Meet the Team

Meet the Team – Financial Brokerage Inc.

Meet the Team

Established in 1995, Financial Brokerage is a leading independent insurance brokerage firm located in Omaha, Nebraska. Large enough to offer all the services you would expect and more, but small enough where you’ll never feel like you’re just a number. Financial Brokerage represents the top insurance carriers in the industry for Life, Fixed Annuity, Long and Short-Term Care, Disability, and Medicare Supplement product lines. When you work with Financial Brokerage, expect excellent service from your product-specific sales manager as well as from your dedicated case manager. You’ll value the personal relationship our experts will develop with you as well as our adoption of state of the art technology, bucket-list incentive trips, product and sales training, and many other programs designed for you, the independent agent.

Ed Wieger

Chief Executive Officer

Meet Ed Wieger, our Chief Executive Officer! Ed has been with Financial Brokerage for 26 years, during which he has overseen all operations and promoted the financial success of the company, as well as any aspects that may affect it. Ed particularly enjoys working with our loyal agents and dedicated employees here in the office. Outside of work, Ed enjoys golfing, hiking, biking, kayaking, and hunting.

Sales and Marketing

Tim Karaus

Chief Marketing Officer

Meet Tim Karaus, our Chief Marketing Officer! Tim has been with Financial Brokerage for nearly 6 years, during which he has lead the life and annuity sales teams, all our marketing campaigns, and worked directly with producers on their business. Tim values the opportunity he has to utilize his experience and expertise to assist producers in finding the right solutions for their clients. Outside the office, Tim spends lots of time involved in activities for his kids including coaching basketball, baseball, football, and softball. Occasionally he’ll find time to play some golf, but always makes time for Notre Dame Football games.

Brian Leising

Life Insurance Sales Director

Meet Brian Leising, our Life Insurance Sales Director! Brian started placing business through Financial Brokerage in 2000 and ultimately joined as a marketer in 2001, making him a part of the team for 23 years. As Life Insurance Sales Director, Brian shares ideas that spark life insurance sales, makes product recommendations and suggests sales strategies to smooth the process and close sales. He values his behind-the-scenes role in assisting thousands of people with life insurance purchases, leveraging his knowledge and skills to help the advisors and consumers who need it most. Outside the office Brian enjoys playing saxophone in a classic rock cover band, joining his son racing BMX, or cheering on his daughter at her lacrosse games with his wife.

Jim Guynan

Annuity Sales Director

Meet Jim Guynan, our Annuity Sales Director! Jim has been with Financial Brokerage for over 17 years, endeavoring to always be a fixed annuity product expert by advising agents on the best products for their client’s accumulation and income needs. Jim values that the Financial Brokerage team is made of great people, experienced in their fields and skilled at what they do. In his free time, Jim enjoys spending quality time with his two teenagers and their older siblings, golfing, and attending Creighton soccer and baseball games.

Dave Storck

Executive Vice President
Life Sales Manager

Meet Dave Storck, our Executive Vice President & Life Sales Manager! In his 19 years with Financial Brokerage, Dave has worked with agents and wholesalers to develop and improve life, LTC and disability income sales. Dave values maintaining long-term relationships with agents he’s worked with for as many as 30 years. He also appreciates sharing his experience and knowledge to help agents develop meaningful insurance programs that provide the clients they’re offered to financial security. In his free time, Dave enjoys golfing with his friends as well as watching sports.

Leonard Berthelsen

Health Products Sales Director

Meet Leonard Berthelsen, our Health Products Sales Director! Leonard has been with Financial Brokerage for 12 years, working with producers to understand how products like long-term care insurance, disability income protection, and Medicare related products are designed so they can better share that knowledge with their clients. He values helping agents understand the value of the product and how to present it to their clients in an understandable manner. Outside of work, Leonard enjoys golfing, traveling, and spending time with his grandkids.

Allison Dillow

Social Media Marketing Specialist

Meet Allison Dillow, our Social Media Marketing Specialist! Having joined the Financial Brokerage team in August, Allison supervises all our media pages—Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn—and generates new graphics and content to keep our audience informed and engaged. Allison appreciates the creativity she is able to bring to her work at Financial Brokerage, as well as the positive community in the office. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising, and creating new recipes in the kitchen!

Operations

Keith Schuler

Senior Systems Analyst

Meet Keith Schuler, our Senior Systems Analyst! Keith has been a part of the Financial Brokerage team for 29 years, during which he has overseen the maintenance of our computer systems, network systems, as well as our phone systems. Keith values being able to work alongside and support the individuals at Financial Brokerage as well as their clients in the technological sphere. Outside of the office, Keith enjoys reading, video games, cooking, and smoking barbeque!

Patty Tarrence

Executive Support & Case Manager

Meet Patty Tarrence, our Executive Support & Case Manager! Patty has been a part of the Financial Brokerage team for 29 years; in her role, she tracks new life and annuity applications from submission to issue, submits annual reports to the DOI’s, renews state licenses, assists with company incentive trips and various projects requested by Ed, our CEO. Patty values the variety of her job duties and the flexible schedule, as well as her friendships with coworkers that have developed over the years. In her free time, Patty enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Annette Jacks

Case Manager & Underwriting Supervisor

Meet Annette Jacks, our Case Manager & Underwriting Supervisor! Annette has been a part of the Financial Brokerage team for 13 years, keeping agents up to date on the status of pending cases, ordering labs or APS records when needed. When clients are approved other than expected, she assists in finding another carrier or in helping the agent and client understand why, if, and when they may be able to apply again. Annette values that by being a part of Financial Brokerage, she has the freedom to work independently while still being comfortable to reach out when additional help is needed. She appreciates the uniquely positive environment in the office as well as the relationships formed with agents. Outside of work, Annette enjoys watching movies, listening to music, and staying on top of yardwork!

Jane Pullum

Case Manager & Requirements Associate

Meet Jane Pullum, our Case Manager & Requirements Associate! Jane has been with Financial Brokerage for 14 years; she processes new business applications, manages a case load of life cases, answers incoming agent calls for status updates, and contacts agents and underwriters as needed. Jane appreciates the friendly work environment and full staff available to take calls and assist agents. She values that everyone at Financial Brokerage can work as a team to achieve positive results. Outside of the office, Jane is an acrylic artist and president of the Bellevue Artists Association, and she enjoys local music and Creighton Bluejay basketball games.

Candi Holtapp

Accounting Manager

Meet Candi Holtapp, our Accounting Manager! Candi has been with the Financial Brokerage team for 18 years, where she manages payroll and financial paperwork and oversees AR, AP, and commission processing. Candi values that there is always versatility in her job duties that allows for moving freely between different tasks. In her free time, Candi enjoys spending quality time with her husband Justin and their dog, Bella.

Shelly Whitaker

Director of Operations

Meet Shelly Whitaker, our Director of Operations! In the over 25 years Shelly has been with Financial Brokerage, she has done a variety of tasks. She helps manage new business, case management, and the supply departments, performing all contracting functions for the company. What Shelly values most about working for Financial Brokerage is the friendly work environment. She also appreciates that all the employees here are team players who work together to help each other and to assist agents with their cases. In her spare time, Shelly loves to read, go to live sporting events, and hang out with her family, friends, and dogs.

Denise McHenry

Life Case Manager

Meet Denise McHenry, our Case Manager! In the two and a half years she has been with Financial Brokerage, Denise has assisted with the processing of new life business, working closely with agents to make sure they have the necessary forms and information and communicating with various companies to ensure the issue process is proceeding smoothly. Denise appreciates that the Financial Brokerage team functions almost like a family, as coworkers do their best to help each other when possible, ultimately making all members more successful and productive. Outside of the office, Denise’s hobbies include working with kids and animals, painting, and roller derby.

Michaele Clark

Receptionist

Meet Michaele Clark, our Receptionist! Michaele has been a part of the Financial Brokerage team for 2 years, where she answers and directs incoming calls, distributes mail to appropriate personnel, conducts commission data entry, and assists in many other projects as needed. Michaele values her coworkers and their ability to work cohesively as a great team. Outside of the office, she enjoys going to concerts, crafting, visiting beaches and hanging out with family.