Our Team

Josh Cowart Photo Jan 2024

Josh Cowart

Managing Partner

“I believe in being a servant leader for others to help them reach their fullest potential and desired success. I am living proof that long term goals, dreams, and successes can be achieved despite the obstacles and mistakes that are made along the way. I stand for the belief that by being a good person, having the relentless will to succeed, and the “failure isn’t an option” mindset you can achieve your goals.”

Josh currently resides in Ankeny, IA, the town where he was born and raised. He has a wife Lisa, and 3 kids, Sammy, Louie, and Aria. For hobbies, he enjoys golfing and staying in shape through Crossfit, with which he competes in 1-2 events each year. He loves coaching his boys on the football field in the spring and fall and enjoys vacations with the family.

Josh attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a degree from the School of Business in late 2003. He was hired at New York Life in October of 2004. He enjoyed success as an agent and was a multi time qualifier of New York Life’s prestigious council honors. He was an MDRT* qualifier, a two-time winner of the New Agent of the year award, a recipient of the Life Paid Case award, and has received multiple Life Appreciation awards.

After being promoted to Partner in December of 2007, Josh began to find his true passion in helping others succeed in their personal careers. In his management career, he has won numerous national awards as well. To name a few, he is a multi-time Platinum Peak winner, a Partner Career Commitment winner, and a Top 50 Qualifier. He was promoted to Senior Partner in January of 2012 and most recently promoted to the Managing Partner of the Iowa General Office effective November of 2017. When he began his career in 2004 he shared with the Managing Partner that someday he hoped to fill his seat and is proud to have accomplished that dream.

* MDRT, The Premier Association of Financial Professionals, is recognized globally as the standard of excellence for life insurance sales performance in the insurance and financial services industry

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Scott Pfeil

Corporate Vice President
Agency Standards

Scott joined New York Life in 2004 as an Agency Standards Consultant at the Great Plains Office. Prior to joining New York Life, he sold investments and insurance for Norwest/Wells Fargo Private Client Services and was a partner for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Scott is married to Lauri and have four children- Blake, Austin, Tanner and Madelyn.

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Nichole Stocker

Field Service
Operations Manager

Nichole joined the Iowa General Office in June of 2014, in Agency Contracting. After 3 years in this position she joined the Service Leader Trainee Program with New York Life to become the Field Service Operations Professional. Nichole is a graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, Institution Management. She holds several designations including her FLMI, and is a FINRA Series 99 Operations Professional.

Nichole is a self-proclaimed foodie who loves to travel, watch sports, and spend time with her daughter, twin sons, and husband.

sophia sledge

Sophia Sledge

Development
Manager

Sophia began her New York Life career in August 2015. Having earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education from San Diego State University, it seemed natural that her original focus was serving the community through financial literacy workshops and educating families with young children. However, she quickly began to find a niche in the long-term care space. She has earned multiple awards, having earned at least one in all six years as a Financial Services Professional. Two of her favorites: The Community Appreciation Award, an award given to the agent that is well rounded both in volunteer work and community impact, and the Long-Term Care Leader Award, earning her both the Company’s Elite status, by placing over 2 million dollars of long-term care coverage, and the Iowa General Office’s Leader of the Year in that category. Sophia transitioned to the role of Development Manager in November 2022. She is dedicated to coaching and developing agents in foundational financial strategies that best educate and serve, to impact the larger community.

Outside of work, Sophia enjoys spending time with her spouse and two daughters, watching sports, and traveling to any place with a beach.