Sometimes the most meaningful career transitions are the ones that allow us to bring what we have learned from one chapter into an entirely new one. For Kimberly Ellis, M. Ed., that meant taking more than a decade of experience in education and bringing her passion for teaching, relationship building, and serving others into financial services.

Based in Houston, Texas, Kimberly is a Financial Professional affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company and recently joined NAIFA in July 2026. Before entering financial services, she served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. After the loss of her father in September 2025, Kimberly began reflecting on what she wanted the next chapter of her life and career to look like. She realized she could continue making a difference in people's lives while applying the skills and perspective she had developed through her years in education.

NAIFA first learned about Kimberly through a message from a client who wanted to share the positive impact she had made on his family. Kimberly had previously served as his children's principal and established a trusting relationship with the family. After transitioning into financial services, she reached out personally, remembered the family's circumstances, and made sure they knew she was available to help.

The client shared that Kimberly has continued to go above and beyond in serving him and several members of his family. He also highlighted her professional accomplishments, including breaking records for her Houston office, earning recognition as the top producer in the West Central Zone, and protecting more than 100 lives in just six months. His decision to share his experience with NAIFA reflects the meaningful impression Kimberly has made through both her professional accomplishments and her personal approach to serving others.

For Kimberly, financial services offered an opportunity to combine her passion for education with helping people make important decisions about their financial futures. She was drawn to the opportunity to educate people about financial concepts and strategies that many were never taught, while helping families think about protection, wealth accumulation, and long-term goals.

Her background has also shaped the clients she hopes to serve. Kimberly has a particular passion for working with educators and helping them better understand their financial options, especially as they prepare for retirement. She also enjoys working with families with young children and professionals focused on protecting what they have built and planning for the future. As her career develops, she hopes to deepen her expertise in retirement planning and become a trusted resource for educators and the communities she serves.

Kimberly's commitment to education extends beyond her individual practice. Through advocacy efforts surrounding childhood bereavement and Social Security survivor benefits for children who have lost a parent, she has found another way to connect her background in education with her work in financial services. The issue resonates with her because of the impact she has seen the loss of a parent have on children and families, including the financial challenges that can follow.

As she begins building her career in financial services, Kimberly is also looking to connect with professionals who share her commitment to learning, serving their communities, and strengthening the profession. She joined NAIFA because of its focus on professional development, advocacy, and relationships with other professionals. She sees membership as an opportunity to grow beyond her individual practice and contribute to the future of the industry.

Kimberly brings the same commitment to learning, serving, and leading that guided her career in education. While she is proud of what she has already accomplished in financial services, she recognizes that she is just getting started. Her goal is not only to build a successful career, but also to continue sharing what she learns, creating opportunities, and making a meaningful impact on the people and communities she serves.