Professional Overview
Dago Zuniga is the Chairman & CEO of Difference Financial & Insurance Services, Inc. (DFIS, Inc.), a financial services company headquartered in Torrance, California. He founded Difference Financial in 2011 and has since grown the company to become a recognized expert in retirement, insurance, and professional sales. The company supports a team of approximately 175 employees and is known for its dynamic, educational approach to financial planning with a strong focus on transparency and consumer-first solutions.
Experience and Industry Expertise
Dago Zuniga began his career as a mechanical engineer, graduating with an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he also held the position of president of the Mechanical Engineering Class of 2000. After working in aerospace design and test engineering with Raytheon, he transitioned into the financial industry in 2004, driven by a passion for financial independence and empowerment.
He is recognized as an industry-leading expert on retirement planning, insurance products, and building financial services businesses. Over the years, Zuniga has personally trained thousands of agents and entrepreneurs in these fields. He holds the professional designation of Registered Financial Consultant (RFC®), indicating a formal accreditation and commitment to ethical and professional financial planning standards.
His professional philosophy centers on educating clients and entrepreneurs, promoting financial literacy, and fostering entrepreneurship among his team and customer base. He focuses on creating lifetime income solutions, reducing debt, securing retirements, and providing protection through indexed strategies, which allow clients to pursue market-like growth while protecting cash value.
Company and Leadership Approach
Under Zuniga’s leadership, Difference Financial emphasizes:
- Total transparency in all client dealings.
- Simplification of complex financial concepts into actionable strategies.
- A business model designed to empower entrepreneurs seeking control over their income and lifestyle.
- Recruiting top talent to promote entrepreneurial growth and quality of life improvement within the financial services sector.
- Dedication to fostering a financial literacy “epidemic” to broadly empower individuals to make informed financial decisions.
Difference Financial maintains a strong social media presence, notably through educational videos led by Zuniga that expound on market-protected growth strategies and common financial pitfalls to avoid. The company has received positive customer reviews and maintains a high rating on platforms such as Facebook (rating 4.7/5 from 27 reviewers).
Location and Network
Zuniga is based in Torrance, CA, and has cultivated an extensive professional network with 500+ LinkedIn connections, reflecting his engagement in both industry and community circles.
Educational Background
- Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara (undergraduate)
- Further education includes studies at Cal State University, Long Beach
Key Attributes and Motivations
Dago Zuniga’s career trajectory from engineering to financial services highlights adaptability and continuous professional development. His emphasis on empowerment, transparency, and entrepreneurship indicates a leadership style well-aligned with consultative and educational selling approaches. His advocacy for indexed insurance products and lifetime income planning solutions positions him as a forward-thinking leader in financial services with a strong ethical foundation.
Summary: Dago Zuniga is a technically trained professional turned financial industry leader who has built Difference Financial & Insurance Services into a respected firm specializing in retirement and insurance solutions. His approach combines technical expertise, client education, and ethical entrepreneurship, underpinning a steadily growing company with a strong consumer-centric philosophy and educational outreach.
