OUR TEAM
  • Leadership Team
  • Due Diligence, and Closing
  • Operations
  • Policy Origination
  • All
Leadership Team
McCormick Nate web 300x200 - Nate McCormick
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Nate McCormick

President

Nate joined Magna Life Settlements in June of 2011. At Magna, he manages the origination of new policies and has helped grow the firm into a leading life settlement provider.

After completing an internship with Vida, the parent company, he joined the firm as an analyst on the Portfolio Management Team, specializing in financial modeling and valuation. Currently, he assists in the management and optimization of the Vida managed portfolios and is integral in the valuation and asset acquisition process.

Nate graduated from St. Edward’s University in 2011 with a BBA in finance and marketing.

Stephen Kirkwood
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Stephen Kirkwood

General Counsel

Mr. Kirkwood serves as General Counsel of Vida’s subsidiary, Magna Life Settlements, and as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Vida.  Prior to joining Magna, Mr. Kirkwood served as the EVP, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary for the nation’s largest direct purchaser of consumer future cash flows backed by insurance company obligations.  He was responsible for the company’s legal, compliance and regulatory matters including handling a broad range of M&A and capital markets transactions, risk analysis matters, compliance and corporate governance items. In addition, he led the legal and compliance efforts taking the company through its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, and he managed the ongoing SEC, NYSE and OTC marketplace reporting and compliance requirements.  Earlier in his career, Mr. Kirkwood provided legal and regulatory counsel and strategic guidance for a consumer specialty finance company addressing needs relating to purchasing of future cash flows and the company’s life settlement and pre-settlement funding business units. Mr. Kirkwood graduated from Union College in 1992 and from Albany Law School in 1995.

Due Diligence, and Closing

Justin Stoll

Emily Raley

Ghorashi Ellie web 300x200 - Ellie Ghorashi
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Ellie Ghorashi

Senior Associate, Closing

Ms. Ghorashi joined Magna Life Settlements in 2017 and currently works as a Senior Associate, Closing. As part of the Closing Team, Ms. Ghorashi generates secondary contracts, liaises with insurance companies, performs due diligence, and helps analyze the risk associated with new acquisitions. She has six years of experience working as a paralegal in the areas of personal injury and healthcare law, and she obtained her paralegal diploma from NYU in New York City. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Texas State University, as well as a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

Lopez Nick web 300x200 - Nick Lopez
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Nick Lopez

Senior Associate, Closing

Mr. Lopez joined Magna Life Settlements in 2017 and currently works as a Senior Associate, Closing. As part of the Closing Team, Mr. Lopez generates secondary contracts, liaises with insurance companies, performs due diligence, and manages the clerical aspects of the tertiary market. Mr. Lopez worked in various roles in the law, healthcare, cell tower real estate, and tax consulting industries with over 10 years of administrative experience.

Operations
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Krystal Alexander

Associate, Case Manager

Krystal has worked in life insurance for almost 5 years and holds the position as Associate, Case Manager for the Magna team. She started as a Senior Processing Specialist processing loans, surrenders, policy changes and conversions, pre-claims, benefit verification and a host of other duties (including assisting underwriting). She also held the role of Senior Claims Examiner/Adjuster, working with the legal team to combat fraud, analyze claims and legal documentation in order to pay/reject and act as company liaison for the claims department (as well as continuing my duties from the aforementioned position).

She was also chosen as a member of the Customer Service Advisory Council, a council chosen by the VP of the company to help encourage effective process changes, cross-train multiple departments and work closely with our business analysts and VP to ensure smooth transitions.

mg 300x200 - Claudia Orta
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Claudia Orta

Analyst, Case Administration

Claudia joined Magna as an Analyst, Case Administration in 2021 after spending several years at our affiliate, Magna Servicing, in Waco, TX.  Claudia is primarily responsible for incoming case submissions, but also lends her expertise to agents, advisors, advocates, and consumers in our direct channel of policy origination. Prior to joining our team,  in 2018, she began working with Magna Servicing in Waco where she worked closely with the insurance carriers on insurance claims.  Previously, Claudia worked in the medical field for 9 years where she handled everything from billing, medical records, dictation and other nursing office duties. Claudia holds a B.A. in Applied Science with concentration in Business Administration from Tarleton State University.

Policy Origination
McCormick Nate web 300x200 - Nate McCormick
https://www.magnalifesettlements.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/McCormick_Nate_webN.jpg

Nate McCormick

President

Nate joined Magna Life Settlements in June of 2011. At Magna, he manages the origination of new policies and has helped grow the firm into a leading life settlement provider.

After completing an internship with Vida, the parent company, he joined the firm as an analyst on the Portfolio Management Team, specializing in financial modeling and valuation. Currently, he assists in the management and optimization of the Vida managed portfolios and is integral in the valuation and asset acquisition process.

Nate graduated from St. Edward’s University in 2011 with a BBA in finance and marketing.

mg 300x200 - Sierra Conde
https://www.magnalifesettlements.com/wp-content/uploads/mg.jpg

Sierra Conde

Associate, Direct Origination

Sierra Conde is a native Austinite who started working with Magna Life Settlements in 2018. Sierra began working with Magna as the initial point of contact with prospective policy sellers – interviewing, qualifying, and assisting clients with their initial application and case submission process. Later, Sierra handled case management for insurance agents and financial advisors –  shepherding their prospects through Magna’s intake and qualification procedures. In early 2021, Sierra became an Associate of Direct Origination where she handles consumer submissions, qualifies prospective cases originating from our website properties, and assists applicants with completing required paperwork and obtaining critical underwriting information.

 

Prior to joining Magna, Sierra pursued studies in the field of physical therapy and worked in an Austin-based orthopedic office in both an administrative capacity as well as serving as a physical therapy technician. Sierra brings an empathetic demeanor to her work and values Magna’s ability to bring a financial and insurance solution to our clients.

All Team

Justin Stoll

Emily Raley

McCormick Nate web 300x200 - Nate McCormick
https://www.magnalifesettlements.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/McCormick_Nate_webN.jpg

Nate McCormick

President

Nate joined Magna Life Settlements in June of 2011. At Magna, he manages the origination of new policies and has helped grow the firm into a leading life settlement provider.

After completing an internship with Vida, the parent company, he joined the firm as an analyst on the Portfolio Management Team, specializing in financial modeling and valuation. Currently, he assists in the management and optimization of the Vida managed portfolios and is integral in the valuation and asset acquisition process.

Nate graduated from St. Edward’s University in 2011 with a BBA in finance and marketing.

Stephen Kirkwood
https://www.magnalifesettlements.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kirkwood_Stephen_webN.jpg

Stephen Kirkwood

General Counsel

Mr. Kirkwood serves as General Counsel of Vida’s subsidiary, Magna Life Settlements, and as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Vida.  Prior to joining Magna, Mr. Kirkwood served as the EVP, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary for the nation’s largest direct purchaser of consumer future cash flows backed by insurance company obligations.  He was responsible for the company’s legal, compliance and regulatory matters including handling a broad range of M&A and capital markets transactions, risk analysis matters, compliance and corporate governance items. In addition, he led the legal and compliance efforts taking the company through its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, and he managed the ongoing SEC, NYSE and OTC marketplace reporting and compliance requirements.  Earlier in his career, Mr. Kirkwood provided legal and regulatory counsel and strategic guidance for a consumer specialty finance company addressing needs relating to purchasing of future cash flows and the company’s life settlement and pre-settlement funding business units. Mr. Kirkwood graduated from Union College in 1992 and from Albany Law School in 1995.

mg 300x200 - Krystal Alexander
https://www.magnalifesettlements.com/wp-content/uploads/mg.jpg

Krystal Alexander

Associate, Case Manager

Krystal has worked in life insurance for almost 5 years and holds the position as Associate, Case Manager for the Magna team. She started as a Senior Processing Specialist processing loans, surrenders, policy changes and conversions, pre-claims, benefit verification and a host of other duties (including assisting underwriting). She also held the role of Senior Claims Examiner/Adjuster, working with the legal team to combat fraud, analyze claims and legal documentation in order to pay/reject and act as company liaison for the claims department (as well as continuing my duties from the aforementioned position).

She was also chosen as a member of the Customer Service Advisory Council, a council chosen by the VP of the company to help encourage effective process changes, cross-train multiple departments and work closely with our business analysts and VP to ensure smooth transitions.

Ghorashi Ellie web 300x200 - Ellie Ghorashi
https://www.magnalifesettlements.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Ghorashi_Ellie_webN.jpg

Ellie Ghorashi

Senior Associate, Closing

Ms. Ghorashi joined Magna Life Settlements in 2017 and currently works as a Senior Associate, Closing. As part of the Closing Team, Ms. Ghorashi generates secondary contracts, liaises with insurance companies, performs due diligence, and helps analyze the risk associated with new acquisitions. She has six years of experience working as a paralegal in the areas of personal injury and healthcare law, and she obtained her paralegal diploma from NYU in New York City. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Texas State University, as well as a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

Lopez Nick web 300x200 - Nick Lopez
https://www.magnalifesettlements.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Lopez_Nick_webN.jpg

Nick Lopez

Senior Associate, Closing

Mr. Lopez joined Magna Life Settlements in 2017 and currently works as a Senior Associate, Closing. As part of the Closing Team, Mr. Lopez generates secondary contracts, liaises with insurance companies, performs due diligence, and manages the clerical aspects of the tertiary market. Mr. Lopez worked in various roles in the law, healthcare, cell tower real estate, and tax consulting industries with over 10 years of administrative experience.

mg 300x200 - Claudia Orta
https://www.magnalifesettlements.com/wp-content/uploads/mg.jpg

Claudia Orta

Analyst, Case Administration

Claudia joined Magna as an Analyst, Case Administration in 2021 after spending several years at our affiliate, Magna Servicing, in Waco, TX.  Claudia is primarily responsible for incoming case submissions, but also lends her expertise to agents, advisors, advocates, and consumers in our direct channel of policy origination. Prior to joining our team,  in 2018, she began working with Magna Servicing in Waco where she worked closely with the insurance carriers on insurance claims.  Previously, Claudia worked in the medical field for 9 years where she handled everything from billing, medical records, dictation and other nursing office duties. Claudia holds a B.A. in Applied Science with concentration in Business Administration from Tarleton State University.

Melissa Robison
https://www.magnalifesettlements.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/melissa-robison.jpg

Melissa Robison

Managing Director, Human Resources

Ms. Robison is the Managing Director of Human Resources at Magna and is responsible for Human Resource strategic direction, support, and counsel to the executive team, management team and employees regarding all human resource functions since joining the firm in 2017. Prior to joining Magna, Ms. Robison served as Director, Human Resources for PMB Helin Donovan, LLP, where she managed the Human Resource function of a full-service accounting firm serving non-profits, private companies, SEC companies, and individuals with audit and tax services.  Prior thereto, Ms. Robison was the Director, Human Resources at Allegiance, Inc., where she was responsible for Human Resources for a software company that provided Voice-of-the Customer and Enterprise Feedback Management services for organizations. Additionally,   Ms. Robison has served in HR leadership roles in financial services, technology, and software industries. Ms. Robison earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Texas State University in 1997.

mg 300x200 - Sierra Conde
https://www.magnalifesettlements.com/wp-content/uploads/mg.jpg

Sierra Conde

Associate, Direct Origination

Sierra Conde is a native Austinite who started working with Magna Life Settlements in 2018. Sierra began working with Magna as the initial point of contact with prospective policy sellers – interviewing, qualifying, and assisting clients with their initial application and case submission process. Later, Sierra handled case management for insurance agents and financial advisors –  shepherding their prospects through Magna’s intake and qualification procedures. In early 2021, Sierra became an Associate of Direct Origination where she handles consumer submissions, qualifies prospective cases originating from our website properties, and assists applicants with completing required paperwork and obtaining critical underwriting information.

 

Prior to joining Magna, Sierra pursued studies in the field of physical therapy and worked in an Austin-based orthopedic office in both an administrative capacity as well as serving as a physical therapy technician. Sierra brings an empathetic demeanor to her work and values Magna’s ability to bring a financial and insurance solution to our clients.