Insurance
10 annuity distribution experts
These ten sales leaders have run annuity sales and distribution in their own roles, as heads of annuity sales, distribution directors and regional or divisional sales managers. A reader can learn from them how annuity sales and distribution teams are built and run.
Professionals to explore
01—10Alex Spencer
LinkedInExperience: Regional Vice President, Bank Channel · Athene
Former Regional Vice President, Bank Channel at Athene (2019–2025), where the profile describes responsibility for sales, distribution and relationship management promoting Athene's fixed annuities, fixed indexed annuities and registered indexed annuities to banks and broker dealers. VP Division Sales Manager at Athene since August 2025.
Brian Graime
LinkedInExperience: Vice President - Director of Annuity and IMO Distribution · NexPoint
Vice President - Director of Annuity and IMO Distribution at NexPoint since February 2021; the profile describes working with targeted partners to educate firms and sales professionals on new annuity solutions. Former National Sales Manager, Independent Marketing Organization, Prudential at Prudential Financial (2019–2021) and former Regional Vice President at Symetra (2015–2019).
Daniel P. Wellock
LinkedInExperience: Annuity Northeast Divisional Sales Manager, Independent Planner Channel · Lincoln Financial Distributors
Former Annuity Northeast Divisional Sales Manager, Independent Planner Channel at Lincoln Financial Distributors (2010–2018) and former National Sales Manager there (2018–2019). The profile also lists VP, Head of Relationshp Management (2019–2021) and Senior Vice President since 2021 at Lincoln Financial Distributors.
David Wood
LinkedInExperience: VP Head of Fixed Annuity Sales & Brokerage Distribution · Lincoln Financial
VP Head of Fixed Annuity Sales & Brokerage Distribution at Lincoln Financial since October 2023; the profile says the role leads brokerage distribution, which includes fixed and variable annuities sold through IMOs and the agency channel. At Lincoln Financial the profile also lists AVP Sales Manager-Brokerage Channel (2019–2022) and Regional Sales Director (2010–2017).
Jon Cressman
LinkedInExperience: SVP, Managing Director, Head of Annuity Distribution · Transamerica
Former Head of Annuity Distribution, V.P. , Managing Director (2022–2024) and SVP, Managing Director, Head of Annuity Distribution (2024–2025) at Transamerica, and SVP Managing Director, Annuities and Asset Management there since April 2025. Former Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager Bank, Wire, and IBD Channels at Prudential Annuities at Prudential Financial (2019–2020).
Kevin DeGray
LinkedInExperience: Head of Life, Individual DI & Annuity Sales · Guardian
Head of Life, Individual DI & Annuity Sales at Guardian since January 2023 and former Head of Individual DI & Annuity Sales there (2022–2023). Former Vice President - Head of Career Distribution at OneAmerica Financial (2020–2021) and former Agency Vice President at OneAmerica Financial (2017–2020).
Lance K. Carlson
LinkedInExperience: Head of Sales Distribution · Great-West Investments
Former Head of Sales Distribution at Great-West Investments (2016–2019), where the profile describes leading the firm's annuity and life sales efforts in third party broker/dealer wholesaled channels and the RIA direct business with a 75+ person team, and reports annuity sales up 82% to over 900M in 2018. Former EVP, Head of Sales and Marketing at Achaean Financial (2022–2024).
Matthew DiGangi, MBA, CLTC
LinkedInExperience: Head of Annuity Hybrid-LTC Distribution MassMutual Strategic Distributors · MassMutual
Head of Annuity Hybrid-LTC Distribution MassMutual Strategic Distributors at MassMutual since October 2013. The profile also lists Assistant Vice President Sales Desk and Program Managers (2009–2012) and Assistant Vice President - Sales Development (2008–2011) at MassMutual, and Managing Director Sales, Marketing, Distribution at MassMutual International (2007–2008).
Mike Odor
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Head of Annuity Sales · Midland National Life Insurance Company
Vice President Head of Annuity Sales at Midland National Life Insurance Company since July 2017; the profile describes leading sales strategy and distribution for Midland Annuity and managing a sales team that works with financial professionals. Former Regional Vice President Midwest Region at Midland National Life Insurance Company (2011–2017).
Tim Seifert
LinkedInExperience: SVP, Head of Annuity Sales · Lincoln Financial
Former VP, Head of Annuity Sales (2017–2019) and SVP, Head of Annuity Sales (2019–2021) at Lincoln Financial, and SVP, Head of Retirement Solutions Distribution there since April 2021. The profile also lists Vice President, Small Market Retirement Plan National Sales Manager at Lincoln Financial (2014–2017).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's channel experience to the channel you care about, since selling annuities through banks, broker-dealers and independent marketing organizations each works differently. Also weigh the level of the role, from a regional wholesaler who sees individual advisors to a national head who sets distribution strategy.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you win and keep shelf space for an annuity product at a bank or broker-dealer?
- 02How do you structure and pay an annuity wholesaling team so that it grows sales without chasing the wrong business?
- 03What changes in distribution strategy when the product mix shifts between fixed, indexed and variable annuities?
Reaching annuity distribution experts
How can I contact one of these annuity distribution experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 9 companies, including Athene, NexPoint and Lincoln Financial Distributors, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach annuity distribution experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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