The Life & Annuity Team

Aaron Gravel
Senior Agent Relationship Manager

What is your title and primary responsibility at Brokers Alliance?

Helping Insurance Agents provide annuity solutions to their clients and help manage our Annuity Division.

Tell us about your hometown and family:

I’m from Southington, CT originally and have lived in AZ since 2009 and have 2 beautiful children Cameryn and Brady.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Joining the Army in 1995 and serving for 8 years.

At the end of your workday, how do you measure if it has been a success?

If at the end of my day I feel exhausted, I know I gave it all.

If you could meet any one person, living or dead, at Starbucks for a coffee, who would it be and why?

Tom Brady, because he’s an outstanding father, husband, individual and humble role model for others.

What are the top three items on your bucket list?

1. Drink Guinness in Ireland. 2. Retire to a Ranch in Montana. 3. Watch my kids grow up.

What would be your “walk-up song”?

Johnny Cash - Walk the Line

Awards & Recognitions

 

Jared Dearden
Senior Agent Relationship Manager

What is your title and primary responsibility at Brokers Alliance?

Senior Marketing Director - I create and maintain relationships. I also assist in every aspect of the insurance business, including case design.

Tell us about your hometown and family:

I was born in Idaho but consider Riverton Utah my hometown. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City, with a country flavor. We have high mountains and desert landscape within an hour depending on the direction. My family is small but very close, my brother has always been my best friend. I see or speak to every member on a daily basis. I feel very lucky to have such a close family.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

The relationship I have with my wife and my children. My true happiness is everyone home and safe at the end of each day.

At the end of your workday, how do you measure if it has been a success?

Mental fatigue and the inner feeling of productivity.

If you could meet any one person, living or dead, at Starbucks for a coffee, who would it be and why?

It would be my Grandpa Kenneth Dearden. He was everything I want to be, his presence and the ability to let everything come to him was unique. He taught me “patience will provide”.

What are the top three items on your bucket list?

1- Raise my kids to be happy and close to each other after I am gone. 2- Have an even deeper understanding of myself and the people around me. 3- Eat really good food in places far away.

What would be your “walk-up song”?

“Searchin For A Rainbow” Marshall Tucker Band

Awards & Recognitions

Cayse Mersch
Senior Life Consultant

What is your title and primary responsibility at Brokers Alliance?

Life Brokerage Specialist, I am responsible for case design, case management and some underwriting.

Tell us about your hometown and family:

I live in Manhattan, no not that one. Think the polar opposite and you have Manhattan Illinois. I am married to Catherine and have been for 28 years and we have a lovely daughter Rachel, who is 23.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Making it 23 years with this awesome organization.

At the end of your workday, how do you measure if it has been a success?

If I am not sobbing openly I feel I have had a good day. Seriously, if cases get written and paid and no agent is newly disappointed. That is a good day.

If you could meet any one person, living or dead, at Starbucks for a coffee, who would it be and why?

Joe Racich. I always take any chance I get to sit down with Joe.

What are the top three items on your bucket list?

Travel to 1) Australia 2) Dubai and 3) Ireland.

What would be your “walk-up song”?

Man of the hour (Pearl Jam) Love that song.

Awards & Recognitions

Holly Chin
Senior Life Consultant

What is your title and primary responsibility at Brokers Alliance?

Senior Life Consultant. I am responsible for everything pre-application, product knowledge, illustrations, contracting, applications, underwriting, navigating our website, making sure our agents have the tools they need for the sale, etc.

Tell us about your hometown and family:

I have lived in IL my entire life, and I love it. I have a wonderful husband, son and dog.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My son is my proudest accomplishment, he is the best part of everyday.

At the end of your workday, how do you measure if it has been a success?

That I finished all the tasks I received throughout the day and that everyone has what they need for the client appointments they have scheduled.

If you could meet any one person, living or dead, at Starbucks for a coffee, who would it be and why?

I would want to meet my husband and son at Starbucks, because I love spending as much time as possible with them.

What are the top three items on your bucket list?

I want to travel to all of the states in the United States, ride in a helicopter, and buy a lake house.

What would be your “walk-up song”?

Come With Me Now by the Kongos

Awards & Recognitions

Louis Messina
Senior Agent Relationship Manager

What is your title and primary responsibility at Brokers Alliance?

Annuity and Life Sales Consultant. My responsibilities are to assist advisors on Product Support and Case Design for both Life Insurance and Annuities.

Tell us about your hometown and family:

I grew up in the small town of Fountain Hills where Brokers Alliance is located. Fountain Hills is known for having one of the largest man made fountains in the world and can shoot up to 560 ft in the air. My family and I are very close! My brother and I have lived together since 2010 and just recently sold our property and went our separate ways. We still maintain family dinners weekly to stay close.

At the end of your workday, how do you measure if it has been a success?

My goal for every workday is to leave it all on the table. If I walk away knowing that I did, it was a success.

If you could meet any one person, living or dead, at Starbucks for a coffee, who would it be and why?

Mark Cuban and it wouldn't be for coffee…It would be for a beer.

What are the top three items on your bucket list?

Skydiving, Thailand, and riding a unicorn.

What would be your “walk-up song”?

Undisputed - Ludacris Ft. Floyd Mayweather

Awards & Recognitions

Parker Adams
Agent Relationship Manager, Exclusive Lines

What is your title and primary responsibility at Brokers Alliance?

I am the Marketing Director for our Exclusive, Proprietary Lines Division here at Brokers Alliance.

Tell us about your hometown and family:

Arizona Native. Peoria specifically. I have a small tight knit immediate family that means everything to me but have a good amount of relatives in Oklahoma and Texas.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

I don’t know if I have one particular accomplishment I am the proudest of. However, my little Brother’s High School Graduation is one of my proudest moments.

At the end of your workday, how do you measure if it has been a success?

I was told along time ago that when it comes to life as long as you are doing the best you can as much as you can, nothing can be considered a failure. So as long as I’ve done the best I can as much as I was able to, I consider the day a success.

If you could meet any one person, living or dead, at Starbucks for a coffee, who would it be and why?

My Grandfather, Charles Cramer. He died when I was really young and as a grown man, being a direct descendant, hearing his insight and perspective I feel would be extremely rewarding.

What are the top three items on your bucket list?

1.World Travel 2.See the Utah Jazz win a NBA World Championship 3.Own a Castle

What would be your “walk-up song”?

Citizen Cope ft Carlos Santana - Sideways

Awards & Recognitions

Bennett Nejadeh
Agent Relationship Manager

What is your title and primary responsibility at Brokers Alliance?

Agent Relationship Manager/Exclusive Lines Recruiter and I’m responsible for providing agents with the right tools to not only be able to contract but grow their business and be successful in today's Life Insurance Industry.

Tell us about your hometown and family:

Grew up in Fountain Hills, AZ. I have three siblings, an older sister, a twin brother, and a younger brother.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Claiming the title of United States Marine.

At the end of your workday, how do you measure if it has been a success?

I don't measure my day by success or by failures instead I analyze my days and find out what I can do better the next day to ensure success but no one can ever say they can't be more successful.

If you could meet any one person, living or dead, at Starbucks for a coffee, who would it be and why?

I’d meet with Clayton Kershaw and make him give me season tickets. Lol.

What are the top three items on your bucket list?

Backpack the Arizona trail all at once, take my girl on a trip all over Italy, and travel to the World Cup.

What would be your “walk-up song”?

“Alan Jackson- Chattahoochee”.

Awards & Recognitions

Angela Santos-Flores
Life Brokerage Specialist

What is your title and primary responsibility at Brokers Alliance?

I am a hybrid between a life insurance agent and an agent recruiter.

Tell us about your hometown and family:

My hometown is the lovely island of Puerto Rico and my family is the most awesomest thing that has existed…ever, in the entirety of all universes including the Milky Way

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Finding a group of people that welcomed me into the fold, no judgement, no questions asked and, as an added effect, helping me be okay with the person that I look at in the mirror every day.

At the end of your workday, how do you measure if it has been a success?

Every day is a success, dudes. You get up, laugh about it, and be better tomorrow.

If you could meet any one person, living or dead, at Starbucks for a coffee, who would it be and why?

Well, assuming it can be a fictional character, I would love to meet Achilles see what really happened with that heel.

What are the top three items on your bucket list?

I would like to be a fairy, Tinker Bell style. Run with the unicorns. Float at will :)

What would be your “walk-up song”?

“Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns and Roses”.

Awards & Recognitions

Adam Syverson
Agent Relationship Manager

What is your title and primary responsibility at Brokers Alliance?

Agent Relationship Manager / Recruiting Agents

Tell us about your hometown and family:

I’m from Albert Lea, Minnesota. I have two younger brothers, Alex and Marty.

My parents were also born and raised in Albert Lea.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

When I was 9 years old, I raised $1,500 for the Relay for Life, my grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and I was determined to help as much as I could, so during the summer I spent a few days a week selling bags to people for them to decorate for the Relay for Life, I was the youngest person to raise that much money for cancer research in my area.

At the end of your workday, how do you measure if it has been a success?

When I feel like I have done everything I can do to help someone out, and followed through on everything I said I would do that day.

If you could meet any one person, living or dead, at Starbucks for a coffee, who would it be and why?

Wayne Gretzky, I want to see what drove him and created the work ethic he had to become the best hockey player in the world at his time.

What are the top three items on your bucket list?

1. Solo Skydive Certification

2. Backcountry snowboarding in Japan.

3. Sail around the world.

What would be your “walk-up song”?

Can’t Get Away From A Good Time- Logan Mize

Awards & Recognitions

Meg Hoffman
Agent Relationship Manager