A past president of NAIFA Los Angeles, incoming president of the Los Angeles chapter of Women in Financial Services (WIFS), and graduate of NAIFA’s Leadership in Life Institute (LILI), Joanna Dellosa is a proven leader. So, it is no surprise she was one of the first advisors to earn the Life and Annuity Certified Professional (LACP) certification when it was launched in 2017.

“When I first heard about the Life and Annuities Certified Professional designation,” says Dellosa, “I thought this is right up my alley. This is what I practice. This is what I offer. And this is where my focus is.”

A financial services specialist with Wilshire Group Financial Services in Los Angeles, Dellosa helps clients with retirement planning, risk management, and multi-generational planning. In short, Dellosa says her job is “making sure assets last as long as my clients do.”

The motivation to help her clients was formed in her own childhood. When her grandmother passed away, Dellosa saw firsthand the disruption that can take place in a family when proper plans are not in place. The desire to help others avoid those challenges is what inspired her to join the financial services industry right out of college. Joining the industry so young made Dellosa very conscious of how she is perceived by prospects and clients and very motivated to earn the education and credentials to help her stand out.

In addition to the LACP, Dellosa has earned a variety of industry designations including the LUTCF, FSS, RCIP, and CLU. When meeting a client for the first time or introducing herself at a workshop, she says, “I go through all of the different designations, and I explain what they are.” When it comes to the LACP, she tells clients, “I received this because of my education, because of my background, because of how much experience I have working with these financial tools. All of this education and hard work was acquired to best serve you.” She says the credentials give her a boost of confidence and makes an impression on her clients. “It just gives them extra confidence, builds that trust with me, and helps them be willing to work with me.”

In addition to her work with her clients and leadership positions with NAIFA and WIFS, Dellosa also volunteers with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Parishes in the archdiocese bring Dellosa and others in to give presentations on estate and financial planning. “I’m one of the speakers for financial planning, and I often get paired up with lawyers and we talk about how both of us are very much needed in doing financial plans.”

Being out in the community, sharing her knowledge, and helping people is what drives Dellosa. She says, “It’s like a good deed. We’re building up some good energy. Sharing what I know, sharing my talents and hoping that it can carry forward.”