Management Team
Steven Sasaki
Partner
Steven was appointed to his current role in February 2024 and previously served as a Register Representative with NYLIFE Securities. During his time as a Registered Representative, Steven has strengthened and facilitated growth across the Hawaii market providing financial guidance for families with children on the autism spectrum across multiple counties within the Hawaiian Islands.
Steven was honored in 2023 with three prestigious awards which includes the New Organization Agent of the Year, the New Organization Annuity Leader of the Year, and Executive Council qualifying him for the Million Dollar Round Table, which recognizes the achievements of the Top 10 Percent of Financial Professional globally.
Steven received his bachelor’s degree in in Criminal Justice and Sociology at Hawaii Pacific University, where he was double majored and began building and fostering relationships with businesses and non-profits in Hawaii.
Currently, Steven serves on the Young Executive Board for Special Olympics Hawaii, working closely with non-profits to support the special needs community specifically focusing on financial planning for families and businesses. He and his wife are proud parents of three children, who enjoy spending time at the beach, golfing, and traveling.
Gerilyn Bertoli
Associate Partner
GeriLyn Bertoli was appointed to her current role in February 2024, following five successful years as a dedicated agent and registered representative with New York Life and NYLIFE Securities. During her time as an agent, she earned her FSCP designation and qualified for two Executive Councils—milestones that reflect her commitment to excellence and client service. Her work with clients has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her career and helped prepare her for this new chapter.
A graduate of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, GeriLyn holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics. After college, she worked at the State Capitol under the Senate Vice President but soon discovered that her passion for helping people extended beyond politics.
GeriLyn is deeply committed to community engagement and nonprofit work. She supports local organizations through her role at New York Life and her long-standing involvement with Rotary. As the immediate past president of the Rotary E-Club of Hawaii, she continues to serve on the board and champion service initiatives across the islands.
In her free time, GeriLyn enjoys traveling, yoga, cooking, baking, trying new restaurants, and supporting locally owned businesses. She loves spending time with her husband and two children, and values every opportunity to connect with her community—both personally and professionally.
Jason T. King
Development Manager
Jason is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he was a Business Major with an emphasis in Marketing. Prior to joining the New York Life family in August of 2014, Jason was an account manager with Xerox Hawaii for 10 years. He went from an Agent to a Registered Representative with NYLIFE Securities shortly after his first year. Jason qualified for the following sales achievement awards; New York Life's Quality and Executive Council*, Life All Star, Annuity Elite Silver, as well as qualifying for the industry's premier association of financial professionals, the Million Dollar Round Table. In October of 2022 Jason was promoted to role of Development Manager for the Hawaii General Office.
Jason's core functions include overseeing & conducting training and development for all Agents and Advisors, which involves but is not limited to financial solutions design; sales & prospecting techniques; and sales activity training.
Jason is committed to keeping up his own knowledge, as he is working towards the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) designation and recognizes that all of that would be a waste if he can't impart that knowledge onto the agents he trains. Jason aims to make training both fun and informative by utilizing the adult learning model which, unlike the lecture and note taking some students may be used to, incorporates lots of demonstration, group discussion, and practice through role-playing real world scenarios.
Cindy Fomenko
Operations Manager
Cindy began her New York Life career in the Hawaii GO supporting new business functions, and later became the office coordinator of that office in 2017. Since then, Cindy has been working closely with her colleagues to provide a consistent service experience to our agents and clients. Prior to joining New York Life, Cindy attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, where she obtained a communications degree. While attending CU, Cindy met her husband Mikhail, who convinced her to move to Hawaii. This decision ultimately led her to New York Life! During her free time, Cindy loves all things culinary, whether it be making meals at home or supporting local restaurants. Cindy and her husband enjoying traveling to new places and spending time at the beach with their dog, Iwi. As a dog owner and animal lover, Cindy is an avid supporter of animal welfare organizations and encourages others to support these through NYL Giving.
Douglas Norwood
Development Consultant
A 1984 graduate of Eastern Washington University with a Business Communications degree, Doug began his career with New York Life as an agent in 2003, joining the Seattle General Office after a 20-year career in small business retail. 3 years later Doug accepted the position of Sales Development Manager within the Seattle Office which he held for 5 years, working primarily with the New Organization agents. While in this role, he also earned his CLU, ChFC, CASL and LUTCF designations from the American College. Doug accepted the position of Life Product Consultant within the Pacific Zone in 2011 which he enjoyed for 12 years.
In July of 2023, Doug changed roles once again and joined the Productivity Support Development Manager Team, assisting select agents across the Pacific Zone within a variety of their business needs, including Life Sales and Concepts, Book of Business Marketing, product support and awareness of current agent incentives and concerns.
At the end of the day, Doug strives to implore agents to build their business with the core belief of commitment to keep their client’s best interests in mind, and to deliver that message with advocacy, passion, and sincerity.
David A. Glaser
CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, RICP®, CLF®, FSCP®, LUTCF®
Holistic Advice & Financial Planning
Financial Guidance Center of Excellence
David began his New York Life career as an intern in 2004 and joined full-time after graduating from Villanova in 2005. He progressed from Agent to Financial Adviser with Eagle Strategies LLC, earning Executive and Premier Executive Council honors.* He was promoted to Sales Development Manager in 2009, then to Senior Sales Development Manager in 2012, and Director of Development in 2015. In 2022, he transitioned to a virtual Development Consultant role supporting the Pacific Zone.
As of February 2025, David joined the Financial Guidance Center of Excellence, whose mission is to empower Agents through the Protection First Holistic Advice and Financial Planning process. This personalized, process-driven approach strengthens both client relationships and advisor growth, helping Agents become top tier financial advisors.
Christian Buccola
Director of Agency Standards
Chris began his career as a Research Specialist at Sun America Mutual Funds, an AIG company, in 1993 in New York City. He joined New York Life in May of 2005 as a Director in the Field Review Unit of Corporate Compliance in Westchester, NY. He was promoted to Assistant Vice President in March 2011. He then transferred to the Orange County General Office in Irvine, CA as Director of Agency Standards in August 2012. He expanded his role of Director of Agency Standards by joining the Idaho General Office in March of 2021 and the Hawaii General Office in March of 2023.
Chris resided in South Orange County with his wife Ann, two daughters Shannon and Kaitlyn, and their Boston Terrier Sami.
*Council is an annual company recognition program based on agent production from July 1- June 30.