Stuart B. Buchanan, FLMI - Director, National Fraternal Congress of America

Stuart B. Buchanan of Elburn, Illinois, serves as Catholic Order of Foresters' (COF) high secretary-treasurer and CFO. Since assuming these roles, he has participated in negotiations that led to two successful mergers - the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, 2005, and The Catholic Knights of Ohio, 2007. He also helped develop and initiate COF's general expense reduction initiative resulting in the Order achieving one of lowest cost per certificate in the fraternal system. In addition, Buchanan directed COF's underwriting procedures re-engineering that significantly reduced application processing time and underwriting costs. Most recently, he has served as project sponsor, leading the Order through an administrative system conversion.

Prior to his February 2006 appointment as high secretary-treasurer, Buchanan held the position of senior vice president of insurance operations where he was instrumental in directing product development. It was during this time that he spearheaded the development and introduction of Catholic Order of Foresters three long-term care plans and initiated the Order's first marketing alliance with another fraternal society. In addition, Mr. Buchanan's responsibilities included oversight of underwriting, administration, policy service, and information systems departments.

Buchanan joined Catholic Order of Foresters in 1982 as a management trainee. During his tenure at COF, Buchanan has served as assistant manager policy service, assistant director sales and marketing, assistant administrative director, and manager of underwriting services. In 2001, he was appointed vice president of insurance operations and in 2004 was promoted to senior vice president insurance operations.

Buchanan, a graduate of the University of Illinois, Champaign, with a B.A. in economics, currently holds the office of Illinois Fraternal Congress President. A member of the FINRA dealers, he holds Series 7 and 63 licenses. Buchanan earned the insurance industry Fellow Life Management Institute with distinction designation.

Buchanan, married to his wife Cathy for 23 years, has two daughters, Brittany and Caitlyn, who attend Eastern Illinois University.

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