For Michael Schutza, TPCP®, financial services isn’t a job. It’s a responsibility. One shaped by lived experience, service, and a deep belief that the right guidance, given at the right moment, can change the trajectory of a family’s life.

Michael is a Financial Planner at Totus Wealth Management and holds the Tax Planning Certified Professional® (TPCP®) designation. He works primarily with families, business owners, and real estate investors, focusing on proactive planning that integrates advanced tax strategies, retirement income decisions, and real-world wealth management. But his “why” goes far deeper than credentials or years in the business.

Karl Hansen, CLU, ChFC has been a NAIFA member for over 50 years, shaping both his career and the insurance industry through leadership, advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to integrity.

Born and raised in the Bay Area near Stanford University, Karl’s work ethic started early. He began working at just 14 years old, taking on everything from hauling to tree trimming while attending school at night. After a brief experience at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, which was cut short by a broken leg, Karl returned home determined to build a future on his own terms.

Stephanie K. Triola, FSCP, has been a proud NAIFA member since 2023 and serves clients throughout Fernandina Beach, Florida, as a financial professional with New York Life Insurance Company and registered representative with NYLIFE Securities LLC. Her path into financial services was anything but predictable — and that’s exactly what makes her story so compelling.

For more than three decades, Ellie Mills, ChFC, CLU, LUTCF, has built her career and reputation on compassion, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to helping others secure their financial futures. A loyal NAIFA member since 1992 and owner of Ellie Mills Insurance Agency, Inc. in Miami, Florida, Mills found her calling in the insurance industry through personal tragedy and triumph.

For nearly two decades, Billy Snyder, LACP, owner of B Snyder Insurance in Lafayette, Tennessee, has built his business and reputation on one guiding principle: “If you help enough people get what they want, you’ll get what you want.” That timeless Zig Ziglar philosophy has shaped every part of Billy’s journey—from his early days in pest control to becoming a respected independent insurance professional serving the rural communities of northern Tennessee.

For Matthew Crocker, founder of Crocker Financial LLC in Kent, Ohio, the financial services profession is more than a career—it’s a calling.

Matthew’s journey began in college, when a risk management class first opened his eyes to the world of insurance. Years later, that spark turned into a profession, inspired in part by personal experience. “Having had to rely on the GoFundMe method for a family member, I wanted to make sure others didn’t need to feel the same shame I did,” he shared. “This industry gives me the opportunity to make a visible difference in people’s lives, and that’s what attracted me most.”

Certified Financial Services (CFS), a proud NAIFA Financial Security Champion, is dedicated to helping individuals, families, and small business owners pursue lasting financial security. While the world is constantly changing, CFS believes in the lasting power of relationships and community. The firm understands that each person they serve has goals—some financial, others personal—but at the heart of every plan is a focus on the people who matter most. That same people-first mindset is what fuels the firm’s long-standing commitment to giving back.

André M. Williams’ path into the insurance and financial services industry began with a lesson in resilience. As a freshman at Ohio University, he started out on track to become a CPA—but a little too much fun and not enough discipline led to an academic dismissal. A stern two-hour call from his mother, an 8-page letter to the Dean, and a heartfelt plan for the future earned him a second chance.

The Fortis Agency has once again raised the bar — becoming NAIFA’s first-ever Dual 100% Agency with every member participating in both NAIFA membership and NAIFA’s network of PACs (Political Action Committees). This landmark accomplishment represents more than full engagement — it’s a bold statement of what it means to lead with purpose.

NAIFA is proud to recognize Scott Blake, MBA, ChFC, CLU, as our Q2 Hard Hat Award winner for his outstanding, all-around contributions to membership growth, engagement, and leadership. Scott serves as Assistant Vice Chair on NAIFA’s National Membership Committee and is a dedicated leader at both the state and local levels in Ohio.