PERPETUATION OR SUCCESSION? by Al Diamond Planning for succession can be highly rewarding if you have the right people behind you. It can be downright dangerous if you dont. Al Diamond...

PERPETUATION: IS YOUR AGENCY PREPARED? by Grace Bauer ...

Do customers really want more personal service? The answer may seem obvious, but is it? It's true that there are plenty of complaints-many of them justified-about shopping in stores where sales and service personnel are in short supply and the workers lack training, courtesy, and a desire to be helpful. But is all this a plea for bringing back old-fashioned personal service? It may seem so, but what's actually happening is quite different and far more significant.

It seems as if we all need a good, old-fashioned whack on the head to get our attention. This is a moment when businesses need to connect with the business end of a two-by-four.
Change is in the wind. If there's one lesson the last decade or so has taught us, it's that there's a new economy, and it's global, integrated, and interdependent.

AGREEMENT made and entered into this ____ day of ____________, 20__ by and between [NAME OF INSURANCE AGENCY], a [State] corporation having a principal place of business in [City, State], (hereinafter the 'Agency') and _____________ of ____________, [State] (hereinafter the 'Producer').

PRODUCER GROUPS: ARE THEY RIGHT FOR BANKS? by Valerie Jordan Are producer groups an effective way for banks to build their insurance sales? Although Valerie Jordan has written this art...

Last week I was at a regional meeting where I met up with several producers from Texas. Having been a producer (a long time ago) and knowing how to swing a golf club, I fit right in. Being as committed to growth as I am, I ask the killer question that quickly exposes a problem. “John, what’s your growth goal for this year?”
He pauses and says “Um...around 65%.”
“Uh-huh. Where’s that from?” I asked.
“Well, I doubt I can do 80% and I didn’t want to sound like a loser and say 50 %, so I came up with 65%.”

Imagine a forest ranger complaining of a forest having too many trees. Absurd, isn't it? And yet how often in your own job have you thought about how great work would be if you only didn't have to deal with customers? This business - and our jobs - depend on customers. They are not an annoyance; they are our employers!

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES MARKETING; A STRATEGY FOR PROVIDING CLIENT SATISFACTION by David DePaolo, JD, MBA An Overview Most professional services are highly personal in the nature of...

PROTECT PRIVATE INFORMATION FROM OUTSIDERS AND INSIDERS! by Steve Anderson Steve Anderson presents three recent events that demonstrate clearly that protecting the privacy of cli...