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Our Financial Review Board

Western & Southern Financial Group works hard to ensure the quality and accuracy of our content so that individuals who engage with us feel empowered to make important financial decisions. Content represented on our site is reviewed by members of our financial review board who have nearly 100 years of combined financial experience. Their broad range of knowledge includes a Global Market Strategist who is also a Chartered Financial and Alternative Investment Analyst and licensed securities professional, as well as multiple others with various expertise in life insurance.

With a heritage dating back to 1888, Western & Southern Financial Group continues to endure and thrive because we have never lost sight of our vision — to provide financial strength and stability to those we serve. By conducting a meticulous review process, our team of experts can help to safeguard our reputation, ensure the provision of reliable and trustworthy financial information, and promote confidence among readers and stakeholders.

Kathleen Maguire-Ott

Kathleen Maguire-Ott, BS, FLMI, ALHC, ACS

Director, Marketing Communications, Western & Southern Life Insurance Company
Kathleen Maguire-Ott has been in the financial services and insurance industry since 1987. Her areas of specialty are in marketing, sales, event planning and execution, and mass consumer and internal communication. Kathy has personally authored and/or approved over 7,000 unique, mass-consumer and employee communications over the course of her career. Kathleen was the 2015 Clearmark Award Winner- Center for Plain Language and the 2018 Stevie Gold Sales and Service Award Winner- Meeting of the Year.
Joseph Perry

Joseph Perry, CLU, ChFC

Marketing Content & Communications Manager, Western & Southern Financial Group
Joseph Perry has worked in the financial services industry for more than three decades. Promoting the integration of life insurance and annuities in retirement and legacy planning solutions, his experience includes marketing communications, corporate communications, public relations and advertising. Joe holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from University of Cincinnati. Joe holds Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations from The American College of Financial Services.
Grace Tai

Grace Tai

Head of Brand & Design, Fabric by Gerber Life
Grace Tai is the Head of Brand & Design at Fabric by Gerber Life. With a background in brand marketing, copywriting and design, she and her team oversee content development across core and new products for the Fabric website and marketing channels. Grace holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Irvine.
Crit Thomas

Richard "Crit" Thomas, CFA, CAIA, CIPM

Global Market Strategist, Touchstone Investments
Crit Thomas is the Global Market Strategist for Touchstone Investments and team leader for the Touchstone Asset Allocation Committee, which provides thought leadership on capital markets and portfolio construction. Crit began his career over 30 years ago as an economist for the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, later moving on to positions in equity research while serving as Director of Research, Portfolio Management and Director of Equity Growth for various investment firms in the Midwest.

About Western & Southern

Founded in Cincinnati in 1888 as The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, and celebrating 135 years this year, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, is the parent company of a group of diversified financial services businesses. Western & Southern is one of the strongest life insurance groups in the world. Its seven life insurance subsidiaries (The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Gerber Life Insurance Company,1 Integrity Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company, and National Integrity Life Insurance Company) maintain very strong financial ratings. Other member companies include Eagle Realty Group, LLC; Fabric by Gerber Life; Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.;2 Gerber Life Agency;3 IFS Financial Services, Inc.; Touchstone Advisors, Inc.;2 Touchstone Securities, Inc.;4 W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.;2,4 and W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.5

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

1 Gerber Life is a registered trademark. Used under license from Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. and Gerber Products Company.
2 A registered investment advisor.
3 In the State of California, Gerber Life Agency, LLC is known as and does business as Gerber Life Insurance Agency, LLC.
4 A registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC.
Review our current financial ratings.
5 W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc. (doing business as W&S Financial Insurance Services in CA).