Our Management Team

Please feel free to contact one of our management team members to learn more about New York Life.

Kyong Jang
Senior Partner
Office:     213-351-3404
Cellular:  213-507-6322

Born in Seoul Korea, Kyong attended Hong Ik University in Seoul Korea, with a major in Electric Engineering. He served in the Korean Army as Sergeant from 1979 to 1982. In 1984, Kyong moved to Los Angeles with his family. Mr. Jang entered the life Insurance business in 1992, finding immediate success as an agent by becoming our Life Leader in 1997 and Associate of the Year in 1998. As a 5-time Million Dollar Round Table qualifier, he was promoted to the office of Partner in 2001, while ranking among the Company’s top 25 managers for two years. Prior to his appointment as Sr. Partner in 2004, he was ranked among the top 10. Kyong has been married to Yukiko Jang for eight years. They have four children, Laura, Lindsey, Tajung and Jin Young.

                                                          
Tigran Basmadjyan
Senior Partner
Office:     323-782-3014 
Cellular:  818-720-2305 

Tigran started his career at New York Life in February of 2004 in the Pasadena Sales Office under the Intern Program. Soon after, he went full-time to pursue his career in its entirety in June of 2004. “I felt like I had begun my path that would lead to financial freedom where I had total control of my future.” His activities and good discipline led him to qualify for Executive Council in his first year as well as becoming a Centurion case writer. Tigran joined the Los Angeles management team in October of 2006 and is enjoying every day of his new venture. Tigran won the national recruiting campaign called the “Gathering of Eagles” in 2007 and currently ranks in the top 25 Partners in the company. Tigran says of his success, ”My success with New York Life has come due to great leadership, strong support, and a clear direction.” Tigran loves the financial services industry and his passion comes across to whomever he encounters. Tigran is looking forward to many more prosperous years to come!

 
Jason Koo, LUTCF
Senior Partner
Office:     323-782-3197 
Cellular:   562-355-8808 

Jason Koo started his financial services career in 2001 as an agent with New York Life in Los Angeles. In his first 18 months, Jason qualified for the Executive Council and the prestigious international Million Dollar Round Table. With that early success, Jason was promoted to the management position of Partner in the Los Angeles General Office in 2004. Again, Jason quickly earned recognition for his achievements and, in 2004, he received the Career Commitment Award. He also completed the requirements for the LUTCF, professional designation. The following year, 2005, Jason was again recognized for his accomplishments and qualified for Gathering of Eagles for Partners. Since 2001, Jason has witnessed the impact a career in Financial Services has on communities, as well as families and friends. In February of 2005, Jason married his college sweetheart, Jin Lee Hee. Jason and Jin reside in Hancock Park with their pets, Dal Soon and Heen Noon. Jason believes that “life is not a rehearsal. You only get to live once, so plan your future. Live each day to its fullest, as if there were no tomorrow.”

 
Ben Huh
Partner
Office:     213-351-3403 
Cellular:   213-459-9811 

A graduate of Hanyang University and a former member of the Korean military, Mr. Huh began his insurance career in Korea in 1989. After moving to the United States, Ben ran his own successful business for 6 years before becoming associated with the insurance industry. He was a top producing agent until being promoted to Vice President of a large life insurance company. He joined New York Life in August of 2004 and was promoted to the position of Partner in December 0f 2004. He is an enthusiastic and supportive team member and spends many hours with his agents to develop a successful unit in the Los Angeles General Office, Mid-Wilshire Koreatown office.

David Hong
Partner
Office:     323-782-33014 

Born in Korea, David Hong immigrated to the US in 1987 and began a career in retail sales.  Mr. Hong entered the life Insurance business in 2006 finding immediate success as an agent by becoming an Executive Council Agent and a qualifier of the Million Dollar Round Table. He was promoted to the office of Partner in 2008. David’s plan is to meet and exceed the office’s goals by expanding and building a solid team in 2009. David met his wife, Jina Hong in 1995. They have three children, Daniel, Jane and Jonathan.

Armine Davtian
Partner
Office:     323-782-3019    

Anne Parra, MSFS, CLU, ChFC, CLF, CASL, LUTCF, CLTC
Senior Director of  Development
Office:     323-782-3089 

Anne began her career as a successful agent in 1986 in the Pasadena General Office. She accepted the position of Trainer in 1994 and immediately won the “New Trainer of the Year” award. In 2001, the Pasadena office was merged with the Los Angeles Office, and Anne became part of the Los Angeles Management team and transferred to the Wilshire Boulevard Office. In keeping with New York Life’s strong commitment to professional education, Anne has earned her Masters of Science in Financial Services (MSFS), as well as CLU, ChFC, CLF,CASL,and LUTCF designations through the American College. In the 16 years Anne has been in management with New York Life, she has earned company-wide respect for her talents and skills in the areas of training and developing agents. Anne is presently the Senior Director of Development in Los Angeles and is responsible for delivering the New York Life training and development programs to agents at all levels of experience. Anne enjoys her role as a developer and is committed to the success of all agents in the Los Angeles General Office.   As an active member of her community and church, Anne enjoys working with teenagers and young adults.



Christopher Kolbeck, MSFS, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CASL
Director of Development
Office:     323-782-3003 

Chris has been in the Financial Services industry for the past 26 years, since becoming a life insurance agent in 1981. He has served as President for several industry and service organizations over the past 15 years, as a way to contribute back to the community. Chris earned his CLU and ChFC designations in 1986 by attending the U.S.C. Marshall School of Business. He also completed the Masters of Science in Financial Services through the American College several years ago. In the past 8 years, Chris has been in management with New York Life in the Los Angeles General Office. Chris is presently in the position of  Director of  Development, and is responsible for the training and development of the New Org agents, as well as supporting all the agents in the General Office. Chris is married to Jean, and together they have 5 children.


Katherine Felix, FLMI, ACS, AIAA
Administrative Offficer
Office:     323-782-3001

Katherine began her career with New York Life in 1972 in the Pacific Region Offices. Today, Katherine is the Administrative Officer of the Los Angeles General Office, one of the largest operations in the company. As Administrative Officer, Katherine is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the General Office in the processing of applications and issuing of new business cases. Over the course of her 35 years with New York Life, Katherine has been frequently recognized for her leadership and expertise. Katherine lives in Fontana, California with her son, Justin. She is an avid reader and enjoys spending time with her twin sister Jan, and her sister Betty, who is also an Administrative officer for a nearby New York Life General Office.

James Lee, CFP, CLU
Agency Standards Consultant
Office:     323-782-3183 

James began his career as an agent with New York Life in 1997 in the Los Angeles Office. In 2001, James became  Agency Standards Consultant. In that capacity, James assumed the responsibility for making sure that agents and managers meet the strict regulations and rules of integrity as prescribed by the company and the various agencies who watch over us. He is very effective in making certain we meet compliance standards.