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... have no plan to do so in the future. Many of these deadbeat shareholders mistakenly believe that agency ownership is a reward for past performance. It isn't. It needs to be recognized for what it is: the most precious currency a privately held business has to motivate and reward future performance. Other shareholders are taxed when any shareholder in an agency isn't creating value in proportion to the percentage held. Many agency principals suffer from high tax rates' imposed on them by such partners, but they can't quite identify the problem or the way to fix it. Well, it's time for a tax cut! A NEW APPROACH TO AGENCY PLANNING If you're a principal in a privately held insurance agency, establish a value creation quota for each shareholder. Here's how: A month before your next planning retreat, provide each shareholders with a statement showing the value of his or her share of the agency's stock. If you don't have an appraisal, simply use your best estimate. Put the desired rate of agency growth under that value-and if you don't aspire to growth exceeding 5%, you're in trouble. Then apply that percentage to the dollar value of the shareholder's interest. The product is the value creation quota-the amount of value the shareholder needs to develop in the coming year. Assign shareholders to bring ideas for achieving their value creation quota to the planning retreat. If you used this approach as your strategic planning framework, it would create quite a stir! It might be like tossing a hand grenade into your next shareholder meeting-and if it is, so be it. The more disruptive it ...

... All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) Agents: Company Markets Aren't Always Going To Come To You! 1 Verified Reviews - 5 of 5.0 1 2 3 4 5 Andrew Barile , CompleteMarkets Editor 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM AGENTS: COMPANY MARKETS AREN'T ALWAYS GOING TO COME TO YOU! by Andrew Barile One of the most important responsibilities of agents to themselves and their agencies is to maintain posit.. All Articles by Andrew Barile Comments (0 ) Are You A Deadbeat Shareholder? This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Kevin Stipe 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM If you're a principal in a privately held insurance agency, establish a value creation quota for each shareholder. Here's how: A month before your next planning retreat, provide each shareholders with a statement showing the value of his or her share of the agency's stock. If you don't have an appraisal, simply use your best estimate. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) Are You Running In Place — Or Running The Race? This content has not been rated yet. Al Diamond , CompleteMarkets Editor 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM ARE YOU RUNNING IN PLACE OR RUNNING THE RACE? by Al Diamond In this document, Al Diamond identifies the four phases of agent activity that define the effectiveness of.. All Articles by Al Diamond Comments (0 ) Business Continuity Planning 1 Verified Reviews - 5 of 5.0 1 2 3 4 5 CompleteMarkets Editor 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM Each year potential ...

... agency doesnt get voted off the island. Mor.. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) And Karnack Says … This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Pamela Millard 4/30/2013 10:42:47 PM lsquo;AND KARNACK SAYS hellip; by Diane Herbert and Pamela Millard Take a close look at your capacity and take the steps needed to position your agency for the wild ride ahea.. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) Are You A Deadbeat Shareholder? This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Kevin Stipe 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM If you're a principal in a privately held insurance agency, establish a value creation quota for each shareholder. Here's how: A month before your next planning retreat, provide each shareholders with a statement showing the value of his or her share of the agency's stock. If you don't have an appraisal, simply use your best estimate. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) Are Your CSR's Selling More Yet? This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Grace Bauer 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM ARE YOUR CSRsSELLING MORE YET? by Grace Bauer Are you maximizing your agencys ability to touch your clients? In this article Grace Bauer offers guidelines t.. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) 1 2 3 4 5 x No Thanks Loading.. Loading.. x No Thanks Loading.. ...

... top producers, their agency's market share would balloon. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) Anniversary Letter This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor 4/30/2013 10:38:40 PM ANNIVERSARY LETTER Dear (Customer Name), CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY IN YOUR NEW HOME! As a new homeowner, I bet you've had your hands full this past year. Moving, organizing, deco.. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) Are You A Deadbeat Shareholder? This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Kevin Stipe 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM If you're a principal in a privately held insurance agency, establish a value creation quota for each shareholder. Here's how: A month before your next planning retreat, provide each shareholders with a statement showing the value of his or her share of the agency's stock. If you don't have an appraisal, simply use your best estimate. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) Choosing The Right Advertising Agency This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , John Graham 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM There may come a time when your agency's communications needs exceed the capabilities of in-house personnel. You want to concentrate on producing new business, developing products, and servicing clients. Who has the time and expertise to create newspaper or radio advertising-or perform the myriad public relations functions necessary to keep your agency in the public eye? All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) 1 2 3 x No Thanks Loading.. ...

... Company Profile Deactivate Cancel Loading.. About Us Services Jobs PR Newsletters Employees Articles Blog Photos Group Connections Reviews IMMS Library Immerse yourself in our stacks. Take some time and browse through our library. We have thousands of articles, checklists, tip sheets, sales letters, and more! Communications Marketing Customer Service Planning Finance/Accounting Risk Management Human Resources Selling Legal and E&O Technology Life/Financial Services Glossaries Management Resources & Links Categories Popular Recent All shareholder Articles tagged with shareholder Back Are You A Deadbeat Shareholder? This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Kevin Stipe 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM If you're a principal in a privately held insurance agency, establish a value creation quota for each shareholder. Here's how: A month before your next planning retreat, provide each shareholders with a statement showing the value of his or her share of the agency's stock. If you don't have an appraisal, simply use your best estimate. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) Beware The Outdated Shareholders Agreement This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Kevin Stipe , Angela Bemiss 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM BEWARE THE OUTDATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT by Angela Bemiss and Kevin Stipe Published statistics suggest that the damage and personal injury caused by home fires is signifi.. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) How To Buy, Sell, Merge Or Perpetuate An Agency This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Larry Morrison 4/30/2013 10:43:12 PM HOW TO BUY, ...

... Loading.. About Us Services Jobs PR Newsletters Employees Articles Blog Photos Group Connections Reviews IMMS Library Immerse yourself in our stacks. Take some time and browse through our library. We have thousands of articles, checklists, tip sheets, sales letters, and more! Communications Marketing Customer Service Planning Finance/Accounting Risk Management Human Resources Selling Legal and E&O Technology Life/Financial Services Glossaries Management Resources & Links Categories Popular Recent All many agency principals Articles tagged with many agency principals Back Are You A Deadbeat Shareholder? This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Kevin Stipe 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM If you're a principal in a privately held insurance agency, establish a value creation quota for each shareholder. Here's how: A month before your next planning retreat, provide each shareholders with a statement showing the value of his or her share of the agency's stock. If you don't have an appraisal, simply use your best estimate. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) Considerations For Hiring A Producer This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Kevin Stipe 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM Here's a quick investment quiz: Which of the following investments will provide the best financial return over the next five years? A.Microsoft stock B.Coca-Cola stock C.Citigroup stock D.A newly hired Property & Casualty producer The answer is D. No kidding. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) Managing Personal Lines This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Carol Hammes 4/30/2013 10:36: ...

... Deactivate Cancel Loading.. About Us Services Jobs PR Newsletters Employees Articles Blog Photos Group Connections Reviews IMMS Library Immerse yourself in our stacks. Take some time and browse through our library. We have thousands of articles, checklists, tip sheets, sales letters, and more! Communications Marketing Customer Service Planning Finance/Accounting Risk Management Human Resources Selling Legal and E&O Technology Life/Financial Services Glossaries Management Resources & Links Categories Popular Recent All dollar value Articles tagged with dollar value Back Are You A Deadbeat Shareholder? This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Kevin Stipe 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM If you're a principal in a privately held insurance agency, establish a value creation quota for each shareholder. Here's how: A month before your next planning retreat, provide each shareholders with a statement showing the value of his or her share of the agency's stock. If you don't have an appraisal, simply use your best estimate. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) Build Customer Confidence And Loyalty For The Long Term This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Mary Beth Bolen 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM BUILD CUSTOMER CONFIDENCE AND LOYALTY FOR THE LONG TERM by Mary Beth Bolen Historically, it's been fairly easy to write and renew coverage on an account for one to three years, after which th.. All Articles by CompleteMarkets Editor Comments (0 ) Compensating The Insurance Agency Office Staff This content has not been rated yet. CompleteMarkets Editor , Harry Brooks 4/30/2013 12:00 ...

... ever. Revenue and profit growth are strong and outside investors — especially banks — continue to show strong interest in the business. Even the bust of the new economy' has helped by leveling the playing field in the battle for talent, providing agency owners with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recruit new blood into the insurance industry. If you already own, or are considering owning, an interest in an insurance agency, here are two points to consider: During the next decade, the return potential of stock in a private business might well exceed that of the S&P 500. Analysts are cautioning the current generation of investors that historically there have been long periods in which stocks moved sideways. For example, in early 1966 the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit the 1,000 level, then retreated. It bobbed up and down for years, and didn't cross the 1,000 level for good until 17 years later, in 1983! If history were to repeat itself, even a slow growth agency during the next 10 years might appreciate faster than the overall stock market. Stock in a privately held business offers tax advantages that are better than those of a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k ) . Does this sound too good to be true? Consider that when an individual sets money aside in a 401(k ), the contribution is tax deductible and any dividends or capital gains within the plan grow on a tax-deferred basis until they're withdrawn and taxed as ordinary income. The tax-deduction on contributions, combined with the tax-deferral on money in the plan, have ...

...gued with living — quietly retreats.   A monke...

... insurance in their portfolio' of fixed returns, since Life insurance paid as much or more than passbook savings accounts. Many Life agents who entered the business in the 1950s through the 70s came to believe in the sanctity of the ever-increasing dividend scale. The longer you kept the policy, the better it got; dividend scales in general never went down, rarely leveled out, but just kept going up. So it's understandable that long-standing traditional agents didn't question the continued rise in dividend scales as interest rates in the economy began to decline. Although mathematically legitimate (a composite portfolio rate will continue to rise until the current rates fall below the portfolio rate), the other side of the equation was that the more current rates fell, the more certain it was the dividend scales would have to retreat in the near future. That's exactly what happened. Although mutual companies could take advantage of the favorable math' between rising long-term portfolios and falling short term rates from 1979 through 1986, one or two brave mutual companies began to announce dividend decreases in 1986 and 1987 (to the derision of their agents) . Industry-wide dividend scale decreases began in earnest in 1988. As interest rates and dividend scales began to move in the same direction, the Life insurance industry felt intense economic pressure. Older bonds with 4% -6% yields were worth a fraction of their purchase price, but were carried on the books' at their original value. Companies could borrow money and add it to their capital account, but not count it as a liability (surplus relief) . These and other ...