Protect the future you’ve worked for
Retirement should be a reward for hard work and achievement—a time when you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. But ensuring your savings will last and help you live fully throughout retirement is a real concern for many Americans. As inflation continues to be high and markets remain subject to volatile swings, many investors are looking for new ways to protect their wealth. Annuities have become a powerful and increasingly flexible option that empowers people to retire securely and confidently.
Why annuities?
When you buy an annuity, you are investing in a financial plan that insures you will receive payments over time, such as during retirement, while simultaneously earning returns to grow your wealth.
Our annuities deliver protection from market volatility and inflation as well as the assurance that you can count on income during retirement. We offer three products designed to accommodate a range of options, so that whatever stage of your financial journey, you can find a solution that meets your goals and needs.
Find the solution that fits your life—and plans.
Our annuities are designed to help you retire with confidence, each with distinct features and benefits.
EverGuardSM Assurance 10
With this Single Premium, Deferred, Fixed Indexed Annuity (FIA), you can build a source of income tailored to meet your needs for all the years to come.
EverGuardSM Aspire Series
With this Single Premium, Deferred, Fixed Indexed Annuity (FIA), count on accumulation, no matter where you’re at in your retirement journey.
EverSteadSM MYGA
With this Single Premium, Fixed Deferred, Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity (MYGA), you can add steady, growth all through retirement.
Meet the retail team
Ryan Lex
Head of Retail
Melissa McCarroll
Vice President of Marketing
Nermina Dubinovic
Business Relationship Manager
John Balsmeier
Vice President of Relationship Management
Stephen Pandullo
Vice President of Relationship Management
Sam Wiss
Vice President of Relationship Management
Ryan Lex
Head of Retail
As Head of Retail, Ryan leads the marketing and distribution strategy driving Talcott Financial Group’s entry into the retail annuity market. With more than 25 years of experience in financial services, he brings deep expertise in sales and distribution leadership.
Before joining Talcott, Ryan served as Executive Vice President and Chief Distribution Officer at Ibexis Life and Annuity, where he developed the company’s distribution strategy across the IMO, IBD, and bank channels. His earlier experience includes senior leadership roles at Athene USA, Genworth Financial, and Hartford Life.
Ryan holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees from Miami University, in Education and Psychology respectively.
“I’m excited to support you by delivering products that provide real value to your clients, along with tools, insights and resources designed to grow your business.
As a team, we offer meaningful solutions that empower your clients and strengthen your business. I look forward to partnering with you to build something truly impactful. “
Melissa McCarroll
Vice President of Marketing
Melissa leads marketing strategy for Talcott Financial Group, where she focuses on building a high-impact, modern marketing platform designed to empower financial professionals to grow their business.
With extensive experience across brand strategy, content development, and integrated multi-channel campaigns, Melissa has a proven track record of connecting strategic insights with creative execution. She is passionate about fostering a collaborative, innovative, and supportive team culture where great ideas thrive.
“At Talcott, we’re committed to helping our partners grow their businesses and deliver value that truly matters to clients. My goal is to ensure you have the tools, insights, and creative strategies to stand out and succeed in a competitive market.”
Nermina Dubinovic
Business Relationship Manager
Nermina serves as a Business Relationship Manager and directs the strategy for revolutionizing the partner and customer experience. For the past 15 years she has been a dynamic force in the financial & annuity industry, specializing in proactive problem-solving and transforming complex processes into seamless, high-impact experiences.
With deep expertise in distribution support, Nermina most recently worked at Athene, where she led initiatives focused on elevating the overall experience for financial professionals. Her core philosophy is “Yes, with impact; no, with options,” which drives her to collaborate with internal teams to architect best-in-class solutions.
“I am committed to leading the development of a simple, high-impact partner experience, proactively solving challenges and building lasting success across our relationships.”
John Balsmeier
Vice President of Relationship Management
John brings more than 20 years of sales leadership experience to his role as Vice President of Relationship Management for Talcott’s IMO channel. He has built a career on helping teams succeed and fostering strong, lasting partnerships.
Before joining Talcott, John led the internal sales team at Athene for over a decade, focusing on developing talent and driving growth across the business.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University–Idaho and holds FINRA Series 6, 26, and 66 licenses.
“At Talcott, I’m inspired by our commitment to innovation and financial security. We’re empowering financial professionals with solutions they can confidently recommend and simplifying processes through cutting-edge technology.”
Stephen Pandullo
Vice President of Relationship Management
Stephen serves as Vice President of Relationship Management for Talcott’s IMO channel, bringing more than 25 years of insurance industry experience. His background spans sales development and business management roles with organizations including Athene, Sammons Retirement Solutions, and Fidelity Bank.
He holds a BS in Management Information Systems from Iowa State University, along with multiple professional designations and licenses—including CFP®, WMCP®, RICP®, ChFC®, CRPS™, CEPA®, and FINRA Series 6 and 63.
Stephen is dedicated to helping advisors preserve clients’ assets for future distribution through meaningful partnership and education.
“I am excited to build and establish a best-in-class experience for our partners, while also providing solutions that help their clients live their best lives.“
Sam Wiss
Vice President of Relationship Management
Sam serves as Vice President of Relationship Management for Talcott’s IMO channel, bringing more than 13 years of experience across sales, marketing, and business development within the financial services industry. He is passionate about helping advisors deliver long-term value to their clients through trusted partnerships and innovative annuity solutions.
Before joining Talcott, Sam was Head of Sales & Marketing at Life Innovators, a life insurance and annuity product development company, where he led go-to-market strategies and advisor engagement initiatives. He also managed sales, marketing, and recruiting efforts at GPIS, an independent IMO, and previously served as a Regional Vice President at Athene USA, supporting both the IMO and broker/dealer channels.
Sam is known for his collaborative approach, deep industry knowledge, and commitment to building strong relationships that drive growth and success for his partners.
Get in touch
Have questions? We’re here for you.
Was your Talcott Resolution or Union Securities annuity purchased prior to 2024?
If you own a Talcott Resolution or Union Securities annuity with a purchase date prior to 2024, you still have access to the same login page as well as annuity forms and resources.
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