Neil G Ballotte

Brown & Knapp was formed in 1980 after two Northwestern Mutual Financial Representatives, Kenneth P. Brown and Robert D. Knapp, decided to join forces, initially focusing on providing selective Executive Benefit Programs, Estate Planning and Business Succession Planning to businesses and individuals.  In 1989 Brown & Knapp implemented a portable individual disability insurance plan for the Medical Residents and Interns at Yale New Haven Hospital. Ken’s son, David, joined the firm in 1991, primarily focusing on servicing and expanding the benefit programs in the medical arena. This program expanded to include Medical Students, Clinical Fellows, and Physician Assistants, as they all had similar needs.  With the success of the programs at Yale, came additional training programs at Greenwich Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and The University of Pennsylvania, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter School of Medicine.  In 1999 the Yale University School of Medicine Medical Faculty initiated one of the first Supplemental Individual Disability Plans in the country, on a large-scale basis for all full time Medical Faculty, with the assistance of Brown & Knapp.  In anticipation of Ken and Bob’s retirements and the firm’s rapidly expanding medical client base, Neil G. Ballotte joined the firm in late 2002 and started to service the medical students, residents, and fellows with Dave.  The program expanded again to include the employed physicians and advanced practice providers of the Northeast Medical Group (the physician’s group of Yale New Haven Health).  In 2010, Ken Brown retired after 42 years with Northwestern Mutual and Jesse J. Liska joined the firm to work with Dave and Neil.  Bob Knapp retired in 2013 after 40 years with Northwestern Mutual.  Dave, Neil, and Jesse continue to service many of Bob and Ken’s clients, as a professional courtesy to their retired partners.