KEEP A CLEAR FOCUS ON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT by Carol Hammes The hardening market, together with the start of new year give you the perfect opportunity to reflect on how to improve your busine...

LIFE INSURANCE: AN AGENTS TUTORIAL by Richard Weber Compared with Homeowners or Auto, clients tend to have different expectations when it comes to their Life insurance. Will you ...

MAKE A SMARTER DEAL: BASE AGENCY VALUE ON PROFITABILITY, NOT A MULTIPLE OF COMMISSIONS! by Roger E. Thomas What multiple does an agency sell for these days? 1.25 times commission? 1...

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS by E. Al Diamond How do you know if your agency is doing well? Some agents subscribe to the 'checkbook philosophy.' Their answer is, 'If I can pay a...

MAXIMIZING OWNERSHIP RETURN by Carol Hammes During the past several years, a relatively conservative investor could have achieved an annual investment return of 25% or more in the stock market t...

Gunther Gunderson had doubled the sales staff in his ski shop. Heidi Svenson, the shop's thermal underwear buyer, suggested that Gunderson might save money and take charge of his employees' medical insurance coverage by opening a Medical Savings Account (MSA). Gunderson was skeptical until Svenson showed him Section 105 (h) of the Internal Revenue code which allows employers to start MSAs for their employees' welfare.

Are you trying to figure out how much to pay your producers by asking, 'What's the agency down the street paying?' Beware!

Have you ever heard the line, "talk is cheap"? Many insurance carriers, agencies, wholesalers, and vendors are finding ways to cut costs. In this document, Jeff Neilson helps you determine whether your organization is paying too much for telecom services.

PLANNING: A SURVIVAL TOOL As agency manager, every task you undertake on a daily basis should be one step nearer the completion of an overall agency plan. '...

PREPARATION IS KEY TO MAXIMIZING THE VALUE OF YOUR AGENCY by Sharon Cunningham Use these guidelines to increase your agencys value and get the best price w...