Learn how the MDRT Academy and the MDRT Center for Field Leadership can help you and your advisors learn and grow at every career stage. The MDRT Academy helps advisors advance to the level of MDRT qualification, while the MDRT Center focuses on providing resources for field and home office leaders.
Saad Anthony Baksh, BSc, is a branch manager for Maritime Financial Group. He leads 30 advisors in a multiline environment and has helped them win numerous Maritime Financial awards. He is an active MDRT and MDRT Center for Field Leadership member, currently serving on the MDRT Academy Committee-Global Member Relations, and as a member of the Brand Champion Task Force for the MDRT Center. Baksh has spoken at conferences in the United States, Barbados, Jamaica and Belize, and earned his degree from the University of London.
Brian D. Heckert, CLU, ChFC, has dedicated his professional life to providing strategic financial advice and services for individuals and businesses. He has been involved with numerous MDRT committees and served as MDRT President in 2016. Through his industry leadership, he has gained a broad world view, and he has been featured and quoted in media outlets such as Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, CNN Money and ThinkAdvisor in addition to speaking to audiences in 49 U.S. states and 35 countries on topics ranging from advanced planning ideas to practice management.
Jason C. Staas, MS, is a general agent for the Knights of Columbus, a founding member of the MDRT Center for Field Leadership and a two-time recipient of the Diamond Agency MDRT Culture of Excellence Award. He has served the MDRT Center in various capacities, including as Chair of the Managing an Agency Task Force-North America, a study group leader, a speaker at the 2024 MDRT Global Conference and Captain of the 2025 MDRT Annual Meeting Focus Sessions Program Development Committee. He leads a regional agency, managing 30 agents and financial advisors, 11 of whom are MDRT members.
