he created retail products and launched a fee-based financial planning initiative. He co-founded the Insured Retirement Institute and has been recognized by Irish America magazine as one of the "Top 50 Irish Americans on Wall Street." Additionally, Joe is a Fordham Football Hall of Fame inductee and has played rugby for the New York Athletic Club for three decades.

Kaplan Mobray, An author and international speaker
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.

Katarzyna Pilczuk, Founder and current president of the Polish Association of Recommended Insurance Advisors
As an MDRT member for 8 years, she was the first agent in her insurance company to reach this prestigious achievement. Her career in the insurance industry spans 12 years. For the past 4 years, Katarzyna has been integrating her sales role with the management and leadership of a team of advisors. She is the founder and current president of the Polish Association of Recommended Insurance Advisors. Katarzyna has authored two books on the subject of insurance sales. Moreover, she has contributed to various publications within the insurance industry.

Katerina Pavlidou, An insurance advisor specializing in wealth management through life and health insurance, MDRT member
With 5 years of experience in the industry and a strong background in accounting and finance, she has earned a reputation as a compassionate, professional, and powerful advocate for her clients’ financial well-being. As a proud member of the prestigious MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table) for 4 years, including 2 years achieving Court of the Table status, Katerina has shared her insights at various insurance events, emphasizing the importance of protection and financial planning. She is passionate about helping clients secure their future and achieve their financial goals.

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 A. 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.

Nakhle Al Houssainy, CEO of Stars Agency
Nakhle's journey towards “Big Success” began with four years at Spinneys 1948 in the UAE, followed by ventures in export-import and a pub restaurant in Beirut, which was cut short by civil war. A turning point came when he met Hanna Khoury in Jordan, who guided him into the life insurance sector. With mentorship from Zaki Zahr, Nakhle flourished over 40 years, evolving from agent to agency manager. His Stars Agency has become Lebanon's leading agency, fostering new unit managers who have established their own agencies. Currently, Nakhle heads Agency Stars, maintaining its stronghold in the life insurance market throughout Lebanon and the EMEA region.

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.

Remus Ungureanu, An MDRT Field Leadership member
With over 24 years of experience at MetLife, Remus has progressed from agent to Senior Expert Agency Manager, focusing on training and development. He has established 4 new agencies and mentored over 1,500 agents.
Remus’s agency is one of the most awarded in Romania, prioritizing client needs and utilizing innovative sales strategies. As an MDRT Field Leadership member, he continuously enhances the agency’s sales force and expands new agencies.

Dr. Sanjay Tolani, Inter-Generational Planner | Financial Structure Innovator | Philanthropist | Mentor To Over 100K Professionals
Dr. Tolani is a renowned expert in wealth planning, with a PhD in Finance and numerous qualifications. He has transformed financial products and authored 13 books. As a leading estate planning advisor, he has guided over 100,000 businesses globally. Dr. Tolani is the creator of The Tolani Flow™, a cutting-edge financial strategy for family offices. He actively supports philanthropic initiatives like the Pearl Foundation in China and the MDRT Foundation in the USA.

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.
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.