I was among the first proponents of what are now known as Fixed Indexed Annuities (initially they had the misleading name of Equity Indexed Annuities). I was acutely aware of the value of forgoing some upside potential in order to avoid losses. For me, “safe money” was not just a phrase but a crusade. I helped a young, small Field Marketing Organization grow to one of the largest in the country by building around this concept. Today the cutting edge is not with the insurance industry but with the banking sector. My company distributes state of the art Market Linked Certificates of Deposit. These products offer principal protection, FDIC insurance, and the potential for a market linked return. Because of their advanced indexing strategies, consumers are now able to link to various asset classes like stocks, bonds, and commodities without risk to principal. To date, I have trained over 4000 licensed insurance agents in the proper use of Market Linked CDs. Albert Einstein is reported to have said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it.” I have spent the better part of my professional life analyzing complex financial instruments like Life Insurance, Fixed Indexed Annuities, Securities and Structured CDs so that I could communicate their essence in a simple direct way to consumers and other financial professionals. The ability to translate complexity into accurate simplicity has provided me with many public speaking opportunities. I have been the keynote or featured speaker at numerous industry conferences and have had the pleasure of sharing the podium with some of the top names in the financial services arena. I have conducted many, many public seminars and argued positions in front of governmental entities. With all of that said, I take great pride in my storytelling abilities knowing that a well-told story often communicates ideas and concepts far better than mere words.