(click on video to start/stop)
USA Financial was founded on April 1, 1988 (Yes, that’s right, April Fool’s Day) by Gary G. Walters, who continues to serve on the Board of Directors as Chairman.
Gary’s distinguished career began in 1957 and is a true “rags to riches” story beginning in the Kentucky foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Gary, at the time a determined 17-year old boy, was unsatisfied with the options of becoming a coalminer or tobacco farmer. So he and a buddy decided they’d head north together. They each scraped together enough money to buy one tank of gas, estimating that two tanks should be able to get them to Detroit, Michigan, in the buddy’s Chevy.
As expected, Gary arrived in Detroit, and promptly found work in the mailroom of Blue Cross, Blue Shield. It was 1957. Although no one realized it (besides Gary anyway), this 17-year old boy had just taken his first step on a long, rewarding and admirable journey.
It is from these humble beginnings that Gary quickly began his aggressive climb up the corporate ladder. While juggling night-school and graduating with a B.S. degree from Wayne State University (Detroit), Gary rapidly rose to the position of Assistant Finance Director at Blue Shield of Michigan.
From this launching pad, Gary began on a meteoric rise within the industry. He became the Chief Financial Officer at Michigan Life Insurance Company; next was Senior Sales Vice-President at American Community Mutual; which led to being appointed President & CEO of Teledyne Life (overseeing 5 other insurers); and then finally President & CEO of American Annuity Life Insurance Company. All the while, he served on the Board of Directors of several of these companies.
In 1988, Gary broke stride from his high-powered corporate path to fulfill his entrepreneurial dreams through the creation of USA Financial. Gary’s son, Michael D. Walters, eyed this entrepreneurial challenge and joined his side, within three months of USA Financial being established.
Mike also got an early jump on things at the age of 21, qualifying for an internship in conjunction with Central Michigan University (where he graduated with a double major in Marketing & Management) and American Annuity Life Insurance Company as a Marketing Associate serving directly under the tutelage of the Vice-President of Marketing. While still in college, Mike then became an Independent Life Insurance Agent (the hard way, via door-to-door sales) prior to joining an Allstate Insurance Agency as the Life & Annuity Sales Representative while still a full-time University student. He then won a post-University competitive scholarship to attend the Michigan Bankers Association, Robert M. Perry School of Banking for Bank Executives, where upon completion of this specialty program, Mike soon joined Gary as indicated above.
From 1988 through 1991, Gary & Mike took USA Financial from a “mere-glimmer-in-their-eyes”, literally working 7-days a week out of the trunks of their cars, to a viable and enviable marketing, distribution and consulting business with a strong track record and rapidly building staff. The nationally recognized success of this upstart firm was spotlighted when Gary was honored by election to the Board of Directors of LifeUSA / Allianz Life… the fastest growing company in the history of business.
In 1991, thanks to Gary’s diverse background and proven performance, he was contracted to serve as the President & CEO of Universal Benefits Life (a division of LifeUSA / Allianz Life). Simultaneously, Mike took over the full leadership of USA Financial.
Upon meeting the established goals of Universal Benefits Life, Gary elected retirement in 1994 from all but his Board of Director position with USA Financial.
Mike continues the strong strategic growth tradition of USA Financial along with his teammate and partner since 1995, Brent Enders. This dynamic duo is well-known within the industry as featured authors, highly sought after keynote speakers, five year financial radio hosts, plus building the USA Financial affilates into the world's first dually registered Independent Broker Dealer and SEC Registered Investment Advisor, Insurance Marketing Organization, 2nd SEC Registered Investment Advisor plus creation of the legendary Plug-N-Run Solutions... All synergistically knitted together!