South Florida Business Center
The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic. We want to take this opportunity to share our plan to protect you as our customer, our financial professionals, and employees.
Our office has implemented a work from home policy for the immediate future. We are checking our voicemail frequently throughout the business day so you can be assured a prompt response to any questions you have. Thank you and take care of yourselves and others.
For more information, check out information on managing the uncertainty.
The South Florida Business Center is a group of local offices representing Principal® and is made up of a diverse and experienced team of management and support staff. We are proud of our heritage and our multi-cultural personality. In addition to English, we can speak a variety of languages, including: Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, French and Italian.
Working with us
If you’re interested in working with us as a financial professional, we’ll provide you a professional and supportive environment that helps you build your knowledge and skills. Learn more about what it’s like to work with us and meet our management team.
See our office locations & financial professionals
If you’re looking for a financial services product, we can help you find a local financial professional at Principal® to discuss your financial needs, as well as purchase life insurance, annuities, securities and investments.
See a list of financial professionals in South Florida to contact one directly. Or, email Ann Cohen or give her a call at 954-885-5101.
Our alliances & associations
Chambers of Commerce
- Miramar Pembroke Pines Chamber of Commerce
- Latin Chamber of Commerce of the United States (CAMACOL)
Associations
Do you want to make a difference and help others solve problems? We do too. That’s why we want to talk to you about your future with Principal. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to move your business in a new direction, we’ve got your back.
An inclusive culture and tools to build your career
The one thing we have in common is that each of us is different. That’s why we seek diversity in the people we hire. Our inclusion extends to the way we do business with a flexible work culture. That may mean you want to focus on a specific market, be a solo practitioner or join a team. No matter what you choose, we’re here to give you the right tools to build your confidence and help you succeed.
Meet the management team
Now that you know a little about our business center, we’d like to tell you about the amazing folks you’ll be working with.
Lou Barrionuevo CLU®, ChFC®, CLF®, LUTCF® - Regional Managing Director
Lou oversees the growth and development of the southeast Florida region and leads the business center with decades of experience and knowledge in this ever-changing dynamic and fast paced multi-cultural global investment community.
Through his leadership he has created a vibrant business center culture of heartfelt relationships, where his team focuses on helping people, whether they be financial professionals or clients looking to identify, set and plan to achieve their financial goals.
Originally an immigrant from Cuba in the 60s, Lou was raised here in the South Florida Community. Lou is married and has three beautiful grown daughters; he continues to serve the community in various professional organizations and he and his wife are very active in their faith as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Contact information
954-885-5111 or 786-257-2222
barrionuevo.lou@principal.com
Pedro L. Torres - Managing Director
Pedro started his career in financial services as a comprehensive financial planner over two decades ago and progressed into management roles within firms in the industry such as Ameriprise Financial, Citibank/Smith Barney, Prudential, Guardian, HSBC Bank, and Bank of America Securities. He has trained and developed over 100 financial professionals. He has managed various financial enterprises under his holistic philosophy and dedicated processes, which focus on planning for the future, family legacy and career-life satisfaction.
At Principal®, Pedro is responsible for developing and elevating the business center’s south Florida region financial professionals. He holds FINRA series 7, 24, & 65 securities registrations and is insurance licensed in Florida. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Economics, and was born and raised in New York City.
Pedro currently makes his home in South Miami with his wife Fabiola and their two boys Lucas and Adam.
Contact information
954-885-5068
torres.pedro@principal.com
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Shannon Barrionuevo CLF®, LUTCF® - Field Supervisory Associate
With 18 years of industry experience and over 15 years with Principal®, Shannon is responsible for assisting in the supervision of financial professionals in the south Florida and upstate New York regions. She maintains the FINRA series 6, 7, 26, 24, 66, and 53 securities registrations and is insurance licensed in Florida.
A long-time resident of Broward County, Shannon is married and lives with her husband along with their 4-legged children Abby and Haley in Pembroke Pines. Shannon and her husband are very active in their faith as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Contact information
954-885-5112
barrionuevo.shannon@principal.com
Ann Cohen, CLF® - Site Coordinator
Ann oversees the day to day activity around helping our financial professionals run compliant, efficient offices as well as many other office functions and off-site events. With close to 50 years experience in the financial services industry, Ann is passionate about better serving our clients and our financial professionals.
Ann and her husband David are long time residents of Cooper City, Florida; have two grown children and one grandchild. If they are not visiting their grandchild, they enjoy spending any free time traveling the world.
Contact information
954-885-5101
cohen.ann@principal.com
Maria I. Hernandez - Business Development Consultant
Maria's focus is on assisting the managers in building the organization with prospective financial professionals. She constantly searches the tri-county area using referrals, sponsorship and resumes to come across candidates.
Maria lives in Delray Beach, Florida and enjoys spending time with friends and family, and her pet Yorky, Duncan.
Contact information
954-885-5114
hernandez.maria.i@principal.com
Laura Grell - Candidate Experience Consultant
Laura started with Principal in October 2017 and has over a year of experience in recruiting and HR support. She specializes in candidate experience and delivering quality recruiting/selection assistance.
Laura earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing with an emphasis in Sales Management from the University of Northern Iowa.
Laura stays active by working out and golfing. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and traveling to new places.
Contact information
515-878-6326
grell.laura@principal.com
Ginny Otero - Manager, Field Operations
Ginny joined Principal in 2015 and has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Ginny focuses her day to day activity on leading her team of New Business Consultants in our Region. Partnering with the New Business Consultants, Ginny and her team focus on providing support in the area of New Business submission and processing to ensure our Financial Professionals can focus on building relationships and creating a positive experience for their clients. Ginny is a lifelong resident of Tampa, FL where she and her husband, Max raised their 2 children. She enjoys the beaches, cycling, kayaking, gardening, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Contact information
813-872-5856
otero.ginny@principal.com
Ileana Brink - New Business Consultant
Ily assists the financial professionals in the Coral Gables office with new business processing and follow-up as well as assisting with marketing campaigns to create new opportunities. "The best part of my job is helping and interacting with the sales force," she states. Bi-lingual (English and Spanish), and of Cuban decent, Ily has lived in South Florida since 1968. She resides in Miami and enjoys shopping, traveling, reading and spending time with her son Bobby and wife Stacia and her beautiful grandchildren.
Contact information
786-257-2239
brink.ileana@principal.com
Doreen Campbell - New Business Consultant
Doreen serves as a New Business Consultant where she enjoys interacting with the sales force. Very active in her community, she serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Excelsior High School and she volunteers her time when she can with the Kiwanis Club of Lauderdale Lakes, FL. Doreen has lived in Broward County since 1987 with her husband and enjoys reading, dancing, listening to music and sports.
Contact information
954-660-5877
campbell.doreen@principal.com
Sandra Pollock Wallace - New Business Consultant
Sandra works with the financial representatives in the Miramar office handing all aspects of new business processing, from the implementation of marketing programs and operational strategies, serving as a liaison with our home office underwriting team and making sure all files are compliant.
Community involvement is important in her life and she is a member of Immanuel Temple Church of Pembroke Pines where she serves as President of the Stewardess Ministry, Co-Chair on the Women's Ministry for Sistah's Month, ICare Leader and Finance Team, Intercessory Ministry, Missionary Ministry 2nd VP and President of the yearly Thanksgiving Project. Sandra is a Certified Assisted Living Manager and supports local organizations such as Eastern Sta; and serves as her family reunion president. The Wallaces are long-time residents of South Florida. In 2012 Sandra and her husband Lee became grandparents for the first time when their son Lee III and his wife Traneka welcomed beautiful baby Lorriel Chanel to the family.
Contact information
954-885-5140
wallace.sandra@principal.com
Karen Ruiz - New Business Consultant
Karen has over 20 years of experience in financial services administration and is responsible for general administrative work in the Miramar office working side -by -side her team of financial professionals as a liaison with home office departments including communications, marketing, underwriting and sales support. Karen holds her 215 License for Life & Health Insurance in Florida. She is known for her work ethic, high attention to detail and states: "My goal in the office is to give my 'all' and provide top of the line client and agent service," she affirms, "I truly love what I do!" A native of Peru, Karen speaks three languages: Spanish, Portuguese and English. She enjoys sharing time with her family.
Contact information
954-885-5140
ruiz.karen@principal.com
Madeline Menendez - New Business Consultant
Mady works out of the Coral Gables office and thoroughly enjoys assisting her team of agents with everything from seeking marketing tools for prospecting, prepping presale packets to ultimately processing applications thru their culmination. She credits her 25 years in the healthcare industry for many of her skills such as assisting agents with their prospecting needs, focus on providing elite customer service as well as maintaining a positive and upbeat attitude in this ever-changing industry. Mady enjoys spending time with friends and family seeking new eateries in her native Miami, the beach, gardening, exercising and most of all traveling.
Contact information
786-257-2214
menendez.madeline@principal.com
Cindy Duick, CLF®, LUTCF® - Senior Regional Business Strategist
Cindy's mission is to help field leaders, their teams and financial professionals achieve success through efficient use of resources, developing markets and strategic business planning. She partners with teams throughout the United States. Her financial services experience began in 1999, however she has worked in many aspects of sales and marketing in diverse fields such as advertising and sales promotion, corporate healthcare administration, and manufacturing.
Originally from Lancaster, PA, Cindy lives in Boca Raton with her husband. Cindy is a long-time member of the Gulfstream Guardian Angels Rottweiler Rescue, a Defender for 4Kids of South Florida, an advocate for the Alzheimer's Foundation, and a member of St. Jude Catholic Church Boca Raton.
Contact information
954-778-6682
duick.cindy@principal.com
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Interested in meeting with a financial professional near you? Great! Check the list below to see who’s available in your area and learn more.
Miramar office
3401 SW 160th Avenue, Suite 400
Miramar, FL 33027
954-885-5101
Directions to the Miramar office
Boca Raton office
150 E. Palmetto Park Rd., Suite 800
Boca Raton, FL 33432
561-862-8051
Directions to the Boca Raton office
| Angela Centauro* centauro.angela@principal.com 561-465-7448 |
Coral Gables office
255 Alhambra Circle, Suite 630
Coral Gables, FL 33143
786-257-2200
Directions to the Coral Gables office
| Ines Becerra becerra.ines@principal.com 954-885-5072 | Jim Pappas pappas.jim@principal.com 786-257-2215 |
| Myrthia Moore, MsEd, MFT moore.myrthia@principal.com 786-257-2221 | Robert Pulles, CFP® pulles.robert@principal.com 786-257-2209 Connect with me on LinkedIn Website |
| Antonio Prado prado.antonio@principal.com 786-200-9995 Connect with me on LinkedIn | Gabriel Vasquez vasquez.gabriel@principal.com 786-257-2232 Connect with me on LinkedIn |
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The Financial Professionals in the South Florida Business Center are licensed in AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IL, MD, MA, MI, MO, MT, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, and VA (some or all states) to offer insurance products, life insurance (including variable life), annuities (including variable annuities), securities and investment advice.
This site is not a solicitation of interest in any of these products in any other state.
Insurance products from the Principal Financial Group® are issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co. (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Co. Securities and advisory products offered through Principal Securities, Inc., 800-247-1737, member SIPC. Principal National, Principal Life, and Principal Securities are members of the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA 50392.
* Non-securities registered; insurance licensed financial professional
Important Consumer Information: The South Florida Business Center Financial Professionals of Principal Securities may only transact business in a particular state after licensure or satisfying qualifications requirements of that state, or only if he or she is excluded or exempted from the state's registration requirements. Follow-up, individualized responses to consumers in a particular state by any of the Financial Professionals of Principal Securities that involve either the effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, as the case may be, shall not be made without first complying with the state's requirements, or pursuant to an applicable state exemption or exclusion. For information concerning the licensure status or disciplinary history of a broker-dealer, investment adviser, BD agent or IA representative or any financial institution he or she represents, contact your state securities law administrator.
The Financial Professionals of Principal Securities are licensed in a number of states to offer insurance products, and life insurance (including variable life), annuities (including variable annuities), and are securities and advisory registered in a number of states. This site is not a solicitation of interest in any of these products in any other state.
Principal Life maintains certificates of authority to transact insurance in all 50 states. Principal Life NAIC identification number is 61271. Principal National NAIC identification number 71161