Prospecting

Let’s face it – the plethora of digital developments and subsequent demands of our already-stretched comfort zones can exhaust even the most hardy and tech-savvy agent or financial advisor. Sometimes, however, there’s a certain “magic” in simplicity. In this article, we bust open the hornet’s nest of complex choices and neatly pick out the very best hot uses of technology- …

There’s no question that the financial services industry has changed over the last few years and will continue to change in the years to come. We are in the age of robo-advisors, financial social media, digital optimization, fin-tech, and increased regulation. This is all set against the backdrop of market volatility, shifting demographics, and a larger sense of uncertainty among …

The business I got into 22 years ago is not the same business I work in today. It costs more today than it has in the past to market yourself, you’ve got to make sure you don’t run out of money. Greg Spreng is a long-time life insurance and annuity producer with more than 22 years of experience in the …

  A good client appreciation event will have two main things: a meaningful activity and an opportunity for interaction. Client appreciation events are a great way to reward your clients and reinforce your relationship with them. However, advisors and agents often struggle with how to properly run an effective (and fun) event. Many will offer a dinner, maybe a wine …

Well, here we are in the last two months of the year. For some financial advisors, this is a time to wind down and set up for the next year. Some may have a mad dash to close as much business as they can through the month of November and ease off in December. However, there are several strategies that …

What are your business goals for 2015? I hope at least one involves giving back to your community. Deepening your involvement in a community-based charitable organization or not-for-profit can help satisfy your employees’ desire to make a difference while also supporting a good cause and firmly establishing your business and its identity. I’ve seen it with the top brokers we …

Even highly experienced and successful salespeople can have a blind spot. They can be so intent on what they want to accomplish that it’s easy to ignore how others view them. And it isn’t always complimentary. “Oh, don’t take Sally seriously. Just remember that she’s in sales.” In fact, salespeople find themselves on the bottom rung of the public’s trust …

Most agents and advisors face the challenge of getting in front of prospects and acquiring new clients. It can be a daunting task that needs to be approached with thorough, confident planning. When asked what or who they relied on for credible financial planning advice, an overwhelming number of respondents in The Hartford Investments and Retirement Survey who did not …

During the Christmas break, my kids and I have a tradition of piling up on the sofa with a huge bowl of popcorn and watching movies.  My 12-year-old daughter wanted to watch the latest remake of Alice in Wonderland. With Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway in the same movie, I’m thinking it can’t be that bad. So shortly after Alice …

When I was a kid, I was a fan of Mickey Mantle.  He was the idol of many American boys just like me.  Known as “The Mick,” Mantle was one of the greatest home run hitters of the time, and perhaps the greatest switch hitter ever to play the game.  After a 14-year career with the New York Yankees, Mantle …