Management Team
David Shapiro, Founder, CEO and President
Shapiro conceived the concept for The EARN Group in conjunction with the publishing of his third book in June of 2004. His gift for isolating problems and developing creative solutions has been the hallmark of his 27-year career in the financial services industry. The EARN Group is his fourth startup business with previous businesses being sold to Wachovia Bank and SAFECO Corporation. While principally a successful serial entrepreneur, Shapiro is also a best selling author, and is credited with developing some of the most creative annuity and life insurance products in the market. Shapiro has developed a reputation for being one of the foremost thought leaders within the industry, and has been widely quoted by the Wall Street Journal and other publications. He is an internationally recognized speaker on retirement planning and retirement products and has appeared on Fox News, CNNfn and Bloomberg Financial. Shapiro served for six years on the NAVA Board of Directors and Executive Committee and was the creative force behind National Retirement Planning Week. He is also a non-practicing CFP, CLU and ChFC. Shapiro majored in Journalism with a minor in Political Science at the University of Kansas where his impact was profound in both Student Government and as a two-year member of the Kansas University Athletic Corporation Board of Directors.
Ed Horwitz, Managing Principal
Ed has over 25 years of experience in the Insurance Industry with primary emphasis in Sales, Marketing, and Distribution Management. Ed is a seasoned business executive with 15 years corporate experience including Senior Management responsibilities for strategic planning, budgeting, operational execution, product development and distribution management. Ed’s out of the box, innovative thinking put him at the forefront of the Index Annuity marketplace as it developed into a trillion dollar industry. In addition, Ed authored the book titled, The Marketing and Sales Guide to Equity Index Annuities for the National Underwriter, has published numerous articles and has been cited in the Wall Street Journal and Money Magazine. Ed has spoken to and trained thousands of agents, brokers and registered representatives on annuity and financial planning related concepts. Ed received his undergraduate degree in Finance and Insurance from The University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, and his MBA from Creighton University graduating with honors as a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. Ed has also serves on the Executive Board of Junior Achievement in Omaha and received the Anna Tyler Waite Leadership Fellowship from Creighton University as a part of the undergraduate business program in 2002 and 2003.
Jim Graf, Marketing
Jim has over 25 years of mortgage banking experience at the senior management level, having developed and managed mortgage loan production operations for Pulte Homes, the nation’s largest builder, for over 12 years from 1976 to 1988, and K. Hovnanian Enterprises from 1993 to 1999.
Jim also was responsible for the development of many creative mortgage products, among them the temporary builder buydown, and was part of the corporate team that created the Collateralized Mortgage Obligation (CMO) that so dramatically impacted the way mortgage loans are financed. From 1989 to 1991 Jim was the National Sales Manager for Sears Mortgage Company, now part of the Washington Mutual family of financial institutions.
Stuart Phillips, Co-Founder
Stuart brings over two decades of senior management experience across a broad range of disciplines. As head of Sales and Marketing, he led two different firms to the Business Journal’s 100 Fastest Growing Companies. His ability to translate strategic concepts into sustainable business and financial models lead his career from M&A work to CFO/COO of Info-One. He holds a Global MBA from National University and is a founding member of the Silicon Valley Institute of Innovation.