Agenda & Materials; Attendee List
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2022
5:30PM – 7:00 PM Welcome Reception (Southpointe Lawn).
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2022
7:30AM – 8:30 AM Networking Breakfast (Southpointe A, B, C, D).
8:30AM – 8:40 AM Opening Remarks.
- Donald J. Walters, President & CEO, CEFLI
8:40AM – 8:50 AM Welcome and Keynote Remarks.
- Nancy Sweet, Chair, CEFLI Board of Directors, CNO Financial
8:50AM – 9:45 AM PERSPECTIVE: The Voice of Experience – The Future of the Compliance and Ethics Profession in the Life Insurance Industry.
The challenges facing compliance and ethics professionals in the life insurance industry continue to evolve. As the industry continues to address contemporary compliance challenges, compliance and ethics professionals must also anticipate the challenges that lie ahead. Hear from a panel of Chief Compliance Officers with extensive industry experience who will share their views on the future of the compliance and ethics profession in the life insurance industry in the years ahead.
- Donald J. Walters (Moderator), President & CEO, CEFLI
- Tim Bolden, Vice President, CCO and Deputy General Counsel, American Fidelity
- Megan Claypool, Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, Athene
- Jim Odland, Vice President and Managing Counsel, Thrivent
- Nancy Sweet, Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer and Deputy General Counsel, CNO Financial
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM Break (Southpointe Foyer West). Sponsored by Guidehouse. 
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM REGULATORY FOCUS: Regulatory Expectations Regarding the NAIC Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation.
More and more states are adopting the 2020 revisions to the NAIC Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation. The Model Regulation applies a best interest standard of care and introduces other compliance operational challenges. Hear from a panel of regulators involved in developing the 2020 revisions to the Model Regulation who will share their thoughts concerning regulatory expectations for compliance with the Model Regulation’s requirements.
- Donald J. Walters (Moderator), President and CEO, CEFLI
- Matthew Gendron, General Counsel & Chief of Regulatory Compliance, Rhode Island Division of Insurance
- Doug Ommen, Commissioner, Iowa Insurance Division
10:45 – 11:30 AM REGULATORY FOCUS: Federal Examination Insights – The SEC and FINRA.
Companies continue to implement the requirements of Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS among other securities-related compliance obligations. As federal securities regulators conduct examinations of broker-dealers and registered investment advisor operations, they identify potential compliance weaknesses that cause regulatory concerns. Hear from a panel of representatives from the SEC and FINRA who will alert compliance professionals to the key issues they should focus on as a means to improve their overall compliance practices.
- Phil Pescatore (Moderator), Senior Vice President, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
- Stephanie Fischer Bennett, Supervisory Attorney Advisor, SEC
- Nicole McCafferty, Senior Director – National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Program, FINRA
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Networking Luncheon (Southpointe Lawn)
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM PERSPECTIVE: “New” Chief Compliance Officers – The Demands of a Key Leadership Role in Compliance.
The compliance and ethics profession has grown significantly in the life insurance industry over the past several decades. As one generation of compliance and ethics leaders reaches their retirement years, a new generation assumes the leadership roles within their organizations. Hear from a panel of “new” Chief Compliance Officers who will offer insights concerning the unique demands of serving in a key leadership role in compliance at their life insurance companies.
- Carla Strauch (Moderator), Senior Vice President – Compliance & Ethics, CEFLI
- Chad Eslinger, Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer & Head of Operational Risk Management, Resolution Life
- Patricia Thompson, Vice President, Chief Compliance & Ethics Officer, Pacific Life
- Tracy Whitaker, Vice President – Legal/Compliance & Associate General Counsel, Homesteaders Life
1:45 PM – 2:30 PM REGULATORY UPDATE: The Future of the DOL’s Role in Regulating the Retirement Product Marketplace.
Though the US Department of Labor (DOL) Fiduciary Rule was vacated by the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in 2018, the DOL continues to explore ways in which it can provide an appropriately regulated marketplace for retirement product providers and consumers. As part of this effort, the DOL continues to review refinements to existing prohibited transaction exemptions and other measures designed to protect retirement consumer interests. Hear from one of the country’s leading retirement legal experts who will share his insights concerning anticipated future regulatory developments from the DOL that will impact life insurer retirement product distribution practices.
- Carla Strauch (Moderator), Senior Vice President – Compliance & Ethics, CEFLI
- Fred Reish, Partner, Faegre Drinker
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Dessert Break (Southpointe Foyer West). Sponsored by First Consulting. 
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM COMPLIANCE RESPONSIBILITIES: The Second Line of Defense Role of Compliance in the “Three Lines of Defense” Risk Mitigation Strategy.
Compliance plays a critical role in helping to mitigate overall enterprise operational risks. Under the “three lines of defense” strategy employed at many life insurance companies, compliance serves primarily as the “second line of defense” to help companies confirm appropriate implementation of compliance requirements. Hear from a panel of company representatives and industry experts who will explore the important role that compliance plays in the “three lines of defense” risk mitigation efforts at life insurance companies.
- Donald J. Walters (Moderator), President & CEO, CEFLI
- Maureen Henderson, Senior Vice President & Chief, Compliance Officer, Symetra Financial Corporation
- Steve Koslow, Vice President, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, Allianz Life
- Jim Puhala, Head of Product Solutions & Regulatory Compliance, MassMutual
3:45 PM – 4:30 PM FRAUD: The Use of New Technologies in Fraud Detection Techniques.
Life insurance companies continue to be subject to fraudulent techniques to undermine a sound marketplace for companies and consumers. Fortunately, the innovation of fraudsters is outpaced by the introduction of new technologies to curtail their nefarious activities. Hear from a panel of industry experts who will discuss how new technologies are being introduced to help life insurance companies overcome the continued challenges of fraudulent activities.
- Jon Berry (Moderator), Partner, Financial Services, Guidehouse
- Ajay Guru, Partner, Fraud Technology Services, Guidehouse
- Jolin John, Fraud Detection Analyst, Risk Management, John Hancock
- Carrie Budnick, Director – AML/Financial Crimes Compliance, Ameriprise Financial
4:30 PM – 5:15 PM ETHICS: Reinforcing the Important Role of Ethics and Integrity at Life Insurance Companies.
The life insurance industry is to be commended for its continued commitment to operating according to high standards of ethics and integrity. These outcomes do not occur but for a continued reinforcement of why ethics and integrity is a cornerstone of life insurance company operations. Join us for a discussion of the techniques that compliance and ethics leaders use to reinforce a focus on ethics and integrity at life insurance companies.
- Steve Harris, Senior Vice President, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, Lincoln Financial
- Alethea O’Donnell, Head of Corporate Compliance, MassMutual
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Networking Reception (Vista Terrace).
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Networking Breakfast (Southpointe A, B, C, D).
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM ANNUAL MEETING: Annual Meeting of Members and CEFLI Update.
- Nancy Sweet, Chair, CEFLI Board of Directors, CNO Financial
- Carla Strauch, Senior Vice President, Compliance & Ethics, CEFLI
8:45 AM – 9:30 AM REGULATORY FOCUS: Regulatory Concerns Regarding Insurer Data Usage.
Life insurance companies rely heavily upon data to conduct their operations. From personal data from consumers applying for products to external sources of data used in the underwriting process, data has been an integral part of providing necessary products and services to life insurance company consumers. Hear from a panel of regulators who will discuss their concerns regarding insurer data usage and the steps that will be taken in the months ahead to provide appropriate review and oversight of insurer use of data in their operations.
- Scott Kosnoff (Moderator), Partner, Faegre Drinker
- Evan Daniels, Director, Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions
- Andrew Mais, Commissioner, State of Connecticut Insurance Department
9:30 AM – 10:15 AM DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE: Solving the Challenge of Promoting Sound Distributor Compliance.
Life insurance companies use a variety of distribution systems to distribute their products. The once dominant captive distributor paradigm has given way to a variety of independent distribution systems including independent marketing organizations, general brokerage agencies, broker-dealers and banks. Hear from a panel of leading compliance professionals who will discuss the practices that they use to address the challenges of promoting sound compliance practices in an evolving distributor marketplace.
- Donald J. Walters (Moderator), President & CEO, CEFLI
- Jeff Halperin, Chief Compliance Officer and, Associate General Counsel, Brighthouse Financial
- Heidi Kaiser, Assistant Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer and Counsel, Jackson
- Tony Lengeling, VP and Chief Compliance Officer, American Equity
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM Break (Southpointe Foyer West). Sponsored by Guidehouse.
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: The Challenges and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence and Other Technologies in Life Insurance Company Operations.
New technologies can enhance the operations of all organizations. In the life insurance industry, artificial intelligence and other technological innovations have been used to provide greater efficiencies in life insurance company operations. Hear from a panel of industry experts who will discuss the important role that artificial intelligence and other technologies can play in enhancing the delivery of essential life insurance products in a timely manner.
- Michael Brennan (Moderator), Associate General Counsel, Corebridge Financial
- Scott Creutzmann, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, Protective Life
- Rania Sarkis, AVP & Assistant General Counsel, Pacific Life
- Patrick Sugent, Vice President, Analytics, LexisNexis
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM NEW DELIVERY SYSTEMS: The Compliance Challenges of Online Life Insurance Companies.
Consumers are demanding more timely delivery of access to life insurance products. In response to this consumer demand, several life insurance companies now provide an expedited online “customer experience” to meet consumer demands in this new marketplace. Hear from a panel of compliance professionals serving online life insurance companies who will identify the similarities and distinctions between serving as a compliance and ethics professional at an online life insurance company versus a “bricks and mortar” life insurance company.
- Cyndi Hall (Moderator), Vice President, Chief Compliance, Officer, Sammons Financial
- Tasha Cupp, General Counsel, Chief Compliance, Officer & Secretary, Ladder Life
- Stacy Koron, Associate General Counsel and Head of Compliance, Ethos Life
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM Networking Luncheon (Southpointe Lawn).
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM GOVERNANCE: Expectations of Boards of Directors and Senior Management for Compliance Departments.
Compliance leaders routinely report the results of their activities to their company’s senior management and Board of Directors. However, as the marketplace has evolved considerably over the past several years, so, too, have the expectations of Boards of Directors and Senior Management to allow them to perform their appropriate governance duties. Hear from a panel of Chief Compliance Officers who will discuss the techniques they use to keep their Boards of Directors and Senior Management informed of contemporary compliance challenges.
- Tom Butler (Moderator), Shareholder, Maynard Cooper
- Steve Koslow, Vice President, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, Allianz Life
- Jim Odland, Vice President and Managing Counsel, Thrivent
- Wayne Smiley, Chief Compliance Officer, TIAA Life
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE: The Distributor Perspective – What Would We Like to See from Life Insurance Compliance Departments.
Producers and their distribution organizations represent an essential component of life insurance industry. As distributors have the opportunity to sell products from multiple companies, adhering to the compliance requirements of specific companies presents unique challenges. Hear from a panel of distribution leaders who will discuss the challenges they face in meeting the compliance demands of multiple life insurance companies and will offer their suggestions as to how life insurance company compliance departments can establish more consistency in their recommended compliance practices.
- Donald J. Walters (Moderator), President & CEO, CEFLI
- Christine Benefield, Assistant General Counsel, Compliance, Integrity Marketing Group
- Ruthann Granito, CEO, Granito, Ltd.
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM Dessert Break (Southpointe Foyer West) – Sponsored by Maynard Cooper & Gale.
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM REGULATORY FOCUS: State Insurance Department Examination Insights.
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, state insurance regulators continued to perform their important role in conducting appropriate oversight of life insurance company marketplace practices. As a result of these activities, state insurance regulators identified areas that may warrant heightened attention among compliance and ethics professionals due to the way certain activities may impact consumers in the marketplace. Hear from a panel of leading state insurance department representatives who will discuss key findings from recent market regulation activities as a way to improve overall life insurance company compliance and ethics practices.
- Vickie Bulger (Moderator), Senior Vice President & Insurance Chief Compliance Officer, Primerica
- Kathy Donovan, Senior Compliance Counsel, Wolters Kluwer
- Matthew Gendron, General Counsel & Chief of Regulatory Compliance, Rhode Island Division of Insurance
- Dan Mathis, Chief Examiner, Iowa Insurance Division
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG): A New Landscape for Corporate Responsibility.
Regulators and financial rating agencies have identified environmental, social and governance activities as a way companies can demonstrate their commitment to operating as good “corporate citizens” in the marketplace. Expectations for life insurance companies regarding ESG have continued to grow. Hear from a panel of industry experts who will discuss these trends and their impact upon life insurance companies in the months ahead.
- Paige Waters (Moderator), Partner, Locke Lord
- Tim Bolden, VP, CCO and Deputy General Counsel, American Fidelity
- Blaine Doerrfeld, Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Privacy Officer, Athene USA
- Gerald D. “Jerry” Higdon, Partner, Locke Lord
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM Closing Remarks.
- Donald J. Walters, President & CEO, CEFLI
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM Beach Bash – Networking Dinner (North Beach).
