Hello! Allow us to introduce ourselves. We’re the folks behind the blog. Some of us are financial planning gurus. Some of us are insurance and safety experts. Others are savvy savers and shoppers. Although we’re from across the COUNTRY family, we all share a passion for helping people achieve financial security.
Email us a question or ask us to blog about
a topic that’s important to you.
a topic that’s important to you.
Aaron sets insurance rates as a Property/Casualty Actuary at COUNTRY. He is also a lecturer for the Mathematics Department of Illinois State University and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. In his free time, he enjoys training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, visiting friends and family, and reading everything from books on mathematics and behavioral economics to electrical engineering, classic fiction, and history!
Send Aaron your questions at aaron.hillebrandt@countryfinancial.com
Beth is a senior employment coordinator and has spent her career recruiting great people to join the COUNTRY Financial team. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters. With one daughter in college and one there soon, she is searching for a hobby to prepare for life as an empty nester.
Send Beth your questions at beth.nolan@countryfinancial.com
Carrie is a licensed production assistant for Financial Representative Scott Jackson in Champaign, Illinois. When she’s not in the office, she’s busy being a wife and mom of two little girls. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping on Craigslist and at garage sales trying to find the best deals.
Send Carrie your questions at carrie.wait@countryfinancial.com
Christopher is the admin of the COUNTRY Financial blog and a Media Relations Specialist at COUNTRY. When not in the office, he's overusing his Netflix account, riding his motorcycle and attempting to write the great American novel.
Send Christopher your questions at chris.n.brooks@countryfinancial.com
All the COUNTRY Financial news that's fit to blog! Our employees and representatives nationwide are weighing in on the financial issues that impact you as well as showing you who we are and the communities we support.
Send COUNTRY Financial your questions at mediaintern@countryfinancial.com
Since 2007, the COUNTRY Financial Security Index has measured Americans’ sentiments of their personal financial security. Throughout the economic downturn, our surveys have provided Americans the financial insight and advice they need.
Now, the COUNTRY Financial Security Index surveys will delve deeper into more specific personal finance topics to better inform Americans about the individual issues impacting their financial security.
Send your questions at CFSI@countryfinancial.com
Elissa Tuttle is a senior advanced planner in the Financial and Brokerage Division of COUNTRY Financial. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Illinois State University. Elissa has earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) designations. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, home improvement, spoiling her niece Ayla and dog Kylie and being a wanna-be runner.
Send Elissa your questions at elissa.tuttle@countryfinancial.com
Eric is a Sr. Loss Control Representative at COUNTRY. He identifies ways to prevent losses or reduce the severity of a loss, should one occur. Eric participates in various industry organizations such as the Grain Handling Safety Coalition and Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. He is a member of NAMIC's (National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies) loss control committee where he frequently speaks at industry conferences on all types of loss prevention topics. In his spare time he enjoys home improvement projects, boating and supporting The Ohio State University Buckeyes.
Send Eric your questions at eric.vanasdale@countryfinancial.com
We often ask guest bloggers to submit posts to the COUNTRY Blog. Want to be one of them? Shoot us an email at news@countryfinancial.com
Send Guest Blogger your questions at news@countryfinancial.com
Joe is the manager of Financial Security Field Support. In his role, Joe leads the Financial Security Consultants in delivering financial security through client meetings, delivering tangible plans, and client seminars.
Outside of work, you'll find him enjoying his family, including wife, Leta, and two teen-aged daughters. When he's not at an equestrian or orchestra event, you'll find Joe tending to the garden or enjoying a good book.
Send Joe your questions at joseph.buhrmann@countryfinancial.com
Laurie Adams is a Financial Representative with COUNTRY Financial in Peoria Heights, IL. She has earned the designations of CFP®, CLU and LUTCF. She is a past Illinois State President for NAIFA (National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors) and a former adjunct faculty at St. Ambrose University where she taught professional education courses.
Laurie was a Regents Scholar at the University of Nebraska where she met her husband of 34 years, Mark. They remain avid Cornhusker fans and are thrilled Nebraska joined the Big10. When she’s not helping clients achieve financial security, Laurie is investing in the future by helping Mark coach the University HS Speech and Debate team. Speaking is a family affair since their son, Justin coaches at Tallahassee Community College in Florida.
Send Laurie your questions at laurie.adams@countryfinancial.com
Ruth Ann is a manager in the Financial & Brokerage Division of COUNTRY. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading and traveling. She has traveled to all 50 states and parts of Canada!
Send Ruth Ann your questions at ruth.potts@countryfinancial.com
Steve is a Marketing Project Manager at COUNTRY and previously served as a financial representative in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Steve has been married to his wife Candy for 20 years and is also the proud father of triplet pre-teens! Steve’s passion is helping families get out of debt and live on a budget. He has been teaching personal finance classes and budget coaching individually with families for more than 10 years. In Steve’s spare time he enjoys rooting for the Oklahoma Sooners and St. Louis Cardinals.
Send Steve your questions at steve.swope@countryfinancial.com
Tom is a Financial Security Consultant for COUNTRY Financial. In addition to his training and experience as a financial specialist, Tom believes it was his earlier life as a musician, filmmaker, journalist and pizza maker that makes him as well-qualified as anyone else to voice his opinions about pretty much everything.
Send Tom your questions at tom.atkinson@countryfinancial.com
Troy is an Investment Officer at COUNTRY and manages portfolios for clients of COUNTRY Trust Bank. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and has a master's degree in Science in Finance from Saint Louis University.
In his free time, Troy enjoys spending time with his wife and their three children, working out, and playing and watching sports, particularly the St. Louis Cardinals and University of Illinois athletics.
Send Troy your questions at tfrerichs@countryinvestment.com
From economic news to new apps for managing your finances, we're bringing you the financial tips and tricks you need to manage your money each week.
Send Weekly Financial Tips your questions at CFConnect@countryfinancial.com
Out of school...now what? Our younger employees and financial representatives are blogging about getting jobs and figuring about their finances. Whether you're broke or just starting your financial journey, come join the discussion!
Send Young, Broke & Blogging your questions at YB&B@countryfinancial.com