WFG Executive Leadership

WFG US

Our success as a company is predicated on our leadership. Discover more about the men and women who lead World Financial Group.

Jack D. Linder, WFG Chairman of the Board
After two years as WFG's President and more than seven years as its Executive Vice President, Jack D. Linder was promoted to Chairman of WFG's Board of Directors. In his roles as President and EVP, Linder encouraged innovation and development of strategic initiatives that benefited both WFG's independent sales force and its more than 300 employees in the United States and Canada. Linder began his business career with Ralston-Purina. After becoming a successful executive with that company, he sought out the opportunity to build his own business. Since that time more than 20 years ago, Jack has built a strong financial services business where he continually inspires associates to achieve the same high standards of excellence that he sets for himself.

Joe DiPaola, WFG President & CEO
The latest addition to World Financial Group's executive leadership team,
Joe DiPaola joined the company as president in early 2010, and was named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the company in July . Prior to his new role, DiPaola served as Chief Agency Officer (CAO) for Transamerica Insurance & Investment Group (TIIG), a marketing unit of Transamerica Life. DiPaola brings a wide range of field and executive experience to World Financial Group – as an agent and as a builder of an entrepreneurial sales organization. He earned a business degree from Adams State College and started his insurance and financial services career as a field agent, branch manager and general agent. After running his own agency successfully for 10 years, DiPaola joined Transamerica Life as Senior Vice President of TIIG's Western Regional Marketing Center in 2006.

Kevin Palmer, World Financial Group, Inc. Executive Vice President, World Group Securities President, and Investment Advisors International President
Kevin Palmer is responsible for helping steer WFG initiatives, especially as they relate to the World Financial Group-affiliated companies he heads: World Group Securities, Inc. (WGS) and Investment Advisors International (IAI).

Palmer is a 20-year securities industry veteran specializing in working with insurance-based and owned broker-dealers. He was instrumental in the development and implementation of WGS in 2002. Shortly after the firm began, he left to develop a compliance consulting practice for a major national law firm. Palmer returned to WGS to serve as president in December 2006 and assumed the role as president of IAI in March 2008.

Prior to WGS, Palmer held a number of leadership roles with various broker-dealers. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, holds Series 7, 24,53, 63 and 65 securities registration and is a Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP). Born and raised in Little Rock, Ark., Palmer currently lives in Atlanta.

Paul Mineck, World Financial Group, Inc. Chief Marketing Officer
Paul Mineck, previously WFG's Vice President of Administration, is responsible for development and implementation of strategic product development, marketing and branding initiatives to support and promote the future growth of WFG, World Group Securities (WGS) and Investment Advisors International (IAI).

Mineck received his Bachelor of Science degree from Culver-Stockton College and has worked for AEGON for the last seven years. In addition to his contributions at WFG, Paul worked as a Senior Analyst for AEGON's Group Business Development department in The Hague, Netherlands, where he participated in various AEGON acquisitions in Central and Eastern Europe and the Pacific Rim. Paul currently serves on the WFG Agency Committee.

Susan Davies, World Financial Group, Inc. Chief Strategic Officer
Susan Davies works to improve field support within the WFG Executive Headquarters and guides mission-critical initiatives and campaigns. Also in this role, Susan works closely with Jack D. Linder, Joe DiPaola, Paul Mineck, Kevin Palmer, John Joseph, as well as the WFG Board of Directors and various field leadership councils in making key decisions to shape the strategic future of World Financial Group

Davies attended Brigham Young University in Utah and since leaving the university has spent 18 years in the marketing, publishing and communications arms of the financial services and securities industry. Before coming to WFG, Susan worked in Convention Services at the Marriott in San Antonio, followed by working for the Marriott Courtyard Regional Office in Atlanta.

Susan presently serves on the WFG Agency Committee, Executive Committee and WFG's Chairman's Council. She has been awarded the Chairman's Rolex watch for her outstanding service.

John Joseph, Chief Administrative Officer of World Financial Group, Inc.
John is responsible for oversight of all WFG administrative departments in the United States. This includes Operations, Commissions, Licensing, Agent Services, Agency Relations, Business Support and Agency Compliance.

The holder of a Bachelors Degree in Corporate Finance and Investment Management from the University of Alabama and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Kennesaw State University, John has more than 18 years experience in the financial services industry and worked extensively in the U.S. banking sector prior to joining WFG in 1997. John has comprehensive experience within both WFG, WGS, ISI and, most recently, led a strategic Transamerica Life & Protection initiative to identify and implement critical IT and operational efficiencies across a variety of business units in the United States and Canada.

In addition to his WFG duties, John serves as a commissioned Logistics Officer with more than 18 years in the US Army and recently served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as the 4th Infantry Division Iraqi Security Forces Logistics Officer in Charge. John resides in Canton, Ga.,with his wife and three children.

WFG Canada

Richard Williams, President, WFG Canada
Richard Williams is President of World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Canada and WFG Securities of Canada. He oversees all Canadian Operations and is responsible for the strategic and tactical objectives of World Financial Group of Canada.

Williams was born in Sherbooke, Quebec, Canada. He graduated from York University with an undergraduate degree in Psychology. He and his wife Jennifer have two sons, Matthew and Ethan.

Richard has spent more than 18 years in the financial service industry working with various banks, trust and insurance companies – the last eight years specifically working with World Financial Group (WFG) supporting its expansion across Canada. He is Life and Mutual Fund Licensed and holds his EPC designation.

Leilani Santos-Pincay, Director, Marketing,
World Financial Group Canada
Leilani Santos is responsible for all aspects of marketing related activities for World Financial Group in Canada. This includes the promotion of products, provider relationship management, advertising, marketing communications, distribution and branding efforts. Leilani’s main focus is to assist with WFG's marketing strategies and programs.

Leilani's educational background was originally focused in the medical field but found she was interested in the financial services industry, working with an international public relations company where her main job function was to support major financial services accounts. She then moved on to work for a couple of Canada’s Top 10 fund companies in the sales capacity and later moved her focus towards the marketing area of the business.

Leilani has worked in various roles at World Financial Group in Canada since 1998.

Lilian Palacio, Assistant Vice President, Director of Operations, World Financial Group Canada
As a Director of Operations, Lilian Palacio oversees the day to day functions of World Financial Group's Operations area in Canada specifically Licensing, Contracting and Commissions processing. Her responsibilities include driving initiatives in the management team that contribute to long-term operational excellence.

Lilian has worked in the Compliance and Commissions departments at World Financial Group in Canada since 1999 and has recently taken on the position of Assistant Vice President.

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