NAIFA IL Annual Winter Conference 2025

Program Schedule

9:00 – 9:30                Coffee with Exhibitors

9:30 – 9:55                 Evan Manning - NAIFA Government Affairs Rundown

9:55 – 10:30               Opening Remarks/Exhibitor Intros – Emcee, Dennis Gorski, ChFC, CLU

10:30 – 11:20             Panel: Michelle Piper, WMCP, CSSCS, Vanessa Martinez and Elana Cepa Moderated by Dr. Barb Provost – How Women Make Financial Decisions

11:20 – 11:40             Break with Exhibitors 

11:40 – 12:25             Tobias Campolattara & Marie Ventura – Integrating Home Equity into Retirement Income Planning

12:25 – 1:30               Lunch and Speed-Networking with the Exhibitors

1:30 – 2:30                 Ellen Rogin, CFP, CPA – Conversations that Matter: Amplify Your Impact with Clients

2:30 – 2:50                 Break with Exhibitors 

2:50 – 3:20                 Maggie Leyes - Why Education Is Key to Winning and Keeping Insurance Customers

3:20 – 3:30                 Closing Remarks & Raffle Prizes – Emcee, Dennis Gorski, ChFC, CLU

3:30 – 5:00                 NAIFA Social - McWethy's Tavern at Mistwood Golf Club

Ellen Rogin, CPA, CFP®

Ellen Rogin is a money expert and financial intuitive who helps people transform their relationships with money so they can have happier, more abundant lives. Her book, Picture Your Prosperity, was a New York Times bestseller, and her work has been featured on CNBC, ABC, NPR, TIME, and Oprah Magazine.

As a CPA and CFP®, Ellen worked for many years as a traditional financial advisor before selling her successful wealth management firm. She now combines her intuitive abilities and financial experience to connect with the energy of money and deliver “Messages from Money” to her clients. Sounds weird? It did at first to Ellen, too! Yet people worldwide have found her understanding of their relationships with money to be uncanny.

Ellen’s consultations help people gain insights on how to grow their businesses, expand their wealth, and bring an increased sense of peace around money. She is also a sought-after speaker and has trained and coached thousands of conscious financial advisors and entrepreneurs worldwide to use the “Art of Prosperity” to grow their businesses and their wealth.

See Ellen's Video Message to You!

Tobias Campolattara



Tobias Campolattara is a Senior Mortgage Planner with Great Mortgage. He specializes in working with financial professionals to help their mutual clients unlock the equity in their home and to better achieve their goals. Tobias is a believer in collaboration; together, we can advise clients far better than if we fly solo. Tobias began his career as a financial planner after acquiring his Series 6, Life, and Accident and Health licenses. Although he no longer holds these licenses, he has always taken a planning approach to helping his clients.

Tobias also has backgrounds in banking and taxation. He studied Economics at Illinois State University and earned his MBA with an emphasis in Finance from North Central College. Tobias and Marie opened a branch office of Great Mortgage, Inc. in Tinley Park Illinois in 2023, where they provide residential mortgage solutions for people of all ages. Tobias has been the guardian for his special needs brother since 2019.

Marie Ventura

Marie Ventura is a Senior Mortgage Planner with Great Mortgage. She specializes in helping seniors effectively utilize the equity in their homes. Marie has lived in Mokena since 1999. She has two special needs children, on the autism spectrum. Marie received her Accounting degree from California State Polytechnic University, and received her CPA certificate in California in 1990. She worked for Arthur Andersen in Southern California, and then went on to work in various positions in Accounting and Finance over a 30-year period, including as a Controller and Financial Consultant.

Marie enjoys volunteering in the community and for her church. She was a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), serving as a Guardian Ad Litem for two years as a volunteer, and also worked for CASA as a Training and Recruiting Coordinator. Most recently, she served on the Board of the Lincoln Way Special Recreation Foundation in New Lenox, and then was the Accountant for Lincoln Way Special Recreation Association. When she met Tobias and witnessed what he was doing for retirees and pre-retirees, she decided that she wanted to help.

Evan Manning

Evan Manning joined the NAIFA Illinois advocacy team as Government Relations Manager in 2019. He has experience in the private sector and most recently was an Appropriations Budget Analyst on the Senate Republican Staff.

In his new role, Evan will be responsible for all aspects of the association’s government relations program. He also represents IIA of IL, Illinois State Association of Health Underwriters, and Illinois Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, collectively referred to as the Illinois Coalition of Insurance Brokers and Financial Advisors. The Coalition represents thousands of individuals and firms providing insurance and financial advice to Illinois consumers and businesses. Evan will work with our leaders in representing the Coalition before the General Assembly, Constitutional Officers, boards and commissions.