OUR TEAM

Matt Wichman

President
matt@mrwfinancial.com

In 1998 Matt founded MRW Financial, determined to be the premier boutique life insurance wholesaler in the marketplace. He brings more than 24 years of experience from all levels of the insurance industry.

Matt graduated from the University of Florida in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance and was also on the Florida Gator Football Team. He began his work in the insurance industry as a career agent with MetLife. In 1994, he joined John Alden/NorthStar Marketing as Life Brokerage Manager of the southeast region. Recognizing the importance of life brokerage in the marketplace, Matt established his own business in 1998 with the goal of providing the best service with the most competitive products available to individual agents and financial advisors.

Matt is a member of National Brokerage Agencies, National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies, and Tampa Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and has served on several committees. He is a licensed agent and qualifies for Top of the Table MDRT Qualifier for Brokerage.

Matt and his wife Julie live in South Tampa with their two children Max and Julia.

Marie King Colbert, CFP®, CLTC®

Brokerage Manager
marie@mrwfinancial.com

Marie graduated with Bachelor of Science degrees in Finance and Marketing from the University of Florida. She began her career in the financial services industry as an independent insurance agent with Northwestern Mutual. She soon transitioned into the brokerage world, coming on board with MRW Financial as Marketing Manager. Marie assists agents with custom case design, preliminary underwriting, and advanced sales concepts. She works hard to make sure each agent is equipped with the most competitive and individualized solutions to surpass the goals and objectives of their clients.

Marie is a licensed life and health agent in the state of Florida. She is a native of South Tampa and continues to reside there today.

Lisa Smyth

New Business Manager
lisa@mrwfinancial.com

Lisa Smyth joined the MRW Financial New Business Case Management Team in November 2013 and brings with her 11 years of brokerage case management experience. She is available in the office to go over your applications and review requirements with you as needed. Lisa will handle our local agents’ new business and contracting throughout the new business process. She has worked with the top carriers in our industry and we are excited to have her as a part of our team.

Tom Vassallo

Annuity and Asset Based LTC Consultant
tom@mrwfinancial.com

Tom joins MRW Financial with over 20 years of financial services experience including 10 years in retail and 10 years in wholesale.  Tom’s previous experience includes Sun Insurance Marketing Network, Physician’s Advisory Group and Agent Link.  With Tom’s vast experience in LTC Insurance, he will be a great asset in helping you build and grow your book.   Tom lives in Sarasota with his family.

Shelley Burke

Operations Manager
shelley@mrwfinancial.com

Shelley came to MRW from Franklin Templeton Investments with 16 years of Customer Service and Correspondence experience.  She has lived in the Brandon area for 13 years with her family and is here to offer any support our agents may need.

Robert Vassallo

Marketing Specialist 
Robert@mrwfinancial.com

Robert joined MRW in 2024 and with extensive knowledge in marketing software, I specialize in leveraging platforms like Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and automation tools to drive engagement and streamline processes. Since joining MRW in 2024, I’ve successfully managed social media and e-mail campaigns, maintaining strong relationships with both current and prospective agents. My expertise allows me to effectively use marketing software to educate agents on current products, updates, and sales strategies while coordinating webinars and seminars to enhance their knowledge.

Robby graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Millsaps College in 2024, where he also served as captain of the baseball team.

Don Garrow

Medical Director – Underwriting Consultant
don@mrwfinancial.com

Don Garrow has more than 30 years of experience in life underwriting and has come on board with MRW to assist with placing impaired risk cases. His extensive experience in the industry allows him to provide summaries of medical records and underwriting insight to get each case placed with the right carrier the first time. He began his career with Aetna in Hartford in 1961 and spent 27 years there. In his last two years he ran their West Coast office in Woodland Hills, CA. He then spent one year at Executive Life and just as they went into receivership he was recruited to Life Partners Group in Denver where he spent four years. Don then moved to American General in 1995 as Director of Underwriting. He worked primarily on cases for the early/elderly (ages 70-74) that were usually survivorship cases with premiums from $3 million to $10 million. When American General created a Concierge Centre, Don’s cases shifted to more of the older/elderly (ages 75-79) with premiums in the $10 million and up range. Don then moved to Transamerica Life in October of 2006 as a favor to a former boss but fully retired after a year in November of 2007. Don now devotes his time to consulting only. He has become a great resource to MRW as well as to our agents.

TIffany Gross

Medical Director – Underwriting Consultant

Tiffany Gross brings over 25 years of brokerage underwriting and case management experience with her, focusing on large case underwriting and the ability to have an impact on negotiating high risk, complex underwriting cases.  

Tiffany started her career in the brokerage business in 1997 as a case manager and quickly advanced to a team leader, underwriter and mentor for junior underwriters. In 2006 she joined one of the largest privately owned brokerage firms as a Sr. Underwriting Director, with a focus on collaborating with top advisors as well as training new underwriters, case managers and was heavily involved in agent recruit/sales meetings. In 2011 Tiffany became an underwriting consultant and continues to provide underwriting support to brokerage agencies, tailoring to each brokerage agencies specific needs while maintaining solid partnerships and successful track record inside with insurance companies.  

Tiffany’s focus is to enhance a firm’s ability to research, interpret and synthesize the many complicated issues that arise when underwriting larger, more complex cases.  This skill set better allows a firm to present the case to the right insurance companies and extract from the industry the most favorable underwriting outcome.  Tiffany’s role inside your organization is to support, guide and enhance your overall experience through the underwriting process and to provide your agents an extra level of service to advocate for clients.  This enhanced process will provide confidence to your advisors and certainty for their best clients.

 Tiffany’s underwriting experience will enhance your team by:

• The ability to read EKG’s
• Interpret medical records to assess risk and find hidden underwriting credits
• Interpret lab results 
• Provide training and mentoring to sales support staff and case managers
• Financial Underwriting
• Access to carrier underwriting manuals
  • Discuss cases in their language 
  • Get best offer through negotiation
  • Determine best carriers for particular impairments

Tiffany is originally from Pittsburgh, PA and now resides in Tampa, FL.  She is actively involved in animal rescue as well as a board member for a children’s charity, avid sports fan and enjoys running, playing tennis and golf.  You will find her passionate about her career and loves the competitive nature or our business.