--- title: NAIFA Announces Candidates Nominated for 2026 National Leadership Roles description: NAIFA announces its 2026 leadership nominees, highlighting dedicated members Carina Hatfield, Kathleen Owings, and Adam Sachs for key roles to ensure financial security and organizational growth. NAIFA's 2026 President will be Christopher Gandy. image: https://at.naifa.org/hubfs/BoT_2026.jpg --- [![ApexNLC_banner2-1](https://at.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/ApexNLC_banner2-1.jpg?width=728&height=73&name=ApexNLC_banner2-1.jpg)](https://apex.naifa.org/) [![Advisor Today Logo - White@960](https://at.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Advisor%20Today%20Logo%20-%20White@960.png?width=960&height=146&name=Advisor%20Today%20Logo%20-%20White@960.png) ![Advisor Today Logo - White@960](https://at.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Advisor%20Today%20Logo%20-%20White@960.png?width=960&height=146&name=Advisor%20Today%20Logo%20-%20White@960.png) ](https://at.naifa.org/) [![Join NAIFA](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2635471/19793afe-5adf-4f28-b999-9dd4527de76b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2635471/19793afe-5adf-4f28-b999-9dd4527de76b) [**](https://at.naifa.org/naifa-announces-candidates-nominated-for-2026-national-leadership-roles#tmpmodule_1614584860767204) ** ![Lifesaver Beach-1](https://at.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Lifesaver%20Beach-1.jpeg?width=1400&height=799&name=Lifesaver%20Beach-1.jpeg) #### **NAIFA Members Provide Financial Security** ###### 4 min read ## [NAIFA Announces Candidates Nominated for 2026 National Leadership Roles](https://at.naifa.org/naifa-announces-candidates-nominated-for-2026-national-leadership-roles) By [NAIFA](https://at.naifa.org/author/naifa) on 8/7/25 10:22 AM ###### Topics: [Press Release](https://at.naifa.org/topic/press-release) [Leaders](https://at.naifa.org/topic/leaders) ![](https://at.naifa.org/hubfs/BoT_2026.jpg) NAIFA’s Committee on Governance has nominated [Carina Hatfield](https://www.linkedin.com/in/carinahatfield/), LUTCF, CLCS, LACP, agency owner of Weigner Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. in Pottstown, Penn., to be the 2026 NAIFA Secretary. Hatfield, who currently serves on the Life Happens Council and NAIFA’s National Membership Committee and Government Relations Committee, is a NAIFA-National Trustee and Past President of NAIFA-Pennsylvania. She has been a NAIFA member since 2005. As incoming Secretary, Hatfield will be in line to serve as President-Elect in 2027 and President in 2028. The Committee also has nominated [Kathleen E. Owings](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-owings-6b42663/), LACP, Principal and Financial Advisor at Westbilt Financial Group in Colorado Springs, Colo., and author of *Put Your Money to Work: A Woman's Guide to Financial Confidence*, and [Adam Sachs](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamsachscfp/), CFP, CLU, ChFC, CLTC, AIF, a Financial Advisor with Centinel Financial Group, LLC in Needham Heights, Mass., to each serve a two-year term on the NAIFA Board of Trustees. Owings, a NAIFA member since 2011, is a Past President of NAIFA-Colorado and serves as Chair of the NAIFA Young Advisors Team, on the NAIFA Brand Ambassador Team, and on the Professional Development Committee. Sachs, a member since 1994, was NAIFA’s Young Advisor Team Leader of the Year for 2010 and is Past President of NAIFA-Massachusetts and serves as 2025 Co-Chair of NAIFA’s National Membership Committee. [Paul R. Dougherty](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-dougherty-lacp-lutcf-fss-hia-b7596315/), LUTCF, FSS, LACP, an Agent with State Farm in Hyattsville, Md., is nominated to continue to serve as NAIFA’s National Treasurer. He has been a member since 1999 and is a NAIFA-National Past President and past member of Life Happens Board of Directors. Returning to serve the second year of their two-year terms as Trustee are [Jan Pinney](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rpinney1/), CLU, ChFC, CPCU, CEO and Founder of Pinney Insurance Services in Roseville, Calif., a member since 1971, and [John D. Richardson](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrichardsonnashville/), RICP, LACP,  a Financial Planner of the Capital Planning Group in Brentwood, Tenn., a member since 2003. Also returning as Trustees in 2026 are [Kathleen W. Bilderback](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-bilderback-a46269a/), JD, LLM, AEP, an attorney at Sandberg, Phoenix and von Gontard, P.C. in Clayton, Mo., a member since 1999; [Jesse Dogillo](https://www.bayadvisers.com/Our-People.1.htm), CFP, CLU, ChFC, AEP, Founder of Bay Area Financial Advisers in Sunnyvale, Calif., a member since 2022;  [Barbara Pietrangelo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarapietrangelo/), CFP, CLU, ChFC, a Financial Planner with Prudential Financial in Ada, Mich., a member since 1992; and [Andrew J. Rinn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-rinn/), JD, CFP, CLU, ChFC, Assistant Vice President-Advanced Strategies with Sammons Financial in West Des Moines, Iowa, a member since 2018. [Christopher L. Gandy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-gandy-lacp-60779413/), LACP, Founder of Midwest Legacy Group in Lisle, Ill., will be NAIFA’s 2026 President. [John W. Wheeler](https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-w-wheeler-cfp-clu-chfc-crpc-lutcf-cltc-lacp-cpfa-31aa2613/) Jr., CFP, CLU, ChFC, CRPC, LUTCF, LACP, CLTC, CPFA, Executive Senior Partner of Totus Wealth Management in Houston, Texas, will be President-Elect. Both Gandy and Wheeler have served the association in multiple roles including national Trustee and specialty committee roles throughout their leadership tenure. [Douglas B. Massey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-massey-clu-chfc-lutcf-fss-945a578/), LUTCF, FSS, CLU, ChFC, Owner of Doug Massey Financial Services in San Angelo, Texas, a member since 1987, will serve as Immediate Past President beginning January 1, 2026. The NAIFA Governance Committee consists of 12 NAIFA members and is chaired by NAIFA Past President [Bryon A. Holz](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryon-holz-40004137/), CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL, LACP, Founder of Bryon Holz and Associates in Brandon, FL, a loyal member since 1987. “The Governance Committee is proud to present this outstanding slate of leaders for NAIFA’s 2026 national offices,” said Holz. “Each of these nominees brings a unique combination of experience, commitment, and vision that reflects the very best of NAIFA. It is inspiring to see so many dedicated professionals step forward to serve our association and its mission. On behalf of the Committee, I offer our full support and heartfelt congratulations to all of our leaders and to Secretary nominee Carina Hatfield and new Trustee nominees Kathleen Owings and Adam Sachs. We are confident they will serve with distinction and help lead NAIFA into a strong and vibrant future.” The slate of candidates will be presented to the membership and approved at the [National Leadership Conference](https://leaders.naifa.org/nlc-2025), October 14, 2025, to take office January 1, 2026. # TOPIC LIST : - [Member Spotlight (186)](https://at.naifa.org/tag/member-spotlight) - [Press Release (161)](https://at.naifa.org/tag/press-release) - [Podcast (97)](https://at.naifa.org/tag/podcast) - [Advisor Today (87)](https://at.naifa.org/tag/advisor-today) - [Loyal Member Profile (83)](https://at.naifa.org/tag/loyal-member-profile) - [Leaders (65)](https://at.naifa.org/tag/leaders) - [Life Insurance & Annuities (63)](https://at.naifa.org/tag/life-insurance-annuities) - [Awards (56)](https://at.naifa.org/tag/awards) - [Insurance (54)](https://at.naifa.org/tag/insurance) - [New Member Profile (54)](https://at.naifa.org/tag/new-member-profile) - [Potential Partners for Advisors (54)](https://at.naifa.org/tag/potential-partners-for-advisors) - 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