What you want will only get done if you make it an A+ priority. Jack Fries tells you how a business plan can reward you with survival, planned growth, and profit.

CREDIT SCORES: CATCH 22 by Fred Dent Its important to build and maintain good credit reports. In addition, its now essential to monitor credit reports faithfully ...

Every company faces crises that have the potential for doing serious damage to its reputation, image, and/or financial stability. Events that might’ve been minor or even unnoticed a few years ago could now wind up on the evening news or on page one of the newspaper. While some incidents are insignificant, others can be devastating. Yet when they occur it’s often difficult, if not impossible, to know whether the problem will evaporate or escalate, blow over or boomerang.

As an independent agent, you enjoy a unique potential to cross-sell financial services to your clients. Here’s how to take advantage of this opportunity.

CROSS-SELLING: ARE YOU MAXIMIZING YOUR INCOME POTENTIAL? by Harlan Warthen Too many agencies are missing out on this key marketing opportunity. The income potential from cross-...

CROSS-SELLING: WHAT WENT WRONG? by Jack Burke Why don't agencies invest more energy in cross marketing additional policies to existing customers? ...

To cross-sell effectively, you’ll need to define the “competitive advantage” that shows the client why buying from you will benefit them. Take these four steps to cross-sell your clients by showing them that you can meet their needs more effectively than their incumbent agent.

CSRs WHO SELL: SHOULD THEY BE TREATED LIKE PRODUCERS? by Virginia Bates Put your money where your mouth is. Whether principals and managers assume that employees unders...

CULTIVATING YOUR P.R. CAMPAIGN: BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING by Michael Maynard Growing a strong and healthy garden doesnt begin in the spring. The real work takes place in the winter ...

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION? GO BEYOND THE EXPECTED by Emily Huling Remember the best sales experience you had as a consumer? It may have been having your car serviced-that's what mine was (at...