MEET
THE TEAM
Client-focused actuarial, compliance, and strategic support.
Sydney Consulting Group, a fast-growing consulting firm, provides actuarial, compliance, and strategic consulting to carriers, employers, and producers.
Our staff has worked in both carrier and consulting environments as well as both actuarial and operational roles. As a result, we understand the carrier perspective, and we strive to exceed your expectations as consultants.
Our product experience includes, but is not limited to, Accident Indemnity, Accident Medical Expense, Cancer, Critical Illness, Short Term Disability, Hospital Indemnity, Long Term Care, Medical Gap, Medicare Supplement, Short Term Care, Term Life, Universal Life, and Whole Life.
Sydney Consulting Group is a client-focused organization built on the carrier and consultant leadership experience of its staff.
ACTUARIAL SUPPORT
Bill Bade, FSA, MAAA – Principal/Consultant
Bill founded Sydney Consulting Group with a strong desire to provide client-focused actuarial, compliance, and strategic support to carriers of all sizes in the supplemental benefits industry.
Bill has been successful at every stop throughout his career, earning distinguished honors such as The Allstate Corporation’s Chairman’s Award, The Allstate Corporation’s Volunteer of the Year, Allstate Benefits Employee of the Year, Outstanding Senior Math Major. In addition, one of a select number of college students awarded a Research Experience for Undergraduates at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Bill most recently completed three years of employment with Milliman in 2018, leading Accident, Cancer, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity pricing, and a competitive intelligence team.
Kristi Hardenbergh, FSA, MAAA – Actuary
Kristi is an Actuary with Sydney Consulting Group based out of Denver. She joined the firm in 2020, after spending the previous two and a half years in consulting, supporting the development of supplemental products. Kristi joins Sydney’s talented actuarial team in assisting clients in product development, preparing actuarial materials for rate filings, and responding to state objections.
Kristi holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance, Mathematics Minor, Butler University, Cum Laude, Highest Honors.
Carl Grafmuller, SA, MAAA, CERA – Actuary
Carl is an Actuary with Sydney Consulting Group based out of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He joined the firm in 2020 after serving in actuarial and non-actuarial roles related to life insurance, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Carl’s unique experience will support Sydney’s innovative approach to product development, valuation, administration, etc., functions within brokers, insurance carriers, and technology firms.
Carl holds a double major with a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science and a Bachelor of Science in Finance, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University.
COMPLIANCE SUPPORT
Hunter Sexton, J.D., MHA – Consultant
Hunter is a Compliance Consultant with Sydney Consulting Group. He joined the firm in 2020 after 10 years with major medical and government managed care carriers.
Hunter holds a Juris Doctor, Stetson University College of Law, Honors Graduate, Master of Healthcare Administration, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Honors Graduate, and Bachelor of Political Sciences, University of Florida.
Benjamin Davis, J.D., AIRC – Compliance Counsel
Ben serves as Compliance Counsel for Sydney Consulting Group. He is located in Omaha, Nebraska. Ben joined Sydney in 2021 after 13 years in Lincoln Financial Group's group benefits division, where he specialized in providing a wide variety of compliance services for Hospital Indemnity, Term Life, and Accident Indemnity.
Ben also has extensive experience supporting Short and Long Term Disability, Statutory Disability, Critical Illness, and Dental.
Ben holds a Juris Doctor from the Creighton University School of Law, a Master of Fine Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design where he received the Malcom C. Propes Fellowship and Mary Rene Whelan Scholarship, and Bachelors of Arts in both Philosophy and Anthropology from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Jennifer Aiello, FLMI, ACS, AIRC – Compliance Associate
Jennifer is a Compliance Associate with Sydney Consulting Group in Safety Harbor, Florida. She joined the firm in 2020 after working close to 15 years in the compliance unit at Allstate Benefits. Jennifer’s extensive background in drafting insurance contracts, filing products, reviewing new laws and regulations, and responding to objection letters spans both life and health products.
Jennifer holds an Associate of Arts from Brewton-Parker College; Bachelor of Business Administration, Capella University ’21.
Christine Cairns, FLMI, AIRC – Compliance Associate
Chris is a Compliance Associate with Sydney Consulting Group. She joined the compliance team in April bringing 32 years of compliance experience. Chris joins Sydney following 10 years as a Senior Compliance Analyst for annuity products at Sammon’s Financial Group (Midland National Life Insurance Company and North American Company for Life and Health Insurance).
Chris holds a Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University.
Peter Polis – Compliance Associate
Peter is a Compliance Associate with Sydney Consulting Group focused on Supplemental Health. He joined the compliance team in 2020 after two years of working in the member solutions department of a leading financial services company.
Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts from St. Joseph’s College.
Annmarie Severovic – Compliance Associate
Annmarie is a Compliance Associate with Sydney Consulting Group from Chicago, Illinois. She joined the compliance team in 2023 after working 9 years in the mortgage industry.
Annmarie holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Illinois in Chicago.
Kristin Cannon – Compliance Associate
Kristin is a Compliance Associate with Sydney Consulting Group from Columbia, South Carolina. She joined the compliance team in 2023 after working 16 years as a paralegal for a leading law firm.
Kristin holds a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College.
TPA SUPPORT
Steve Morrison – Head of Operations
Based in Michigan, Steve joined the firm in 2023 after 13 years serving in Operations, Account and Strategy roles focused on supplemental health products.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Science From Purdue University.
Dana Jones – Director of Implementation
Based out of Florida, Dana joined the firm in 2023 after 26 years working in account management and implementation.