Agency Directors
Brett Amendola
Agency Sales Director
Barnum Financial Group
an office of MetLife
100 Great Meadow Road Suite 200
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Phone: (860) 258-3801
Fax: (203) 513-6080
E-mail: bamendola@metlife.com
Brett M. Amendola, Agency Sales Director, Financial Planning Director is responsible for the coaching and development of a team of advisors. Since joining Barnum in 2002, Brett has developed a team of 100 Financial Advisors and his team is consistently found amongst MetLife's top three sales units. Brett oversees the Hartford, New London, Guilford and Wethersfield offices of Barnum. In 2005 Brett was named the number 2 Agency Sales Director in all of MetLife.
Brett has been in the Financial Services Industry since 1991. Starting at American Express Financial Advisors working as a Financial Advisor and District Manager. Prior to joining Barnum, Brett was an Associate Managing Director with Prudential Financial Planning Services and a Divisional Vice President with UBS.
Brett holds a degree in Finance from Quinnipiac University. Brett holds the Series 6,7,9,10,24,63,65 securities registrations, and state Life & Health Insurance Licenses and is a member of NAIFA and GAMA International. Brett resides in Clinton, CT with his wife and 3 children.
Maria Conlon
Agency Sales Director
6 Corporate Drive
Shelton, CT 06484
Phone: (203) 513-6322
Fax: (203) 513-6080
E-mail: mconlon1@metlife.com
- BS – University of Connecticut
- Licensed to sell Life, Accident and Health Insurances, Series 6 & 63 Securities Registered
- Member of the Alumni Association of Connecticut
- Leader's Conference Qualification
Maria is an Agency Sales Director with Barnum Financial Group, An Office of MetLife. As an Agency Sales Director, Maria is dedicated to building a highly productive team of Financial Services Representatives. She is committed to providing the tools and resources needed to assist these Financial Service Representatives to build a successful practice within Barnum Financial Group.
Maria is a former "Husky" women's basketball player with the University of Connecticut who helped lead her team to three Division I National Championship victories. In addition, Maria was the Head Coach of the Women's Basketball Team at Southern Connecticut State University and led them to win the National Championship in 2005.
Maria currently lives in Milford, CT with her husband Carmine. In her free time Maria enjoys public speaking and giving back to her community by volunteering her time with various charitable organizations.
William Hite - LUTCF
Agency Sales Director
6 Corporate Drive
Shelton, CT 06484
Phone: (203) 513-6127
Fax: (203) 513-6080
E-mail: white@metlife.com
Bill is an Agency Sales Director at Barnum. Bill has been in the financial services industry for 20 years and with MetLife for ten years. Bill has built his team of representatives around the importance of education, training and experience in order to bring the most accurate information and appropriate strategies to their clients. As a part of Barnum Financial Group, Bill shares the firm's passion for giving back and is very active in the community. Bill is currently involved in several business associations, and is currently a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He has served on the Board of Directors for The Italian Community Center, Fairfield Junior Babe Ruth Baseball League and he was the Co-President of the Fairfield National Little League for five years. Bill has been coaching youth baseball, football and basketball locally for fourteen years. Bill resides with his wife Faith and his son Billy Jr. in Shelton, CT.
Joseph Kotula
Agency Sales Director
Barnum Financial Group
an office of MetLife
200 Crossings Blvd., Suite 200
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: (401) 243-8801
Fax: (401) 691-6970
E-mail: jkotula@metlife.com
Joseph LoPresti
Agency Sales Director
Financial Services Representative
6 Corporate Drive
Shelton, CT 06484
Phone: (203) 513-6132
Fax: (203) 513-6080
E-mail: jlopresti@metlife.com
Joe serves as Agency Sales Director at BFG. Since joining MetLife in 1992, Joe has held several leadership positions. For the last 9 years at Barnum, Joe is responsible for managing the Recruiting, Training, Case Design and Strategic Alliance Programs in addition to managing a Sales Team of over 100 associates. In 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 Joe was named MetLife's Number One Agency Sales Director. Joe was also named by Fairfield County Business Journal as one of the top 40 leaders under the age of 40 in Fairfield County.
Joe earned his BS and BA from Nichols College where he specialized in Finance. He completed the Agency Management Training Course (AMTC) of LIMRA International and is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and GAMA International.
Joe lives in Woodbury, CT with his wife Amy and their four children.
Morris E. Mete, LUTCF, CLTC
Agency Sales Director
100 Great Meadow Road Suite 200
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Phone: (860) 380-2627
Fax: (860) 218-2899
E-mail: mmete@metlife.com
Morris is an Agency Sales Director at Barnum Financial Group, an office of MetLife. Barnum Financial Group was #1 MetLife office for 5 consecutive years, 2004-2008. As a part of BFG, Morris is committed to building a team of diverse professionals and providing them with continuous and current training opportunities and resources that help them build their business and maximize opportunities. Clients turn to BFG because of our longevity, the service we provide and the experience that has made us the strong and stable company we are today.
Morris has been in the industry since 2003 and is an experienced manager. He joined BFG from Prudential where he started as an advisor and was quickly promoted to the position of Branch Manager for the Middlebury Office. During his time at Prudential, he qualified for MDRT and President's Conference in his first year, and finished #2 in the country for Rookie of the Year. As a Manager with Prudential he was consistently ranked as one of the top 15 managers nationwide. During his first year at BFG, he achieved a monumental milestone by becoming #3 Sales Director in all of MetLife and now Morris leads a team of 30 advisors.
In addition to his role as Agency Director, Morris is also an active member in the industry. Some of the organizations he is involved in, include: NAIFA, NSHMBA, and AND ALPHA. He received a double Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Sociology from the University of Connecticut and currently lives in Shelton, CT. In his spare time, he enjoys watching movies, going to dinner and participating in sports such as flag-football and basketball.
Elizabeth A. Reilly, MBA
Agency Sales Director
Financial Planner
100 Great Meadow Road Suite 200
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Phone: (860) 258-3687
Cell: (860) 938-1843
E-mail: ereilly@metlife.com
- BS Finance, University of Connecticut
- MBA Finance, University of Hartford
- Member, National Association of Financial Insurance Advisors (NAIFA)
- Member, GAMA International
- Member, National Association of Female Executives
- Member, Berlin Chamber of Commerce
- Numerous Management Leadership Awards
- Junior Achievement Financial Literacy Volunteer/Teacher New Britain, CT
Elizabeth Reilly is an Agency Sales Director with Barnum Financial Group, an Office of MetLife. Beginning her career in the financial services industry in 1996, Liz joined Ameriprise Financial as a Financial Advisor, before being promoted to District Manager, and then the Field Vice President. Building on her early career success, Liz was the acting Financial Services Sales Leader at Allstate Financial, before seizing the opportunity to come to Barnum Financial Group to build her own team of financial advisors.
Successfully leveraging her nearly two decades of experience at some of the world's largest investment and insurance firms, Liz has attracted successful financial professionals to work side-by-side with some of the brightest minds in the industry. In creating this framework, she utilizes comprehensive financial planning techniques to provide for her clients' needs today, while preparing to address their concerns of tomorrow.
Liz holds the following industry licenses: Series 7, 24, 63, 65, 66, 53, 4 and the State Life, Accident & Health Licenses. Liz is a life long resident of Kensington, CT where she now resides with her husband and two children.
Brian Segel
Agency Sales Director
Barnum Financial Group, An Office of MetLife
707 Westchester Ave, Suite 105
White Plains, NY 10604
Phone: (914) 272-2206
Fax: (914) 963-8014
E-mail: bsegel@metlife.com
Brian Segel is an Agency Sales Director for Barnum Financial Group, an office of MetLife. Brian manages a team of highly productive Financial Advisors in BFG's White Plains, NY office. Brian's team consists of both experienced advisors who challenge themselves everyday to take their career to the next level, as well as young professionals eager to learn from the best and build their business. Brian's mission is to build the strongest team of Financial Advisors possible and support them in their efforts to create successful practices within the Barnum Financial Group. Brian provides his team with the tools, and resources needed to assist them in becoming highly productive, entrepreneurial advisors.
Barnum Financial Group has been MetLife's number one sales agency nationwide for the past four consecutive years. BFG's extreme dedication and commitment to servicing its clients' financial needs and goals is what keeps it consistently rated among the top MetLife firms. Brian joined BFG because he believes in these same values. He also appreciates BFG's continued efforts to support its community. BFG has contributed to various nonprofit organizations, children's organizations and more. Brian has also been a consistent advocate in his community. He coaches little league and youth basketball in his hometown as well as a lot of his time and resources to his Alma mater, Binghamton University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management. Additionally, Brian is also the former Chairman of The Tau Alpha Upsilon Fraternity Alumni Society.
Brian has been in the Financial Services Industry for over 24 years. When he was a Financial Executive with Citicorp Investment Services, currently Citi Smith Barney, Brian was placed into the Citicorp Investment Services Hall of Fame. He was also the recipient of the Chabad Lubavitch of Westchester's 2008 Corporate Leadership Award for his outstanding commitment to community and humanitarian causes. Brian holds his series 6, 7, 63, 65 securities registrations and is licensed to sell Life and Health Insurance in NY, NJ and NC.
Brian is a resident of Larchmont, NY where he resides with his wife Jamie, four children, Ryan, Jordyn, Alexandra and Kimberly and their dog Maddy. In his spare time, Brian enjoys golf, softball and tennis and spending time with his family.
Scott Sokolowski
Agency Recruiting Director
Barnum Financial Group
6 Corporate Drive
Shelton, CT 06484
Phone: (203) 513-6276
Fax: (203) 513-6080
E-mail: ssokolowski1@metlife.com
Scott Sokolowski is an industry leader in recruiting Experienced Services Representatives. As the Agency Recruiting and Development Director at Barnum Financial Group, An Office of MetLife, Scott has 12 years of experience in this specialized field. He came to Barnum Financial Group in January 2008, after successfully recruiting many of their top financial services representatives. Paul Blanco, BFG's Managing Director, persistently recruited Scott to join his award winning team. Blanco states that "Scott has proven himself time and time again, bringing the firm top advisors even before he worked for Barnum. His understanding of the marketplace and his exposure to many different companies allows him to be an advocate for the advisors to ensure the relationship will be long lasting."
During the first 2 1/2 years with BFG, Scott recruited 61 advisors including two top advisors who each carried out a seven figure production. Scott works with each producer on an individual basis to customize the right match within the firm. Scott has a reputation for "doing what is right for the advisors and strategically positioning each advisor within Barnum Financial Group." He has garnered praise from both clients and candidates for the professional manner in which he handles the process. Scott's recruits speak highly of him and their experience in the recruiting process, Morris Mete an Agency Sales Director was quoted in saying "Scott was on my side each step of the way. He customized a plan so it would suit my needs and showed me that Barnum Financial Group was a great fit for me to grow my business. Now that I am at BFG, I am very pleased that I took the time to meet with Scott, every promise he gave to me has worked out to its fullest."
Scott began his recruiting career at Grayling Associates in 1999. Starting as a Financial and Insurance Executive Recruiter, he quickly proved himself to be a top producer. While at Grayling Associates, Scott was responsible for one of the largest placements in the firm's history, moving a producer that did $1.8 million in first year commissions. During the course of his career, Scott maximized his exposure to different platforms and his knowledge of the operations of different companies by independently recruiting for firms such as Mass Mutual, Prudential Securities, The Hartford, Mony Group, New York Life and Northwestern Mutual, Ameriprise, Guardian, New England Financial, and Woodbury Financial Group. Scott's success and entrepreneurial spirit led him to create his own business, a national recruiting and consulting firm; Park Avenue Group Inc. Scott built his firm around the most successful recruiters in the financial industry, focusing on recruiting the leading experienced insurance agents, financial planners and wealth managers. Although Scott's firm was excelling, he felt Barnum Financial Group was advancing in the direction he saw himself going; "In my opinion, Barnum Financial Group is the most elite planning firm in the country. It's the future model of the financial services industry." The financial industry is always changing, Scott states "Paul [Blanco] is always one step ahead of his competition, in the last five years BFG grew significantly while others were struggling to survive."
Before embarking on his professional career, Scott served honorably as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force/Air National Guard. Being a Medic for 6 years, one of Scott's most memorable experiences in serving his country was creating medical clinics in remote places in Honduras. Scott was part of a team that helped immunize thousands of people living in extreme poverty. Scott enrolled at the University of Connecticut while serving in the Air Force. Knowing that education is important, Scott worked diligently to earn a Bachelor's of Science degree in the field of Sports Medicine.
Brian Walsh - CLTC
Agency Sales Director
Barnum Financial Group
225 High Ridge Road, East Building, 1st Floor
Stamford, CT 06905
Phone: (203) 658-1940
Fax: (203) 513-6080
E-mail: bwalsh1@metlife.com
Brian Walsh, Agency Sales Director for Barnum Financial Group, an Office of MetLife currently manages an office of 30 advisors in Stamford. Connecticut. Brian has thirteen years experience in the financial services industry and has been with Barnum Financial Group since 2002. As Agency Sales Director, he is instrumental in coaching and developing his advisors, which work out of several locations throughout CT and NY.
During his tenure with Barnum Financial Group, he has consistently qualified for MetLife Leaders Conference and has received both the GAMA Platinum and Silver Award. Brian has his BA from SUNY Stony Brook and currently holds his Life & Health and Property & Casualty Insurance Licenses and FINRA Series 6, 63, 65 and 7 securities registrations. He is also an active member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), GAMA International and the Financial Planning Association (FPA).
Brian currently lives in Shelton, CT with his wife and two sons. He enjoys giving back to his community through involvement with the Boy Scouts, coaching Shelton Flag Football and supporting our local Junior Achievement.
William Weiss
Agency Sales Director
200 Park Avenue, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10166
Phone: (212) 922-9100
Fax: (212) 922-9195
E-mail: wweiss@metlife.com
William is an Agency Sales Director at Barnum Financial Group, MetLife's #1 Office (for the past 4 years). He has been in the financial services industry for 21 years, 19 of which have been with MetLife. For the past 8 years, he has been managing our Manhattan office of financial services representatives, where he has led them to a dramatic increase in sales.
As a part of BFG, William is able to provide his team of professionals with continuous and current training opportunities and resources that help them build their business and maximize opportunities. Clients turn to BFG because of our longevity, the service we provide and the experience that has made us the strong and stable company we are today.
In addition to his role as Agency Director, William is also an active member in the industry and his community. Some of the organizations he is involved in, include: Master Drive, NAUI, AYSO-Soccer, WYSL-Soccer and EHYSL-Soccer. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Quinnipiac College and currently lives in Ossining, NY with his wife Tammie and has one child, Richard Weiss. In his spare time, he enjoys diving, fishing, boating, tennis and traveling.
MetLife is an equal opportunity employer.
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