Our Management Team

Victor Vuong, CLU, ChFC, CLF (click here for more info) Managing Partner victorvuong@ft.newyorklife.com

Melinda Buerger, CLU (click here for more info) Administrative Manager mbuerger@ft.newyorklife.com

Lani Judal, LUTCF (click here for more info) Partner ljudal@ft.newyorklife.com

Steve Carrillo, LUTCF (click here for more info) Partner scarrillo@ft.newyorklife.com

Mychael Nguyen, (click here for more info) Partner manguyen@ft.newyorklife.com

David Fong, (click here for more info) Partner dafong@ft.newyorklife.com

Alan Demarest, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CLTC (click here for more info) Sales Development Manager ademarest@ft.newyorklife.com

Ana Hernandez, LUTCF  (click here for more info)  Agency Standards Consultant arhernandez@ft.newyorklife.com

Victor Vuong, CLU, ChFC, CLF  Victor Vuong, CLU, ChFC, CLF  victorvuong@ft.newyorklife.com, is the Managing Partner for the Silicon Valley General Office. Victor joined New York Life as an agent in 1986. He qualified for Agent of the Year in both 1987 and 1988. Victor became a Sales Manager in 1988 and was among the top 5 Sales Managers in the country. He was appointed as an Associate General Manager in 1991 and Senior Partner in 1994. In January of 2006, he became Managing Partner to the Silicon Valley General Office. Victor has qualified for numerous Company and Industry awards. COMPANY AWARDS · Senior Vice President’s Trophy – 1991, 1996 · Executive Vice President’s Trophy – 1998 · President’s Trophy – 1998, 2000 · Vice Chairman’s Trophy – 1996, 2000 · Partners Roundtable – 19991,1996, 1998, 2000 INDUSTRY AWARDS ( GAMA) · Career Development Award, 1990 to current year · National Managers Award, 1990 to current year, Platinum Plus level · Master Agency Award, 2001 to current year.  Before coming to the United States, Victor studied in France. He holds two degrees, one in Computer Programming and the other in Hotel & Restaurant Management.  In the United States, Victor earned his CLU and ChFC designations from the American College. Before joining New York Life Insurance Company, Victor worked in the hospitality industry where he gained extensive experience dealing with the public.  Along with his other accolades, Victor speaks French and several Chinese dialects. Victor lives in San Francisco with his wife, Victoria and their daughter, Nataly and son, Napoleon.  Victor’s hobbies include listening to classical music, reading, running, gourmet cuisine and travel.

Melinda Buerger, CLU Melinda Buerger, CLU, mbuerger@ft.newyorklife.com, is the Administrative Manager in the Silicon Valley General Office.  Melinda joined New York Life as a member of the clerical team in the Hayward General Office in 1969 while she attended the University of California, Berkeley and California State University at Hayward.  After graduating from college, she was promoted to Assistant Office Manager of the Golden Gate General Office.  In 1978 she became the Office Manager of the Berkeley General Office.  In 1986 Melinda earned her CLU designation and was appointed the Office Manager in the Oakland General Office. In 1991 she became the Office Manager in the Palo Alto Office. Following the closure of the Palo Alto Office, Melinda, wishing to remain in the Bay Area, accepted a position as the Associate Office Manager in the San Francisco General Office. She was appointed Administrative Manager in Silicon Valley, effective May 1, 2000.  A native of the Bay Area, Melinda lives in Fremont with her two sons, Chris, age 22, and Tim, age 20.  She enjoys reading, doing crafts, gardening and golfing.

Lani Judal, LUTCF Lani Judal, LUTCF, ljudal@ft.newyorklife.com, is a Partner in the Silicon Valley General Office.  Lani graduated from Adamson University (Manila, Philippines) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics.  She migrated to the United States in 1988, and in 1990 earned her Associate degree in Computer Operations, with honors and distinction from the Computer Learning Center in San Jose, CA.  After eight and a half years in the computer industry (Information Technology), she joined the New York Life sales force in June of 1999. She started her career as a Partner in the Silicon Valley General Office in April of 2002.

Steve Carrillo, MBA, LUTCF Steve Carrillo, LUTCF, scarrrillo@ft.newyorklife.com, is a Partner in the Silicon Valley General Office.  Steve started his career with New York Life in June of 2002, after a twenty-year career in the jewelry industry.  Steve spent the last 15 years of his jewelry career in management, developing training and coaching managers on the proper way to manage a business. In Steve’s first twelve months with New York Life he qualified for the Executive Council and, in his first full calendar year, qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table*. In his second Council year, Steve qualified for President’s Council and was promoted to Partner in October of 2004. Steve lives in Santa Clara with his wife Elizabeth and his two sons, Michael who is 9 years old and Mathew  who is 8. Steve is heavily involved with his family and his church.

 Mychael Nguyen, Mychael Nguyen, nguyen@ft.newyorklife.com, is a Partner in the Silicon Valley General Office.  Mychael started his career with New York Life in February 2004 at the Stockton General Office.  He received his Bachelors Degree at the University of the Pacific in 2001. Mychael was in the wine industry for 3 years, being involved with wine making and quality assurance before coming to New York Life.  Mychael qualified for Executive Council twice in the same calendar year and also made the Million Dollar Round Table in his first year.  His accolades included New Org Agent of the Year, NAIFA Rookie of the Year, and the Life Foundation Award, which is a huge accomplishment within the company.  He resides in San Jose with his wife and is very involved in the community and alumni association.

 David Fong,  David Fong, dafong@ft.newyorklife.com,  was born and raised in Salinas, CA.  He graduated from San Jose State University with a Marketing degree in 1995. David has gained a lot of experience in retail, internet and customer service prior to joining New York Life.  He’s been in the insurance industry since 1997 and transitioned into management after reaching Million Dollar Round Table.  When David is not working, he’s with his beautiful wife, Helen and their 1-year old, Cassidy.  They enjoy traveling, cooking, music, and shopping. (Go

Alan Demarest, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CLTC, , Alan Demarest, ademarest@ft.newyorklife.com, began his career in 1982 with Mutual of New York in the Los Angeles area.  After positions as a sales agent, sales manager, life marketing manager, training manager, and district manager for MONY and Farmers Insurance, he came to New York Life in 2004 in Bakersfield as a Partner.  In 2007, he relocated in the Bay Area taking on the position of Sales Development Manager in the Silicon Valley General Office.  He has his CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, and CLTC designations. Alan has three children: Nicole, Chris, and David. 

Ana Hernandez, LUTCF Ana Hernandez, LUTCF, arhernandez@ft.newyorklife.com, is the Agency Standards Consultant in the Silicon Valley General Office. 

  *MDRT is recognized throughout the industry as the standard of excellence in life insurance sales performance.