WHO WE ARE

Raymond J. Ohlson, CLU, CRC, LACP
President and CEO

The Ohlson Group was founded by Raymond J. Ohlson, CLU, CRC, LACP. Mr. Ohlson has a unique background in the financial services industry. He spent his first twenty (20) years as a career agent, general agent and owner of a successful Midwest insurance marketing organization. Mr. Ohlson was a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and owned a fee based financial planning company. He also owned 50% of an Indianapolis based employee benefits company.

Mr. Ohlson entered the insurance business while completing his Bachelor of Science Degree at Ball State University. He quickly qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) of which he is a Life Member. He also received his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Mr. Ohlson sold his organization in the early 90’s to join a start up life insurance holding company and launched that company’s marketing initiative. Mr. Ohlson’s experience, marketing prowess, unparalleled success and respect in the financial services business set him apart from most marketing organizations.

Mr. Ohlson served for 10 years as president of one of America’s fastest growing annuity companies. He helped that company grow from no products, no agents and no rating to over 10,000 agents, $1.5 billion assets and a five (5) year growth rate in excess of 50%. Mr. Ohlson also served as Chief Marketing Officer of the holding company and was responsible for directing the marketing effort of their European and Bermuda companies. The location was different, but results the same. A “scratch” operation that developed into a “real player” in the offshore business.

Mr. Ohlson has been involved with, or had responsibility for, most aspects of an insurance company’s operation. He’s been involved in everything from product design and pricing to new business and policy owner service. But, most of all, Ray takes his greatest pride in being an agent.

Ray served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the St. Vincent Carmel Hospital. He also serves as a member of the Center for Actuarial Science, Insurance and Risk Management and the Advisory Board at Ball State University . He is former President of the Indiana Chapter of the Society of Financial Services Professionals. He is the recipient of the 2006 Eye On Ethics Award given by the National Ethics Bureau. He is also an author and much sought after speaker.

The Ohlson Group Inc, and or Raymond J. Ohlson CLU, CRC is licensed to do business in all states except New York.

Nicholas R. Ohlson, ChFC, CLU
Chicago Managing Director, Partner, and Marketing Consultant

Nick graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. He worked 2 summers as a marketing intern for a major life insurance company. Nick worked in marketing for another major financial service company upon graduation and also functioned as the Midwestern Marketing Director for EventPro in Chicago. 

Nick has built a reputation as the go to person when analyzing various index crediting methodologies as well as for his expertise in Single Premium Life. Nick is a member of The National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and a member of the Society of Financial Services Professionals (SFSP). Nick received his Chartered Financial Consultants designation, ChFC, from The American college in Bryn Mawr, PA and his Chartered Life Underwriters designation, CLU, from the American College. Nick is a licensed Life and Health agent.

Joseph R. Ohlson, LUTCF
Managing Director, Partner, and Marketing Consultant

Joe Ohlson has been with The Ohlson Group for over 10 years. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Ball State University, possesses his life & health insurance license. He is also a member of NAIFA. Joe obtained his Life Underwriters Training Council Fellow designation, LUTCF, from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania in 2014 to better assist agents in the income planning, accumulation and wealth transfer business. 

Joe’s specialties are in the income planning and wealth transfer markets, utilizing index annuities and single premium life. He is experienced in case preparation and can help find the best fit for you and your client on any given case. He is fortunate to have grown up in an insurance family with his father, Ray and brother, Nick. 

Levon Justice
Marketing Consultant at the Ohlson Group

Levon Justice is a 23 year veteran of the life insurance business as a career agent working with some of the most well established and respected companies in the industry – Prudential, Mass Mutual, Foresters, and Northwestern Mutual among them. 

Before joining The Ohlson Group, Levon worked in the Brokerage/IMO world at a prominent Midwestern IMO that specialized in Medicare Sales. He used his knowledge and experience to assist Independent Agents with their Life Insurance, Long Term Care, Disability, and Annuity case development. 

"I’ve always loved meeting people at their kitchen table, office or local coffee shop to get to know them, their families and what makes them tick.  I have a strong belief in and love for our industry. I have seen the impact of dying with and without life insurance.  I am a Life Insurance Lifer.” This is the lens through which I will be looking at your cases.

Some of the sales concepts he has experience with are  Indexed Universal Life and the conversation around creating non taxable retirement income that could outpace Qualified Plans.  Marketing to and solving insurance concerns for Small Business Owners. Debt Reduction / Retirement planning / Infinite Banking concepts using Whole Life Insurance.  Hybrid and Traditional Long Term Care Insurance, as well as High Net Worth and Small Case Platform Premium Finance business.  

The opportunity to know and work with Ohlson Group Advisors was an offer he just couldn’t resist.  From case development to underwriting assistance or marketing support, Levon is eager to go to work for you!

Sheryl Ruiz, CLTC
​Marketing Consultant at the Ohlson Group

Sheryl has extensive experience in the life insurance and annuity industry, and most recently added long-term care insurance to her background.  She has worked in several environments including a Career Agency, Brokerage General Agencies, Independent Marketing Organization, and also in an Insurance Company Home Office.   This variety has given her the ability to understand, respond and assist customers on many different levels.  
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Sheryl is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana a few years ago.  She is a past-President of the Cleveland chapter of NAIFA, and recently completed studies for her CLTC designation.  She has also volunteered with local chapters of The Alzheimer’s Association.  

Sheryl is excited to start building new relationships at The Ohlson Group, and using her experience to help advisors grow their business.  

Michelle L. Edwards
New Business Director

Michelle has an extensive background in the insurance industry. With over a decade of experience, she has worked for two life insurance companies and has experience in most all areas of marketing, new business and policy-holder service.

Michelle’s primary focus at The Ohlson Group is New Business. Also, Michelle oversees our Safe Money Places Agent Network. Michelle has taken several LOMA courses and strives to stay on top of the industry by furthering her education.

Michelle assists producers with supplies and illustrations. Michelle’s other main focus is to serve agents whenever possible by using her expertise and business development capabilities.

Ann Konopka
Head of Contracting and Licensing

Annie received her Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University. She has strong sales experience and administrative skills that truly benefit The Ohlson Group. Annie worked at Kaplan Financial which makes her extremely valuable to us and our advisors in the area of agent contracting. 

Brittany Johnson
Agent Support

Brittany is the granddaughter of 2 decorated Army veterans, who instilled from a very early age the importance of financial security and planning for the future. Brittany's personal background is rich with experience that has helped her excel in her professional life. She also has two daughters and a loving husband. Brittany is actively involved in both sets of her grandparents financials and retirement accounts. This first-hand experience has allowed her to step right into the IMO world and has given her a true understanding of the need for proper retirement and legacy planning. Amongst other duties, Brittany handles accounting, HR needs, and illustration requests. Brittany’s experience and work ethic further enhance The Ohlson Group’s value proposition and she has proven to be a value to the agent field force.

Jason Garriott
Director of Digital Marketing

Jason received his Bachelor of the Arts Degree from Ball State University in Telecommunications with a focus on Production. Jason worked with King Media Service to helped shoot, edit, and finalize some of the videos for our website. He interned with us Fall of 2010 and has worked for the company ever since.

Jason designs and creates all of our Ohlson Group and Safe Money Places content, gives consultation services to members of the Safe Money Places Agent Network, develops and manages all of our websites, creates our flyers and brochures, and manages our email marketing. He also films, edits, and produces our prospecting tip videos. 

Lauren Gehle
Digital Marketing Specialist

Lauren recently graduated from Ball State University, where she majored in Marketing and minored in Economics and Strategic Communication. Through this dual approach, Lauren recognizes both the analytical side of marketing, as well as the extensive creative side, giving her a well rounded understanding of digital marketing. At Ball State University, Lauren was Vice President of the American Marketing Association (AMA) and very active in her immersive learning classes. One where she created and managed a professional economic video production over multiple micro-economical concepts, and another where she managed social media platforms for Central Indiana’s YWCA, a national non profit women’s shelter, located in Muncie, Indiana. 
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Lauren joined our team to continue amplifying The Ohlson Group’s prestige reputation and appearances on social media. She will be working with Jason Garriott, our Director of Digital Marketing, to continue analyzing data, assisting in the Safe Money Places Agent Network, as well as managing and creating content for multiple social media platforms.