The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is thrilled to announce that Kathleen Owings has been named the 2024 Young Advisor Team Leader of the Year. This award celebrates outstanding leadership, dedication, and impact within the financial advisory industry, recognizing individuals who exemplify the highest standards of excellence.

Kathleen Owings, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2000, began her career as an active-duty officer in the Army Corps of Engineers, earning the Bronze Star for meritorious service in a combat zone. She served at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Carson, Colorado; and overseas on multiple tours of duty.

Kathleen began her career in the financial services industry in 2007 and is one of the owners of Westbilt Financial Group in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She truly believes that being a financial advisor is her calling, not just a job. Kathleen is also the author of Put Your Money to Work: A Woman's Guide to Financial Confidence, empowering women to take control of their financial futures.

Joseph Schreck, CPFA, President at the Piedmont Group in Atlanta, GA, is the NAIFA Young Advisor Team Leader of the Year for 2023.  

Carina Hatfield, LUTCF, LACP, CLCS, of Spring City, PA, is the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Young Advisor Team Leader of the Year for 2020.

The Young Advisor Team of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is proud to announce the launch of a new Future Leaders program for students interested in careers in the financial services industry. The new program is under the oversight of NAIFA National’s Young Advisor Team Committee, chaired by Blake Gillies, DIA, Brokerage Director, Acacia Financial Group.

The new Future Leaders program expands the offerings of NAIFA’s Talent Development Center of Excellence, launched in Q2 2020. The Talent Development Center is a new initiative of NAIFA to create a content and event hub focused on topics of personal and professional performance during every stage of the advisor business lifecycle. In addition to the Young Advisor Team, which focuses on programs for advisors under the age of 40 or with less than 5 years in the business, The Talent Development Center also houses NAIFA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion work and award programs.

Featuring Brian Haney, CLTC, CFS, CIS, CFBS, LACP, CAE, Vice President of The Haney Company, and Kelly Haney, author of www.crazyhealthlady.com. The webinar is available on-demand.

View the Webinar On-Demand Now.

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NAIFA has named Mark Acre the 2014 Young Advisors Team Leader of the Year. Acre, 33, is president of OneSource Insurance Group, a company he launched in 2007.

“NAIFA-Springfield has benefited from Mark’s leadership and service since he joined the NAIFA-Springfield Board of Directors five years ago and then served as president in 2012-2013. He has taken the association to a new level with his dedication and passion for NAIFA and the industry,” said NAIFA President John F. Nichols. “Mark’s leadership is an inspiration to us all.”

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