Our Sammons Financial Group leadership

Esfand Dinshaw is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sammons Financial Group and Chief Executive Officer for Sammons Financial Group. Esfand develops the strategic direction for the insurance organization and turns that vision into a clear path for the business to grow.

Since joining the company in 1999, Esfand has held several roles. He has over 39 years of experience in the insurance industry.

In addition to his position at Sammons Financial Group, Esfand serves on the Board of Directors of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) and is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors for LL Global (LIMRA and LOMA), both insurance-related organizations. 

Don Lyons is the chief financial officer of Sammons Financial Group.

As chief financial officer, Don is responsible for the strategic and operational planning, direction, and alignment of the corporate services divisions: finance and accounting, corporate development, internal audit, enterprise risk management, and corporate actuarial. Don oversees each unit’s particular strategy and goals, with a distinct focus on executing plans that meet the needs of the operating companies.

Don joined Sammons Financial Group in 2002, where he started in annuity product development. From there, he shifted his focus to reinsurance. He moved into the role of corporate actuary where his responsibility focused on valuation, asset/liability management, corporate modeling, and experience studies. Don became the company’s chief financial officer in 2013. Previously, he held positions at ING, Amerus, and USG Annuity & Life with a strong history of annuity product development and asset/liability management.

In addition to his position as CFO, Don serves as a member of both the Society of Actuaries and the American Academy of Actuaries. He has received the Fellowship of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) designation. Don received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Iowa State University.

Casey Decker is the Chief Operating Officer at Sammons Financial Group.

Casey joined the company as Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Digital Experience in 2022 before assuming his current role in 2024. During his tenure, he has led several high-profile projects and growth opportunities, including the building and launching of our new Wealth Management business.  

Before joining Sammons Financial Group, he led operations, marketing, technology, and sales and distribution teams at several major companies. Additionally, Casey has experience running profit and loss centers and business lines with deep experience focused on attracting, developing, and retaining talent to drive growth.

Casey has a Master of Management Information Systems from DePaul University, and Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa, and his undergraduate degree from Drake University. He is also a graduate of the executive management program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Brian Hansen is senior vice president and chief development officer of Sammons Financial Group. He is responsible for leading the company’s strategy and business development opportunities to grow its footprint outside of its existing life insurance, annuity, and securities business. His primary focus is the development of new and adjacent financial services spaces for Sammons Financial Group.

Prior to joining Sammons Financial Group in 2008, Brian was a partner at Jenner & Block LLP. He has more than 25 years of legal experience in the financial services industry and has held several roles in the legal and compliance areas within the company.

Brian received his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Iowa and his Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa’s College of Law. In addition to his position at Sammons Financial Group, Brian serves on the board of Enterhealth, an addiction and mental health treatment provider located in North Texas. 

John Melvin joined Sammons Financial Group as chief investment officer in 2021. In his role, John designs and directs the investment strategy for the company’s asset portfolio, overseeing financial performance and results. As a member of the senior management team, John creates and enhances the company’s investment vision, supports its continued growth, and assures alignment with the company’s vision.

John joined Sammons Financial Group from Hartford Investment Management Company (HIMCO) where he served as CIO and, previously, head of portfolio management. Prior to The Hartford, John served as CIO of Goldman Sachs Insurance Asset Management, overseeing the firm’s global insurance assets and fixed income portfolio. He also served as managing director and head of insurance fixed income, Americas, for Deutsche Bank.

John has a Master of Business Administration in finance from The Stern School of Business, New York University, and an undergraduate degree in business and economics from Lehigh University.

Rob TeKolste is president of Sammons® Independent Annuity Group, a business division of Sammons Financial Group. He is also a member of the Midland National and North American Board of Directors.

Rob is responsible for the overall business strategy and leadership of Sammons Independent Annuity Group. This includes leading the fixed annuity distribution through independent agent channels, such as independent agents, Independent Marketing Organizations, and Registered Investment Advisors. He also oversees product development, the profitability of new business and in-force business, sales, and distribution relationships of fixed annuities within these channels.

Before he came to the company in 1999 as senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Sammons Annuity Group, Rob was vice president of Sales at Conseco (previously American Life and Casualty Insurance Company). With over 30 years of experience in the life insurance market, he has continually worked to achieve aggressive growth goals by identifying market needs, implementing sales programs, and building teams of innovators.

Rob serves on the Principal Charity Classic board, which raises money for children’s charities in Iowa. He’s also on the Board and Executive Committee of the Federation of Iowa Insurers. Rob received a Bachelor’s of Science in business administration and management from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and holds the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation.

Bill Lowe is President of Sammons Institutional Group®, Inc. (SIG), a member company of Sammons Financial Group.

SIG provides individual retirement solutions to financial professionals in banks and broker/dealers through its wholesale divisions, Sammons Retirement Solutions® and Midland Retirement Distributors®. Prior to joining Sammons Financial Group in 2011, Bill spent 17 years at ING in a variety of leadership roles. In his over 35 years in the financial services industry, Bill has managed a broker/dealer, run 401(k), IRA, and annuity businesses, and has a successful track record creating and distributing 401(k)s, variable annuities, fixed annuities, life insurance, mutual fund products, and managed accounts.

Bill has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Computer Science from Doane College. He has participated in executive programs at Dartmouth and the University of Chicago, and completed the CEDEP General Management Program at Insead in Fountainebleu, France. He is a General Securities Principal, Investment Advisory Representative, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, and Fellow of the Life Management Institute. He is currently on the boards of the Insured Retirement Institute in Washington, D.C. and Freedom for Youth in Des Moines, Iowa.

Jerry Blair is president of the Sammons Life Insurance Group. Jerry joined Sammons Financial Group in 2005 and was promoted to Chief Distribution Officer for the life group in January 2019.

As a member of the life senior leadership team, he was instrumental in redefining the company’s go-to-market strategy for the Midland National and North American business lines. Jerry notes his immediate top priorities are an aggressive focus on product development, expanded distribution, and enhanced customer experience. This includes continued investment in technology modernization, capability mapping, and experience prototyping, as well as streamlining internal processes and expediting the end-to-end customer and client experience.

Prior to joining Midland National, Jerry spent 13 years in various home office positions with Western Reserve Life and InterSecurities Inc. He has earned his ChFC, LUTCF, and LLIF designations, and is 6, 7, 24, and 63 licensed with the NASD.

Joe Paul is president of Sammons® Corporate Markets Group, a business division of Midland National® Life Insurance Company and North American Company for Life and Health Insurance®.

As president of the Corporate Markets business line – which is one of the fastest-growing lines of business for Sammons Financial Group – Joe is charged with building key relationships in the bank and credit union-owned life insurance and the pension risk transfer industries. Sammons Corporate Markets is committed to bringing innovative financial solutions tailored to meet changing customer needs.

Joe joined Sammons Financial Group in 2004, and previously led product management for a North Dakota-based life insurance company acquired by Sammons Financial Group. He has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Joe is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Teri Ross is president of the Shared Services division at Sammons Financial Group.

As president of this division, Teri is responsible for all operations for the companies’ life and annuity product lines, including agency, new business, suitability, underwriting, policy administration, and claims departments. She also oversees the information technology functions for the company. Shared Services is the largest division at Sammons Financial Group, with over 950 employees who provide service to more than 1.6 million in-force life and annuity policies. Teri is also the site leader of the Des Moines site.

Before joining the company in 2001, Teri worked at Principal Financial Group where she held a variety of roles focusing largely on 401(k) administration. Since joining Sammons Financial Group, she has been in numerous leadership positions centered on business operations. Teri’s expertise is rooted in over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Teri is a member of the Global Insurance Chief Operating Officer Roundtable (GICOOR) and McKinsey Women in Insurance Executive Roundtable.  She’s earned numerous designations including FINRA Series 6, 7, 24, 66, and SIE designations; Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI); LIMRA Leadership Institute Fellow (LLIF); Associate, Annuity Products and Administration (AAPA); Associate, Customer Service (ACS); and Associate, Secure Retirement Institute (ASRI). She serves on the board for Young Women’s Resource Center, and previously served on the board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa. Teri is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa where she received a B.A. in management.

Amy Teas is senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of Sammons Financial Group. In that capacity, she leads the legal, compliance, government affairs, and procurement departments of the Sammons Financial Group enterprise.

Amy has been with Sammons Financial Group since 2013, after several years as a litigator in Des Moines, Iowa. In her tenure with the company, she has led numerous high-profile projects and initiatives, providing legal counsel and insight to business line leadership and senior staff.

Amy received her Bachelor of Arts in communications from University of Missouri – Kansas City, and her Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska.