Short Takes
Long before the Hispanic marketing juggernaut took off in the early 2000s, a number of leading insurance companies had already begun developing a smaller but no less compelling niche group of consumers — the Asian-American market. For over a...
For too long, the financial services industry has largely neglected the female demographic. Financial services companies — with a few rare exceptions — have often turned a deaf ear toward the opportunity presented by the growing number...
Recently the media has focused on the significant number of baby boomers approaching retirement. If you’re a baby boomer, the financial services industry is demanding that you concentrate on building your nest egg. As a group, this category...
The faces and the fortunes of America are changing. Minority populations are growing at astonishing rates, and as these groups assimilate more and more into the American culture and marketplace, they are gaining significant economic power, as well....
The Internet is quite possibly the most ubiquitous technological tool in our society today. Nearly every consumer and business owner uses it for information gathering, business, and contact management. Insurance industry professionals are no...
The year is quickly coming to a close, and many of you must complete your continuing education (CE) credits by the end of the calendar year in order to maintain licensure — and online CE courses are becoming more popular among insurance...
Communicating with your clients, prospects, and centers of influence is important for your practice. Electronic newsletters are an opportunity to send your message to a list that you select and constantly refine, and it also gives you an opportunity...
What does your Web site tell customers about you? To make it effective, your Web site must speak to people’s needs in as few words as possible, answering questions and showing how their needs will be fulfilled. It’s imperative to speak...
Point-of-sale (POS) software could change the way that insurance is bought and sold. It can make agents more productive, allowing them to immediately show customers what their financial situation looks like, what types of coverage they need, and...
When searching the Internet, one will find numerous insurance software programs that are available to large agencies and brokers. Most of them appear to be quite expensive and usually require extensive training before the user can incorporate them...
Ten years ago, insurance agent Sal Cocco used technology in his practice — barely. Now 51, Cocco says he took advantage of just enough tools to get by; his office administrator handled most things on the electronic end. And when he met with...
There are many ways to do this. One way is to get involved in industry activities. Take part in national, state, and local association technology events. Attend user group meeting locally and nationally. Or volunteeer to be part of AUGIE (ACORD-Us...
Researchers at the Center for Women’s Business Research found that female business owners are somewhat more likely than men to prioritize the welfare of current employees when they consider selling their businesses. The survey targeted...
Suitability standards for annuity products and long term care insurance that will apply nationally are the centerpiece of new standards just issued by the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association (IMSA), the premier standards-setting organization...
To help lead the development of financial solutions to one of the most critical issues facing life insurance and financial services organizations today, the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) is convening Boomertirement, an industry summit focused on...
Aetna announced in October that about 2 percent, or approximately 650, of the company’s total workforce of 30,000 will be terminated, including nearly 200 employees in management positions. The company says this is part of its drive to...
If someone will suffer financially when you die, you need life insurance. But figuring out how much you need is not always straightforward. When asked who needs the greatest amount of life insurance coverage, one in four Americans say that Tony...
A series of one-day conferences will teach insurance and financial professionals the latest ways to confidently present and sell long term care insurance. The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance and Agent Media Corp., publisher of the...