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Merlin Hagan CIC, CFP - Managing Principal
After graduating from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Finance and Insurance, Merlin joined his father in the business in 1979. In 1989 he and his father started what is now Hagan Newkirk, and began to specialize in the employee benefit market. Merlin spends his time as the managing principal of Hagan Newkirk, working with key clients and marketing to new accounts. He is a certified Financial Planner (CFP) and is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC).
Merlin, otherwise known as “Bubba”, enjoys going to the lake with his family and golfing with friends when he gets the chance. He is active in his local church serving on the Elder team. Merlin also serves on several boards including the Baptist Health Corporate board as well as Health Advantage.
He and his wife Rita have been married for 30 years and have two grown children.
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Chris Newkirk - Agency Principal
Chris graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 1985 with a degree in Business Administration. He spent the next four years in sales with a life insurance company in Little Rock before joining Hagan Newkirk in 1990.
Chris is responsible for oversight of all of Hagan Newkirk’s healthcare and key accounts. Chris works closely with the Arkansas Hospital Association in structuring benefit arrangements for healthcare clients, working to leverage our relationships with vendors to bring added value to our clients.
Chris enjoys the outdoors, spending time on his ranch, hunting duck, deer and turkey. He and his wife Shelley have 4 children.
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Calvin Hagan - Agency Founder
The roots of Hagan Newkirk began in the early 1960’s when Calvin entered the insurance business. His experience in the business of over 45 years has provided valuable guidance to Hagan Newkirk over the years. Calvin, although officially retired, still remains active in the business and can be seen frequently around the Hagan Newkirk office.
Calvin serves on a number of boards and foundations including the Southern Seminary Foundation Board (past president), the Parkway Village Board of Trustees and is a past chairman of the Baptist Health Board of Trustees and current member of the Baptist Health Corporate Board. He also was a founder of the Arkansas Baptist School System and past chairman of its corporate board and chairman emeritus of the school’s foundation board.
In his spare time Calvin enjoys golfing and traveling with Betsy, his wife of over 55 years.
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Randy Rogers - Vice President Operations
Randy Rogers joined Hagan Newkirk in 2004 as our Operations Manager/ Client Services Representative. He takes care of the daily operations of the company, from managing the staff to overseeing the financial aspects of the company. Randy also provides oversight to all customer service functions at Hagan Newkirk.
He is a 2002 graduate of UALR and has a B.B.A. in Marketing, Management, and Computer Info Systems. He holds his Life/Health licenses.
He and his wife, Jennifer, have two children. His hobbies include golf, fishing, hunting, cycling and spending time with is family.
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Jeff Goff CHC, RHU - Group Sales
Jeff Goff, graduated from Benton HS in 1978 where he was a member of the 1977 4A State football championship team and earned All-State honors. He earned a football scholarship to the University of Arkansas where he lettered four years and graduated in 1983 with a degree in marketing. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins and after a couple of tries at pro ball, decided to settle back in Arkansas. He started his insurance career with Blue Cross as a sales rep in 1987 before moving to Hagan Newkirk in 1992 where he specializes in small and large group employee benefits.
He has earned his Certified Health Consultant and Registered Health Underwriter designations. He earned the Leading Producers Round Table and Golden Eagle awards in 2007. He currently serves on the Broker Advisory Boards for Delta Dental and QualChoice insurance companies.
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Chris O’Dwyer - Group Sales
Chris O’Dwyer is a 1992 graduate of Hendrix College in Conway. Chris began his career in the insurance industry right out of college and has vast knowledge and experience in group and individual products. Chris joined Hagan Newkirk in 1997 and specializes in large and small group employee benefits. Chris works with clients and prospects to offer the most competitive and beneficial plans available. Working closely with partially self-funded clients since 1992, he is one of Arkansas’ best agents offering the most knowledgeable and creative ideas in regard to benefit design and cost control.
Chris enjoys spending time with his family. He and his wife, Lenisa, have six children with only a 9 year gap between the oldest and youngest. He is an active member in the Conway community, St. Joseph Schools, and St. Joseph Church. Chris also volunteers his time to work with great organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and Central Arkansas Rescue Effort. He enjoys playing golf, watching college football and basketball, and traveling.
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Gretchen Hamilton - Customer Service Representative
Gretchen Hamilton, began her insurance career in 1983, in Dallas, Texas, where she performed duties in accounting, bookkeeping and customer service. After moving to Little Rock, AR, she obtained her insurance license in 1993. She has sold and worked with all lines of insurance.
In February of 2002, she accepted a position with Hagan Newkirk where she continues to pursue her insurance career. Gretchen is a customer service representative involved in servicing accounts and assists with annual re-enrollments.
Her designations and licenses include: Property, Casualty, Surety, Marine, Life, Health, and Underwriters Training Council.
She has been married to DeWayne for 27 years and they have four children and 9 grandchildren. They are a military family, with three sons who have served in the Navy, Marines and one currently serving in the Air Force in Italy, and a daughter-in-law who is currently serving in the Army, stationed in Colorado Springs, CO.
Her hobbies include reading, cooking, and crafts and her favorite time of the year is fall.
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Robby Pickett - Group and Supplemental Sales
Robby joined Hagan Newkirk 4 years after an 18 year career with International Paper Company. Robby calls on small and medium size businesses for their employee benefit needs.
Robby is a certified fire fighter and enjoys the outdoors. He can be seen frequently in south Arkansas hunting and fishing. He enjoys spending time with his wife of 24 years, Tiila.
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Jonnathan Davis - Group Marketing
Jonnathan came to work at Hagan-Newkirk in January of 2008 as an Investment Advisor Assistant. He graduated from Harding University in 2009 with his degree in Business Management.
Jonnathan currently handles our internal group marketing. He is the interface between Hagan Newkirk and our group product vendors. He facilitates the bidding process for our group accounts.
He has been married to his wife Kristen for two years. When away from the office, Jonnathan is active in fly fishing, rock climbing, camping and hunting. He also enjoys playing most sports and listening to live music.
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Rob Thorpe ChFC, CLU - Executive Vice President-Retirement Solutions
Rob began his career at Hagan Newkirk in 2006 as our Retirement Solutions Manager. With over 30 years in the industry, Rob brings a unique and seasoned approach to our team.
Rob’s greatest accomplishment to date is his 34 year marriage to his wife, Billie, and their grown sons, Matt, Wes and Jay. Rob is active in his church, where he serves as a small group leader and marriage counselor/mentor.
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Dale Colclasure CFP
Dale graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1991, with a BSBA in Finance with a focus on Insurance and Real Estate. Dale is a Certified Financial Planner practitioner, and works primarily through our Retirement Solutions division. Dale spent eight years with American Express Financial Advisors, and was the Branch Manager the last three of those years. He joined Hagan Newkirk in 2003.
Dale and his wife, Amanda, enjoy spending their free time with their four children.
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Jason Gerber
Jason is a native of Hot Springs Ar. where he attended Lake Hamilton High School. He attended Ouachita Baptist University on an athletic scholarship. Jason completed his Business Admin Degree with a focus on Marketing and Management in 2004 and moved for a year to New York City to work in the real estate market. Since returning in 2005, Jason has been working with our Retirement Solutions division. He is also working toward his Certified Financial Planner designation.
Jason and his wife Kandace, who is an art director/food stylist at the Allison Agency in LR, enjoy spending time with family, boating on the lake and cooking together. Jason recently ran the Chicago Marathon and is in the midst of training for the New York marathon.
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Brennan McCutchen
Brennan is originally from Mountain Home, Arkansas where he graduated from Mountain Home High School and earned All-State honors in basketball. He went on to play at Hendrix College in 1997. He graduated with a Bachelors of Business Science in Finance in 2001 from University of Central Arkansas.
After graduating, he was a Senior Stockbroker for Scottrade Financial Services for 6 years. In 2006, Brennan joined Hagan Newkirk to work with clients through our Retirement Solutions division.
Brennan and his wife, Shelly, enjoy time with their son Max. Brennan also likes to golf, and volunteers with the Arkansas Chapter of the March of Dimes.
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Ken Boyland - Life and Disability Insurance Specialist
After high school Ken received golf and basketball scholarships. He graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 1984 with a B.A. in Business Administration. After a 20 career in a national family owned business Ken decided to enter the life insurance business in 2004 and came to work for Hagan Newkirk in 2007.
Because of his family business background Ken’s focus is on business and individual life insurance applications such as buy sell, key man, and executive bonus arrangements.
Ken and his wife, Leslyn have been married 13 years and have 3 children, Lucy, Landon and Layne. His hobbies include playing golf and fishing.
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Jay Gentry - Life and Disability Insurance Specialist
Jay Gentry has seven years of experience working with clients on their risk management issues, specializing in life and disability insurance. Before coming to Hagan Newkirk he worked for Northwestern Mutual for five years. He specializes in working with young resident physicians as well as young professionals starting out in their practice.
He enjoys golf, music, and spending time with his wife, Rhonda as well as his two children, Maddie and Gavin. Jay received his degree in bass performance from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
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Mark Smalling - Medicare and Long-Term Care Specialist
Mark Smalling has eighteen years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry. He was a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network for 10 years, until he founded Long-Term Care Insurance of Arkansas in 2001. He has spent the last eight years working with the clients of financial advisors, banks and other insurance agencies to assist them with their long-term care and Medicare planning needs.
At Hagan-Newkirk, Mark continues to focus primarily on the senior market. As Medicare and long term care planning become increasingly complex, he will offer our clients the counsel and guidance necessary to make the most appropriate decisions as they transition into their retirement years.
Mark is active in his church and community. He has served as president of Fair Park Early Childhood Center’s PTA, Williams Magnet Elementary’s PTA and the Kiwanis Club of Central Little Rock. He is involved in his sons’ Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and sports including coaching soccer, baseball and basketball.
He graduated from Hendrix College where he studied political science and business/economics. He and his wife, Kimberly, live in Little Rock with their four sons, Connor, Corbin, Cole and Cade. His hobbies include tennis, camping and fishing with his boys and woodworking.
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Jan Parsons - Accounting Assistant
Jan has worked for Hagan Newkirk since 1995 as our accounting assistant. She processes commissions and prepares commission checks and payroll. She works on reports and performs various other accounting functions.
She is married to Robert Parsons and has six children and six grandchildren. She enjoys swimming, working puzzles, and spending time with family and friends.
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Ruthie Osburn - Receptionist / New Business
Ruthie received her Business/Secretarial Degree from Cossatot Vocational Technical School. In 1984, she started working for Hall Financial Group in Dallas, Texas. After moving back to Arkansas, she had secretarial positions in DeQueen, Stuttgart and Little Rock. She began her career at Hagan Newkirk in 2001 as our Receptionist. She is the Voice of Hagan Newkirk and also handles processing of New Business.
Ruthie is married to Trey and they have a daughter Katie and son-in-law, J.C., who are both currently in the United States Air Force. Ruthie loves to spend time at the lake and her and her husband participate in drag boat races.
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