Brett Hoeflich
Managing Partner
Brett earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Nicholls State University where he was a collegiate baseball player. Two weeks after graduating college in June 2008, he joined the New York Life Mississippi General Office. He worked out of the Hattiesburg, MS Sales Office as an Agent. He received several awards during his time as an Agent: 2008 Career Life Producer, 2009 Best Year Ever, 2010 New Org Associate of the Year, 2010 Life All Star, 2010 Annuity Champion. He also achieved Executive Council* in both 2009 & 2010.
Brett was promoted to Partner in the Hattiesburg, MS Sales Office in April of 2011. He was awarded Gathering of Eagles in 2012 & 2013, and also qualified for Top 50 Partner in 2014. By July of 2016, Brett had grown the Hattiesburg, MS Sales Office from 4 Agents, to 25 Agents.
Brett was promoted to Managing Partner of the Memphis General Office in July of 2016. As a Managing Partner, he qualified for New York Life’s Round Table Award in 2018 & 2019. The Memphis General Office won 3 National Trophies under Brett’s leadership.
In March of 2021, Brett was promoted to Managing Partner of the Tampa General Office and in 2025 he was promoted to Managing Partner of the Louisiana General Office. Brett and his family are very excited to have the opportunity to come to Baton Rouge! Brett and his wife Tiffany have two children, daughter Ada and son Witt.
Office: 601-818-2925 e-mail: brhoeflich@newyorklife.com
*Awarded by New York Life Insurance Company for outstanding sales achievements. Council is an annual company recognition program based on agent production from July 1- June 30.
Mitch Meaux
Senior Partner
Email: hmmeaux@newyorklife.com
As a Senior Partner with the Louisiana General Office of New York Life, I am passionate about developing financial professionals and helping them build meaningful, successful practices while making a lasting impact in the communities they serve.
I began my career with New York Life as an agent in 2019 and was promoted to Partner in October 2020. I was honored to be recognized as Rookie Partner of the Year in 2021 and New Partner of the Year in 2022. Over the past three years, I have also had the privilege of contributing to the Louisiana General Office's success and helping the office earn six national trophies.
Before joining New York Life, I spent more than 20 years as an Account Manager in the energy sector. Throughout that career, I had the opportunity to play an influential role in building and growing multiple businesses. Those experiences shaped my approach to leadership and reinforced my belief that long-term success is built through strong relationships, consistent effort, and a commitment to helping others succeed.
Today, one of the most rewarding aspects of my role is helping agents develop their financial practices and reach their full potential. I believe that when we invest in developing great agents, the impact extends far beyond their individual careers. Those agents have the opportunity to help individuals, families, and businesses in their communities work toward greater financial security and freedom.
For the right person at the right time, I believe there is no better career opportunity than New York Life. I am proud to help people discover that opportunity and provide the leadership, coaching, and support they need to make the most of it.
Outside of New York Life, I have been married to my wife, Brooke, for 23 years, and I am the proud father of five children. I enjoy the outdoor lifestyle that makes Louisiana special—particularly fishing and hunting—and I am an avid college football fan.
Tony Ippolito
Sales Development Manager
Email: tlippolito@newyorklife.com
Tony started his career with NYL in the Birmingham, AL GO, promoted to Development Manager of the Arkansas GO in 2007, then Promoted to Senior Development Manager of the Louisiana GO in 2016. He is Married to Tracy and has 5 children, Sydney, Julian, Gabriel, Lelia, and Pippa.
Michelle Clow
Sr. Service Leader
Email: mrclow@newyorklife.com
Michelle brings 20 years of experience with New York Life supporting agents, Agency leadership, and Field Service operations. Throughout her career, she has focused on creating exceptional service experiences, building trusted relationships, and helping others navigate change with confidence.
Known for her collaborative and solutions-focused approach, Michelle believes strong service begins with listening, understanding the customer’s needs, and taking ownership of finding the right path forward. She is passionate about strengthening partnerships and identifying opportunities to make the service experience simpler and more effective.
For Michelle, great service is more than resolving a request—it’s about building trust, creating connections, and helping others succeed.
Lisa Vito
Agency Standards Manager
Email: lfvito@newyorklife.com
Honor, integrity and principles are attributes that you would expect in a compliance person. With Lisa, you add enthusiasm and personality. Lisa takes pride in bringing a spirit of partnership with the Agent to protect both the Agent and the company.
Putting the WHY behind the rules and regulations. A partnership is better than trying to go it alone and brings together experiences and expertise. Lisa brings over 30 years of experience in the securities industry with 24 years at New York Life that help make our office one of the best!
Lisa has two daughters, four grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a rescue pup Max! She holds a Louisiana Life and Health license as well as Series 6, 7, 24, 51, 63 and 66 FINRA licenses.
Dawn Thibodeaux
Sales Development Manager
Email: dmthibodeaux@newyorklife.com
I currently serve as Development Manager in New York Life’s Lafayette Sales Office. I joined New York Life in 2024 as an agent after retiring from a rewarding 25-year career in the school system. I spent much of my life educating, encouraging, and helping others grow, and I’m grateful to carry that same passion into this chapter. While the classroom may look different today, my purpose remains the same—helping others learn, develop, and reach their full potential.
On a personal note, I have been married to my best friend for almost 30 years, and we are blessed with two beautiful adult daughters, Madi and Lillie. I’m also a proud boy mom to our dog, Milo! When I’m not working, I enjoy traveling, camping, working cows, and spending time with family and friends.
Brandin Cantu
Partner
Email: bjcantu@newyorklife.com
Originally from New Orleans, I have called Lafayette home since Hurricane Katrina. I began my career with New York Life as an agent, achieving Council recognition in each of my first two years before being promoted into management as a Partner, where I have continued to build on that success over the past two years.
New York Life has been a perfect fit for me because I’m passionate about helping individuals and families protect what matters most, plan for their future, and build a strong financial foundation.
Most importantly, this career has allowed me to provide for what matters most to me—my family. I’m blessed to share life with my wife, Courtney, and our two beautiful daughters, Anjolie and Anastasia, who remind me every day why the work we do for families is so meaningful.
Christopher Dimattia
Partner
Email: ccdimattia@newyorklife.com
Corey Dimattia is a Partner with New York Life. He began his career with the company in 2023 as an agent in the Fast Track program, joining New York Life with the goal of ultimately moving into leadership. In 2025, Corey achieved that goal when he transitioned into his role as a Partner.
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Corey attended Catholic High School before earning his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University. He later earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy and spent 18 years in the healthcare industry, where he treated patients and owned and operated multiple businesses. His experience as both a healthcare professional and business owner shaped his passion for helping others, developing people, and building meaningful relationships—qualities he now brings to his leadership role at New York Life.
Corey is married to his wife, Allison, and they have two sons, Drew and Reid. Outside of work, he cherishes spending time with family and friends, attending his sons’ sporting events, and enjoying the outdoors through fishing and camping.
Dane Bertrand
Partner
Email: dmbertrand@newyorklife.com
Dane Bertrand is a Partner with New York Life in the Lafayette, Louisiana area, where he works with individuals, families, and business owners on life insurance and financial strategies designed to protect what matters most.
He began his career in the industry alongside his business partner, Minh Pham. The two prepared together for their licensing exams and built early habits around consistent effort and shared accountability. Those early days shaped Dane’s approach: relationships come first, and the work is about long-term impact rather than quick transactions.
Today, Dane leads a unit of advisors and focuses on helping clients navigate practical needs—whether structuring buy-sell agreements for business continuity, designing coverage for real estate investors, or clarifying how job-based benefits fit into a broader plan. He also spends significant time developing his team through training, one-on-one coaching, and recognition, with an emphasis on building a culture of professionalism and mutual support.
Outside of client work, Dane lives in Maurice with his wife, Kennedy. He values the same qualities in his personal life that he brings to his practice: consistency, gratitude, and a focus on the people around him.
Austin Trahan
Partner
Email: atrahan02@newyorklife.com
A graduate of Nicholls State University, Austin Trahan was a collegiate baseball player while earning his undergraduate degree before continuing his education and completing his MBA in 2023.
Following graduation, he began his career as an agent with New York Life, where he quickly distinguished himself through his commitment to growth and service. In his first year, he attained Executive Council and was recognized as a New NYLIC to Watch for that Council year. With aspirations of developing others and building a successful team, he entered New York Life’s Fast Track to Management program and was promoted to Associate Partner in February 2025. Just six months later, he was promoted to Partner in August 2025.
As a Partner, Austin is passionate about identifying, recruiting, and developing driven individuals who want to build meaningful careers and make a positive impact in their communities. His background as a collegiate athlete continues to influence his leadership philosophy, with an emphasis on preparation, accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and helping others reach their full potential.
Originally connected through their time at Nicholls State, Austin and his wife, Morgan, moved to the Lafayette area in 2023 to begin their careers after graduation. They now reside in Youngsville, Louisiana, and are excited to welcome their first child, a daughter, Scottie Kate, in November.
Austin is proud to call Acadiana home and is committed to building a team of professionals who are motivated to grow, serve others, and create successful careers of their own.
Ian Castillo-Marquez
Partner
Email: ijcastilloma@newyorklife.com
Ian Castillo Marquez is a Partner with New York Life who believes great businesses are built by developing great people. He is passionate about identifying potential, creating opportunities, and coaching financial professionals to become confident leaders in their careers and communities. His approach to leadership is simple: invest in people, hold them accountable, and help them become capable of more than they initially thought possible.
Thomas Robin
Partner
Email: trobin01@newyorklife.com
Thomas Robin is a Partner with New York Life’s Louisiana General Office, where he focuses on developing financial professionals and helping individuals, families, and business owners work toward greater financial security.
Before joining New York Life, Thomas spent nearly a decade in outside sales, building his career around developing relationships, understanding clients’ needs, and helping businesses find practical solutions. He brought that experience into financial services and quickly established himself within New York Life, earning New Agent of the Year honors and qualifying for both Executive Council and the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT).
After beginning his career as a Financial Professional, Thomas moved into leadership as an Associate Partner before being promoted to Partner. Today, his focus extends beyond his personal practice to recruiting, mentoring, and developing financial professionals as they build their own careers and businesses with New York Life.
Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and maintains multiple financial services licenses while continuing his professional education. He is passionate about building a strong culture of accountability, growth, and service while helping the next generation of financial professionals reach their potential.
Thomas lives in Broussard, Louisiana, with his fiancée, Taylor, and their two daughters, Vera and Amelia. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, traveling, and experiencing great food.
Julia Dinh
Associate Partner
Email: jtdinh@newyorklife.com
Julia Dinh is an Associate Partner at New York Life, where she has been building her career since 2023. She earned her degree in Finance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL). In her current role, Julia is passionate about mentoring and developing emerging financial professionals, helping them build the skills, confidence, and foundation needed for successful careers in the financial services industry.
Kyle Hernandez
Associate Partner
Email: kjhernandez@newyorklife.com
Kyle Hernandez is an Associate Partner with New York Life, serving individuals, families, business owners, and professionals throughout Louisiana. With a background in leadership, management, marketing, and entrepreneurship, Kyle brings a relationship focused approach to financial services. He works with clients to help them better understand they are financial options and develop strategies designed around their individual goals and priorities, including retirement planning, Business Solutions, life insurance, and estate planning strategies.
In addition to working with clients, Kyle is passionate about recruiting and developing Financial professionals Who value loyalty, integrity, discipline, and personal growth. A Louisiana native with strong ties to the Acadiana Community. He takes pride in building lasting relationships and helping others achieve and pursue their personal and professional goals. Kyle lives in South Louisiana with his wife and children and is proud to serve the community that he calls home.