I​f you have been following my recent articles, you might have noticed that I am a boxing fan. The individuality of the sport, and the courage and perseverance that professional boxers display is what made me a fan of the sport of boxing.

In boxing, personal responsibility and accountability are traits that every champion embodies. After eight-weeks of grueling training and game-planning with the respective fighter’s team, the boxer must enter the arena on his own – by himself.

The results (excluding the unfortunate times when judges are corrupt) speak for themselves – you either win or lose. The pugilistic nature of the sport is raw, and one punch can change a boxer’s career. That one knockout punch – sometimes called the Sunday Punch – can change the trajectory of the future.

For the winning fighter, they become or retain the championship belt. For the losing fighter, the one that got nailed with the Sunday Punch, they often face a crossroad in their career and in life. They can choose to retire or mount a comeback for revenge.

Last weekend, the world watched as Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford headlined Netflix’s first professional boxing championship bout. Both fighters were champions in various weight classes, and both were known as contenders for the unofficial “pound for pound” best fighters in the world.

While Alvarez was favored to win, many thought Crawford would prevail. And he did, indeed win the fight. After 12 rounds of fighting, the judges unanimously called the fight for Crawford. It was an easy evening for the slick, quick and cunning Terence Crawford. He outclassed Alverez and became the super-middleweight champion of the world.

So, what does this have to do with annuities and life insurance?

We all face challenges and crossroads in our daily lives. The way we respond to challenges is the key to everything. Positivity is a choice and leading a positive professional and home life is paramount for anyone in our business.

And while you are an independent agent – you are not alone. The Ohlson Group is in your corner. We have the best back office in the industry. The smartest marketers in America and a family-built business that is being run by family! Sure, my brother Nick and I are family. But we view all our employees as family – and we extend that same warm welcome to agents working with us.

Planning for 2026? If not, now is the time. We have you covered – pre-set annuity appointments, a seminar program taught and mentored by a $50M annual FIA producer. And our tried and tested Safe Money Places lead program.

If your IMO is not “in your corner” – give us a call. We are ready to go to work and crown you as the CHAMPION that you already know you are!

This weekend, the sporting world will be buzzing with anticipation as Canelo Alvarez and Terrance Crawford face each other in the ring with the Super Middleweight title on the line.  These two pugnacious fighters are the best in the world and the winner will likely be crowned the “pound for pound” best fighter in the world.

So, what does boxing have to do with life and annuity business? Let’s break down some of the similarities.
A boxer, much like an insurance agent, must depend on himself when in the squared circle facing an opponent. The fighter takes all his training and puts it to work after so many months of preparation. The outcome will be what it will be, and regardless, a true champion and fighter will hang their head high – knowing they put in the work and did all they could to win the bout.

In our daily grind, we encounter many victories and sometimes suffer defeat. However, when we look closer at the boxing aspect – Canelo and Crawford are not the only people involved. They both have an entire team dedicated to doing everything they can to ensure their fighter has the best chance to win the bout.

At The Ohlson Group, we are here in your corner. I’ve heard stories from several agents over the years (I will keep names anonymous) about IMO’s not calling them back, taking days to get illustrations put together and not having much of a “back office” to help with their cases. These stories always astound me, because these are basic tasks that are routinely completed around here.

We own and operate www.safemoneyplaces.com and the corresponding “Safe Money Places Agent Network”. We created this for you – the producer – to better brand yourself and help stand out from the crowd. Just like a boxer relies on his corner and trainers to guide him through every round, agents rely on our team to keep on track as well.

Fighters fight to win… Prize fighters and agents are also similar regarding mindset. Successful agents know they will win. It might not be a first-round knockout, but the successful agent understands the game. They know when to jab, stick and move and when to lay down that Sunday punch to close the deal.

Do you have a team in your corner?

If not, or if they are lacking in any way, give us a call or book an appointment to speak with one of our marketers. We have the trifecta to help you get in front of qualified prospects:

1 – Safe Money Places Lead Program – tried and true, this program has been running strong in-house for nearly a decade.
2 – Pre-Set Annuity Appointments – Not into cold-calling leads? No problem! We can schedule appointments right on your calendar.
3 – Excusive Annuity Seminar Platform – A turnkey seminar system with ongoing mentoring and training from a $50M+ producer. No meals, no fluff – and averaging $800,000 in annuity premium per workshop.

As you can see, we have three lucrative ways to get you in front of qualified prospects via programs that have been proven and repeatable. We can help you – and one of these three programs mentioned above might just change your life.