Our Team

Kristi founded Mullin Barens Sanford Financial with partners John Sanford and Peter Mullin in 2013 after more than 25 years at MullinTBG and Mullin Consulting. She has spent decades helping public and private corporations design, fund, and implement executive benefit programs that drive market advantage.

Over the past 40 years, Kristi Barens has made a meaningful impact in the executive benefits market. From industry and regulatory advocacy to the deep relationships she has cultivated with insurance companies, recordkeepers, and enterprise clients, she has developed innovative approaches and ongoing access to compelling executive benefits. Her ability to problem-solve and find solutions to complex financial and insurance challenges started early on under the tutelage of her mentor and insurance industry giant, Peter Mullin.

Today, in addition to client relations, Kristi dedicates significant time to mentoring the next generation of leaders at MBS to ensure clients have ongoing guidance throughout the lifetime of the solutions we implement. She also serves on the Board of M Financial, a network of 140+ member firms delivering complex insurance and financial planning services to clients, helping to grow the company’s reinsurance business. As part of her efforts to move the industry forward, Kristi guides MBS’s biennial industry survey of recordkeepers gathering and dispensing data across the industry that also supports lobbying efforts. She is a sought-after speaker and thought leader about executive benefits and insurance.

Kristi has two adult children and is an enamored grandmother. Both of her children work in the financial industry, one of them as part of the MBS team. Kristi is also an accomplished horsewoman and active philanthropist. She has been on the Board of the Iris Cantor Women’s Health Advisory Board at UCLA for more than 25 years. She and her husband, Jeff, are proud donors and active volunteers with the Young America’s Foundation.

Education & Industry Designations

• BS in Mathematical Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Director, M Financial
• Finseca COLI/BOLI working committee, former chair and current member
• California state insurance license #0754897
• Arkansas state insurance license #1327071

Accolades & Recognition

• MBS is a certified woman-owned business
• Philanthropist of the Year, Los Angeles Business Journal Women Making a Difference
• Nominated for Executive of the Year and Volunteer of the Year
• President of the M Center of Excellence Board

As a founder and principal of MBS Financial, John brings more than three decades of experience working with corporations and executives on the design, financing, and administration of nonqualified executive benefit programs. He has advised some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated public and private companies on executive benefit strategy and institutional life insurance purchases.

John has been an innovator in the development of nonqualified plan investment, crediting, and financing solutions. This includes a Declared Interest Rate which serves as an alternative to traditional fixed-rate benchmarks such as prime, Moody’s, and money-market rates, and as a stable-value alternative that can provide an attractive fixed-rate option without the complexity and potential downsides of traditional stable-value strategies. He also pioneered customized insurance-wrapped investment structures incorporating specialized underlying investments, including hedge-fund strategies to expand the range of available executive benefit program investment and financing alternatives.

For his clients, he designs plans that can save individuals and corporations millions of dollars in taxes, while helping to retain and recruit key employees and support shareholder interests. With John, companies have the confidence of knowing they are working with a recognized thought leader in the executive benefits industry. He has authored numerous articles and served as a contributing editor for the Journal of Deferred Compensation and written for CFO Magazine.

John and his wife of 40 years, Suzanne, live in Santa Barbara, California and have two grown children. Outside of work, he enjoys tennis, pickleball, travel, spending time with his family, and being active in the community.

Education & Industry Designations

• BS, Brigham Young University
• MBA, Pepperdine
• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU)
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)
• California state insurance license #0763530
• Arkansas state insurance license #247909

Erik has been a trusted resource to plan sponsors for more than 30 years. With deep knowledge in nonqualified deferred compensation plan design and funding strategies, he helps clients create executive benefit programs that are effective, competitive, and valued by their leadership teams.

Prior to joining MBS, Erik spent two decades at Prudential and MullinTBG where he developed a comprehensive understanding of the financial, technical, and operational considerations of deferred compensation plans. He is frequently called upon as a subject matter resource on both the human capital and financial dimensions of executive benefit programs, advising clients on plan design, governance, participant engagement, funding strategies, and the tax-efficient management of assets intended to support deferred compensation obligations. Erik is equally passionate about helping executive participants understand how their plans work and how those plans can support their financial objectives.

Erik also uses his experience to support the broader executive benefits industry. As a member of the Plan Sponsor Council of America’s Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan Committee, he has authored articles and helped the committee benchmark trends, providing independent perspectives to key federal agencies, lawmakers, and the plan sponsor marketplace. As a senior leader at MBS, he plays an active role in growing and managing the business.

Erik and his wife Rachel live in Southern California and have three adult sons. In their free time, they enjoy hiking, playing pickleball, and recharging with visits to their cottage on a remote lake in Ontario, Canada.

Education & Industry Designations

• BS in Applied Economics and Business Management, Cornell University
• MBA, University of Southern California Marshall School of Business
• Member of the Plan Sponsor Council of America, Nonqualified Deferred Compensation committee
• FINRA Registered Series 6 license
• FINRA Registered Series 63 license
• California state insurance license #0D30306

Nicko is a tireless advocate for his clients and a trusted advisor to stakeholders across the companies he works with. From designing unique plan structures to innovatively meeting executive retention and recruitment goals, to evaluating information funding strategies to improve asset efficiency, he brings specialization and proven experience to finding creative solutions.

With more than a decade in the financial services industry, Nicko brings a breadth of experience to his work with MBS clients. Prior to joining our team, he was a property and casualty underwriter at Chubb, working with some of the world’s largest public and private companies. Today he focuses on both nonqualified plan design and implementation and insurance company owned life insurance (ICOLI) programs.

Across all of his work, Nicko specializes in getting to know his clients’ business needs and finding the right solutions to help them thrive. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution in his world. Whether he’s coming up with flexible structures or making sure deals get done smoothly and efficiently, he works diligently behind the scenes to serve his clients. He also enjoys working directly with executive participants to help them understand their options and how to take full advantage of their deferred compensation benefits.

In his free time, Nicko takes great joy in spending time with his family. He and his wife Kelsie have two young children and currently live in Colorado where she started an elementary literacy program at Colorado State University. A former collegiate baseball player, Nicko now puts his athletic focus on hiking and golf, although he hopes one day to be able to coach his children’s teams.

Education & Industry Designations

• BA in Economics with a minor in Statistics, Swarthmore College
• Government Relations Advisory Council, M Financial
• BOLI/COLI Working Group, Finseca
• Prior member, Program Development committee, M Financial
• FINRA Registered Series 7 license
• California state insurance license #0M43447
• Texas state insurance license #2543817
• Arkansas state insurance license #18839002

Accolades & Recognition

• Volunteer, First Tee
• Volunteer, CoachArt

When it comes to helping clients build the right nonqualified deferred compensation program for their unique needs, Blake brings a powerful combination of industry, financial, and benefits experience to every client interaction. A former collegiate and professional golfer, he also has a drive for continuous improvement and attention to detail that fosters deep confidence in the final result.

With his focus on new business development, you will frequently find Blake assessing the competitiveness of a plan that has been in place for many years or developing a product study to determine the right funding strategies to meet a company’s needs. He enjoys working directly with corporations, banks, and insurance companies to improve their benefit packages while simultaneously searching for ways to reduce the cost and burden of offering these programs. In addition, Blake is committed to developing relationships with different asset managers, trustees, carriers, and administrators to better understand their capabilities and how they can support his clients. He’s always devoted to helping his clients ensure that their plan is participant-friendly and delivering meaningful value to their key personnel.

Blake brings a unique balance of analytical and people skills to his work with clients. A marketer at heart, he enjoys making the complexities of nonqual and corporate-owned life insurance more accessible. He has a unique talent for taking concepts that are hard to understand and simplifying them to ensure his clients and their participants can make the best, most informed decisions for their situation.

When he’s not busy supporting his clients and uncovering new opportunities, you’ll find Blake spending time with his wife and two young children. The family enjoys going to the beach or heading up to the mountains where he likes to snowboard. Blake is also still an avid golfer and plays competitively on the amateur circuit.

Education & Industry Designations

• BA in Business Administration-Marketing, University of Notre Dame
• Program Development committee, M Financial
• Platinum ambassador, Finseca
• FINRA Registered Series 7 license
• FINRA Registered Series 63 license
• California state insurance license #4038865
• Arkansas state insurance license #19454588

Accolades & Recognition

• Volunteer, WISEPlace
• Notre Dame Monogram Club

Over more than 25 years working in executive benefits, Sheila has explored virtually every part of the business — from marketing and plan design to financial analysis, administration, and compliance. At every stage of her career, she has been the person people turn to with new challenges or tasks that need to get done. Today, she works closely with our clients to ensure their nonqualified deferred compensation plans address their organization’s needs and their executives know how to take full advantage of this valuable benefit.

Sheila worked closely with Peter, Kristi, and John at Mullin Consulting and was excited to be able to join them when they launched MBS Financial. In addition to continuing work with her long-trusted colleagues, she has maintained strong client relationships. Across everything she does, she is the person who is always prepared, takes the extra steps, and strives to make things easier for her clients. She prides herself on making sure people have everything they need and that it’s always high quality. By taking the time to get to know her clients’ businesses and find answers to any questions they have, she becomes an integral part of each client’s benefits team.

As a senior consultant, Sheila works closely with clients at every step. From reviewing design and funding options to coordinating with the client, insurance companies, and recordkeepers, to managing service calendars and workflows, she ensures everything happens in an accurate and timely way. She also works directly with our clients’ key employees, explaining the plan features and their options. Sheila also plays an active role in training new members of the MBS team to effectively support their colleagues and our clients.

In her free time, Sheila enjoys spending time with her adult son and daughter. She is an avid tennis player and skier and has added pickleball to her exercise repertoire. She is also a loving dog-mom to her Australian shepherd, Odie.

Education & Industry Designations

• BS in Economics, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo
• MBA in Finance, University of Southern California
• FINRA Registered Series 7 license
• FINRA Registered Series 63 license
• California state insurance license #0786687

Mark has been actively involved in design and analysis for Nonqualified Deferred Compensation plan funding for more than 30 years. His love for learning and problem solving makes him a valuable resource for the analytical experience that drives successful informal funding outcomes. He brings deep knowledge and technical skills in informal funding to every client interaction.

With his passion for technology and model building, Mark loves developing new tools that use automation to increase efficiency and help clients achieve their objectives. A stickler for accuracy, Mark uses his experience to dig into the numbers and provide robust analysis of opportunities. He is fully in his element when he gets a detailed question, can dive into the data and make complicated concepts accessible and easier to understand.

Prior to joining MBS, Mark spent 20 years with Mullin Consulting, Prudential, and Empower. He most recently served as Vice President, Informal Funding Design & Analysis at Morgan Stanley where he set up their funding design and analysis capabilities.

Mark lives in Belmont, MA and loves taking advantage of his proximity to the mountains and the ocean. You’ll often find him on local bike and running trails. He also enjoys Boston during the small window when the weather cooperates. Mark is an avid musician and has played both piano and guitar since childhood. While he got his start with classical music and remains a fan (Chopin and Bach are favorites), Mark has also played in rock bands his entire life. When not engaged in outdoor activities or musical endeavors, Mark loves spending time with his large extended family.

Education & Industry Designations

• BA in Psychology, Williams College
• MBA with a concentration in Finance, Boston University
• FINRA Registered Series 6 license
• FINRA Registered Series 63 license
• Massachusetts state insurance license #7993486

Christina plays an integral role in helping our clients attract and retain top talent through executive benefits. Prior to joining MBS Financial, she worked in human resources at Pacific Life where she learned firsthand the important role benefits play in helping a company recruit the best leaders.

At MBS, Christina works closely with clients to ensure their deferred compensation programs deliver the impact they need. She takes the lead in bringing new clients up to speed and oversees day-to-day management of existing accounts. This includes communicating with program partners, developing participant communications, and helping executives better understand their options during enrollment.

Building strong client relationships is where Christina thrives. She enjoys bringing her experience to every client interaction. Her consultative approach helps ensure both our clients and their executives feel confident in the program and take full advantage of what these benefits have to offer. She’s never afraid to ask questions and share knowledge to build a strong foundation for moving forward, together.

When she’s not sharing her executive benefits experience, Christina is enjoying every minute with her toddler at home. While she and her husband still enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, life now seems to revolve around their son. After many years playing tennis, Christina finds herself on the pickleball court more often these days since the games are faster and her husband can join her. She’s also an avid surfer and golfer when she can get away for longer periods of time.

Education & Industry Designations

• BA in Communication, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Formerly a Certified Scrum Master
• FINRA Registered Series 7 license
• FINRA Registered Series 63 license
• California state insurance license #4330930

Delaney brings a passion for working with people and delivering outstanding service to everything she does at MBS Financial. Her work in investor services and sales recruitment prior to joining our team gave her a strong foundation for what it takes to support corporate accounts and work closely with executives to help them understand their benefit options. She is a people person, through and through.

Today, she provides ongoing support for MBS Financial clients. From developing participant communications to answering questions and educating executives during enrollment periods, she offers valuable plan experience to the HR teams she works closely with. Her hands-on approach and commitment to delivering the best possible service make her an invaluable part of our corporate and client teams.

Delaney is a true team player, something she learned as an NCAA collegiate volleyball player. This is a hugely valuable skill as teamwork is at the heart of how we support our clients at MBS. From timely, effective communication to being willing to roll up her sleeves and find the answer to any question, she prides herself on tailoring her approach to what each client needs.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Delaney has a deep appreciation for the outdoors, often spending her time skiing or hiking. She also enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Education & Industry Designations

• BA in Sociology, Bates College

Paul works with MBS clients to design, fund, and manage their nonqualified deferred compensation and executive benefits programs. He takes a hands-on approach from initial analysis and provider evaluation through annual review.

Before joining MBS, Paul spent five years as a product manager in healthcare software, leading the development of analytics and patient-facing products. He also has experience in M&A transaction work. His background shapes how he approaches executive benefits, taking the time to understand what decision-makers actually need, stripping out complexity that doesn’t serve them, and presenting clear options that a CFO or benefits committee can act on with confidence.

Paul’s deep attention to detail and analytical experience make him a strong asset for clients as he helps evaluate providers and ensure programs perform over the long term. From robust data analysis to clear presentation of options and trade-offs, he looks at all sides to maximize client advantage.

Outside of work, Paul lives in Santa Monica with his fiancée and their dog, Robert, and plays tennis whenever he can.

Education & Industry Designations

• BA in Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz
• MBA, University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Anne, a proud “data nerd,” serves as Chief Financial Officer at Mullin Barens Sanford Financial. Known for her analytical mindset and strong attention to detail, she is passionate about driving accuracy, efficiency, and innovation through thoughtful use of technology and data-driven decision-making.

Prior to joining MBS, Anne spent 16 years as CFO in the automotive aftermarket industry and an additional 11 years leading finance operations for a software consulting firm. Throughout her career, she has gone beyond traditional financial management by spearheading software implementations and process improvements across multiple business functions.

Originally from Southern California, Anne and her husband, Mark, raised their three daughters there before relocating to the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex over a decade ago. Outside of work, they enjoy walking, traveling, and exploring new restaurants with friends while continuing to discover all that Texas has to offer.

Education & Industry Designations

• BA in Economics with an emphasis in Business, University of California, Los Angeles
• Certified Public Accountant, Retired

Susan is the Operations Manager for Mullin Barens Sanford Financial. With a career spanning more than three decades, she brings extensive experience in executive operations, corporate communication, and complex events and travel coordination.

Susan began her career with the firm when it operated as Management Compensation Group and has remained a trusted and integral part of the organization through its evolution into Mullin Baren Sanford Financial. Previously serving as Executive Assistant to Chairman Peter Mullin, she acted as a key liaison between the Chairman’s office and senior leadership at Fortune 500 companies. In this role, she ensured clear, consistent, and strategic communication at the highest levels. Her long-standing tenure reflects both her dedication and adaptability within an ever-changing financial services landscape.

Today, Susan manages high-profile executive schedules and oversees the planning and execution of Board meetings and senior management gatherings, both domestically and internationally. Her responsibilities include venue selection, contract negotiations, travel logistics, meeting materials, and post-meeting follow-up. She is also highly skilled in preparing global travel itineraries, managing expense reporting, and maintaining detailed tracking systems for sales training and compliance.

In addition to her corporate responsibilities, Susan has been actively involved in community and professional organizations. She resides in Carmel, Indiana, with her husband, Ken. They have two children, Kristopher and Katelyn. In her free time, she enjoys attending sporting events, bike riding, and traveling.

Community & Professional Leadership Roles

• Assistant Director of the Mullin Automotive Museum
• Serve multiple terms on the Board of Directors for Executive Women International
• Chair of the Mullin Consulting Corporate Annual Fundraising Campaign
• United Way Annual Campaign Chair