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.”

Do you have a defined digital marketing strategy?  Do you separate it from your "time tested traditional marketing" strategy?  Or, are you testing digital marketing without a strategy and/or proven tactics?

Too many today just try some new "Digital Marketing silver bullet" that they saw, or heard about in a promotional newsletter.  But, they didn't have a strategy.  And without a digital strategy you probably don't, or won't know if you are getting the attention of the right target market, at the right time and with the right message.

The successful financial professional has a digital marketing strategy and he/she tries to take the "guessing" out of what he/she does and focuses on getting ahead of the competition and increasing the bottom line while "having fun.”

The English dictionary describes a strategy as a plan of action to achieve a long term or overall aim.  I've served on a number of boards, and was always amazed at how each described strategy and tactics.  I was always impressed that my hospital board got it right.  They knew the difference between strategy and tactics.  "Strategy is the what, why, where and when.”  Tactics are "How you are going to achieve the strategy.”

So, have I confused you?  Do you feel like the digital wave is rushing over you and you are caught in the undertow? 

If so, don't feel like the Lone Ranger.  But, many of your competitors are "riding the Ohlson Group digital wave" and are finding this profession to be a lot more fun and a lot more profitable. No, we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.  We integrate our proven digital marketing strategy into your overall marketing plan and continue to treasure and utilize traditional marketing tactics and skills. 

There is a tropical disturbance starting to form.  It is the "digital wave."  Ride it with us or risk getting swept under by the rip tides. Call us today at 1-877-844-0900

In the financial services industry, like many others, digital marketing has become a must. If you do not have an online, multi-faceted presence then you are getting left behind. And the sad part is, you will not realize what is happening until it is too late! 

Working with hundreds of agents/advisors per year, I have seen the pitfalls of a producer who does not have an online presence. These folks do apparently cannot see what is staring them in the face: that if you do not have an online presence your business will continue to die a slow death.

Here are things you NEED to be doing to continue your success in the financial services arena:

1. Have a drip e-mail system in place – with VALUABLE content that consumers will want to view (other agents/advisors are likely already e-mailing YOUR clients)
2. Have a web site with relevant content, videos and landing pages – and blog posts!
3. Utilize digital means (like Facebook and Google) to acquire new clients and prospects
4. Brand yourself digitally. Who are you? What separates you? WHOSE team are you on?

You see, today’s consumer is different than that of even five years ago. Today, buyers are online searching Google for solutions. They are looking up agents’ websites. They are looking at Google reviews. They are watching informative videos. Heck, they are not much different than you or me! If you are like me, you do these things on a daily basis when you buy shoes, purchase a car or compare prices on a home theatre system, etc.

What can you do to get up and running in this new era? Sounds expensive, right? Sounds technical and confusing? Sounds like a ton of work! Well, it can be. There are lead vendors who will tell you, “for $6,000 I can do everything you mention in those four points”. It’s true. They can set up a generic website, put together unbranded videos and send out fairly relevant e-mails to your folks on a regular basis. Heck, they may even say “we can get you Google Annuity leads for $300 to $350 per lead – just buy 10 and you will have success!” 

Pump the brakes! These folks are in the VENDOR business. They exist to sell you these products. The Ohlson Group, and our Safe Money Places properties, is an IMO. We are motivated to help you become a better agent and close more good business. 

If you are still reading, you may wonder – what is my point? Here it is – plain and simple:

1. We have the full digital marketing package.
2. We can fill workshops for a fraction of the cost of the worn-out mailer methods.
3. We can get real time Google user-generated leads– and they don’t cost $350.
4. We will build you an official Safe Money Places Agent website at no cost.
5. And we will drip on your client base at no cost.

 
There is no reason you cannot be a part of the new generation of sales people. Age is not a factor. Nor is technological experience. You need to be with an IMO that has all of these things in place so you can go out and help more people. That is what makes The Ohlson Group … a different experience!

People get older and they spend less… except for healthcare. In a 2017 LIMRA survey, 4 in 10 retirees are concerned that their healthcare costs will affect their standard of living. 

The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College estimated that a married couple age 65 may pay as much as $260,000 in out of pocket healthcare and nursing home costs. This number could be very low if we factor in all Long Term Care costs.

So, why not offer a product that can address these healthcare needs and provide a tax free death benefit if the money isn’t needed. Come on, take advantage of these great products.  Call us for marketing assistance.

We are in a tremendous profession.  We can really choose to work as much, or as little as we want, as we approach retirement.  We spend a great percentage of our time helping our clients meet their retirement goals. 

But, what about yours?  It all starts today.  You need to have a sound marketing plan that will assist you today, as well as tomorrow.  We need to develop a flow of prospects 2, 5 and 10 years from now.  The question is, how do we do that?  

Well, there is no “secret sauce,” as some would have you believe.  We need to analyze our available time, money and manpower to get the job done.  And, to use another old commercial, “This is not your father’s Oldsmobile.” 

Things are different.  Today, you have to have a prescription for success that has an equal portion of human touch, as well as a strong compelling digital presence. Let’s look at some ideas:

First, seminars work but they are different.  Todays Boomers check you about before they attend.  Yes, dinners are great, but seminars can be done without a big fancy meal.  We can help you fill the rooms at a much lower cost.  I am sure you see ads that speak of retirement planning solutions.  Have an interest in doing that? Great… we can help.

What about the next generations?  You know, the people that will get the death proceeds of the products we sell.  Do you have an opportunity to work with them?  If not, we do.  In short, we can help.  Why not give us a call, or send an email and let’s jointly develop a plan that make your retirement dreams a reality. 

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.