Yep, that is what we have at the beginning of each year... goose eggs.  We are starting over.  Starting from scratch, and time to try and make the new year the best year ever.  

Hold on, I said "starting from scratch.”  Not all financial pros are starting from scratch...
 

1. The winners have the plans in place, know where they will get a significant part of their business and know just how to approach the year. 
   
2. Also, they have developed strategies and tactics to give them the best opportunity for success.  
   
3. And, they have a marketing budget. 
   
4. But, many, if not most, have a mentor.  Someone that they are turning to for advice and guidance as they plow through his next year.  
   

The year has tremendous promise as well as tremendous challenges.  Who knows what will happen with a "best interest" rule.  Who knows what the new Congress might do? 

Bottom line, you need a plan with plenty of exit lanes.  We have them here at The Ohlson Group. So, if a little nervous about your plan (or lack thereof) give us a call at 1-877-844-0900. Operators are standing by to help.

Well here we are.  The New Year.  I hope that you had a safe and happy Holiday Season.  I also hope that you are brimming with excitement about the financial opportunities that are staring you right in the face. 

I hope that your business and marketing plan is complete, and that you have already implemented your program. I hope that your lead generation programs are already in gear, and that you are also embarking on clients reviews that are a big part of your referred lead program.  I hope that you have updated your website, made it vibrant, refreshed all content and that you are already getting Google leads and filling your seminar via Facebook. 

Your budget, I assume, is complete and you have factored in marketing, research and education.  Bottom line, there is probably nothing that The Ohlson Group can do to help... am I correct?

If you are like the vast majority of pros... you don't have everything put together. Well, we do and we can help.

Come on, let's talk. You have the aptitude but maybe that attitude isn't so good. Why?  You are not prepared. You don't have a plan and you don't have a mentor.  For goodness sakes, give us a call at 1-877-844-0900 and let's talk -  as "our" financial futures might be dependent on this conversation.

Now, do I have your attention?  Were you thinking that I was going to get a little bit political?  Well, sorry... I am talking about building a wall around your client's retirement nest egg.  

You see, we have been living a pretty "charmed" financial life.  Markets have been moving North since the election, hiring is up, unemployment is down, optimism is up, businesses are hiring... why panic?  I am not suggesting a panic, nor am I suggesting that the sky is falling.  On the contrary, I think America's best days are ahead of us and the economic footing is sound.  But, it is all a matter of timing.  

If your clients have 5 years or more till retirement, I might have a very rough time convincing them to go "100% Safe.”  But, for those in retirement, or near, it might be a good time to re-evaluate their risk tolerance, timeline needs for income and maybe "build the wall" around their retirement nest eggs. Or, at the least... a moat.
 
As I am writing this, the market has responded pretty well, and we are making up a lot of our losses over the last couple of weeks.  Many feel as though 2018 will end up as a "no gain" year.  Think about it.  

Talk to present clients that have index annuities and they should be pretty happy.  What about those that purchased because of the income rider?  WOW... they are in seventh heaven. 

So, I started with a joke about the wall.  Well, the moat with a draw bridge might be a better analogy.  Maybe it is time to lower the gate and escort some riskier vehicles off of the property.  Again, I’m not giving investment advice.  But, I am advising you to speak with your clients and re-visit risk tolerance. 
​

I was watching a fund manager on a business news station that was saying that their clients need hand holding.  He also stated that his clients (mostly retail mom and pop shops) were looking for a reasonable rate of return and a nest egg that would provide them with a guaranteed stream of income. 

Now, before you think this was an annuity ad, it wasn’t. It was an advisor talking about alternative investments to growth equities and bonds.  But, as I watched and listened, he could have been promoting annuities. 

It is so important for us to remember this as we speak with our clients and prospects. We need to provide plans… maybe laddering, or maybe a plan with a long term/chronic illness element. Then, we must ask them the important two questions....  “How much do you need, and when do you need it?”

We are in the “catbird seat.”  We have what most Americans want and need.  This is the “Ah Ha” moment in our business. There has never been a better time to be in our business. I am sure that you have seen index annuity sales breaking sales records over the last several quarters. 

​So, keep it simple, have conversations, ask them key questions, and provide solutions. 

When talking to their clients who are already in retirement, many financial professionals fail to consider and explain the benefits of single premium life (SPL). 

Some agents are somewhat stymied by the fact that SPLs are modified endowment contracts (MECs). Which means SPLs are taxed in a similar fashion to annuities. So annuity agents out there today should not find this subject very scary.

Prospects who have money that they've placed on the sidelines just to pass down to their heirs, save for emergencies, or use for opportunities, should consider a single premium life policy. 

In many cases, clients who purchase life insurance, fund their policies with money they don't intend to use for income planning vehicles. So what they basically do, is overfund a life insurance policy with one payment. In this type of contract, they are guaranteed a minimum level of growth throughout the product's life that can also eliminate much of the downside risk often associated with an equity investment. At this stage and many retirees lives, the risk tolerance level has really reduced. 

Not unlike annuities, SPLs have great liquidity where they can take annual withdrawals penalty free. And with many, they also have a money back return of premium guarantee at any time.

Many of these SPLs look, talk, and walk like a hybrid contract.

In other words, if your client had had the inability to do two of the activities of daily living was in a nursing home or required home health care, the entire death benefit, the entire amount goes tax free to your client to pay for those benefits while they are living and when they need the money.

For many clients who don't have traditional long term care plans, they can single premium life to help fund their post retirement medical expenses. These contracts also have a first year bonus that is as good as or better than the annuities out there today.

So isn't it time that you took a look at the benefits of single premium life for your clients? 

If you'd like to know more about SPLs, and if you'd like us to show you how we have agents who are making well into the six figures selling this product, in addition to their annuity and life insurance business, then give us a call at 1-877-844-0900.

You see single premium life wealth transfer is not something new for The Ohlson Group. We cut our teeth on this product and continue to be leaders with the main players in the marketplace. Another good reason to find out why agents from coast to coast refer to The Ohlson Group as a different experience.

That's right.  If all you are doing in the digital marketing world is having a website, then nothing good will come from that activity.  It is like placing a billboard in the middle of nowhere expecting people to call you.  The website is but one piece of the marketing package. 

Now, let me back up a minute…  if you don't have a website, and people decide to check you out prior to an appointment, you are probably toast.  You must have people going to your website, and then there must be something of value for your prospects and clients when they get there. So, how can you do this? Simple... read on.
 
Bottom line, we need all of your prospects, centers of influence and clients getting something of value from you each and every month.  Can that be done? Of course it can - we write the copy, film or record the content, and send to your people under your name.  We build that website that ties in with all of the pieces we send out for you.  We give your people opportunities to learn more about the topics by requesting info from you. Don't worry about the details as we will do it all for you.
 
Guys and girls... wake up and smell the coffee... time to jump in with both feet.  We have learned so much, we are now acquiring consumer leads via digital marketing and now making new discoveries every day.  Big time success in the digital marketing world will not happen overnight.  But, The Ohlson Group has invested tons of time, money and manpower into becoming a leader in this arena.  

Want to have some fun next year?  Want to have your best year ever?  Want to get excited?  Then, call one of the marketing consultants today at 1-877-844-0900,  or send us an email and let's talk.  

​Got to go as I need to get online to buy my shoes, shirts and slacks.  Winter is coming... not kidding… get online, check it out, see what I want and buy. Let's get the public to start doing that with you. 

It's that time of year when we sit down with, or get on a call with our agents and advisors to talk about next year.  Used to be, we would start out by asking, "What do you need?"  You know, what do you need to make next year a good year for you and your business.

But, this year we are changing out tune. We are now asking, "What do you want?"  Time flies by, so what are you waiting for.  It is time to grab "what we want.”  You know, when you were younger in the business people told you that you could do and become anything that you wanted.

So, what has happened?  A few more wrinkles, a little more grey hair (or a little less in my case) and now we just decide to get "what we need.”  Have you lost the dream? Maybe it is time for you to switch teams and have a new coaching staff. 

It is really simple… plan your work and work your plan.  Yes, you have heard that forever. 

First off, I hope that you have begun the planning process for next year.  But, whether you have started or not, why not give us a call at 1-877-844-0900, schedule a time to speak and let's go get... "what you want.” Then you will find out why agents coast to coast continue to refer to The Ohlson Group as... a different experience.

Isn’t it amazing how we look at the 10 day weather forecasts?   I have no scientific proof as to the accuracy of these predictions.  But, I do know that we pay attention to those predictions that have storm warnings. Take Hurricane Michael for example.  This one really packed a punch and most had no idea as to the potential severity when looking at the forecasts. 

But, we in the “insured products” line of work need to tell our clients that there can be financial storms on the horizon.  And, unlike the younger generation, we “mature” Americans don’t have the time to rebuild.  You see, stories help people focus on their lives. Tropical storms, freeze warnings, tornado watches and a bad flu season get people to take action. 

Are you talking to your prospects and clients  about the “10 day forecasts?”  If not, maybe you should be. Tell them to imagine a product that allows you to share in the upside, never take a loss and have an income that is guaranteed for the rest of their lives regardless of any 10 day forecast.

Need help telling the stories?  We have the books. Call us today at 1-877-844-0900  and we will help.

In South Carolina I noticed that there is a small craft advisory.  Potential rough seas, swells and undertow.  I thought, "Wow… it is such a beautiful day and a calm start to the morning. What can be out there?"

Well, most agents  and advisors are what I consider “small crafts.”  Yes, we are not the huge beheamoth groups with tons of staff, piles of money and cash flow to be out at sea if the seas turn rough.  

Bottom line, most need to have a strategic alliance with an IMO that has the time, money and manpower to help you weather any storms. Nope, you don’t “sell your small craft” (but we are interested if you choose to do so) but by aligning with The Ohlson Group we can make 1+1=3.

Take a look at your craft and determine if you would like to have us serve as your lighthouse to keep you from crashing.