True down-to-earth leaders are making a big change in their careers soon.

August 12, 2026 by Sheryl J. Moore

True down-to-earth leaders are making a big change in their careers soon.

My friend Esfand Dinshaw is stepping-down as the CEO and Chairman at Sammons Financial Group Companies at the beginning of the new year.

Who’s taking over?

My buddy Robert TeKolste, who is currently President of the organization.

I can only assume that Sammons Financial is going to expand their presence in the life insurance and annuity markets.

Two primary underwriters of life insurance/annuities are rolled up under the Sammons umbrella: Midland National Life Insurance Company and North American Company for Life and Health Insurance.

Combined, these two insurers account for 2.62% of the annuity market as of 1Q2026. They sell Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities (MYGAs), indexed annuities, structured annuities, variable annuities and income annuities. On the life insurance side, they sell only indexed universal life (IUL) and term life.

I am eager to see how this transition affects the companies’ products, distribution and sales (in particular). -sjm

Read Sammons to Get a Homegrown Chairman and CEO via Think Advisor here