Olson, D. Mark

D. Mark Olson graduated from Texas A&M University in 1971 with a B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics.  He was active in the Corps of Cadets, served as President of the Agricultural Economics Club, and was Chancellor of Alpha Zeta.  He began his career in the financial services industry in 1978 as a registered representative with Shearson Lehman in Amarillo, Texas, managing financial assets for individual clients, small business owners, and corporations. During his time as a producer, Mark was recognized for his outstanding personal performance, and was promoted to Divisional Director of Sales for Shearson where he directed the activities of 600 registered reps located in 39 branches in 10 states. Under his leadership, his division became the leading division in the Company.

In 1987, Mark joined Kemper Financial Services as National Director of Sales, where he directed the distribution of Kemper mutual funds, fixed and variable annuities, and unit investment trusts through banks, brokerage firms, financial planners, and insurance agents. In this role, Mark was annually responsible for a multi-billion dollar sales budget and a multi-million dollar expense budget. In 1989, Mark was asked to serve as Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of Invest Financial Corporation, a wholly-owned securities/insurance broker/dealer subsidiary. Under Mark’s leadership, Invest Financial became the largest third-party broker/dealer in the country.

Mark left Kemper in 1993 to become a management consultant to the securities, banking, and insurance industries. As management consultant, Mark created from scratch a financial services company for a leading Midwestern bank holding company. Mark also served as the President and CEO of several insurance companies, and developed innovative sales and marketing strategies used in the securities and insurance industries.

Mark joined Allstate Financial Services as Senior Vice President of Distribution in 2000, where he was responsible for creating the Company’s financial services field sales distribution model, utilizing dedicated financial services professionals working with property/casualty insurance agents, and managing the daily activities of hundreds of registered investment professionals.  In 2005, Mark was promoted to Executive Vice President of Allstate Financial Services and National Sales Director of Allstate Life Insurance Company. In 2006, he was named the Chief Operating Officer ofAFS, LLC, Allstate’s broker/dealer.

In 2009, Mark retired from Allstate, took a few months off, and returned to work as the President of Brewer Investment Group, a Chicago-based financial services holding company. He also served as the President of Brewer Financial Services, the Company’s securities broker/dealer and Brewer Investment Advisors, the Company’s registered investment advisor (RIA). In 2010, Mark retired from Brewer Investment Group and once again began serving as a management consultant to the securities, banking, and insurance industries.

Mark and his wife, Linda, live in The Villages, Florida. His hobbies are golf, softball, restoring 60’s muscle cars, building street rods, and landscaping.