Kosuke Ishihara has been with Tokio Marine Nichido Anshin Life for 21 years. He sells individual insurance to practicing physicians and through seminars. He won every company award, including the championship in individual business 20 times. He graduated from Waseda University and worked for a leading travel agency before joining the life insurance business.

Denise Allard Serna is a professional insurance agent at Seguros Monterrey New York Life.

Irene Stolte, ChFC, has been a financial advisor since 2001 and joined Horizon Wealth Strategies in 2014. She provides a foundation for her clients' financial futures and helps instill confidence within her clients as she navigates them through what can often be an overwhelming process of identifying and coordinating financial goals.

Priti Ajit Kucheria, LUTCF, CFP, is the founding principal of Kucheria Financial Services LLP, a family office offering comprehensive financial planning services. As the top producer of her company for 24 years, Kucheria has received several awards for her accomplishments and has presented at many company events worldwide, inspiring and sharing her strategies with her fellow advisors. Kucheria has also served in various leadership roles on several committees and task forces for MDRT, including as Global Council Member of MCC and Trustee of the MDRT Foundation.

Atsushi Hirao is affiliated with the Risk Management Laboratory, he works closely with accounting firms nationwide to deliver integrated consulting services covering insurance, life planning, and business succession. As a dedicated advisor, he is committed to supporting the long-term financial well-being of clients and helping individuals and business owners navigate complex financial decisions with confidence.

‍

Mark D. Olson, CFP, MSFS, specializes in providing customized comprehensive financial and retirement planning for corporate executives, business owners and other professionals. For more than 30 years, Olson has helped his clients find financial peace of mind by serving as their financial coach and advocate. He enjoys working with those who are preparing for retirement or just beginning that chapter of their lives.

Helen Jayne West, APFS, hasbeen in the financial services profession for 36 years, owning and running herown company as the principal director for 23 years. Committed to lifelonglearning, West has earned many additional qualifications and has participatedin the Strategic Coach program for nearly 20 years. She believes that by takingtime each day to focus on your goals and being intentional about them, alongwith making a note of any improvements, you are programming your brain for abetter life in the future.

‍

Ross G. Hultgren, CFP, DFP,is a senior financial advisor at Community Chapman Welsh. He has 38 years ofexperience in the financial services profession, currently works withpre-retirees and the recently retired, and has received the Lifetime AchievementAward for his services to the community and his clients.

‍

Howard E. Sharfman currently serves as senior managing director at NFP Insurance Solutions, where he specializes in complex wealth transfer and insurance planning for affluent families, entrepreneurs and executives. As the founder and CEO of FinFit Life, Sharfman leads a national movement dedicated to promoting both financial and physical wellness, with a vision of empowering thousands of advisors and insuring hundreds of thousands of clients worldwide. Ranked by Forbes as the No. 1 financial security professional in Illinois and No. 7 in the U.S., Sharfman has dedicated more than three decades to advising ultra-high-net-worth families, mentoring elite advisors and leading innovative firms.

R.J. Kelly, AEP, MSFS, is thefounder and chief visionary officer of Wealth Legacy Group Inc., a firm thatspecializes in meeting the diverse needs of successful entrepreneurs,professionals and their families. His strengths and talents lie in his abilityto quickly grasp complicated and delicate situations, communicate complex ideasin easy-to-understand ways, and find integrated solutions for clients throughholistic and multidisciplinary methods that other advisors often overlook,dismiss or simply are not aware of.

‍

Curtis  V. Cloke, LUTCF, RICP, is a recognized thought leader in the retirement  industry, known as one of the brightest minds in retirement education and  academia today. He is an adjunct professor with The American College of  Financial Services and an inspiring keynote speaker, sharing his passion,  knowledge and love for the art of retirement planning with audiences  worldwide. Cloke received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Financial  Hall of Fame in 2025, is a frequent guest on radio and TV commentary  programs, and has been featured on a variety of news media platforms.

Dr. Geetha Murali is the chief executive officer of Room to Read, a leading international education organization committed to the belief that educated children starts with world change. Murali has been instrumental in driving the organization’s exponential growth — expanding its presence to 29 countries and positively benefiting more than 52 million children to date.

David C. Blake is the founder and president of InsMed Insurance Agency Inc., an independent insurance company that specializes in creating voluntary benefit offerings for health care organizations across the United States. Since it was established more than 30 years ago, Blake has sold more than 20,000 individual disability insurance policies to health care professionals. He credits his success to having staff members who not only exude a sense of pride in and ownership of their responsibilities but also possess a caring and sharing attitude toward their peers and clients. He also currently serves as the MDRT Foundation President.

Brad J. Myers, ChFC, is the Nominee to the MDRT Executive Committee and a Platinum Knight of the MDRT Foundation. Myers is the owner of Pepperwood Financial, a firm that specializes in helping individuals nearing or in retirement to build sustainable and secure financial futures.

Clay Gillespie, CFP, CLU, is the 2026 First Vice President of MDRT. An Excalibur Knight of the MDRT Foundation, Gillespie served as Global Council Member of MDRT’s Finance Division in 2023 and as Top of the Table Global Council Member and Advisory Board Chair in 2019. He was Captain of the 2015 MDRT Annual Meeting Focus Sessions Committee and has served as Chair of several committees in the Top of the Table Division. Gillespie is a financial advisor, portfolio manager and managing director with RGF Integrated Wealth Management.

Carol Kheng, ChFC, is the 2026 Immediate Past President of MDRT. She has served in multiple roles on the MDRT Executive Committee since 2022. She previously served as Divisional Vice President for MDRT Global Conference Program General Arrangements in 2019 and for MDRT’s Member Resources — Practice Management Division in 2009. Kheng also has served on the Board of Trustees of the MDRT Foundation, for which she is a Diamond Knight. Kheng is a master financial consultant with Prudential Assurance Company Singapore, where she was the founding member and chairperson of its MDRT Club.

John F. Nichols, MSM, CLU, is the 2026 President of MDRT. He served as Global Council Member of MDRT’s Membership Division in 2020 and Chair of its Bylaws and Ethics Committee in 2019. In 2022, he served as President of the MDRT Foundation, for which he is a Royal Order Excalibur Knight and a member of its Inner Circle Society. Nichols is the founder of Nichols Consulting LLC, a disability insurance benefits practice.

Alyssa O’Brien is a communications expert with 15 years of experience helping organizations craft compelling narratives and engage their audiences effectively. As client service manager at G&S Business Communications, a firm that partners with financial services clients like MDRT to unify and elevate their messaging, strengthen their brand and achieve their goals through holistic communications, O’Brien has a proven track record of developing and executing integrated communications strategies. She brings deep industry knowledge with an innovative approach to public relations and marketing.

Tommy Cunningham, QFA, RFP, is a financial consultant, entrepreneur, and Principal of Cunningham Financial Services Ltd. With over 13 years’ experience in the financial services profession, Thomas brings a commercially astute perspective shaped by building and leading successful businesses. He advises individuals, families, and business owners across life protection, investment strategy, retirement planning, and broader financial structuring, including lending and mortgage solutions where appropriate. His work focuses on creating resilient, long-term financial frameworks that protect capital, manage risk, and support sustainable wealth creation across all stages of life.

Victor Idoko, CFA, CFP, is the founder and principal advisor of CFV Advisory. He holds a master’s in finance with distinction and has more than 12 years of experience in financial services, including roles at Commonwealth Bank and Suncorp. He leads a growing team focused on legacy-driven wealth strategies, SMSFs and cross-border financial planning. Idoko is the author of “7 Basic Wealth Strategies,” hosts the “Elevate Your Wealth” podcast and recently co-authored a children’s book series called “Bunnies & Monies” to help educate kids on the importance of financial literacy.

Paola Almontes holds a bachelor's degree in international economic relations and is a successful financial and wealth advisor. She is the creator of “The Investor's Map” and the founder of the financial movement “Finance with Purpose.” She has built a digital community of more than two million followers and has delivered lectures and provided mentorship to inspire others to invest with purpose and build wealth.

Luis Fernando Martínez Oliver has been in the insurance industry for 12 years, establishing himself as a prominent financial and insurance agent who specializes in life insurance, retirement plans and investment funds. His strategic approach to content creation has allowed him to leverage social media and artificial intelligence to successfully prospect and attract high-net-worth clients. Martínez Oliver has mentored agents and received numerous awards from the company he has represented throughout his career.

Papassorn Paisan is a life insurance advisor with Bangkok Life Assurance Public Co. Ltd. She has more than six years of experience in life insurance and financial advisory services. Her expertise focuses on health planning and designing coverage solutions that support clients’ long-term needs. Her professional achievements include recognition for riders performance, earning the highest riders premium award in 2022 and ranking second in riders premium in 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree and is committed to continuously enhancing professional knowledge and service standards.

Kanjana Surapraphant is an assistant vice president at Allianz Ayudhya with more than four years of experience in the financial advisory profession. She specializes in health insurance planning and sales, supported by structured online marketing strategies to effectively reach and serve clients. Her professional achievements have been recognized through industry honors, including GAMA International Management Awards, Asia-Pacific Financial Services Awards and the Thailand National Quality Awards. She has also received Allianz Ayudhya recognitions such as Top of the Year and Top Quality Growth Recruiter. She holds a bachelor’s degree with first-class honors from Srinakharinwirot University.

Nicolás Scalerandi is the CEO of Grupo BESTLIFE, a successful third-generation company within the insurance industry. As a professional advisor, he specializes in asset protection, commercial leadership, and memorable client service. Scalerandi volunteers and acts as an ambassador for Pequeños Pasos USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable families.