About Us

Who are First Element Insurance Planners?

COMPANY

First Element Insurance Planners (FEIP) partners with fee-only planning firms to provide consistent, objective risk management resources without creating additional overhead or compromising fee-only status.

Wealth management firms are progressively shifting to a fee-only planning model with the goal of providing comprehensive, holistic guidance. First Element Insurance Planners was created to serve as a strategic partner to fee-only firms to make it comfortable and easy to address risk management in a process-driven, proactive manner.

The insurance and estate planning experts at FEIP understand financial planning and the need to put solutions ahead of product. The firm’s sole focus is providing proactive, objective advice as it relates to clients’ risk management needs.

Benefits of an FEIP Partnership

First Element Insurance Planners provides consultative, interactive guidance in the areas of life insurance, long term care insurance, disability income insurance, estate planning, business succession planning and executive benefits.

FEIP brings value to advisory firms who desire to provide holistic, comprehensive planning for their clients. For those firms, the benefits of an FEIP partnership include:

Client-First Approach

Advisors have peace of mind in knowing clients' best interests are being placed at the forefront of every interaction.

Proactive Planning

Turn-key planning tools fit into each firm’s planning model in a simple, process-driven and proactive fashion.

Objective Recommendations

Dozens of insurance carriers and products are researched to ensure the best possible options are provided. FEIP is not owned or controlled by an insurance carrier.

Standardize the Client Experience

Advisors’ clients experience a consistent, professional approach to risk management planning.

Expand Your Team

Add high-level risk management specialists onto your team without fixed overhead costs (salaries, retirement benefits, healthcare costs, payroll tax, etc.).

Bring Additional Value to Client Reviews

Professional resources and turn-key planning tools allow advisors to delve deeper into the planning needs of their clients during review meetings.

Increase Client Retention

Studies show firms providing expert consultation in multiple areas of financial planning experience higher levels of client retention and are more attractive to potential new clients (in comparison to firms providing only investment and retirement advice).

Strategic Partner

bui

BUI is a nationally recognized provider of services to financial service and insurance professionals and their affluent clients. Through this partnership, our firm is better positioned to take a consultative approach to address some of your most important planning concerns. Their core expertise in strategic planning combined with a straightforward, objective approach delivers comprehensive solutions for our most valued clients.

Because of the strategic relationship with BUI, First Element Insurance Planners not only has preferred access to dozens of the country's most highly rated insurance companies, but also has the case design, advanced planning and underwriting support to handle nearly all aspects of insurance planning.

Meet the Team

Dan Sullivan FEIP

Daniel Sullivan, JD
Managing Director
dsullivan@firstelementinsurance.com

As the Managing Director, Dan combines his legal counseling experience with the First Element team’s high-level insurance expertise to help fee-only advisory firms provide client-friendly risk management solutions to their clients in a proactive, process-driven manner.  Just as every client’s circumstances, goals and objectives are unique, each RIA has its own perspective and process.  Dan takes a consultative approach to working with each firm by first learning about how advisors engage their clients and what the unique planning process is for that particular firm.  By learning these critical aspects, Dan tailors the resources at FEIP to the firm, with the goal of comfortably folding risk management into the firm’s existing wealth management process. Dan lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife, Casey, and two children. He enjoys running, bicycling, spending quality time with his family, and drinking good beer with good friends.

chris brauner first element insurance

Chris Brauner
Director of Risk Management
cbrauner@firstelementinsurance.com

As a forward-thinking Risk Management Consultant, Chris works closely with fee-only advisory firms and their clients to address the critical aspects of risk management in the financial planning process. By focusing on client goals and objectives, Chris brings a consultative, unbiased perspective to planning that focuses on needs and solutions. With a background that includes a tenure at one of the pre-eminent wealth management firms in the nation, as well as experience at a top tier life insurance company, Chris possesses a unique ability to assess client needs and recommend tailored solutions that align with both short-term objectives and long-term goals. Chris lives in St. Louis, Missouri with his partner, Barb, and his two children Tyler and Charlotte. He enjoys attending concerts, spending time on the lake and playing soccer and lacrosse with his kids.

Lauren Gelber

Lauren Gelber
Director of Operations
lgelber@firstelementinsurance.com

As the Director of Operations at First Element, Lauren is committed to optimizing the company’s ability to consistently provide an exceptional client experience. With over a decade of experience in the insurance industry, Lauren possesses a strong understanding of the intricacies that underpin successful operations throughout the entire insurance planning process. Lauren lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and enjoys reading, hiking and attending food truck and festival events with her family.

danny kaufman first element insurance

Danny Kaufmann
Risk Management Consultant
dkaufmann@firstelementinsurance.com

As a dedicated Risk Management Consultant, Danny is passionate about guiding clients towards insurance solutions based specifically on their goals and objectives. Danny blends critical thinking and communication skills to provide clients an objective and personalized insurance planning experience tailored to their needs. Danny has nearly a decade of experience in the life insurance industry, advising a wide array of individuals and businesses on risk mitigation strategies. Danny lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife and two young children, and he enjoys kayaking through Missouri’s waterways and camping with his family.

brian flynn first element insurance

Brian Flynn
Risk Management Consultant
bflynn@firstelementinsurance.com

As an experienced Risk Management Consultant, Brian takes great pride in providing objective insurance guidance to fee-only advisors and their clients based specifically on clients’ needs. Brian starts the process by listening to what is important to the client before bringing solutions to the table to address their needs. With nearly three decades of experience in the insurance industry, Brian offers detailed and comprehensive insurance planning advice focused on the client’s best interests. Brian lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, Kathy, and daughter, Kylie. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, bicycling, traveling and a good red wine.

nicole-baker-feip

Nicole Scholten Baker
Administrative Assistant
nscholten@firstelementinsurance.com

As an Administrative Assistant, Nicole concentrates her efforts on helping the First Element team operate efficiently. Her organizational and planning skills ensure that advisors and clients enjoy a smooth and streamlined client experience. Nicole lives outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and two cats, Binx and Salmon, and she enjoys travel and spending time with family.

Operations & Administration

Michelle Johnson

Michelle Johnson
Application Assistance Specialist
mjohnson@buiusa.com

Cindy Strutman

Cindy Strutman
New Business Consultant
cstrutman@buiusa.com

Suzie Terry

Suzie Terry
New Business Consultant
sterry@buiusa.com

michey-vogt

Mickey Vogt
Case Design Consultant
mvogt@buiusa.com

Cindy Cox

Cindy Cox
Case Design Consultant
ccox@buiusa.com

Kirsten

Kirsten Phlipot
Policy Service Support
kphlipot@buiusa.com

Advanced Planning

brian seigal first element insurance

Brian Seigel, JD, AEP®
Estate & Business Planning Consultant
bseigel@buiusa.com

CH_HEADSHOT

Chris Hooper
Chief Underwriter
chooper@buiusa.com

michael first element insurance

Michael Tessler
Risk Management Consultant
mtessler@buiusa.com

Brant Steck

Brant Steck, CFP® 
Risk Management Consultant
bsteck@buiusa.com

Philosophy

There are times to take risk in the financial planning process. Insurance and estate planning, however, are not the time.

Many fee-only advisors (and their clients) experience frustration with insurance policies not performing as originally intended. Hypothetical returns and non-guaranteed dividends commonly create unrealistic expectations that almost certainly require future remedy. While taking risks in a portfolio is typically necessary for many investment clients, taking risks with insurance planning is typically not.

If it is not guaranteed in the contract, it is not guaranteed.

FEIP prides itself on meeting and exceeding expectations. From years of experience, we tend to favor products that are fully guaranteed by contract, allowing us to consistently meet expectations and keep advisors and their clients happy.

Insurance planning is not always the answer.

Through the collaboration of estate and insurance planning experts, FEIP strives to find the best solution for the client, not necessarily the best product.

The client is YOUR client.

FEIP’s goal is to fill a void for fee-only advisors through expert partnership in the areas of risk management planning. The goal is provide consultation, advice and direction to fee-only advisors who wish to have a truly holistic model. When a firm partners with FEIP, the firm’s clients remain their clients.

Wealth Transfer Paradigm Cycle