Never before, and possibly never again, will the concept of "Independence with Affiliation" be as important as it is today to the successful insurance based professional.  The industry is going through tremendous change.  Some companies that you may have written through in the past are no longer around.  Many IMO's have sold, and mergers and consolidations are changing the financial landscape.  Which companies and IMO's will be the players for the foreseeable future?  Who will have the products and services that are cutting edge?  How do you maximize your compensation (your net compensation) and where will you receive your best marketing and administrative support?

These are probably only a few of the question that you may be asking yourself.  Plus, what does the regulatory landscape hold for all of us?  Where can you turn to find the answers and retain profitable independence?  The Ohlson Group is the answer.  "Independence with Affiliation."  The Ohlson Group has mastered  the unique combination of Service, Credibility, Integrity and Profitability (SCIP).

The Ohlson Group has one of the best annuity and life portfolios available to the successful professional.  Our digital marketing, point of sales pieces, seminar assistance and compensation are among the finest in the industry.  And, our administrative and marketing support staff is second to none.

These are but a few of the reasons that The Ohlson Group and the Safe Money places Agent Network has been experiencing tremendous annual growth.  But, the most important reason is you... our most valuable asset, the successful independent professional.  Please accept our sincere thanks for your past and present support.  My partners, Nick Ohlson CLU,ChFC and Joe Ohlson, LUTCF and I are positioning the company for even greater growth and even greater marketing assistance to get you in front of pre-qualified prospects, under favorable circumstances and on a regular basis.  Plus, help in making your current client base an endless source of new referred leads.  

So, if it has been a while since you did business with our firm or, if you haven't tried us before, give us a call.  What do you have to lose?  We are confident that we can bring positive change to your business.  We look forward to speaking with you.

WOW… that is the average annual cost in 2019 to receive services in a semi-private room in an Indiana skilled nursing facility, according to the Indiana FSSA. 

Let me give you a few other startling facts:

1. 52% of Americans over the age of 65 will need long term care services in a nursing facility.
2. And, the average stay is 2 years and 7 months. 

So, as long as everyone has a couple hundred thousand dollars hanging around, they should be okay.  But, what if there is a spouse at home?  Will he/she have enough cash to stay in the world that they have become accustomed to? Let's talk.

I just attended a meeting where an elder law attorney was speaking about long term care costs and also Medicaid.  He acknowledged that there are far more people with too few assets to cover these costs.  That is when Medicaid comes in... after you are impoverished.  He then spoke of the declining number of insurers in the long term care arena.  

And, he spoke highly of the new asset based products and life and annuity products with accelerated benefits.  As I sat there listening, I still am perplexed as to why more advisors are not offering these products.  Ladies and gentlemen, I am very convinced that these products are going to be the "hot sellers” in the next 2 years.  And, this is perfect for a client review.  You can discuss this particular calamity, and ask how they would handle it.  

Look, you pledge to give the best service to your clients.  Are you doing them a disservice when you don't discuss and present these solutions?  Want to talk? Give us a call at 1-877-844-0900, or book an appointment with one of our Marketing consultants.

Sound like a confused quarterback?  Actually, it is a choice made by many of our clients and prospects. Well, at least the "go short" part.  Many have a CD mentality and don't want to commit for a very long time.  

So, we see more and more 3 and 5 year products being purchased.  But, everyone has access to a lot of good "short" duration products.  How do you separate yourself from the competition?  You do it by telling them to also go long.  But no decision has to be made today. Want me to clear this up?  Okay,

Here is the deal.  Your client wants a 3 or 5 year duration annuity.  Might be a MYGA or might be a fixed index product.  Ask you client if he/she thinks interest rates will go up in the future.  I will assume they will say yes.  

So, build the future.  Show the client how they can take the short product now, 1035 into a SPIA later - payouts will be higher if interest rates rise, and then have an income they can't outlive. Nice thing here is that you are showing a solution for the future, but the "go long" decision doesn't have to be made today.

Give the guys and girls a call and discuss. 

Well, the time finally came when I was asking that question of my siblings.  Of course, they were also asking me the same thing.  My mom is fine with me giving this background. So, here is what happened. 

My mom has been living by herself since my dad passed away.  That was almost exactly 6 years ago.  My mom has always wanted to stay in her own home.  It wasn't a huge place, but a nice 3 bedroom ranch with a screened porch and small yard where she could putter around.  My mom has been doing pretty well. You know, exceptionally well for a woman with a little leukemia and also a lady that is legally blind.  I won't even go into the heart issues that this strong 90 year old woman deals with.

Well, no need to go into all of the details.  Suffice it to say that she got sick, went into the hospital and also 4 weeks in rehab.  Now, we have moved her into an assisted living facility. This is a beautiful senior community and she will be very safe, have more social interaction and all of us feel better knowing mom is in good hands.  Oh, the price for a place like this when you have certain ailments that require some assistance in the acts of daily living?  Let's just say north of $5000 per month.  Fortunately, my mom and dad were frugal and she will be able to handle this, even though they did not have long term care coverage. So, what is the purpose of this backdrop? Let me continue.

I have two questions for you Mr/Ms Advisor...

1. Can your clients handle this if they had to go into a community like this? 
2. Do they have the assets and how long will they last? 

I am confident that the vast majority of people could not do this.  And, the vast majority do not have long term care coverage. Yes, I know it is expensive and the costs continue to rise.  

But, there is another answer: Asset based coverage.  A life policy, or an annuity policy with enhanced benefits or accelerated death benefits if you choose a life policy. These products are perfect and should be flying off of the shelves. There is streamlined underwriting on many of these plans.  Plus, we have the presentation, the products and the training to help you help your clients.  And, the more help you provide, the more money you make.  What a business! 

So, how about meeting with your clients in a review and ask them what they are going to do about mom (or dad).  "And, what are you going to do Mr./MS Client if this happens to you?”  Then present the solution.  Looking for help? Give our office a call at 1-877-844-0900 and we will get you up to speed on these products.

Well it is that time of year again. Getting ready to file your taxes, and also sending in a check for your quarterly estimates.  Stinks, doesn't it?  Yep, you squirreled away the money and then life got in the way.

Did you know that The Ohlson Group pays a quarterly allowance right around the time that your taxes are due? Let us give you money to pay your quarterly federal income tax estimates... or money towards your Quarterly tax estimates. So, many of our associates get the check and the pressure is off.

Can you keep a secret? 

We have one company that is paying a one time lump sum after the year closes out. Could be great to pay for federal taxes.  Want more info?  Of course you do. Who would walk away from money?

Call is today at 877-844-0900. Another reason why agents coast to coast continue to refer to us as a different experience.

We have all heard the saying, "Life is short".  We all know what that means.  Time flies by, and the years seem to sail by as we age.  When we focus on that, we usually think of things we want to do or accomplish and decide that we had better get on it. 

But, life can be very long.  And, for some, that could become a problem.  Longevity is one of the greatest challenges people have when looking at their retirement income plans.  We might just live longer than the actuarial tables predicted.  This, according to many surveys, is a leading concern for financial professionals when planning for their clients retirement.  

For those in the investment arena, they try to have a good balance of conservative investment, while keeping some equity stocks in the portfolio to preserve the capital growth.  Some pros will use bonds to take care of essential expenses. You know… the home, the loans, the utilities, etc.  But, sometimes life gets in the way.  And, there are some circumstances beyond our control that can derail the plan.  A good example could be geopolitical events that could shatter or upset financial markets. 

So, what about the client that does not want to take any chances?  The one that just wants the guarantee?  Well, the answer is obvious.

Annuities with income options can provide clients with the income that they can never outlive, and peace of mind knowing that they can plan for their lives... no matter how long that they live.  There can be other factors like a chronic illness, or a long term care event.  Well, don't we have those products and riders as well?  Of course we do.

You know, as I have said many times, I am sort of like a financial magician.  "Tell me what you need and when you need it. I will give you the exact amount of money you should deploy in this annuity, and I will make it happen."  What a great profession to be in.  No, we will not be hitting financial home runs when you look at rates of return.  But, our Safe Money Instruments will usually (historically) provide a rate of return that exceeds most other Safe Money Places. 

Keep it simple, explain our products and let people sleep at night.  Because remember, life "could” be very long.

Well, if you know me at all, you know that I have never been a farmer.  But, as an MDRT agent, I always planted seeds with my clients and prospects today... hoping for a harvest tomorrow. 

I do know quite a bit about gardening. I know that you have to tend to the plants.  And, if you tend to those flowers, they will continue to provide pleasure for you during the season.  The same is true with your clients... if you have clients, that is. 

Please don't take offense, I know that the majority of our valued associates in the field have clients.  You know, people that you have a continued relationship with.  People that count on you for direction and guidance in the financial services relationship. 

But, unfortunately, some in our business have customers who are a "one off transaction.”  Now, I had (and have) plenty of these customers, too. They would be people that were just looking for one thing to take care of one need.  Could have been a term policy at the lowest premium, or a MYGA with the highest rate.  They view me as a facilitator, and I was happy to handle the transaction.  But, that is a tough way to build a business.  One off sales also don't produce many referrals.  So, what is the purpose of this "farming story?"  Read on please.

I hear most agents and advisors stating that they need "leads."  Well, of course we all need to keep a marketing program to provide us with pre-qualified prospects, under favorable circumstances and on a regular basis.  But, are you overlooking your greatest asset... your client base? 

In other words, are some of the fruits just withering on the vine?  If so, we have solutions to help you get in front of these customers and turn them into clients.  Okay, we all know that the new client does not give us all of their assets with the first sale.  You earn their trust by the service you provide, the promises you keep, and the perceived value you present to them. You may have not spoken with these purchasers of your products for many years.  If that is the case, it is time for a periodic review.  This can be done either via phone or face to face.  Yes, this is a job, but it will provide you with great dividends.  How to get started?

Okay, we have the system.  But, we need for you to "buy in.” You might need to hire a college kid in the summer to make some calls and update your CRM.  Don't have a CRM?  We can direct you. We will also provide the presentation and info to be gathered. We will immediately start sending, on your behalf and with your name, quality content to your clients and prospects, to enhance your credibility.  Now, there is a lot more to this program, and we would like to help.

You need to give us a call and find out why agents from coast to coast continue to refer to us as... a different experience. Hey, looks like I am watering our plants (that would mean you) and hoping for a harvest today... or tomorrow.

A king tide is a colloquial term for an especially high spring tide.  It is not a scientific term.  King tides are the highest tides.  They are naturally occurring and predictable events.  Per Wikipedia, predicted heights of a king tide can be further augmented by local weather patterns and ocean conditions.

You might wonder what got me to this topic. Well, I sat down to work at my South Carolina office and looked at all of the reeds and debris on the beach. The tides came in dangerously high. They approached the new dunes developed by nature and the new snow fences erected after Hurricane Matthew.  The waves are exceptionally high, and there is a small craft warning.  As I am writing this, I see people walking the beach undeterred.  All will look okay in a couple of days but there is, and will be, additional beach erosion which lowers our guard against a major storm.  So, what does any of this have to do with the financial services business?  Please read on.

Years ago, I published my second book, “Waves of Change” and wrote regarding changes to our business, personal and family lives.  I am continuing that concept with “King Tides.” 

The King Tides are changes that are happening to our industry, the consumer, the economy and world events. Like the tides, they are predictable and we at The Ohlson Group have been watching and have the protection that you need and the opportunities to ride the waves to prosperity and good times.  Simply put, all areas of marketing, research and education are changing.  Consumers are getting the info they desire online.  They view your website as ”who you are.”  We can take you into the digital world while continuing to embrace the four pillars of service, credibility, integrity and profitability.  S

o, looking for answers, more income and more fun?  Call the family owned boutique IMO and find out why agents from coast to coast continue to refer to us as a different experience.

For many of us, these two tasks go hand in hand.  We make great New Years resolutions but sometimes, life gets in the way. I find that old ideas and habits can get in the way of following through on great new Years’s resolutions.  But, there is good news… spring is around the corner.

Why not get a jump start on your spring cleaning and start now.  Maybe it is time to get rid of some of the old habits, and ways of doing business, that got in the way of your New Year’s plans.  Bottom line, things are moving fast.  So, I will make this short and get to the point. 

You might need an additional tool for your marketing tool bag.  I am not suggesting that you throw out the tried and true methods of doing business.  I am talking about adding something new. That something new is integrating digital marketing to your arsenal. We have the package.

Give us a call today and set up a no obligation consultation with one of our marketing consultants. We have spent the time, money and manpower to get this going. It is working… it is working but territories are limited. Don’t delay… call today.

“Chainsaw Al Dunlap” passed away this January 2019.  Many of you will remember that he was the turnaround CEO at Sunbeam in the 1990’s. He used deep cuts and turned the company around.  He was not without his detractors, but did get the job done.

I am not trying to praise or offer disturbing facts about Mr. Dunlap. He was also a great philanthropist and a man ahead of his time.  His memoirs were prophetic in some ways.  The Wall Street journal published a small portion of the memoirs. “The harsh reality of business life is that what works today won’t even be satisfactory tomorrow,” he wrote.  “The predators are out there, circling, trying to stare you down, waiting for any sign of weakness, ready to pounce and make you their next meal.”

The same holds true for the financial services industry.  Information to potential clients is easy to obtain.  Yes, the consumer still needs our help.  But, how do you get noticed in this fast moving, crowded and complex world?  

You need a digital footprint to go along with traditional marketing.  You don’t want to quit what you are doing, but you must get in the game.  You need digital leads along with your “tried and true” methods. 

But, how do you start?  If you read our info, you know that The Ohlson Group has the entire package.  Give us a call and see how easy it is to get started.  We have months of research, have spent tens of thousands of dollars in testing and we can make it happen. Give us a call and avoid being your competition’s “next meal.”