There’s no time better than the beginning of the year to set some fiscal goals and create a plan for improving your financial situation. You are probably ready for a brand new beginning and the thought of sticking to a budget after the holiday spending spree might sound a little more appealing than it would at any other time of year. Here is a step-by-step guide to create some annual goals as well as a financial plan that will help usher in a whole new financial foundation for you and your family.

If you're thinking about what will be happening on the business scene in the future, the first step is to clear your mind of several popular misconceptions. More than ever, it will be dangerous to harbor-let alone act upon-erroneous ideas which can lead a business down the wrong road.

HOW TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN A CHANGING INDUSTRY by Sharon Cunningham Sharon Cunningham's consulting visits with agencies hav...

IDEA CENTER: MODULE VI In this module you'll find a gathering of ideas from P/C agents across the country who are selling Life insurance. The idea is for you to see how other agents are...

IDENTIFY FRUITLESS PROSPECTS BEFORE THEY WASTE YOUR TIME by Al Diamond Those of us who don't market at all, jump at every opportunity to present insurance proposals through referrals or ...

I don't actually want to fail. However, the fact is that we learn near to nothing when everything is going...

IMAGINING A MARKETING MANAGER'S CONVERSATION by Knight Berman How a company makes decisions and executes them has long been a puzzle to agents. Sometimes, the decisions seem to ref...

IMPLEMENT THE RIGHT PROCEDURES TO RAISE REVENUE by Grace Bauer Is your agency using step-by-step procedures to train its employees? Has it reviewed its procedures to make sure they save tim...

IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY TO INCREASE NEW SALES by Carol Hammes When setting your agency's production goals for the coming year, don't rely on help from the marketplace. In fact, it...

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION FOR NON-PRODUCERS by Al Diamond During the soft market, while most agents granted salary increases and let their profits and personal incomes erode, prudent ag...