People Review

Alison Salka joined LIMRA in 2012 and led the member benefits and research division from April 2014 until April 2024. She was responsible for driving the strategy and direction of its global research program. As principal research consultant, she is focused on thought leadership designed to help companies better understand industry issues and trends. She is a frequent industry speaker and has testified before the Department of Labor. Before joining LIMRA, she worked at Prudential and MassMutual. She has a Master’s degree from the College of William and Mary and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.

Bosko joined  LIMRA and LOMA in 2018, and has an extensive background in individual annuity products. As a Senior Research Analyst of Annuity Research, Bosko is responsible for assisting the Director of individual research program at LIMRA.

Prior to joining LIMRA and LOMA, Bosko gained extensive knowledge in the annuity industry working as an annuity wholesaler at MetLife, Senior Regional Consultant at Prudential Annuities, and as an Investment Management Specialist/Assistant Vice President of Wells Fargo Private Bank Wealth Management Team. In addition, Bosko served as FINRA Series 7, 66 licensed Financial Advisor and Investment Consultant for Fidelity Investments and VOYA Financial Inc.

He graduated from University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Business and Administration (MBA) with focus in Finance and International Business.

Dan Beatrice serves LIMRA's independent insurance research program for studies pertaining to independent sales professionals and intermediaries. He is Project Director for wholesaler compensation studies in the U.S. and Canada. He serves as staff representative for LIMRA's Financial Management Research Committee.

Deb Dupont is responsible for LIMRA’s institutional (retirement plans) retirement research program. She conducts and supervises research, benchmark reporting, and study groups focused on the issues and trends faced by constituents of the defined contribution industry. She also provides guidance and thought leadership in helping LIMRA's member firms better understand the opportunities available for improving delivery of institutional retirement solutions.

Prior to joining LIMRA in 2014, Deb was the Director of ING's Retirement Research Institute (the Institute), where she created, managed, and published a research platform that included work focusing on multi-cultural, generational, and gender-based analyses of retirement behaviors, and also published insights and analyses of ING's own cross-defined contribution (i.e., across employment sectors) participant base. Deb's work has been recognized for effectiveness and quality by some of the most prestigious awards in the financial services and communications industries, including the Insurance and Financial Communicators' Association and the International Association of Business Communicators. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut.

Chaffin is responsible for research on affiliated distribution channels, including agency-building and multiple-line exclusive agent channels. She serves as project director for studies on field compensation design and pay practices, as well as topical research in response to the needs of LIMRA members. She is also the co-staff representative for LIMRA’s Financial Management Research Committee.

Chaffin, who joined LIMRA in 1989, earned her bachelor's degree from Green Mountain College and her M.B.A. from Rensselaer at Hartford.

Ericson, appointed to her current position in 2003, is responsible for providing strategic oversight and improving effectiveness for all LIMRA networking opportunities, including conferences, study groups, and committee meetings. She directly manages several LIMRA conferences, including LIMRA's Annual Meeting, LIMRA's Marketing Conferences, and the LIMRA/LOMA/SOA/ACLI Life Insurance Conference.

Since joining LIMRA in 1982, she has conducted and supervised recruiting, retention, and productivity research; developed a training initiative in the Research Division; led LIMRA's quality initiative, focusing on customer service, continuous improvement, and strategic planning; and oversaw the promotion of LIMRA's research program to its membership. Ericson holds a bachelor's degree from Central Connecticut State University.

Tumicki directs the LIMRA team responsible for research on insurance products – individual and group life, health, disability, critical illness and long-term care. The insurance product research team conducts ongoing surveys on sales, persistency, and product design, as well as marketing studies and company practices studies that respond to the needs of LIMRA’s constituencies.

Tumicki also serves as a resource on industry performance measures to LIMRA staff, member companies, and the media. She is staff representative to LIMRA’s Individual Life Insurance Study Group, Product Development Study Group, and Supplemental Health, DI & LTC Committee, and is a liaison to various other committees and study groups.

Tumicki is a graduate of the University of Connecticut.

Liz Caswell is Research Director of Insurance Markets Research at LIMRA and LOMA. She specializes in financial services, consumer behavior, diversity, and equity. She leads the Markets Research Committee as well as the Diversity Marketing Committee for member companies, and regularly speaks on the topics of consumer segmentation, diversity, and marketing. Caswell holds an M.B.A. in finance and a B.A. in communications.

John Carroll began his career at Merrill Lynch and over the course of 20 years held a variety of sales and marketing roles, culminating in Managing Director, Head of Distribution and Co-Head of Merrill Lynch Insurance Group. After Merrill Lynch, he joined Allianz Global Investors (AGI) where he was Chief Operating Officer for AGI Distributors (AGID), their U.S. Broker Dealer, and ultimately Head of U.S. Retail Distribution and served as the Chief Executive Officer of AGID. He joined LIMRA and LOMA from Epoch Investment Partners, an institutional asset management firm, where he was Head of Intermediary Client Relations. He holds a BA in economics and an MBA from Rutgers University.

Sullivan is a member of the Individual Annuity research team at LIMRA and LOMA. He is responsible for two Annuity related member benefit services - the Annuity Product Materials and Annuity Interest Rate services. He also works on monthly, quarterly and annual annuity benchmarking surveys and assists with LIMRA and LOMA's Annuity Committee and Annuity Competitive Intelligence Study Group.

Prior to joining LIMRA and LOMA, Sullivan worked for Phoenix Life Insurance Company in their Product Development Department. He also gained years of industry experience while working in Annuity Operations at MetLife.

Sullivan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the University of Connecticut. 

Sullivan is a member of the Individual Annuity research team at LIMRA and LOMA. He is responsible for two Annuity related member benefit services — the Annuity Product Materials and Annuity Interest Rate services. He also works on monthly, quarterly and annual annuity benchmarking surveys and assists with LIMRA and LOMA's Annuity Committee and Annuity Competitive Intelligence Study Group.

Prior to joining LIMRA and LOMA, Sullivan worked for Phoenix Life Insurance Company in their Product Development Department. He also gained years of industry experience while working in Annuity Operations at MetLife.

Sullivan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the University of Connecticut.

Karen Terry leads the Individual Product Research team, developing and implementing LIMRA's research program for individual life, disability long-term care and critical illness insurance products in the U.S. and Canada. Under her guidance, her team provides competitive intelligence on product design, customer demographics, industry sales trends and forecasts for the North American individual insurance markets. With over 25 years of insurance product and consumer research experience, Karen is a leading industry expert on industry performance measures to LIMRA staff, member companies, and the media.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in marketing from the University of Maryland.

As chief information officer for LIMRA and LOMA, Kartik Sakthivel is responsible for developing the information technology strategic direction for the enterprise. In this capacity, he directs and manages computing and information technology policies, programs and schedules for business and enterprise systems, and manages information services to meet LIMRA and LOMA’s corporate goals and objectives.

An industry thought leader, he champions the use of technology to improve the revenue, profitability, and efficiency of the organization. Joining LIMRA and LOMA in 2017, Sakthivel has broad industry experience, most recently as director of technology at Liberty Mutual Insurance.

He holds a doctorate in Computer and Information Sciences with a focus on AI and Information Quality from University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems/Information Technology, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.

Krozel manages the direct sales force (i.e., career and multiple line exclusive agent) distribution research program for LIMRA. Her team is responsible for some of LIMRA’s longest-standing benchmarking studies, providing research on field performance (recruiting and retention) and distribution financial management (cost and compensation).  Krozel’s primary expertise is distribution economics, but she has also directed projects covering field leader compensation, field benefits, and other topical issues in response to the needs of LIMRA’s membership.

Krozel serves as co-staff representative to LIMRA’s Financial Management Research Committee and acts as a research liaison for several of LIMRA’s committees and study groups.

Krozel joined LIMRA in 1985. She received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Central Connecticut State University and earned her LIMRA Leadership Institute Fellow (LLIF) designation in 2015.

In 2024, Golembiewski became the director of LIMRA’s annuity research program. In this capacity, he leads the team responsible for LIMRA’s annuity benchmark sales studies, as well as all annuity trending and insights research. Prior to 2024, he was senior director of LIMRA’s strategic research program, leading the research efforts on key enterprise-wide initiatives, including the direct-to-consumer market, industry scenario planning, and a targeted program of hot topic insights for members.

Golembiewski has more than 25 years of experience in strategic research and competitive intelligence at leading insurance organizations including Prudential Financial, The Hartford, and the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Connecticut College.

Murach manages LIMRA’s insurance and investment intermediary/third-party distribution research program. She and her team conduct various research studies related to independent producers, wholesalers, and other distribution intermediaries including BGAs/IMOs, broker-dealers, wirehouses, and financial institutions. Murach also conducts advisor research and manages LIMRA’s Panel of Financial Professionals.

Murach is staff representative to LIMRA’s Wholesaler Leadership Summit and research liaison to LIMRA’s Independent Producer Marketing Committee and LIMRA’s Brokerage Committee. Murach is a graduate of Ithaca College and earned her LIMRA Leadership Institute Fellow (LLIF) designation in 2018.

No longer with LIMRA.

Larry is an insurance, securities, and advisory professional with nearly 40 years of experience. He acted in a principal capacity in a variety of insurance company business units including life policy administration, variable annuity new issue, field office inspections, and broker-dealer compliance and investment advisor compliance. He spent most of his career at John Hancock, where he held over 15 separate positions during his 25 years, progressing to Chief Compliance Officer of its U.S. retail FINRA broker-dealer and SEC Registered Investment Advisor, Signator Investors, Inc.

Honan, who joined LIMRA in 1998, is responsible for conducting annual benchmarking studies involving agent recruiting, retention, and productivity, for agency-building companies in the United States and Canada. She also assists with topical distribution research projects for both countries.

Honan received her bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Connecticut.

Mark Paracer is responsible for conducting research on retirement plans. He currently is the project director on the U.S. Retirement Plans study, the 401(k) Scorecard, the Stable Value and Funding Agreement Products, and the In-plan Income Guarantees study. He also runs the Stable Value, Strategic Retirement Research Network, and the In-plan Guarantee study groups.

Prior to joining LIMRA in 2012, he spent 15 years in a variety of roles including competitive intelligence, operations, marketing, sales, and product development in the mutual fund, life insurance, and banking industries. Mark received his B.A. in economics from the University of New Hampshire.

Matt Drinkwater, who joined LIMRA in 1999, leads the annuity and retirement income primary research program. He has led the creation of several major studies of retirement planning, retirement income planning and management, and consumer preferences for receiving advice. Drinkwater has directed several institutional retirement research projects, including studies of asset retention and the rollover market. His research on annuities has encompassed in-depth studies of product features, buyer and owner characteristics, persistency, and living benefit utilization.

He is a graduate of Trinity College (Hartford, CT) and holds a doctorate in psychology from Brown University.

Maureen Shaughnessy joined LIMRA in 2017 and is responsible for the array of industry-wide experience studies done in conjunction with the Society of Actuaries (SOA) Research Institute. Studies focus on a broad range of life, health, and retirement products and analyze key product metrics including mortality, morbidity, and policyowner behavior experience. Prior to joining LIMRA, Maureen spent 14 years in various insurance company actuarial roles where she most recently directed the life and annuity experience analytics team.

Maureen earned her bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Evansville. She is a member of the Society of Actuaries and the American Academy of Actuaries, and earned a certificate in Predictive Analytics through the SOA.

Patrick T. Leary, MBA, LLIF, is corporate vice president, workplace benefits research for LIMRA and LOMA. In this role, Pat leads a team of workplace benefits professionals responsible for conducting research on the products, markets, and distribution of a wide range of life, health, and related employee benefits.

Before assuming his current position, Pat directed LIMRA and LOMA’s distribution research program and, prior to that, was a member of LIMRA and LOMA’s group insurance research team.

Pat joined LIMRA and LOMA in 1989. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Hartwick College and his MBA from the University of Connecticut. Pat also earned his LIMRA and LOMA Leadership Institute Fellow (LLIF) designation in 2012.

Peter focuses on research pertaining to insurance- and investment-focused distribution. His research areas include independent practice models such as RIAs and independent insurance agents, robo-advisors, and sales benchmarking for banks and broker-dealers. Prior to joining LIMRA in 2017, Peter worked as an analyst for a boutique investment firm. He is currently pursuing his M.B.A. from Boston University Questrom School of Business and he earned his B.S in Finance from Central Connecticut State University.

Phil Brown is responsible for LIMRA and LOMA’s commercial research products and offerings. This includes LIMRA and LOMA’s custom research services, the customer assurance program, as well as new product development in the areas of customer experience and applied data analytics. He is a staff representative on the Customer Insight Advisory Council and a frequent industry speaker.

Brown joined LIMRA and LOMA in 2014 with more than 25 years of experience in financial services, with leadership roles in market development, analytics, technology and finance at companies such as Citigroup (Travelers, Smith Barney and Citibank), MassMutual and Guardian Life Insurance.

He is a graduate of Boston University’s School of Management and an Executive Scholar with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Neyer’s area of expertise is monitoring and communicating trends in workplace insurance distribution. He manages benchmarking and carrier practice studies, as well as research projects focusing on employers, employees, and brokers/advisors. Neyer is a frequent author and presenter for industry publications and events, where he shares research-based insights. He manages LIMRA’s Account Management and Workplace Benefits Competitive Intelligence Study Groups and has served on committees for both the Voluntary Employee Benefit Board and the Voluntary Benefits Forum. He joined LIMRA in 1998 and received his bachelor’s degree and M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut.

Silverhart is responsible for directing select strategic research initiatives as well as implementing and managing processes to assure the quality of LIMRA and LOMA’s research program. Todd oversees the development of research agendas, the practices followed in conducting research, and the procedures for assuring the quality of research deliverables.

A frequent industry speaker and author, he also serves as staff representative for LIMRA and LOMA’s Customer Insight Advisory Council.

Having joined LIMRA and LOMA in 1988, Silverhart previously served in LIMRA and LOMA’s Assessment Solutions unit, where he conducted producer and field manager selection research, consultation, and product development. From 2000 to 2019 he managed various LIMRA and LOMA research functions including Technology in Marketing and Distribution, Markets, and Insurance Research.

Silverhart is a graduate of Middlebury College and received his Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology from Old Dominion University.

Yuliya Esipov joined LIMRA and LOMA in 2004. As Associate Research Director, her responsibilities include managing the U.S. workplace benefits dental and vision studies as well as employer and employee-focused benchmarking studies.

Esipov received her diploma in history from Moscow State University (Lomonosov’s) in Russia. She has a master’s degree in history from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in survey research from the University of Connecticut.