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2026 NAIFA IL Winter Conference |
Level up your practice this winter with a powerful day of insight, strategy, and inspiration. Join NAIFA IL for our Annual Winter Conference, featuring an outstanding group of industry experts including Van Mueller, Dr. Amy D’Aprix, Bill Comfort, Mark Tan, Aamir Chalisa, Brian Cichy, Randy Ems, David Kikoen & Evan Manning.
From cutting-edge planning strategies to real-world solutions you can use immediately, this is a must-attend event for financial services professionals who want to stay informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve.
Sharpen your skills. Strengthen your impact. Register today. |
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Mistwood Golf Club
1700 W Renwick Rd, Romeoville, IL 60446
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Feb 26, 2026 08:00am - Feb 26, 2026 03:30pm |
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| Program Schedule 8:00 – 8:30 Coffee with Exhibitors 8:30 – 9:00 Opening Remarks/Exhibitor Intros – Emcee, Mark Tan, CRPC, LUTCF 9:00 – 10:00 Dr. Amy D’Aprix, MSW, PhD, CPCA - Longevity Planning and the Caregiving Challenge 10:00 – 10:20 Break with Exhibitors 10:20 – 11:20 Bill Comfort, CLTC, LTCCP – Long Term Care Insurance: Risks, Realities & Solutions 11:20 – 12:10 Ask the Experts Panel: Mark Tan, Aamir Chalisa, Brian Cichy, Randy Ems, David Kikoen 12:10 – 12:50 Lunch with the Exhibitors 12:50 – 2:20 Van Mueller, LUTCF, LACP - Sell What Matters: Knowledge & Wisdom 2:20 – 2:50 Evan Manning - llinois Insurance Legislative Update 2:50 – 3:10 Break with Exhibitors 3:10 – 3:30 Closing Remarks & Raffle Prizes – Emcee, Mark Tan, CRPC, LUTCF 3:30 – 5:00 NAIFA Social - McWethy's Tavern at Mistwood Golf Club |
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Meet the Speakers
Van Mueller, LUTCF, LACP has been an insurance agent for over 50 years and is an active member of MDRT. Over the years, he has won multiple awards, including the Milwaukee NAIFA Distinguished Service award and 2010 Advisor of the Year by Senior Market Advisor Magazine, to name a couple. Van supports many industry organizations, including as a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, an Emissary Contributor to IFAPAC and a Diamond Knight of the Million Dollar Round Table Foundation.
Van has spoken to groups around the world, including being main-platform speaker at MDRT in 1998 Chicago and the Main Platform speaker at the 2001 Top of The Table Meeting Maui, HI, and at numerous MDRT events since. He has also written many articles for various publications, including the “Close for Retirement Advisor magazine. Van has a web-based monthly newsletter subscription that many agents find an invaluable resource for their practice.
Van believes that the next decade will be “The Greatest Time Ever” for Insurance and Financial Service Professionals! |
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Amy D'Aprix, MSW, PhD, CPCA is an internationally respected expert on lifestyle issues relating to retirement, aging, caregiving, and family dynamics. With a Ph.D. in Social Work, "Dr. Amy," as she is affectionately known, provides down-to-earth, practical, and professionally informed guidance on Life Transitions to individuals, professionals, and organizations. A compelling and pragmatic speaker and coach, Dr. Amy has inspired thousands of Financial Advisors and their clients across North America. She has consulted for the financial industry and trained advisors for over 20 years, providing sound guidance in navigating life's events and challenges to ensure the success of overall life goals and financial plans.
This passion is reflected in LifeBridge Strategies offerings, such as Trusted Advisor of Choice™, a program for financial professionals to better understand their clients' concerns and LifeMap™, an exclusive membership site to help advisor's clients proactively prepare for the life transitions they face.
Amy is a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging (CPCA). She has authored the book, From Surviving to Thriving: Transforming Your Caregiving Journey and created the Life Memories Journal and Caring Cards to inspire more meaningful conversations between generations. Amy was also a Director on the Board of The International Federation on Ageing for over a decade. Dr. Amy is regularly featured and interviewed on television, radio, podcasts, and online publications. |
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Bill Comfort, CLTC, LTCCP has been in the insurance business for 34 years. He is an independent LTC specialist agent with Comfort Long Term Care based in North Carolina, serving clients throughout the country as an agent, consultant, and Continuing Education instructor certified in all 50 states. As a former radio and TV journalist, Bill communicates the complicated world of long-term care clearly and effectively.
Bill has served as a national faculty member for both the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® and Certified in Long-Term Care - CLTC® designation training programs, and is the Director of Training & Development for CLTC. His agency is a member of the National LTC Network and the National Alliance of Insurance Agencies. He has authored and contributed to books on the long-term care insurance, and is the founder and chief author of the Long Term Care Claims Professional - LTCCP® designation and training program. He has shared his expertise nationally in the media. Bill lives in Durham, NC, with his long-time sweetheart. He has four adult children and two grandchildren. He loves to cook, grill out, golf, travel, is an amateur radio operator (WøVZ), and models European model trains to help bring the joys of wanderlust home! |
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Aamir Chalisa, MBA, LUTCF is a renowned author, international speaker, and respected leader with more than 30 years in the insurance and financial services industry. As General Manager of Futurity First Insurance Group’s Oak Brook, IL branch, he leads a team of 50 agents and guided the branch to a top-ranking position in 2023.
A champion of diversity in corporate America, Aamir has held leadership roles with MetLife, Prudential, and Nationwide, where he developed diverse sales teams and expanded market presence across Chicagoland. He is also deeply involved in the community as Chairman of OPEN Chicago, Sponsorship & Events Chair for OPEN Global, and President of the Society of Arts and Culture.
A sought-after speaker, Aamir has presented on marketing, leadership, and diversity at industry conferences worldwide including in Mexico City, Manila, Bangkok, and Beirut. He is the author of Leadership Beyond Borders and an active volunteer with GAMA Global.
Aamir holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Southern Illinois University and lives in Naperville, IL with his wife and two children. |
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Brian Cichy is a lifetime resident of the Chicagoland area. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1994 and was Honorably Discharged in 2002. He graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing in 1996. Immediately after, he began a career in the financial services industry and obtained his life, health, property and casualty, Series 6, Series 63 and Series 26 licenses and later became Long Term Care and ACA certified. He is a NAIFA member and Board Member, Leaders Conference and Marketplace Circle of Champions qualifier, has been featured in Bloomberg Businessweek magazine and MDRT podcasts & blogs, and is an MDRT Court of the Table member.
As an independent insurance advisor, Brian represents over 80 of the finest financial companies in the industry, which allows him to always give unbiased recommendations that suit his clients’ best interests. He focuses on having the highest level of integrity and always puts his clients’ needs first. He believes that everyone deserves to learn how to best manage money and risk, as many may face huge consequences for generations if they don’t. He is driven by educating and helping individuals, families and businesses and becoming a trusted lifetime resource for each and every client. Brian lives with his wife Tamara and their dog Ori, and his daughter is currently completing her Master's degree at the University of IL in Urbana-Champaign. He loves fishing, watching and playing sports, enjoys live music and comedians, movies, and spending time with friends and family. |
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Randy Ems, CLU, ChFC, RICP was first licensed to sell life insurance his senior year at Augustana. He had a successful career as an agent for Mass Mutual in Davenport, Iowa and Dallas, Texas. He led the entire Mass Mutual field force in IRA production in 1984 and qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table.
He and his wife Amy decided to return from Texas, and he transitioned to State Farm in 1990 as an agent in Naperville. Thirty-six years later, Randy is still in love with the business focusing more on life insurance and retirement planning . Along the way he has qualified for MDRT at State Farm and received their highest award , Crystal Excellence. He has served as President of NAIFA DuPage and been an active Rotarian since 1983, serving as the Naperville club President.
Randy has always been competitive. He is a 3-time state racquetball champ. He also loves to travel having been to all 50 states and Europe 10 times. The business has allowed the time to coach his 3, now adult, children. He loves nature and is an avid morel mushroom hunter sharing this passion with his family. Randy has also found time to attend numerous Illini and Augustana sporting events . The last few years he has also attended over 200 concerts finding much joy and relaxation. His biggest joy however is his family. He and his wife Amy were engaged in college and will be married 45 years in July. |
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David Kikoen, LUTCF, CLTC, RICP is a Financial Services Professional for NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC), a Licensed Insurance Agency and an Agent with New York Life Insurance Company. His practice, Think Outside… Financial Strategies, focuses on Long-Term Care and Retirement Income Planning.
David has been a NAIFA member for the past 17 years and is currently NAIFA IL Immediate Past President. He graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BS in business management and economics. He is a 2025 member of MDRT and is the Political Involvement Leader for his Schaumburg New York Life office. He has been the Established Long-Term Care Leader for New York Life in the Illinois General Office for the past ten years.
He lives in Orland Park with his wife Rita. They have 5 children and 8 grandchildren from Williamsburg, VA to San Jose, CA. |
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Mark Tan, CRPC, LUTCF is a District Manager of Farmers Insurance in Naperville. Mark is a recognized leader in the insurance community and within NAIFA. He is a Past President of NAIFA-Illinois State, Past president of NAIFA-Will/Grundy Local, and is presently serving as President of the NAIFA Illinois Foundation for Education. Mark has also served on the NAIFA National IFAPIC and IFAPAC committees. He has experience in both the P&C and straight Life/Health/benefits side of the business and has received numerous awards for both production and management.
In 2017 Mark was awarded the prestigious Brian H. Early Frontline leader award from GAMA. In 2014 he was awarded the NAIFA-IL Young Advisor (YAT) of the year award. While in personal production, he qualified for MDRT membership multiple years. He is also a graduate of the NAIFA Leadership In Life Institute (LILI) Leadership training.
Mark enjoys meeting new people through networking and believes that building strong relationships provides the best way of not only discovering new friends but expanding his business as well. His passions include scuba diving and instructing as a Dive Master, competing in 3-gun matches, photography, automobiles, food and travel. |
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