Staff Biographies

Harvey E. Weiner

President and CEO

Harvey E. Weiner has been in the insurance industry for 28 years. He is the founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Forest Hills Group Services, Inc. Harvey began his insurance career in 1976 working for New York Life Insurance Company when he obtained his Life, Annuities and Health license. As a struggling agent, that same year, Harvey promised himself that he would become a group producing agent in the field of corporate and financial benefits. Harvey succeeded and became Sales Manager for New York Life Insurance. His promise grew stronger when Harvey was named the #1 Largest Producer Representative for the Small Group Market in New York City.

In 1985, Harvey moved on from New York Life Insurance Company to work for Mutual New York as a Sales Agency Manager. Harvey wanted to enhance his career further and began working for The Guardian Life Insurance Company in 1988. There he specialized in Group Insurance Benefits for the Small and Large Business Market.

Harvey’s extensive career in the insurance industry enabled him to make the decision of a lifetime when he branched from The Guardian Life Insurance Company and created a group department to handle Group Health and Dental Insurance. Harvey collaborated with Nathan Perlmutter and created Forest Hills Group Services, Inc. in 1992. Servicing the Tri-State Area, Forest Hills Group Services, Inc. became successful in providing Group Health and Dental Insurance to the Small and Large Group Business Market. Harvey expanded his corporation to different horizons with the inclusion of Long Term Care, Prepaid Legal Services, Individual and Group Life Insurance and Individual and Group Disability.

Harvey Weiner has taken the Group Department to a new plateau. In 2002, Oxford Health Plans added Forest Hills Group Services, Inc. to their newest division called Oxford Platinum Brokers, an exclusive group for the largest Small Group Sales Producers. In 2003, Aetna named Forest Hills Group Services, Inc. their # 1 Largest Queens Producer for Aetna Products. In October 2004, Empire Blue Cross added Forest Hills Group Services, Inc. as one of their 10 largest producing broker firms in the New York area to their newest promotion called Small Group Premier Broker Program for continuing to sell a large number of small group cases annually. Just this month (November 2004), Empire Blue Cross selected Forest Hills Group Services, Inc. along with two other agencies to launch their Online Renewal System enabling them to access and renew their groups online.

Today, 12 years later, Harvey Weiner and Forest Hills Group Services, Inc. remain a thriving business in extending its services to across the United States. Their staff has grown and is known to be the best in providing exceptional customer service to their clients.

Harvey is the former president and current active member of the Garden City Long Island Chapter of LeTip International, Inc., a large professional networking organization founded in 1978. During Harvey’s presidency, his Garden City Chapter was held high with over 50 members. Harvey is an active member of National Association of Insurance and Finance Advisors (NAIFA).

Harvey resides in East Meadow with his wife of 30 years Judi. They have two grown children, Alison and Scott.

Nathan M. Perlmutter, CLU, ChFC

Chairman

Nathan M. Perlmutter, CLU, ChFC, is the Chairman of Forest Hills Group Services, Inc., President and Chief Executive Officer of the Forest Hills Financial Group, Inc., and founded the agency in 1980 as a General Agent of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York City, NY. The Agency is one of the leading agencies representing The Guardian. Forest Hills Financial Group, Inc. is presently a charter member of The Guardian’s Presidents Forum. Nat has served an unprecedented three terms as Chairman of the Guardian’s prestigious Field Advisory Board.Nat is a past National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Trustee and the Past President of the New York State and New York City Life Underwriters Association. In addition, Nat is a board Member of the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) and chairs their Estate Tax and Business Insurance committee. He is also a member of the Estate Planning Council of New York. Furthermore, he has qualified for Top of the Table and Court of the Table and is a Life and Qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table.
Nat has served numerous times on the boards of many local insurance organizations. He is a Past President of the Brooklyn/Queens Branch of the New York City General Agents and Managers Association 1978-80, Atlantic Agency Managers Association 1982-83, the Queens Branch of the New York City Association of Life Underwriters 1985-86, and the New York City Life Underwriters Association 1988-89.

He is a co-chair of the Life Insurance division of the Anti-Defamation League, from which he received the Torch of Liberty Award in 1994. Nat also co-chairs the Life Insurance division of the Israel Bond drive in New York and received their Medal of Freedom Award as well as also co-chairing the United Jewish Appeal Annual drive for the insurance division. Nat received the “Citation of Honor” from the President of the Borough of Queens for his dedication to serve the needs of children and families for his work with the Queens Guidance Center.

Nat received his Chartered Life Underwriters (CLU) degree in 1978 and his Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) Degree in 1996 from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA.

Arlene M. Walsh

Group Sales Administrator

Arlene Walsh has been in the insurance industry for 24 years. A former employee of American General and Guardian Life Insurance Company, Arlene joined Forest Hills Group Services in its inception in 1992. As Group Sales Administrator, she is here to assist our clients with additions, terminations and answer benefit questions. She spends a majority of the time solving claim issues. Arlene also handles the broker commissions and group renewals for in-force cases.Arlene resides in Glendale with her husband of 35 years Robert. They have two grown children, Sean and Ryan. Arlene enjoys working on her genealogy, arts & crafts and weekend gatherings with family and friends at their neighborhood bar & grill.