Seven Habits of Top Producers
By: Michael Poirot, GamePlan Financial Marketing
Scheduled to appear in August issue of Agent’s Sales Journal
One of the most remarkable things about independent advisors is their wide range of personal and professional backgrounds, personalities, and approaches to life and business. It is ironic, given this broad range of people, that our industry’s top producers often share common traits.
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A Financial Planner’s Guide to Women
By: Stephanie Marchant, GamePlan Financial Marketing
July 2, 2008
Over the last decade there has been an upward shift of women’s earning power and presence in the work force. Women control more than 51 percent of wealth in the United States and trends indicate that this growth will only continue to increase. But despite these higher earnings, women’s confidence in financial planning remains low. An astounding 90 percent of women still feel financially insecure, despite increased involvement and power in financial decision making
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Advisors and Broker-Dealers Have an Historic Opportunity
By Kevin Startt, CFP, ChFC, CLU, CPCU
It has been three years since the inception of FINRA Notice to Members (NTM) 05-50 shook up the FIA world with a mandate for Broker-Dealers to supervise the sale of Fixed Index Annuities. Since then, Broker-Dealers (B/Ds) have scrambled to accommodate existing variable securities producers who generate a fair amount of FIA business.
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Women and Financial Management
By Stephanie Marchant, GamePlan Financial Marketing
A generation ago women often ran their families’ households yet let their husbands control the family finances. Financial planners have encountered untold stories of women who, upon the passing of their husband or a divorce, had very little knowledge of their personal financial situation and were lost in a sea of uneasiness and doubt.
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Is Growing Your Business the Best Thing for You?
By Michael Poirot. GamePlan Financial
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Advisors who yearn to grow their business often face a myriad of decisions that range from identifying the next segment of prospects to finding and keeping top staff. Yet the first question that advisors should ask themselves as their client roster grows and they’re poised for expansion can be very easily overlooked. Is growing your business the best thing for you?.
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Women Are Pursuing Financial Peace
By: Stephanie Marchant, GamePlan Financial Marketing
April 22, 2008
A generation ago women often ran their families’ households yet let their husbands control the family finances. Financial planners have encountered untold stories of women who, upon the passing of their husband or a divorce, had very little knowledge of their personal financial situation and were lost in a sea of uneasiness and doubt.
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Is a Partnership Program Right for your LTC Clients?
By Lindsey Kirk. GamePlan Financial
Thursday, April 3, 2008
More & more frequently, Partnership is becoming a popular topic among advisors. There currently are two basic rules of thought about Partnership. Some advisors are adamant about writing policies with Partnership, while other advisors don’t see value in offering the program to their clients at all.
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Education is Key to Long Term Care Insurance
By Lindsey Kirk. GamePlan Financial
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
It’s no secret that people are living longer and the cost of medical care continues
to rise. Long term care insurance (LTCi) is perhaps the most dynamic living insurance
product to be developed. But despite the media coverage that this topic receives,
many agents and clients still don’t truly understand the issue or how they can benefit
from LTCi products.
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Fixed Index Annuities Can Be A Powerful Bond Substitute
By: Kevin Startt, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CPCU, GamePlan Financial
Friday, February 15, 2008
In the 1890s, caramel was the candy of choice in America. Charles Hershey, however, had a vision that chocolate could capture the taste buds of America. The rest of the Hershey candy story is history. The same holds true of Fixed Index Annuities (FIAs). Despite a year in which this emerging savings tool was challenged by a stellar stock market, regulatory challenges and an inverted yield curve, FIAs still provide a viable alternative to laddered CDs, bonds, bond funds and even the fixed component of a Variable Annuity (VA) asset allocation model.
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How to Make Direct Mail Improve Your Bottom Line
By Stephanie Marchant. GamePlan Financial
Friday, February 15, 2008
Direct mail can be a very effective way to boost your sales. There are, however,
time-tested do’s and don’ts. If you understand the basics, you’ll create a very
effective marketing tool.
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Current Market Offers New Opportunities
By Kevin Startt, CFP, ChFC, CLU, CPCU GamePlan Financial
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
You’ve heard the old adage that you don’t get a second chance to make a first
impression. With today’s increasing emphasis on client suitability, especially
for the first wave of baby boomers, planners and advisors should know that they
may not get a chance to make a first impression if regulators have their way in
protecting this politically and economically powerful group of customers.
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Ten Tips to a Successful First Meeting
By Michael Poirot. GamePlan Financial
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Every salesperson understands the most important moment when dealing with potential
clients is the first five minutes. Most top producers agree that potential clients
are not just buying a product, they are buying you. Did you know that 90 percent
of your ability to close a sale is based on your capability to build rapport and
a connection with potential clients? If they do not trust that you have their best
interest at heart, you will have lost your connection, and your sale...
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2007 SMA Advisor of the Year Finalists: 7 Questions for the Final 5
By Brian Anderson. Senior Market Advisor Magazine
Monday, October 1, 2007
There is no shortage of highly talented advisors serving the senior market. We at
Senior Market Advisor are reminded of this fact every year as we sift through the
many dozens of thorough nominations we receive for what has become one of the most
prestigious honors in the industry for an advisor...
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