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Introducing Our Team

Since 1994, Strategic Education Technologies (SET) continues to focus on helping families get SET for College and financially SET for Life – without taking unnecessary risks. We accomplish this through our network of SET agents and advisors.

Through SET IMO, we have expanded our service offerings to include additional financial products designed to help our advisors and agents better serve their current clients and add new prospecting and sales strategies to their book of business.

We have built an experienced team to support our agents and advisors nationwide. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the SET IMO team!

SET's Tim Austin Headshot

Tim Austin

PRESIDENT

Tim Austin is a 25+ year veteran of the financial services industry. His passion has always been helping parents of college-bound high school students solve their most immediate need – paying for their children's college education – while putting them on the pathway to becoming financially SET For Life.

Tim’s passion for coaching has made him one of the leading training and recruiting experts in the financial services industry. He has helped build and create one of the fasting growing financial marketing organizations in the entire world.

Brian Kay

Brian Kay

CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

As the Co-Founder and CEO of Strategic Education Technologies (SET), Brian Kay has over 30 years of experience in helping families and small business owners achieve their college and retirement goals without taking unnecessary risks.

Brian and his co-founder, Tim Austin, have helped SET become one of the nation's leading niche IMO's, with over 500 contracted independent advisors and over 48,000 policy holders. SET has maintained one of the highest persistency rates (93%+) in the life insurance industry by supporting our independent advisors with cutting-edge training, coaching, and lead generation programs, and fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, and trust.

Sales, Recruiting & Marketing

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Marvin Bulas

Strategic Business Coach

Marvin has been passionate about the Bank on Yourself concept since 2003 when he first came on board with SET. After five years in the banking industry, he quickly learned that the only way to truly help people is to work with those willing to listen, and then give them the education and tools necessary to help his members and their clients reach their goals. Marvin has obtained the designation of CFP® Professional and has been instrumental in developing the virtual system currently in place. He calls New Baltimore, Michigan, his home with his wife Rachel, and his children: Delaney, Marissa, and Owen. He is passionate about more than the Bank on Yourself concept; he enjoys travel with his family, especially to any water-based destination. Marvin believes that through proper education of the Bank on Yourself concept, the world can become a better place.

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Dan Gross

Strategic Business Coach

A respected financial strategist and educator, Dan has helped hundreds of advisors across the nation understand and implement safe money strategies for their clients’ wealth protection and preservation. Dan specializes in advanced life insurance and annuity strategies, as well as approaches that protect wealth from major eroding factors such as taxes, inflation, and stock market losses. Dan has been in the financial services industry since 2005. He graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Psychology, and he holds the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) designation, along with life and health insurance licenses in MI, OH, IL, TN, PA, and NJ. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, running, and performing and recording music with various local music groups. Dan also serves on the board of his home church in Beverly Hills, where he has been a member for almost four decades.

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Keith Mohn

Strategic Business Coach

Keith entered the financial services industry in 1981, joining his father’s John Hancock agencies in Michigan. With a focus on advanced planning early on, Keith completed his CLU and ChFC curriculum in 1988. With most of his time spent in the professional marketplace, working with medical professionals and dentists, Keith had the opportunity to gain extensive experience in advanced planning, estate planning, qualified plans, and deferred compensation plans. Keith moved into agency management in 1991 and in 1994 became the leading sales manager in the country with John Hancock. In 1997 Keith left John Hancock to establish his own independent firm and investment advisory firm, which was sold in 2010. Keith continues to work with his own clients and has been a Strategic Business Coach with Strategic Education Technologies since 2013. Keith and his wife Lisa live in West Bloomfield, Michigan, have two adult sons, and enjoy golf and other outside activities.

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Dave Gardner

Strategic Business Coach

Dave has been in the financial services industry for 36 years, starting with the Prudential Insurance Company. Dave joined the SET IMO in June of 2000 as an advisor and coach working with other advisors in the SET IMO. He has earned his CLU and ChFC along with his life and health licenses. He is a graduate of Central Michigan University. He lives with his wife Dianne in Romeo, Michigan. Dave and Dianne have five grown children and four grandchildren (with three grandbabies on the way). In his free time, Dave enjoys camping, golf, and riding his Harley.

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Dave Weinert

Strategic Business Coach

Dave has been a Financial Advisor specializing in college financial aid planning and retirement with SET since May 1997. Dave is a Strategic Business Coach and Financial Advisor who has earned his FINRA series 6 and 63 registrations along with his life and variable contract licenses in Michigan. In his role at SET, not only does Dave still maintain his personal practice as a college and retirement financial advisor but over the years been assisting in educating and training SET advisors on how to create a successful, well-rounded college funding practice themselves. Dave has helped and currently works with hundreds and hundreds of clients in some capacity over the past 22 years. Born in Detroit, he is a graduate of Michigan State University. Dave lives in Shelby Township with his wife Nicol and their three children Chris, Cole, and Chloe. When Dave is not in the office, he is usually busy running his kids all around, but he also enjoys playing golf and tennis and is a long-time music aficionado and collector.

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Andrew Young

Bank on Yourself Recruiter

Andrew became a member of the SET family in March 2016 as the Director of Bank On Yourself® Authorized Advisor Development. He is responsible for enrolling new Bank On Yourself® Authorized Advisors in the program and is the NAIFA representative for SET. Andrew became an advisor in 2000 and earned his F.I.C.F. He and his wife, Maureen, graduated from Eastern Michigan University. Their daughter Claire is following them at Eastern with a swim and academic scholarship. Their son Mitchell is a cross country record holder and is a starter on the basketball team. When not living the dream at SET, Andrew is very active at his Church, a devoted father and husband, loves to cook, coach, and participate in almost all sports.

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Larry O'Brien

Advanced Markets

Larry joined SET in April of 2017 and is responsible for marketing/development of sales ideas and managing the firm’s initiative into the small business market. He has over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry, working for such companies as Connecticut Mutual, Mass Mutual, BMA, American General and American International Group. Larry holds his insurance licenses and a series 6 and 63 in securities. Larry is a graduate of the University of Delaware and holds two Masters degrees from the University of Massachusetts. He lives in Montgomery, Texas with his wife, Diane – they have two adult children, Chris and Dina. Free time includes volunteer work, working out, playing golf, and reading.

Case Management & Operations

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Lauri Galka

New Business Coordinator

Lauri is a New Business Coordinator and has been with SET since June 2001, she coordinates new applications and provides status follow-up during the underwriting process. Lauri has a great working relationship with all our insurance carriers and looks forward to providing you with unparalleled customer service. She lives in Warren, MI, with her husband, Darryl, their son Jared and their dog Luna. Lauri enjoys volunteering for various organizations and spending time outside in the sunshine.

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Rhonda Morrison

Licensing/Contracting Coordinator

Rhonda joined SET IMO in September of 2003 as Licensing Coordinator. In this role, she is responsible for reviewing and processing contracting for all 40+ SET IMO Carriers. Some of Rhonda’s job duties include processing and onboarding new agents and distributing news and information to our agents. Rhonda currently resides in Macomb Township, Michigan with her husband Charles and son Adam.

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Margie Newkirk

Operations and New Business Manager

Margie has worked with the team for over 15 years, and her primary role at SET is ensuring and improving the performance, productivity, and efficiency of our New Business department. As office manager, Margie manages the day-to-day operations and support of our network of members and their agencies. In her free time, she enjoys hunting for antiques. She loves to repurpose old items and make them useful again!

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Robyn Leinhos

New Business Coordinator

Robyn joined SET for Advisors in February 2021 as a New Business Coordinator. She processes whole life, term, and annuity applications for several agents throughout the U.S. She is meticulous and detail-oriented and has enjoyed learning everything there is to know in the insurance business world. She lives in Macomb Township, MI, with her husband Dan and teenage sons Jamie and Jacob. Robyn plays volleyball and loves to travel to different national parks and abroad for hiking, kayaking, and outdoor adventures.

Finance & Commissions

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Stephanie Sturgill

Senior Staff Accountant

Stephanie joined SET IMO in February of 2019 as a staff accountant. In this role, she is responsible for processing all revenue received. Some of Stephanie’s job duties include processing all accounts receivable, assisting with accounts payable and commissions. Stephanie currently resides in Warren, Michigan with her daughter Kayla and grandson Jaxon.

Contact Us

(248) 404-6157

2041 E. Square Lake Road, Suite 400, Troy, Michigan 48085-3897

About Us

Since 1994, Strategic Education Technologies (SET) continues to focus on helping families get SET for College and financially SET for Life – without taking unnecessary risks. We accomplish this through our network of SET agents and advisors. Through SET IMO, we have expanded our service offerings to include additional financial products designed to help our advisors and agents better serve their current clients and add new prospecting and sales strategies to their book of business. Copyright 2024