Our Core Values

RJ Saroli
Planning Associate
(682) 503-7495

Erich Dyer
Senior Planning Associate
(586) 420-8972

Bio coming soon…

Bill Bonk
Owner/COO
(617) 587-7511

Bill was born and raised in Connecticut. After graduating from Avon Old Farms, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Economics degree from St. Lawrence University. Bill’s professional background began back in the year 2000 as a Financial Advisor with Paine Webber, now UBS Financial. His focus was with high-net-worth investors within the senior marketplace.

Bill has over twenty years of industry experience with a primary emphasis on Fixed & Indexed Annuity portfolio design, implementation, and management. Bill was the Regional Annuity Director for the Smith Company, a Producers Choice Network Partner from 2003-2015, and now owns BBIM: Bill Bonk Insurance Marketing, a Producers Choice Network Affiliate. Bill is now acting COO of Optimized Insurance Planning (OIP). His unbiased client-first approach towards Fixed and Indexed Annuities has differentiated him in today’s marketplace. Bill is also an active supporter of NAIFA, NAFA, the FSP, and the FPA.

Born in Washington DC, raised in Southern California, and now residing in Flower Mound, Texas, with his wife Melissa, 2 sons, and, of course, Champ (the pup). After graduating from California State University Long Beach (CSULB) with a Finance degree, Scott began his insurance career in 2001, dedicating his time to assisting Insurance Professionals and Financial Advisors within the three facets of Protective Portfolio Planning – annuities, life insurance, and long-term care insurance. As an expert in the industry with 20+ years of experience, Scott has led roles such as the Director of Sales for a growing FMO, Regional Vice President with a leading fixed and indexed annuity insurance company, and most recently, the Executive Director for Producers Choice Network. In his current role, Scott is the CEO and Co-Founder of Optimized Insurance Planning, a wholesale insurance planning and marketing firm. He is also the President and Founder of Prism Wealth Preservation, a professional financial & insurance services firm specializing in working with pre-retirees, retirees, and business owners. Last but not least, Scott is the host of the Optimized Advisor Podcast, dedicated to enhancing the professions, best practices, and personal well-being of the Advisors we have the opportunity to serve.

In his free time, Scott enjoys functional fitness of most types and just about anything outdoors, including mountain biking, motocross, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and hunting. Most of all, he enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Nick Bernatowicz, RICP®, CLTC®
Planning Director
(949) 503-3109

Nick started his insurance career in 2015, dedicating his time to assisting insurance and Financial Advisors and their Clients within the three facets of Protective Portfolio Planning – annuities, life insurance, and long-term care insurance. Nick took his passion for coaching and transitioned it from the fitness world to the insurance and financial world, quickly becoming a resource for advisors throughout the country.
Nick is currently an Insurance Planning Director at Optimized Insurance Planning, a wholesale insurance planning and marketing organization. Over the 8+ years of experience in the industry, Nick has become an expert in Long-Term Care planning, portfolio distribution and protection strategies, as well as legacy planning. Nick has a passion for partnering directly with Financial Professionals and providing them with direct, back-office support to help plan, protect, and enhance their practices. Nick is an active member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). He maintains the RICP (Retirement Income Certified Professional) designation through the American College and the CLTC (Certification for Long-Term Care) designation.

Nick is very active; exercise and wellness are a big part of his day. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, wine tasting, and spending time with his wife, Britne, and daughter, Kylie. Nick currently lives in Texas.

Brian Dyer
Planning Director
(586) 276-7303

Throughout his career, Brian has demonstrated a keen understanding of financial strategies, providing invaluable guidance to clients in navigating their financial landscapes. His expertise lies in crafting tailored solutions that align with client’s specific needs, ensuring a secure financial future.

Beyond the boardroom, Brian finds solace and joy in various pursuits. Family holds a paramount place in his life, with cherished moments spent alongside his wife Cassie and their four children. A passionate pianist, Brian finds creative expression through music, and amidst the serene landscapes of northern Michigan, he indulges in the thrill of hunting on their property.

Brian’s unwavering dedication to professional excellence and his commitment to a fulfilling personal life define his holistic approach to both career and leisure.

Jeff Fellion
Planning Director
(617) 587-7501

Prior to joining OIP in 2017, Fellion was a hedge Fund Associate at SS&C Technologies, a leading cloud-based provider of financial services technology solutions. Fellion’s primary client was NYC-based Brigade Capital Management, in which he provided daily operational support to clients engaged in primary and secondary syndicated bank loans, total return swaps, and collateralized loan obligations.

In 2015, Fellion held various positions at Smith & Wesson, an American manufacturer of firearms, including roles as an Accountant and a CRM test coordinator focusing on Mergers and Acquisitions. Active in the community, Fellion sat on the Philanthropy Committee of the American Red Cross Board of Directors. He also volunteers with Revitalize CDC, a Western Massachusetts-based organization that performs critical repairs, modifications, and rehabilitation on the homes of low-income families with children, the elderly, military veterans, and people with disabilities. Fellion graduated from Western New England University, earning a degree in Finance with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) minor.

Fellion currently resides in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, with his wife Natasha, their two children Gabriella and Jeffrey, and dog Winston. In his free time, Fellion can be found fishing, hiking, or enjoying any outdoor activity with his family.

Prior to Joining BBIM in 2017, Toby spent over 3 years with Northwestern Mutual as both a financial advisor and an associate advisor, developing financial plans for high-net-worth families and individuals. At Northwestern Mutual, Toby focused on blending managed money portfolios with insurance-based products to design and implement retirement income strategies with high confidence in meeting projections. Toby Frost graduated from UMass Lowell with a BS degree in Business administration with a focus on Management Information Systems. Outside of the office, you can find Toby riding bikes and spending time with his family.

Joel Koeniguer, CLU®, ChFC®
Planning Director
(816) 587-0900

Joel’s passion for partnering with financial professionals to help clients achieve their financial dreams remains the driving force in his professional career. He has over 35 years of experience in the financial industry, helping advisors leverage annuity, long-term care, and life solutions designed to complement a client’s comprehensive plan. Having been an advisor himself, he has fellow advisors and their client’s best interests in mind. He also spent 10 years as a sales and marketing officer for two major life insurance companies, marketing and developing fixed and indexed annuity products. He has educated hundreds of agents and clients regarding life and annuity benefits, marketing concepts, and sales techniques.

Serving as the Planning Director at Optimized Insurance Planning (OIP), Joel helps empower advisors by equipping them with actionable knowledge, advanced operational support, and dynamic marketing solutions, all designed to help attract, engage, and transform the lives of their respected clients.

Joel is a member of the Greater Kansas City National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. He holds his life and health license and holds securities registrations Series 6, 63, and 65 licenses. Joel is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a B.B.A. in Marketing and the American College, where he achieved his CLU and ChFC.

Elizabeth Moss
Planning Director
(602) 344-9480

Elizabeth lives in the Valley of the Sun with her loving and hilarious husband, Tim, and their two adorable rescue pups, GiGi and T. You’ll find her enjoying the outdoors cycling, hiking, camping in the beautiful mountains, or hosting a feast with friends.

Michelle has been in the financial service industry since 1999. She began her career as a Sales Assistant at Wachovia Securities, formerly Prudential. After many years within this role, she transitioned to the Operations side for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Having the opportunity to work on both sides of the Industry, she realized her passion was serving financial planners and found joy in helping them, help their clients reach their goals.

Today, Michelle oversees and assists all New Business for the Northeast at OIP as well as local event planning. Michelle has been working alongside Bill Bonk, the COO of OIP, for almost 15 years. To optimize the advisor experience, she guides planners through the application process and plays a key role in ensuring that business is processed effectively and efficiently. Over the years, she has developed strong relationships with our carrier partners as well as our Insurance planners and is an excellent resource for OIP.

Michelle also dedicates her time as a volunteer and advocate of the Alzheimer’s Association MA/NH Chapter. Born and raised in Medford, Massachusetts, Michelle enjoys traveling with her family and spending summers on Martha’s Vineyard, but her greatest joy in life is being a mom to her son Darren and a wife to her husband, Mark.

Danielle Ramchandani
Operations Manager
(949) 503-3108

Danielle is passionate about the beauty and wellness industry and owns a small skincare company called DPR SKN, which she works on in her spare time. Danielle enjoys traveling, spending time with family, baking sourdough bread, and reading. Danielle lives in Orange County, CA.

She joined the team initially covering for the Director of Operations, which allowed her the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the business before transitioning to her current role as an insurance planning consultant. In this role, Taylor is responsible for focusing on the growth and development at OIP while maintaining current relationships. In addition to recruiting advisors, she delivers marketing support to help agents attract, engage, and impact more people through customized relationship-building content.
Outside the office, Taylor enjoys traveling, taking workout classes, and spending time with her family.

Kendall Haire
Licensing Associate
(682) 390-3182

Kendall was born and raised in Fort Worth, TX, where she currently lives. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling, attending Texas A&M football games, being on the lake, and reading.

Krystal Lemon
Annuity Case Specialist
(682) 390-3180

Krystal started at Raymond James in 2017, where she worked in the Annuity New Business department, working closely with the Sales & Marketing team as well as Financial Advisors. She quickly learned this was something she is passionate about; working to assist in any way she can to keep the business moving and always keeping the client’s best interests in mind. Currently, Krystal is an Annuity Case Specialist at Optimized Insurance Planning, where she assists in managing an application from submission to issue.

Outside of work, most days are long and chaotic with three young boys, but this is her favorite chapter of life so far. She enjoys time spent with family and friends up north at her family house in Indian River. She also enjoys boating, sushi, traveling, and date nights with her wonderful husband, Patrick.

Dylan Leverett’s entry point to the world of insurance started in property and casualty customer service; prior to that, he honed his service and management skills through almost a decade in the food and beverage industry. Dylan is a University of North Texas graduate with concentrations in business management, hospitality, and communications. Dylan is licensed in property and casualty as well as life and health.

Currently, he is a Planning Sales Associate at Optimized Insurance Planning. In this role he supports sales by maintaining and cultivating business relationships by bridging any gaps between planning directors and advisors.

In his spare time, Dylan is a bookworm, a music lover, and a coffee snob. He resides in Euless, TX, with his girlfriend, Brittni, and two dogs, Penny and June.

Dallas grew up in Rockwall, TX, and went to school at Texas Tech University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2023. Dallas has always had an interest in Finance and Insurance and just recently started with OIP in 2024. As a Licensing and Planning Sales Associate, he plays a supportive role in making sure Financial Advisors are compliant and have met all requirements to be able to submit business. Dallas will also get some different experience in a sales support role for OIP, working closely with Planning Directors and giving them assistance.

In his free time, Dallas likes to watch sports, work out, and be outdoors fishing, hiking, and camping when the weather isn’t too hot.

Rista Haque is a Data Science graduate from the University of North Texas with extensive experience in the financial industry. Currently, Rista works as a Licensing Care Associate, where they leverage their analytical skills to ensure compliance and streamline licensing processes. Passionate about blending analytical acumen with financial insights, Rista brings a unique perspective to their work. Outside of their professional life, Rista enjoys painting and exploring new destinations through travel. 

Carly Anderson
Senior Annuity Case Specialist
(682) 390-3087

Carly graduated from Central Michigan University and received her Bachelor of Science degree in 2018. She specializes in annuity operations and service. She started as an Annuity Care Specialist at PCN in 2019, where she excelled in case management. Carly is currently a Senior Annuity Case Specialist at Optimized Insurance Planning. Carly’s role has expanded to include case management, operational support, managing team members, and customer service.

Carly enjoys exploring the outdoors and being by water. Carly is usually walking her Great Pyrnesee, Mack, spending time with her family and boyfriend. Carly grew up in Oxford, MI and currently lives in Colorado Springs, CO.

After leaving the corporate world, Carla started working in the Broker General Agency world as a Life Insurance Product Consultant, Broker Manager, and Long-term Care Wholesaler. While working at the different BGAs, Carla became an expert on the complete insurance process, starting with finding the best insurance products for clients, to case management, to how to work with underwriters to ensure your client gets the best underwriting class possible.

Carla received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Boston University and her CLU from the American College. In her free time, she likes to travel, watch her daughter play ice hockey, and hike with her Newfoundland puppy, named Tuukka.