Full-Time
Client Services Associate
Winged Keel Group
51-200 employees
Independent life insurance broker for portfolios
No salary listed
Richmond, VA, USA
In Person
Bachelor's
 Customer Experience & Support (1) |
|---|
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- Three to five years of client service experience in the insurance industry is preferred.
- Two to four years of experience in a leadership or senior role.
- A bachelor's degree.
- Industry licenses such as Series 6, Series 63, Life, or Accident and Health are a plus.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.
- Understanding of life insurance products, including term, whole life, universal life, indexed universal life, guaranteed universal life, and variable universal life.
- Experience with life insurance customer service.
- Demonstrated leadership qualities and experience.
- Ability to solve problems, handle issues independently, and use judgment to escalate when needed.
- Ability to prioritize, stay organized, and manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to learn and understand new software and technology relatively quickly.
- Understanding of basic financial mathematics concepts such as gross and net rates of return and gain or loss.
- Understanding of estate-planning fundamentals is a plus.
- Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships within the firm and with external contacts.
- Strong written and oral interpersonal communication skills.
- Willingness to accept constructive feedback.
- A strong work ethic and commitment to high standards of work.
- A strong sense of accountability and ownership of one's work.
- Ability to work on a computer for a substantial part of the day.
- Willingness to work evenings frequently and weekends occasionally as needed to meet deadlines.
- Oversee a team of three to four team members by monitoring individual workloads and goals.
- Provide guidance, training, and constructive feedback to team members to drive productivity.
- Act as the liaison between the team and management.
- Foster a collaborative and motivated team culture.
- Review teammates' work, identify errors, and recommend enhancements that improve the customer experience.
- Assist clients and advisors with questions about insurance portfolios, anticipate additional questions and information required for informed decisions, and prepare and explain relevant analysis.
- Obtain policy values, forms, and information from insurance carriers.
- Use insurance company software to run or request in-force policy illustrations, identify inconsistent or illogical results, and prepare or obtain additional illustrations as needed.
- Prepare premium invoices and policy summaries.
- Prepare split-dollar reporting.
- Prepare and process paperwork for death claims, surrenders, withdrawals, and policy changes, follow up on multi-step transactions through completion, and confirm accurate processing.
- Update and maintain client information and document all client transactions.
- Understand income-tax attributes of life insurance and strategies used to fund life insurance tax-efficiently.
- Use Microsoft Excel to prepare complex insurance portfolio reviews covering multiple product types and funding scenarios with internal-rate-of-return calculations.
- Use Microsoft Excel to prepare customized reporting for multi-life portfolios.
- Create new Microsoft Excel templates for scenarios not adequately covered by existing formats.
- Understand and adhere to compliance procedures when working with variable life insurance.
- Proactively communicate with internal Client Relationship Managers.
- Coordinate with Financial Analysts when advanced analytics are needed.
- Three to five years of client service experience in the insurance industry.
- Industry licenses such as Series 6, Series 63, Life, or Accident and Health.
- Understanding of estate-planning fundamentals.
Winged Keel Group structures and administers large block life insurance portfolios for sophisticated clients, including business owners, investors, executives, and ultra-affluent families. Its services involve designing and managing customized life insurance programs using a mix of planning strategies and products to meet long-term financial goals. The company operates with an extensive, enduring infrastructure to deliver consistent, high-quality work over time, distinguishing itself through deep specialization in large portfolios and a long track record since 1989, rather than relying on quick, one-off solutions. The overarching goal is to help clients secure lasting financial protection and coverage aligned with their long-term objectives, delivered with reliability
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
New York City, New York
Founded
1989
Get referred to Winged Keel Group
See people who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- July 2026 SBSI added Chicago reach and deeper PPLI expertise.
- Winged Keel places over $5 billion of new life insurance annually.
- Open roles in Boston, Manhattan, Atlanta, and Washington show continued hiring momentum.
What critics are saying
- Integration failures across four acquisitions since January 2025 can distract producers and advisors.
- Chicago SBSI, Minneapolis MBW, and Denver Bridge each demand retention through 2026.
- PPLI faces IRS scrutiny; a compliance misstep could damage trust and trigger client flight.
What makes Winged Keel Group unique
- Winged Keel is a national high-end life insurance brokerage with 19-market coverage.
- It dominates PPLI, administering over $10 billion of separate account assets.
- GTCR backed Winged Keel in January 2025, accelerating acquisition-led expansion.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 4%1 year growth
↑ 4%2 year growth
↑ 4%Winged Keel Group (“Winged Keel”) today announced it has acquired SBSI, Inc. (dba NFP Insurance Solutions), a Chicago-based independent insurance advisory fi...
Winged Keel Group expands national presence and PPLI leadership, welcomes SBSI, Inc. (dba NFP Insurance Solutions). Business Wire NEW YORK-(BUSINESS WIRE)- Winged Keel Group ("Winged Keel") today announced it has acquired SBSI, Inc. (dba NFP Insurance Solutions), a Chicago-based independent insurance advisory firm serving ultra high net worth and family office clients nationwide. SBSI, Inc. (dba NFP Insurance Solutions), which has an established Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) practice, is led by Howard Sharfman and Warren McGuire, two highly respected industry leaders. The entire team has joined Winged Keel, further strengthening the firm's presence across the country and establishing a new Winged Keel office in Chicago. This integration extends Winged Keel's position as the leading national platform for the structuring, implementation, and administration of high-end life insurance solutions. "We're thrilled to welcome the SBSI, Inc. team to Winged Keel," said Eric Naison-Phillips, CEO of Winged Keel. "Howard, Warren, and their talented team have built an outstanding organization with a strong track record of client-centric success in the ultra high net worth life insurance market, including in PPLI. Their team brings deep relationships with centers of influence, financial institutions, and family offices, along with a culture aligned with Winged Keel's focus on growth, innovation, and integrity, all of which will help us advance our evolution and deliver even more value to clients." SBSI, Inc. has been advising clients on life insurance solutions for more than 100 years. They are among the nation's largest firms specializing in life insurance and wealth transfer solutions for ultra high net worth individuals and families with multi-generational wealth. Over the past decade, the firm has placed over $18 billion of life insurance coverage. "This is a fantastic combination of two leading firms in the high-end life insurance space," said Sharfman. "I have admired Winged Keel for years, especially their leadership in PPLI. From a position of strength and through the integration of our people, relationships, and capabilities, we will create new opportunities and a clear long-term succession plan to deliver more value to our clients well into the future. Through this integration with Winged Keel, we are also expanding our geographic reach, gaining access to new resources and infrastructure, collaborating with some of the industry's top talent, and elevating our culture with a firm that shares our values. We're excited to partner with Eric and the team, learn from each other, and continue building something special." Sharfman and McGuire are now Principals of Winged Keel. In addition, Sharfman has joined the firm's Executive Management Committee. Winged Keel, which entered into a strategic partnership with GTCR, LLC, in February 2025, continues its significant activity in acquiring and integrating leading firms in the ultra high net worth life insurance market. This transaction marks Winged Keel's fourth acquisition since the GTCR investment, joining strategic acquisitions that established offices in St. Louis and Minneapolis, and expanded the firm's presence in Denver. Winged Keel will continue exploring opportunities that enhance the team's ability to serve the dynamic needs of clients and advisors nationally and advance its position as the insurance brokerage platform of choice. About Winged Keel Group Winged Keel Group is the premier national platform for the structuring, implementation, and administration of high-end life insurance solutions. With coverage teams across 19 markets nationally, the firm specializes in Traditional Life Insurance, Business Continuation Insurance, Private Placement Life Insurance and Annuities, and Corporate-Owned Life Insurance portfolios. For more information on Winged Keel Group, please visit www.wingedkeel.com. Securities offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc., a Registered Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Winged Keel Group is independently owned and operated. #06302026-5701084 Contact Information: Jacob Boston Managing Director, Marketing and Communications Winged Keel Group 212.527.8000
Winged Keel Group appoints William "Bill" Ventura as Senior Director and Client Relationship Manager. William "Bill" Ventura Winged Keel Group is proud to announce the addition of William "Bill" Ventura as a Senior Director and Client Relationship Manager. Based in Orlando, Ventura will play a key role in advancing Winged Keel's growth by strengthening the firm's relationships with financial institutions and advisors across Florida. Ventura reports to Donna Litke, Managing Director, Sales and Development, at Winged Keel. "We're excited to welcome Bill to the team and to benefit from the insight he brings from more than 25 years working with financial institutions and advisors," said Litke. "His experience transforming how advisors integrate life insurance and wealth transfer solutions into their practices, understanding of complex planning strategies, and deep relationships throughout Florida will help to accelerate our growth." Ventura previously spent over 20 years with Lincoln Financial Distributors, where he led point-of-sale collaboration within the nation's leading financial institutions. As Sales Vice President, Ventura drove record-breaking results, earning Lincoln's Hall of Fame (2017) and two President's Cup (2017, 2019) awards. He most recently served as Head of Strategic Growth at Modern Life, a technology-driven Brokerage General Agency. Ventura holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP(R) and Accredited Estate Planner (AEP(R) designations. "I'm thrilled to bring my experience and perspective to Winged Keel and be part of a team that continues to drive meaningful growth for the firm," said Ventura. "We have a tremendous opportunity to elevate the experience for financial institutions and advisors as we serve the dynamic needs of high-net-worth clients. I'm proud to join a team recognized as a leader in the high-end life insurance industry and look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to bring innovative solutions to clients." Welcoming Ventura underscores Winged Keel's continued momentum following its 2025 investment partnership with GTCR, reinforcing the firm's commitment to scaling its platform, expanding into new markets, and delivering world-class solutions to clients and partners. About Winged Keel Group Winged Keel Group is the premier national platform for the structuring, implementation, and administration of high-end life insurance solutions. With coverage teams across 15 markets nationally, the firm specializes in Traditional Life Insurance, Business Continuation Insurance, Private Placement Life Insurance and Annuities, and Corporate-Owned Life Insurance portfolios. For more information on Winged Keel Group, please visit www.wingedkeel.com.
Winged Keel Group (“Winged Keel”) today announced the acquisition of Bridge Life, a Denver-based provider of advanced life insurance planning for affluent an...
Winged Keel Group is pleased to announce the addition of Jacob Boston as Managing Director, Marketing and Communications.