Rick Paulsen
Founder and Financial Services Professional
CA Insurance Lic. #0640814
Rick began his career with New York Life Insurance Company as an agent in 1983. Rick considers himself a businessman who sells life insurance. His emphasis is on working with families, professional athletes, affluent individuals, and business owners on business, estate, and charitable planning objectives.
He is in the New York Life Cabinet Hall of Fame and has qualified for Chairman’s Cabinet 2024^ (the highest level of production) for 42 consecutive years. Rick is the 2015 New York Life Council^ President. Also, he made time his Council^ President year to be the Agents Advisory Council^ National President! Rick is very proud that three of his employees have worked for “Team Paulsen” for over 30 years each!
Rick is a graduate of the University of the Pacific, where he earned a basketball scholarship and captained the team his junior and senior years. He was inducted into the University of Pacific and Stockton’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Rick has received numerous awards in his community for his philanthropic endeavors, coaching of youth sports, and community service. He has been on the Boards of the University of Pacific School of Business, Pacific Athletic Foundation, and Dameron Community Hospital. As a gift chairman, Rick has raised over $10 Million in his community for local charities.
Rick was honored by Forbes/SHOOK as one of the Top 40 Financial Security Professionals in the United States for 2025, ranking #1 in Nevada and #30 nationwide.
Rick is married to Nancy and they have two sons; Max who started his career as an agent at New York Life in 2020; and Grant who graduated from the University of Southern California and is living in New York City.
His goal is “to have a great day, EVERYDAY!!!”
Rick Paulsen was ranked as the #30 top Financial Security Professional in the nation for 2025, and #1 best in state Financial Security Professional for Nevada for 2025 by Forbes/SHOOK. Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 12/31/24 - 12/31/25. - https://www.forbes.com/sites/rjshook/2025/07/10/methodology-americas-top-financial-security-professionals-2025/.
Council is an annual company recognition program based on agent production from July 1- June 30.
Max Paulsen
Wealth Advisor
CA Insurance License #4030395
Max joined New York Life as an agent in the Spring of 2020 and represents the third generation of a business that evolved from family roots.
Max previously interned for the New York Life Stockton General Office, as well as the Commercial Real Estate Investment Division of New York Life in New York City. He has accomplished Executive Council 2025^ three years and Presidents’ Council 2024^ twice at New York Life. He currently serves as President on the Board of Directors of the YMCA of San Joaquin County and is also the President of the Good Guys Open charity golf tournament carrying on a tradition his father started in 1983.
Max is a graduate of University of Colorado – Boulder, lives in Sacramento, and he enjoys golf, pick-up basketball, traveling and Buffs football.
Max is a Registered Representative of and offers securities products & services through NYLIFE Securities LLC, (Member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency and a New York Life Company.
Council is an annual company recognition program based on agent production from July 1- June 30.
Andrea Crettol
Registered Service Assistant
CA Insurance License #OM68992
Andrea joined Team Paulsen in 2024 after successfully being a licensed agent with New York Life for six years. Andrea's expertise and commitment to providing the best possible service to her clients in the insurance and financial services industries is what makes her a valuable asset to our team. Andrea's primary role is to assist Rick & Max's clients with their insurance, financial services, and wealth solution objectives.
As a native of Sacramento, Andrea is passionate about supporting her community and has sat on the Board of Directors of several non-profit organizations over the years. When not working, Andrea enjoys spending time with her family & two dogs, hiking, playing board games, and traveling the world.
Joanie Bello
Executive Assistant
Joanie joined Rick in 1988 and assists him with all of the functions associated with the underwriting process of new applications and ongoing customer service. Joanie’s many years of experience in the life insurance industry and her knowledge of the medical requirements, scheduling of exams, and constant follow up with status reports of all policies makes her the perfect liaison to assist Rick with the processing of new business in a quick and efficient manner.
Shari Castles-Lange
Chief of Staff
Shari joined Rick in May of 1993 and works closely with Rick as his Chief of Staff, assisting him with his seminar coordination and travel, marketing, community involvement and fundraising, client meeting preparation, office technology, and the office administration. Shari worked in the New York Life General Office for Rick’s dad (Max Paulsen) for six years while in high school and college and worked for 13 years at local CPA firm before returning to the “Team Paulsen Family”. She was born and raised in Stockton where she continues to support her community with charity work and dog rescue organizations. Shari enjoys her free time at the family cabin in the mountains with her mother, two adult children and three grandchildren.
*Data provided by SHOOK®Research, LLC.Data as of 12/31/24. Source: Forbes.com(July, 2025). Neither SHOOK nor Forbes receives any compensation in exchange for placement on its Top Financial Security Professional (FSP) rankings (including the Best-In-State Financial Security Professional rankings), which are determined independently (see methodology). FSP refers to professionals who are properly licensed to sell life insurance and annuities. FSPs may also hold other credentials and licenses which would allow them to offer investments and securities products through those licenses. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures learned through telephone, virtual and in-person interviews to measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management, sales figures and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and these professionals rarely have audited performance reports. Individuals must carefully choose the right FSP for their own situation and perform their own due diligence. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help individuals choose the right FSP and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.
^Council is an annual company recognition program based on agent production from July 1- June 30.
Our Location
5340 Kietzke Ln
Reno, NV 89511-2067
