Leadership Team

 
Richard Marooney
Managing Partner

P: 952.258.5016  E: rmarooney@minneapolis.nef.com

Rich Marooney has over twelve years of experience in insurance and financial services. He has qualified for President’s Conference, a MetLife honor awarded to managers who have excelled at attracting, developing and retaining advisors, every year since 1999.

Rich began his career in financial services in 1997. He joined Creative Financial Group in Philadelphia, PA after working at United Parcel Services in Connecticut as a Center Manager. He managed and coordinated over 150 people and a daily package volume of 175,000. At Creative Financial Group, Rich qualified for Leaders his first two years and was awarded Marketing Associate of the Year and Agent of the Year. In 1999, he was promoted to Sales Manager where he quickly assumed leadership and achieved Sales Manager of the year in both 2002 and 2003. In 2003, Rich was promoted to Senior Managing Associate where he managed more than 60 Associates and seven million dollars in new business. “From the untimely death of my son, Ryan, I realized that I needed to be an advocate for financial responsibility. I wanted to make an impact on people’s lives. We at Mid American Financial Group, make that happen.”

Rich is a native of Long Island, NY and Danbury, CT. He attended Ohio State University and graduated from Western Connecticut State University in 1989 with a Bachelors of Science in Business (Industrial Management). He now resides in Eden Prairie, MN with his wife and sons. He is a member of NAIFA, co-founder of Children’s Hope Foundation, an Eagle Scout, and an active coach of Squirts and Bantam Ice Hockey. He is also a registered representative and registered principal with New England Securities.

 
Frank J. Fasano
Managing Associate
Registered Representative
Greater Iowa

P: 515.309.2458     E: ffasano@iowa.nef.com

Frank J. Fasano has over 30 years of experience in insurance and financial services. He has qualified for the National Management Award for the past 12 years.  Frank is a native of Des Moines, Iowa.  He attended Drake University School of Business, with an emphasis on business and finance.  Frank began his career with New England Financial in 1971 as a financial representative assisting clients in investments and financial services.  From 1976 to 1986, he was a sales manager and in 1986, he assumed leadership of Financial Services of Iowa.  In 2004, Frank expanded his leadership to Mid American Financial in both Minnesota and Iowa.  In Sept. 2009, Frank made a move back to Iowa to be with his family and manage the Des Moines area offices once again.  Frank and his wife, Kris, have two grown sons, Frank Jr. and Nick.  Both sons work at NEF.  Frank and his wife raise German Shepherds and Frank serves as a judge of AKC German Shepherd Dog Shows nationwide. Accomplishments:
Registered Representative New England Securities Corp.
 Former president of the Des Moines General Agents (DMGA) and Managers Association (MA)
 Former chairman of the Des Moines General Hospital  Foundation (DMGHF)
 Previously served on the Des Moines General Hospital Board of Trustees
 Former board member of Drake University College of Business Alumni Association
 General Securities Principal.

Lori L. Blohm CPCU, CLTC, CMFC 
Managing Associate
Registered Representative
Minneapolis, MN

P: 952.258.5155     E: lblohm@minneapolis.nef.com

Lori started in the insurance industry over 20 years ago.  Lori is a Graduate of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Services
Lori started her career as an underwriter for Professional Liability Underwriting Managers in Eden Prairie.  She then held various positions with Prudential Financial including, Financial Planner, Manager of Agency Training, Compliance Supervisor, and Manager of Financial Services.  Most recently Lori managed the financial services operation for Allstate Financial in Wisconsin and Minnesota. 
Lori is a registered representative of New England Securities and currently holds her Series 24,26,7,6,63,65,51, securities registrations, Life and Health and Property Casualty Licenses.  She has earned the Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC), Certified in Long Term Care (CLTC) and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designations.
Lori is a Member of NAIFA, the ABWA and participates the Twin West Chamber.  She actively supports the Make a Wish Foundation, Susan B Komen Foundation, PanCAN, and the American Cancer society.
Lori is originally from Milwaukee Wisconsin but has been a Minnesota resident since 1985.  Lori has a home on Coon Lake in Ham Lake, Minnesota.  She enjoys golfing, fishing, biking and good movies.

Matthew Anderle
Managing Associate
Registered Representative
Minneapolis, MN

P: 952.258.5040     E: manderle@minneapolis.nef.com

Matt has been with Mid American Financial Group (MAFG) since 2004, and is proud to be part of the leadership team in one of the Twin Cities’ most respected financial services firms.

He has gained the trust and respect of his clients by assisting their decision-making in this confusing and ever-changing economic environment. As a Managing Associate, Matt is also building a team of advisors dedicated to serving our clients with objective and trustworthy advice.

Matt is a University of Minnesota graduate. A former football and basketball player at “The U”, Matt was also part of the leadership team of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). He is an active member of the “M” club alumni group and an avid fan of Golden Gopher athletics. Matt also serves as the Treasurer of his homeowners association Board of Directors, and is a member of the Full Circle BNI networking group. 

Matt, his wife Kim and their daughter Keira live in St. Louis Park, MN. They attend The Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis.

Erica Schuenemann
Marketing Director

P: 952.258.5112     E: eschuenemann@minneapolis.nef.com

Erica has been in the banking and financial services industry since 2002.  She joined MetLife as a financial services representative in 2003 and in April of 2006 transferred to Mid American Financial Group as the Marketing Director.   As the Director of Marketing, Erica provides resources to the firm so that agents can develop marketing and prospecting ideas and strategies to effectively build their business and reach ultimate success in the financial services industry. She works with representatives in developing and effectively implementing their marketing plan, penetrating target markets, and promoting themselves within the community.
Erica received a BA in business management from the College of St. Benedict with an emphasis on marketing and finance.
Erica and her husband Bryan reside in Farmington, MN with their daughter Kayley and two dogs.  Erica enjoys biking, camping, fishing and traveling.  She is an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakeville, the TCRA and Minnesota Women in Marketing and Communications.

Adam Elg
Training Director

P: 952-258-5035     E:  aelg@minneapolis.nef.com

Adam Elg started his career in financial services in 1990. He began coaching and training financial advisors in 1997 and provided comprehensive consulting to financial advisors managing combined assets of over $500MM with incomes of $100K to $1M. He held various positions at Ameriprise Financial before joining Mid American Financial Group.

With more than twenty years of experience designing, developing and delivering live and virtual training programs in the financial services industry, and through hundreds of presentations, workshops and a national coaching program, he teaches financial advisors "best practices" to help them provide excellent service to their clients, increase their productivity and enhance their quality of life. He is a seasoned trainer, public speaker and lecturer with the ability to create appropriate messages for distinct audiences.

Adam obtained a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University and a Masters of Art degree in Organizational Development from the University of St Thomas - both in Minneapolis MN. He is a graduate of the Coaches Training Institute and has received the designation of Certified E-Myth Coach from E-Myth Worldwide, the leader in small business coaching. Adam is a big brother with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities. He lives downtown Minneapolis and enjoys the walking and biking trails, lakes and numerous cultural opportunities available. He also enjoys traveling, boating and golfing.

Patrick M. Olson
Financial Planner
Registered Representative

P: 952.258.5097        E: polson@minneapolis.nef.com

Patrick provides resources and assistance in the financial planning department to help reps. and their clients through the financial planning process.  He is looking to help his colleagues engage their clients on a deeper level, which will in turn help them, to grow their practices.  Patrick is a 23 year resident of St. Paul, a 4-time marathon finisher and member of ALARC running club.

Elaine Hood, CLU®, ChFC, RHU, CLTC
Registered Representative, LTCI and DI Specialist

P: 952.258.5585     E: ehood@minneapolis.nef.com

Elaine holds a B.A. from Buenta Vista University in Storm Lake, IA.  She began her career in financial services with New York Life in 1988 as an insurance agent.  Elaine then joined Pharmacists Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1991 as a special accounts rep where she provided employee benefits, retirement planning and life insurance to large P&C accounts.  Elaine joined New England Financials Minneapolis office in 1998 as a financial representative. She is experienced in the areas of Disability Income Insurance and Long-Term Care insurance.

Elaine has five grown children, seven grandchildren and lives in Wayzata, MN.  She enjoys reading, walking, knitting, playing Texas Hold’em and spending time with her family.

Accomplishments:
 Quality Award for New York Life, 1990
 Employee of the Month, PMIC 1992
 Agency Builders, NEF 2001, 2003, 2004
 Management Person of the Year 2003

Brian Young, CLU®
Investment Specialist
Registered Representative

P: 952.542.0725    E: byoung@minneapolis.nef.com

Brian has been affiliated with this firm since 1968. He began as a financial services representative and became an Investment Specialist in 1997.  Brian qualified for Agency Builder’s during his first year as Investment Specialist and ever year since. 
Brian attended Macalester College and the University of Minnesota where he pursued a major in Political Science and minors in Economics and Sociology.  He is an Investment Specialist and registered representative with New England Securities.
Brian and his wife, Mary, live in Bloomington and have three grown daughters.  He enjoys golfing, spending time with his family and the stock market.  Brian is a member of Riverside Reformed Church where he has been Deacon and Elder, and has taught Sunday School for the past 15 years.

Ronda Zattera
Manager of Operations

P: 952.258.5018       E: rzattera@minneapolis.nef.com

Ronda began her career in Chicago as a Certified Respiratory Therapist before accepting a position in 1984 with Great West Life as a New Business Analyst. Five years later she moved to the Twin Cities, where she joined Piper Jaffrey as an Annuity and Retirement Plan Specialist. As Operations Manager, Ronda brings over 20 years of experience to the day-to-day operations in the area of finance, new business processing, compliance and consulting. Supervising our internal support staff, Ronda works on problem resolution and training. In her former role as Director of Operations for Fortune Financial and Blue Ridge Investments, she was committed to setting high standards, defining expectations, demonstrating concern for clients’ needs, responding effectively and determining levels of satisfaction. 
 
As a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Crown College in St. Bonifacius, MN, Ronda holds a B.S. with an emphasis in Management and Ethics. She also has her Life and Health Insurance licenses as well as Series 7, 66, 24 and 51 Securities Registrations.

She resides in Victoria with her husband, Dennis and their five children, ages 11-17. Life is busy and forever changing but it is important she spends time with family and friends, creating memories and enjoying the “great outdoors” traveling, hiking, camping and shooting photography.

Lori Kramer
Controls Director

P: 952.258.5095    E: lkramer1@minneapolis.nef.com

Lori joined the firm in 2006 with experience in the industry beginning in 1974.  Eighteen of those years, Lori was a financial services representative.  Lori established a First Allied Securities office, an Independent Firm, where she was Producing Manager and Compliance Officer until 2001.
Lori is responsible for implementation, maintenance, and oversight of supervisory procedures designed to ensure that the agency is operating according to regulatory and company policy. The primary functions related to supervision can be summed up as reporting, tracking, and documentation of sales practices, and the use of education and training to resolve issues identified through this process.
She holds the following securities licenses: Series 7, 24,63, life health and variable annuities.  She lives near Norwood/Young America, MN on her family’s Century Farm.  She has one son, Mark who is a CPA/Partner in a firm in Maple Grove, and 3 grandchildren.  She enjoys reading, gardening, planting trees, home improvement projects and quilting.

Robert D. Spiegler  CLU®, ChFC®,CLTC
Brokerage Manager, Registered Representative
Minneapolis, MN

P: 952.258.5041  C: 507.380.9406     E: rspiegler@minneapolis.nef.com

Bob began his career in the financial services industry in 1972 after graduating from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. After three years with National Life of Tennessee, Bob became the Unit Manager for Principal Financial Group in Mankato, Minnesota and continued in that position for twenty-four years. Bob’s unit was the Gold Club Division Winner and the Overall Commission Leader in consecutive years with nine of sixteen agents making Premier Club one of those years. Bob was the Long Term Care Leader in 2005 for the Mid American Agency after joining New England Financial in 1999. Bob is also a registered representative of New England Securities. Bob and his wife, Karen, have three grown children. They have taught Sunday school for over thirty years. He is a past president of Kiwanis and active in CBS. Bob finds great satisfaction professionally and in his community “helping people help people.”