Leadership and board of directors.

Steve Shaffer is Board Chair, President and CEO for Homesteaders Life Company. He is responsible for setting Homesteaders’ strategic direction; leading the executive team; maintaining our investment discipline; driving our core initiatives and our approach to market. Prior to joining Homesteaders in 2014, Shaffer actively worked with several national funeral home operators having co-founded and served as President-CEO of Foundation Partners Group, LLC and having served as co-founder and CFO-EVP at Keystone Group. After earning his accounting degree at Indiana University Bloomington, Steve started his career as a CPA and auditor at Ernst & Young in Indianapolis. In addition, Shaffer has actively served two three-year terms as a Trustee on the Board of the Funeral Service Foundation, including leadership roles as secretary/treasurer and board chair.

Nick Gerhart is the Chief Operating Officer for Homesteaders Life Company. He is responsible for managing the company's operations, including activities to optimize company growth through innovation that is consistent with Homesteaders’ core values, purpose and vision. Prior to joining Homesteaders in 2020, Gerhart was Chief Administrative Officer at FBL Financial. Gerhart is best known for his time as Commissioner of the Iowa Insurance Division, where he transformed that department and increased the State of Iowa’s international prominence through his thought leadership. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa and his JD, MHA from the Saint Louis University School of Law. In addition, Gerhart is mentor and advisor to numerous insuretech startup ventures, including Advisor to Assured Allies, Gain Compliance, Sureify, Harbor AI and others, as well as serves on the Board of Directors for Pi 515 and Childserve.

Wade Comstock is Executive VP-Operations for Homesteaders Life Company. He is responsible for developing the solutions that provide state-of-the-art technology to manage our business and serve our funeral home customers, sales counselors and policy owners. Prior to joining Homesteaders in 2011, Comstock served as Vice President, IT for Aviva Investors and Technical Project Manager for First National Information Solutions. He earned his bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Iowa. In addition, Comstock is skilled in developing technical solutions that support customer and company success and brings nearly two decades of experience in the information services field.

Marla Lacey is Executive VP-General Counsel for Homesteaders Life Company. She is committed to creating long-term value and security for Homesteaders and its key stakeholders by helping the company achieve its objectives while minimizing its legal and compliance risk yet adhering to the laws and regulations that govern our industry. She oversees the company’s corporate governance matters and has more than three decades of experience in both corporate and private legal and compliance practice, including public and private company governance, product development and government relations. Prior to joining Homesteaders in 2012, Lacey served as Chief Compliance Officer/Associate General Counsel for American Equity Life Insurance Company. She received her bachelor’s degree from Drake University and her Juris Doctor with Distinction from University of Iowa College of Law. She also earned her Chartered Life Underwriter designation (CLU) in 2004 and her Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation in 2005 from The American College. In addition, Lacey holds Series 7, 24, 63 and 65 securities licenses, which are currently inactive.

Lyndon Peterson is Executive VP-Sales & Marketing for Homesteaders Life Company. Focusing on our commitment to funeral home customers, he is responsible for overseeing the sales process through the account executive and third-party marketer programs, as well as all corporate marketing efforts. Prior to joining Homesteaders in 2010, Peterson served in various roles with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Wellmark, Inc.) including Vice President of Product Development, Vice President of Provider Relations, Executive Director & CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Northern Plains Alliance, and Vice President of Sales & Sales Operations. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's degree in hospital and health administration from the University of Iowa as well as an MBA from Drake University. In addition, Peterson is a fellow in the Life Management Institute (FLMI).

Steve Pick is Executive VP-Chief Financial Officer for Homesteaders Life Company. He is responsible for directing Homesteaders' actuarial, accounting, investment, treasury and risk management functions. Prior to joining Homesteaders in 2013, Pick served in various executive finance roles in the insurance and investment industries after having started his career as a CPA with a Big Four accounting firm. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and economics from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. In addition, Pick is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and is a Fellow in the Life Management Institute (FLMI).