With more than 250 years of combined industry expertise, our Regional Vice Presidents support you from coast to coast. We focus on delivering high-quality service and strategic support across the entire lifecycle of your business, from marketing and growth efforts to sales execution and client service.
With a focus on broad-based and holistic planning specific to risk management and wealth preservation, Phil has excelled at delivering tangible plans to clients and strategies to develop distribution and revenue success for advisors. Phil was a Regional Vice President at CONCOURSE Agency, covering GA, SC, TN, and VA. Phil enjoys working closely with advisors and industry professionals to identify the best solutions for clients’ needs and helping design strategies to propel revenue growth and placements within agencies and advisor offices.
His professional achievements further underscore Phil’s impressive track record. A NAIFA member for 20 years, Phil has served as a past President of a local chapter and state President for IFAPAC. He has earned his LUTCF designation and is a LILI graduate. His dedication and excellence have been recognized with the NQA and Multiline Awards through NAIFA and the title Advisor of the Year. Phil’s commitment to his profession is also evident in his licenses, holding his 6, 63, & 26 as well as LH/PC licenses in several states.
Phil has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Administration from Luther College, Decorah, IA. At Luther, he played on the Men’s golf team. He currently lives in Savannah, GA, with his two Daughters, Yona and Annika, and his partner, Liz, with her two daughters, Lilly, and Gabby.
Outside of his professional life, Phil is a man of diverse interests. He finds joy in playing competitive golf, exploring the intercoastal waters of Savannah through boating, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise. Phil’s love for travel also takes him to various destinations, enriching his life with new experiences.
During his career, Steve has focused on creating a culture that was centered around clients, employees, and the local community. He has been a strong leader and advocate in his various endeavors, both in his personal and professional life. He is a Past President of NAIFA-North Dakota, and the 2020 NAIFA Advisor of the Year. In 2021, Advisor Today magazine honored Steve with the “40 Under 40” award, which recognizes the top 4 young financial advisors in the United States.
Steve is a 2008 graduate of North Dakota State University, where he studied business administration. He has been in the financial services industry for the past 15 years, during which he has served as a financial advisor, insurance agency manager, wealth strategy consultant, and is now the Vice President of Institutional Accounts and a Partner with E4 Insurance Services in Fargo, ND.
During his college years, Steve was a two-time All-Conference quarterback of the Division I North Dakota State University football team. He led that team to victory over Big Ten rival the University of Minnesota in 2007 and had a 20-2 record in his final two years. He lives in Fargo with his wife and two sons.
Shane is an insurance support specialist who focuses on education, solutions, and service. He began in the Financial Services industry in 2005, and since then has been helping Financial Advisors intentionally integrate insurance into their practice. Advisors choose to work with Shane not only for his industry knowledge and product expertise, but also for his leadership, work ethic, and dedication for his affiliated Advisor’s success. Shane has a genuine concern for doing the right thing for the client.
Shane attended the University of Mary on a football scholarship, which gave him the opportunity to earn degrees in Business Management and Exercise Physiology. Shane has received the Certification in Long-Term Care (CLTC) designation, was an inaugural member to serve on the Board of Advisors for CLTC and is currently an Instructor for the CLTC designation.
Shane and his wife, Andrea, focus their free time on their two young boys, George and James. Shane enjoys focusing on his health and regularly lift weights, listens to a variety of music, and enjoys weekly movie night with his family.
In 1981, Mike received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with a minor in Psychology. At St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana, he was elected Class President and participated in intercollegiate sports. He graduated from Officer Training School and became a 1st Lt. in the USAF Reserves.
In 1982, Mike began his insurance career with Prudential, achieving the Fast Pace Award and leading the West in the Debit System. In 1984, Mike joined Northwestern Mutual Life, achieving NQA, MDRT, LUTCF, and completing most of his CLU classes. He served as NAIFA’s Sacramento LUPAC Chair and has been a member for over 43+ years.
Mike achieved MDRT in 2010. He joined Mass Mutual with a district office and was asked to help Co-GA. In 2+ years, Mike built a unit from scratch to 17 agents and earned GAMA Bronze Award.
Mike became the General Agent for OneAmerica in Northern California and Nevada. He has attended The Strategic Business Coach (Dan Sullivan), Money Trax (Don Blanton), Wealth Building Cornerstones (Art Sanger), and is currently Leap Licensed. In 2014, Mike became associated with FMC Financial Group as an AGA, and upon merging with Cambridge Financial, Mike became reacquainted with Mass Mutual. In 2017, Mike became Vice President of Recruiting and Business Development for the west region for Ohio National. Mike joined the E4 Insurance Services team in 2022 as a Regional Vice President based in California. He has also recently joined Finseca.
Mike is happily married to Claudia, with twin daughters who are in college and two adult daughters. He enjoys softball, bicycling, golf, and traveling. He is the current President of his Home Owners Association, a past Rotarian, Knights of Columbus Advisor, and Sacramento Food Bank Advisor.
After more than 10 years as a Senior New Business Manager, Josh transitioned to a Regional Vice President in 2022. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Josh has participated in the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), he was recognized as E4’s leading Life & Disability Insurance RVP and RVP of the Year in 2025, and looks forward to future engagements with the organization.
Josh specializes in building relationships. Working in the industry and with E4IS has given him the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, which has helped shape his perspective. He loves working on creative solutions to help advisors and the families they work with protect what they have built over the course of their lives.
Josh believes in going above and beyond to maintain a relationship and diligently works to build trust and loyalty with those he works with. Relating to people is truly his specialty, and he is eager to help his customers with their questions and create innovative insurance solutions. Josh is also E4’s leading subject matter expert on Multi-Life Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance options and is affectionately referred to as the “GI King”!
Family comes first for Josh, and he loves hanging out with his beautiful wife, Taylor, children, Crue and Luca, and their dog, Kona. When he’s not at work or spending time at home, Josh is likely playing some of his favorite sports, including basketball, volleyball, and golf, or taking in a sporting event with his friends and family. As an avid traveler, Josh enjoys trying new foods from around the world.
Scott Bachmann is a dynamic addition to the E4IS team, having commenced his journey in 2024 as the inaugural participant of the E4IS Apprenticeship program. Hailing from the University of Wisconsin Madison, Scott loves a challenge and quickly immersed himself in the role. Through his dedication and insight, Scott played a pivotal role in developing and refining the program, fostering a cadre of Regional Vice Presidents (RVPs) adept at navigating complex processes and delivering unparalleled service excellence. Following the completion of the apprenticeship, Scott transitioned into a Regional Vice President role, where he continues to apply his experience and contribute to the team’s success.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Scott is a fervent advocate for personal growth and exploration. When not engaged in the intricacies of his work, he can often be found pursuing his passion for fitness at the gym, savoring culinary delights at new restaurants, or contributing to the vibrant tapestry of the culinary world by assisting in the launch of new ventures. Additionally, Scott nurtures his intellectual curiosity by delving into the study of foreign languages, with a particular focus on Russian. His multifaceted interests and unwavering commitment to excellence underscore his invaluable contributions to both the workplace and beyond.
Bill has almost 40 years of financial services experience, with the last half spent in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, area, but also across the nation. He specializes in estate, wealth planning, charitable giving, business succession, and executive compensation planning for ultrahigh net worth families, business owners, and senior executives with estates from $5 million to $2 billion.
For most of these clients, this involves working with their advisors to establish, fund, and leverage multi-generational wealth strategies, frequently in tandem with philanthropic techniques.
Bill holds a bachelor’s degree from Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN. He also has a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) from The American College of Financial Services. Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) from Kingdom Advisors. FINRA Series 7 & 63 licenses and Registered Representative of the Leaders Group, Inc. Member FINRA. Bill is also part of Kingdom Advisors and the American College of Financial Services.
Bill’s passion for the insurance industry stems from his deep-seated desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives on a daily basis. While his second choice would have been a golf pro, he found that the satisfaction of helping to improve someone’s golf handicap paled in comparison to the impact he could make in this industry.
Bill’s personal interests and lifestyle reflect his commitment to a balanced and fulfilling life. He is an advocate for an active lifestyle and prioritizes his health, regularly engaging in travel, golf, and various outdoor activities. Bill and his wife, Lisa, live in Rotonda, West Florida, during the winters. They spend the summer months in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, where they cherish their time with their three adult children and their families.
Jeremy is an insurance specialist who is passionate about finding solutions that fit the unique needs of the people in front of him. Jeremy has been in the insurance planning industry since 2018 and has previously spent time in the banking and tax planning industry. Financial Professionals, Estate Planning Attorneys and CPA’s like to work with Jeremy because he understands the challenges of bringing the whole financial picture together in a comprehensive plan, especially as it pertains to farm/ranch/business succession and estate planning.
Jeremy attended St. Mary’s University in Winona, MN earning a degree in Philosophy and continued with studies in Rome, Italy earning an advanced degree in Theology. Jeremy has received the FIC designation as well as the Certification in Long Term Care (CLTC).
At home, Jeremy and his incredible wife, Katie, focus all their time on raising their clan. When he is not doing that, Jeremy enjoys training for marathons, riding mountain bike, woodworking, helping local farmers and ranchers and participating in their local church.
With over 22 years of experience, Jessica has consistently delivered her clients quality insurance and financial services. Her academic background includes a BA in English Communications from Armstrong Atlantic State University, with concentrations in Long-Term Care, Life, and Disability Insurance. Her specialty focus is on high-income earners and closely held family businesses, which results from her dedication and expertise in the field.
Jessica is a loving wife to Ralph Olin Bowden, IV (Rob), and a proud mother of four. Her daughters McCall and Jamison attend Hancock Day School, where Jessica is the Parent Association President. She is also a proud mother of two University of Georgia graduates, Elizabeth (Lizzie) & Henry. Jessica & Rob recently welcomed a son-in-law, Ben Wright, and daughter-in-law, Kailey, to the family. Her family is her greatest joy and support system, inspiring her to be the best in all aspects of her life.
Jessica enjoys the outdoors, including boating, fishing, paddleboarding, and exercising. She loves to read in her spare time and is very involved with school sports. She is a member of The Landings Club, Cotillion Club, and Chatham Club.
Brandon has extensive experience in the insurance industry. Guided from the beginning by a mentor’s advice to become a “Student of Insurance”, his career has always been rooted in education and educating. From his past presidency at the New York City Chapter of the Society of Financial Services Professionals to building and leading a Brokerage General Agency, he is proud to have been involved in learning from and with over one thousand advisors.
Day-to-day, Brandon helps advisors in the High-Net-Worth market by focusing on business development and marketing, while managing complex case design, providing advanced sales support, and servicing clients.
Brandon is currently a proud member of the Yale Club Insurance Study Group and has served on advisory boards for insurtech startups. He balances his professional life with a variety of interests, including reading, music, sports, and engineering projects. He lives in Goshen, New York, with his wife, son, and their dog.
Nathan Weathers is a growth-focused sales leader with more than two decades of experience across insurance, financial services, technology, and property services. He specializes in building go-to-market strategies, leading field-facing teams, and developing high-performing B2B sales engines that support advisors, partners, and end clients. His background spans wholesaling, distribution, and executive leadership, with a consistent current of helping organizations create predictable results in unpredictable environments.
Most recently, Nathan has led strategic partnerships and market development teams serving commercial and institutional clients, work that closely parallels an IMO/FMO and broker-dealer support model. He builds scalable playbooks for external-facing sales teams, aligns activities around production goals, and uses data and discipline to drive accountability in the field. His leadership approach is consultative and relationship-driven, designed to make complex solutions simple and actionable for the professionals he serves, much like E4 Insurance Services’ mission to “make life simple” for advisors and their clients.
Earlier in his career, Nathan served as Vice President of Life Sales for GamePlan Financial Marketing, a national financial marketing organization (FMO) focused on helping independent insurance-licensed financial professionals grow fixed insurance and annuity business. In that role, he built and led a life sales division, managed significant perpetual premiums, supported producers across multiple states, and collaborated closely with IMOs, FMOs, BGAs, and broker-dealer-affiliated advisors on case design and implementation.
Over more than a decade, he partnered with industry experts in senior planning, premium finance, and tax-free income strategies, helping advisors structure sophisticated, forward-thinking plans for their clients. He managed a diverse producer portfolio of 60+ advisors, optimizing case design, risk management, and product mix to produce millions in revenue, and delivered engaging talks at advisor meetings and client education events across multiple states, reaching thousands. Nathan holds a Bachelor of Business Management, Marketing and Administration from Augusta State University and holds Series 6 and 63 licenses. This deep wholesaling experience gives him a strong understanding of both the regulatory environment and the day-to-day realities of financial advisors and planners.
Nathan’s leadership style blends strategic clarity with a strong people-first mindset. He is known for building cultures of ownership and collaboration, where field wholesalers, internal support, and home office teams are aligned around shared goals, responsive service, and advisor success. Whether he’s launching new initiatives, entering new markets, or refining existing territories, Nathan focuses on mentorship, accountability, and cross-functional partnership to produce sustainable growth.
Outside of work, he is deeply committed to his faith, family, and community. He has been happily married for over 25 years and is actively involved with organizations that support vulnerable children and families, while also mentoring emerging leaders in both business and life. In his free time, he gravitates toward marathon rucking, hunting, and meaningful time with his wife and daughters, staying grounded so he can bring energy, resilience, and perspective to the valued advisors and teams he serves.
After helping over 200 Financial Advisors successfully integrate appropriate insurance-based planning inside their Practices, Rod has refined the process by which one can appropriately place insurance and insurance-based concepts inside the context of the financial plan, estate plan, or business succession plan by helping advisors and their clients plan for the certainty of uncertainty.
This means he has a thorough understanding of how to collaborate effectively with other professionals and centers of influence to better serve our clients. Rod believes that our best clients have multiple needs that should not be addressed in a vacuum.
Clients and Advisors choose to work with Rod because he follows the Platinum Rule in everything he does: “To the extent I can understand and meet your needs, mine will be fulfilled.”
Rod began his career in the financial services industry with a Mutual Life Insurance Company in private practice in 2000. He started working with Financial Advisors and their best clients in May of 2005.
Rod is married to his lovely wife, Clara. They both enjoy life and believe in spreading Love. Rod currently belongs to a Professional Resource Group called the Business Succession Planning Brain Trust, which he founded in 2013. He also supports many Non-Profits in the McHenry County area.
Financial advisors and insurance professionals choose Shayne Fickling as their lead insurance professional because of his competence, responsive nature, and connection with people. This means that Shayne helps you better fulfill your clients’ insurance needs using full, comprehensive insurance planning. You can always ask him for an honest opinion and know that what you ask will be done. The real benefit is being able to focus on client interaction, knowing that Shayne and his team are bringing efficiency to the case design process.
Shayne L. Fickling, CLU®, ChFC®, LUTCF®, E4IS Regional Vice President, previously worked as a brokerage manager for a nationally known firm. He has 22 years of experience in the insurance and financial advisory industry and holds Series 6, 63, and 65 securities licenses. Shayne is also a member of NAIFA and MDRT.
Shayne grew up 30 minutes east of the Quad Cities on a family farm. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business from Iowa State University. Although insurance and agriculture generally don’t cross paths, he enjoys helping advisors with farm succession cases and analyzing the dynamics of successful communication across generational divides. He also values working with long-term clients alongside his advisor relationships.
Shayne’s focus at E4 Insurance Services is keeping advisors updated on the latest industry practices so they can be the greatest asset to their clients. While well-versed in the industry, Shayne especially enjoys assisting with Long-Term Care planning, believing it to be a largely underserved need that can be more financially devastating to a family or business than any other risk. Shayne enjoys spending time with his family when not at work, skiing, running, and bicycling.
