NAIFA Illinois Annual Leadership Conference & Business Meeting 

Surviving & Thriving

Juli McNeely, CFP, CLU, LUTCF

Juli joined McNeely Financial Services in 1996.   McNeely Financial Services is a 40+ year old independent agency founded by her father Stephen McNeely.  Juli owns/operates the Wisconsin based firm, as her father has retired to Arizona.  Juli specializes in the areas of retirement planning, education funding, business continuity planning and estate planning. 

 Juli has a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Northwestern College in Roseville, MN.  She is professionally affiliated with the NAIFA - Central Wisconsin where she has served in all officer positions (President in 2003-2004).  She was chosen as NAIFA Central Wisconsin’s Agent of the Year in 1999 and President’s Award in 2004.  Juli has also served in all officer positions for NAIFA Wisconsin and is currently the Immediate Past President.  She has recently been elected as Secretary to the National Board of NAIFA and will ascend to the role of President in two years.  This is a position that, until now, has never been held by a female.    Juli also holds the Series 7 and 63 securities licenses through SII Investments Inc.  Juli is also a qualifying member of MDRT.  In May of 2011, Juli was the recipient of the NAIFA Wisconsin A. Jack Nussbaum Distinguished Service Award.

Brian D. Heckert, CLU, ChFC, AIF®, QPFC

Financial Solutions Midwest is backed by financial professional, Brian D. Heckert, CLU, ChFC, AIF. Brian is a successful business leader in southwestern Illinois and brings a breadth of experience to the corporation. He began his financial services career in 1985. Brian is also owner and Managing Member of Financial Solutions Midwest, LLC, an independent financial services practice dedicated to providing strategic advice and services for individuals and businesses. Brian is a Registered Representative and an Investment Advisor Representative with NFP Securities, Inc.

 As a life and qualifying MDRT member, Brian has seven Court of the Table and six Top of the Table qualifications. He is a highly sought-after speaker and is currently serving as MDRT Secretary.

John F. Nichols, MSM, CLU

 John Nichols is a nationally recognized disability benefits consultant, the creator of disability products and administration systems and an expert witness in disability proceedings. Nichols serves as president of Disability Resource Group, Inc., a national insurance agency that he founded in 1999.

John serves as the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisor’s President Elect and previously as a national board trustee since 2007.  In that same year, NAIFA Chicago Region recognized John with their Leadership in Life Award. He is a frequent speaker at an array of national meetings, including MDRT Main Platform 2012, a session speaker in 2004 and 2010, NAIFA National, and over 500 state and local NAIFA programs. He is in the top 30 of lifetime contributors for NAIFA’s IFAPAC.

 He obtained his CLU designation in 2003 and graduated with his Masters in Science Management with an emphasis in Leadership in 2011 from The American College.  John is a member of the President’s Circle contributor level at the American College.

 As a life and qualifying MDRT member, John has two Court of the Table and six Top of the Table qualifications. Additionally, he is a Excalibur knight level contributor to the MDRT foundation.

John W. Wheeler, Jr. , CFP®, CLU, ChFC, CRPC®, LUTCF

 Executive Vice President of Water Tower Financial Partners, LLC, John is a registered principal and financial advisor with MML Investors Services, LLC (MMLIS). With an extensive background in the financial services industry dating back to 1969, John supports the agency through seminars, advanced joint sales work, recruiting and the development of financial planning endeavors. A well-known speaker in the financial services industry and various Bar Associations, he has been quoted in such publications as Money Magazine, Life Insurance Selling, The National Underwriter, and The Journal of Financial Planning.

 He is on the faculty of the College for Financial Planning and has taught various Certification programs including the CRPC® and the CFP®.  He is one of three people in the United States currently teaching the entire CFP® certification program, which he has been teaching since 1985.

 John served two terms as President of the DuPage Area Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, has served on the board since 1990, and currently serves as National Committeeman for NAIFA DuPage. In April of 2003, he was named Member of the Year and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. He is the President Elect of NAIFA Illinois and an active member and Ambassador of the Association for Advance Life Underwriting.