Why First American Insurance Underwriters
Whether you’re a financial advisor or a life insurance agent wanting to grow your business, First American Insurance Underwriters will help get you there.
- Creative solutions to meet your clients’ most demanding expectations
- Underwriting expertise, sales concepts, and case design that help place challenging cases
- Ease of doing business to get cases closed faster
It adds up to an advisor-oriented organization that’s committed to doing more for you and your clients.
Who We Are
First American Insurance Underwriters helps financial advisors design and implement the most appropriate insurance solutions for their clients. We specialize in Life Insurance, Long-Term Care, Disability Income, and Annuities solutions for personal and business planning.
We are licensed in all 50 states and Puerto Rico and work with 40 top-rated insurance carriers.
Our membership in Insurance Designers of America (IDA), a 50-plus BGA-member Insurance Marketing Organization, is a measure of our standing in the industry. IDA is the oldest, largest and most highly respected IMO and accounts for over $200 million in annual life premium. Through IDA, First American has access to leading insurance carriers, robust marketing support, and educational sales tools we share with our advisors.
We are also active members of key industry organizations: National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Life Insurance, and Market Research.
Inside Our Company

Kenneth Shapiro, President, began his training in the life insurance industry in 1993 representing Northwestern Mutual Life and then The Guardian Life Insurance Company.
An active member of the Boston chapter of NAIFA, he is licensed in life, accident & health and currently holds a FINRA license in Series 6 and 63. Ken supports various charitable organizations, and served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, MA.
Ken’s extensive knowledge and experience has made him a leader in the insurance industry. His articles have been published in Life Insurance Selling, Broker World, Life and Health Advisor, and in many other industry publications throughout the country.
Ken is a graduate of Northeastern University where he received a BS degree in Business Administration/Entrepreneurship.

Allan Gersten, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, Chairman and CEO, is a highly sought after speaker for study groups, and seminars for top-level producers. He has written several articles which have been featured in publications such as Life Insurance Selling, Broker World, Life and Health Advisor, Insurance & Financial Advisor, PIA (NY, NJ, CT, and WI), NAILBA Now, Insurance Marketing, Agent’s Sales Journal, Insurance Newsnet, Insurance Advocate, and California Broker. Allan served as a board member of IDA from 2013-2016.
Allan has expertise in estate planning, business insurance, tax strategies and retirement planning. He specializes in getting difficult cases approved for brokers.
Allan received a BS in Business Administration with a major in Finance from Duquesne University.