WFG Home Office Executive Leadership

Jack D. Linder, WFG CEO
After two years as WFG’s President and more than seven years as its Executive Vice President, Jack D. Linder was promoted to CEO. In his roles as President and EVP, Linder encouraged innovation and development of strategic initiatives that benefited both WFG’s independent sales force and its more than 300 employees in the United States and Canada. Linder began his business career with Ralston-Purina. After becoming a successful executive with that company, he sought out the opportunity to build his own business. Since that time more than 20 years ago, Jack has built a strong financial services business where he continually inspires associates to achieve the same high standards of excellence that he sets for himself.

Joe DiPaola, WFG President
The latest addition to World Financial Group’s executive leadership team, Joe DiPaola joined the company as president in 2010. Prior to his new role, DiPaola served as Chief Agency Officer for Transamerica Insurance & Investment Group (TIIG), a marketing unit of Transamerica Life. DiPaola brings a wide range of field and executive experience to World Financial Group – as an agent and as a builder of an entrepreneurial sales organization. He earned a business degree from Adams State College and started his insurance and financial services career as a field agent, branch manager and general agent. After running his own agency successfully for 10 years, DiPaola joined Transamerica Life as Senior Vice President of TIIG’s Western Regional Marketing Center in 2006.

Kevin Palmer, WFG Executive Vice President, World Group Securities President, and Investment Advisors International President
Kevin Palmer is responsible for helping steer WFG initiatives, especially as they relate to the World Financial Group-affiliated companies he heads: World Group Securities, Inc. (WGS) and Investment Advisors International (IAI).

Palmer is a 20-year securities industry veteran specializing in working with insurance-based and owned broker-dealers. He was instrumental in the development and implementation of WGS in 2002. Shortly after the firm began, he left to develop a compliance consulting practice for a major national law firm. Palmer returned to WGS to serve as president in December 2006 and assumed the role as president of IAI in March 2008. He shares his knowledge and experience by traveling to meetings and events around the country, including the annual WFG Convention of Champions.

Prior to WGS, Palmer held a number of leadership roles with various broker-dealers. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, holds Series 7, 24,53, 63 and 65 securities registration and is a Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP). Born and raised in Little Rock, Ark., Palmer currently lives in Atlanta.

Scott Childress, WFG Chief Marketing Officer
Scott Childress is responsible for developing corporate marketing strategies and initiatives at WFG that support the company’s field associates, achieve company goals and move the company forward.

Prior to joining the headquarters team, Childress was a successful WFG Field Vice Chairman (FVC), with field offices in several states, including Nevada, Colorado, Utah and Missouri. During his years with the company, he has built a solid financial services business helping thousands of families move from dreaming to doing.

A former professional baseball player with the California Angels organization, Scott began his career in the financial services industry with his own insurance practice in Las Vegas. He has often said that WFG came along at a perfect time. He wanted to make a change and was in search of something bigger than he could create on his own. That something was World Financial Group (WFG). After 20 years in Las Vegas, the St. Louis-native moved his family back to his hometown to open another WFG office. Scott has always been willing to mentor and share his knowledge with field agents. He continues to do that in his role as CMO for WFG by attending field meetings and speaking at company events, including the WFG Convention of Champions.

Paul Mineck, Vice President of Administration
Paul Mineck is responsible for World Financial Group’s operations and administrative functions. This includes Commissions, Licensing, Contracting, Agent Services, Business Support, Agency Compliance, and Mail and Scanning Services.

Mineck received his Bachelor of Science degree from Culver-Stockton College and has worked for AEGON for the last seven years. In addition to his contributions at WFG, Paul worked as a Senior Analyst for AEGON’s Group Business Development department in The Hague, Netherlands, where he participated in various AEGON acquisitions in Central and Eastern Europe and the Pacific Rim. Paul currently serves on the WFG Agency Committee and is a popular speaker at field and company events in the United States and Canada, including the annual WFG Convention.

Susan Davies, WFG Senior Vice President
Susan Davies is responsible for Events and Recognition including the annual Convention of Champions, as well as Agency Relations. She contributes to many other areas within the company.

Davies attended Brigham Young University in Utah and since leaving the university has spent 18 years in the marketing, publishing and communications arms of the financial services and securities industry. Before coming to WFG, Susan worked in Convention Services at the Marriott in San Antonio, followed by working for the Marriott Courtyard Regional Office in Atlanta.

Susan presently serves on the WFG Agency Committee, Executive Committee and Chairman's Council. She has been awarded the Chairman's Rolex watch for her outstanding service.