Our Team

Erica Berning, LUTCF, CLF, CLU^®

Senior Partner

A native of Duncannon, Pennsylvania, Erica graduated from Central Michigan University where she received her Business Administration degree in Marketing. Erica joined NYL as an agent in December 2006 and within her first six-months she achieved Executive Council*. By year end 2008, Erica had achieved two Executive Councils* and was promoted to Partner at New York Life – Chicago in January 2009 at the very young age of 24. Erica is the most tenured Partner in the Downtown Sales Office of the New York Life – Chicago and has aspirations of one day running her own General Office as a Managing Partner. She consistently lets her team know that she truly sought out management to lead others and educate them on the endless opportunities that New York Life offers. Erica strives and wants to give her agents and potential agent candidates the career opportunity and high quality of life she has been able to achieve.

Erica and her husband Matt reside in Elmhurst along with daughter Harper and two sons, Matthias Jr. and Gunnar.

John Kim

Senior Partner

John Kim’s enthusiasm and determination towards life has led him to a successful career with the New York Life Insurance Company. John graduated from the University of Illinois—Chicago in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. Looking for a career that he could control his own destiny with unlimited potential of income, John joined New York Life shortly after graduation.

During his years as an agent, John was the 2011 New Org Agent of the Year, qualified for Executive Council for two consecutive years in 2012 and 2013, and was a member of the Million Dollar Round Table in 2013. He was an agent for about a year and a half when he was offered to be promoted to a Partner, but wanted to wait to build more connections and experiences before accepting his promotion to Partner in 2014. Shortly after his promotion in 2014, John received the View from the Top award, an award for key performance targets in sales and recruiting. With his continued success, he was recognized as a Top 50 Partner of 2016 at New York Life, promoting an agent from his team to a Partner in 2017. In September 2017, John was promoted to Senior Partner of the Illinois General Office.

John came to the U.S. at the age of 10 and grew up in New Jersey and Colorado. Outside of work, he is married to his beautiful wife Claire Yi. They welcomed their son Harvey on November 2, 2016, the same day that the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, traveling, and spending time with his team with BBQ as he strongly believes in having a close tie with his team of agents. His team is involved in nonprofit organizations together, from events involving senior citizens to Korean women’s international network that empowers and encourages professional women to network and mentor each other.

Celeste Garrett

Partner

Celeste Garrett is a New York Life partner with a diverse background in financial services, journalism and public service.

Since joining the company in 2011, Celeste has qualified twice for Executive Council, earning recognition as a Life Case Rate Leader and an Annuity Champion Elite advisor. She was promoted to Partner in 2014.

Prior to becoming a financial services professional, Celeste built a successful 20-year career in journalism. She held roles at several major publications, including the Chicago Bureau Chief at the Chicago Tribune and editorial board member and assistant city editor at the Chicago Sun-Times. Her editing and reporting experience also included coverage of prominent state and national political figures for newspapers in St. Louis, Kansas City and Memphis. 

She also served as the director of communications for the nation’s third-largest school district, the Chicago Public Schools.

Celeste brings her experience as a manager and professional communicator to her current role, enabling her to effectively support the development of a team of financial professionals. Her approach is rooted in client education with a commitment to long-term strategies for client success.

Celeste and husband, Bennie Currie, a New York Life advisor and principal at MBC Financial Strategies, live in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. They have two adult children.

Brandon Greco

Partner

Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Brandon Greco has built a long and distinguished career in financial services, with a strong focus on leadership, team development, and management. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to creating lasting impact through the professionals he leads and the communities they serve.

Brandon brings a disciplined, strategic approach to building and supporting high-performing teams, while advancing the organization’s mission of long-term financial security for clients and communities. Known for his collaborative, people-centered leadership style, he combines strategic insight, professionalism, and accountability to drive sustainable growth and organizational excellence.

He holds advanced industry designations, including CLU© (Chartered Life Underwriter) and ChFC© (Chartered Financial Consultant), reflecting his continued commitment to professional excellence and leadership development.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Brandon is married with four children and remains actively involved in his community. He values time spent outdoors and prioritizes family, service, and balance alongside his leadership responsibilities.

Brian P. Curry, FSCP^®

Sales Development Manager

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Brian started his career at New York Life in 2018 in the Constitution General Office. During his three years as an agent, Brian obtained several securities licenses and won numerous awards such as Executive Council*. He proudly represented New York Life as an active member of NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors), a trade organization for insurance professionals and financial advisors.

With the desire of making a broader impact, Brian accepted an invitation to join the management team at Chicago North Shore in October of 2021 as the Sales Development Manager. His role is to develop and retain agents joining New York Life who can help the Chicago community they serve build a more secure financial future.

Brian is a graduate of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania where he studied Finance.

Agnes "Anjo" Urlings, CLU, ChFC

Sales Development Manager

Anjo was born and raised in Holland and has always loved to travel. She received her Bachelor’s in Tropical Soil Fertilization and Irrigation. This study made it possible to spend a year in Mexico in 1987 where she met her husband. They lived in Spain and Holland before getting married and eventually returning to Mexico, where they worked with an organization overseeing nine sugar mills. In 2000, Rey was offered an opportunity to take over a wholesale business in Chicago. For the next twelve years, they worked side by side, managing up to four different businesses. Although the position was rewarding and she enjoyed her work, she ultimately felt a strong desire to return to owning her own business. Although the position was great, and she enjoyed what she was doing, she was looking to get back to owning her own business. She accepted an agent role at the New York Life office in Schaumburg, Illinois. Since then, due to her outstanding sales results, she was promoted to Sales Development Manager to pursue her passion for training and developing new agents.

Johnathan "Blake" Worrells

Director of Agency Standards

Johnathan “Blake” Worrells is a native of Mississippi where he began his career as an agent with New York Life in 2012.  Blake joined the Chicago Northshore team as the Director of Agency Standards in 2016 and serves all 3 branches of our offices, and also helps in many other offices in the nearby areas. Blake continues to increase his knowledge and grow as a leader for New York Life.

Wallace Foreman

Corporate Vice President

Wally Foreman began his career in management with New York Life in 1990 and has worked in several office locations across the country (Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas and Utah).