About Us
In 2003, the founding partners moved to Tucson, Arizona from our life-long homes in Nebraska to start Forward Strategies.
Today, Forward Strategies is a national leader in marketing annuities, life insurance, long-term care, and hybrid products including case design, lead program creation, and referral systems. Since inception in 2003, Forward Strategies has helped countless agents reach their financial goals as well as played an integral part in the development of cutting edge life and annuity products.
Through our annual, low qualification incentive trips, Forward Strategies has hosted our top producers in destinations around the world; these trips continue to be a great way for agents to network together and enjoy their success with their peers.
Kelly Kleinsasser
President
CLU, ChFC
Kelly has been dedicated to the insurance and investment field since graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1991 with a Finance and International Business degree. He started his career with IDS/American Express and then furthered his career with Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter prior to opening his own firm in 1997.
As a managing partner with Forward Strategies, Kelly has chosen to place his focus on growing advisors' businesses by carefully crafting, developing, and launching numerous marketing strategies and concepts that include 13 years of seminar systems and our Safety/Income/Tax (SIT) report as well as creating his own RIA platform. Kelly feels that sharing knowledge and tools is the best way to form long lasting trusting relationships with advisors. He is 100% committed to this end.
Paul began working in 1984 as a full-time insurance salesman for Bankers’ Life and Casualty while studying Economics at Indiana University. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 1987, he returned to Chicago as a US Treasury Analyst and Trader for three different Treasury Primary Dealers at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). In late 2000, Paul and his wife moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he pivoted to the restaurant industry. He managed Sakura for more than ten years, developing relationships and building a strong B2B network.
At Forward Strategies, Paul focuses on group and individual marketing efforts for various markets and targeted individuals, looking for different ways that agents can capitalize on existing relationships and markets. Paul creates and presents tax-deferred laddering strategy scenarios for annuity clients where “one size fits all” just doesn’t fit.
In his spare time, Paul particularly enjoys cooking for friends and family.
Senior Account Manager
Paul Song
Conner Kleinsasser
Senior Account Manager
IAR
Conner graduated from Grand Canyon University with a degree in Finance and Economics. He focuses on marketing, design, and webinar programs, as well as helping producers like you continue to be the best at what you do. He is a Senior Account Manager, servicing agents and helping them increase production through their own customized marketing efforts.
2023 was a big year for Conner as he got married and as a result inherited a very loving and playful cat, Blueberrie. In his free time he is an avid competitive gamer, ranked in the top .1% out of 115 million League of Legends players worldwide. Conner also enjoys watching Minnesota Vikings and Nebraska Huskers football games with his family.
Raelene is a Tucson native who studied at Pima Community College for three years pursuing a career in healthcare, when a job at a law firm fell into her lap. She left Pima Community College in 2008 to begin her career as a Paralegal. Working for a small private collections firm for four years. She fine-tuned her legal and collection skills by taking part in many full-scale collection and bankruptcy cases. She then moved on to a larger firm here in Tucson where she worked for ten years. Her main focus was Senior Paralegal for four years, she then transitioned to the Office Manager for her remaining six years. After fourteen years in the Legal field Raelene chose to branch out in search of something new and exciting when she landed here at Forward Strategies as the Internal Case Manager. Here she insures that our agents receive the most up to date case statuses as well as making sure any policy issues are handled hastily and with as little turbulence as possible.
In her free time, she can be found spending time with her two little ones and family, working Golf Tournaments for charity, or out for a walk with her dog Traeger.
Raelene Tellez
Internal Case Manager
Sophie Weaver
Office Manager
Sophie moved to Tucson in 2018 and began a job as an HOA Community Manager where she worked for about a year. She then pursued a different path as a 911 dispatcher for the local sheriff’s department; this position gave her the ability to strengthen her people skills and find compassion for the world’s difficult times.
She then began a job as an Office Manager for a local IT company. After managing a staff of 20+ whilst handling all accounts receivable, Sophie wanted a change. She happened upon the ad for Forward Strategies, she is now our Office Manager & Contracting specialist. Providing our staff with friendly guidance and stability as well as helping our agents with all contracting needs.
When not at work Sophie can be found hiking with her dog Winston in one of the many great trails Arizona has to offer. Yoga is one of her many passions in which she strives to one day have her own studio. She also enjoys trips to visit family or just lounging at the pool.
Joseph Felix, a distinguished professional with nine years of unwavering dedication in the automotive industry, has successfully navigated through diverse roles, culminating in his role as a finance manager. His experience in financial strategy and management has been a cornerstone of operational efficiency and overall success in the organizations he served.
Now seeking a new challenge, Joseph is poised to bring his extensive skills and adaptability to the dynamic landscape of the insurance industry. With a proven track record of success, a commitment to excellence, and a forward-thinking approach, Joseph Felix is well-equipped to make a meaningful impact, offering a unique blend of experience, innovation, and leadership to confidently navigate the complexities of the insurance landscape.
Joe Felix
Account Manager
OUR COMMITMENT
Help You Succeed
&
Reward You For Your Success
Agents have found that Forward Strategies is set apart from other national groups because we are a company built by producers, for producers. We have been in the field as agents and understand the challenges and opportunities that agents face each and every day.