There may be whispers in your office or tension after your last client call because everyone is wondering the same thing—will this be as bad as the last one? 

In 1978, Gary Havir, LUTCF, was ready for a career change when a client suggested he work in the insurance and financial services industry. At first, he wasn’t interested. However, after a few conversations, he decided to give it a shot. He interviewed with nine insurance companies, but chose Horace Mann because of his passion for serving teachers, educators, and school employees. 

Jamie Matson serves her clients at The Haney Company with a personal connection. 

Making a Difference

When Matson started her career in human resources, she soon found a passion for employee benefits. Through her work, she became acquainted with several colleagues in the insurance industry. So, when she decided it was time for a change, she took a role as an account executive at a benefits brokerage firm. 

The purpose of NAIFA is to advocate for, educate, and differentiate its members in the industry. NAIFA Arizona member Thomas Shultz understands the need for an advisor to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. From the way he prospects for clients, the name he has given his practice, and the credentials he has pursued, Shultz takes every opportunity to stand out in the industry.

Shultz has set up his firm as Medicare specialists who help clients with Medicare supplement plans, a prescription drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan and then, as appropriate, transition them to a broader financial planning client. All his clients come through Medicare marketing. He says his experience shows, “If you do a good job servicing that book of business, you’re able to get to a lot of assets.”

Few things in life will affect the post-employment life of your older-adult clients as much as their home and their cash flow. This article from Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation is intended for an audience of financial professionals who are committed to improving the quality of life of older-adult Americans. 

NAIFA is a proud member of the Coalition for Annuity Awareness, and CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE, has joined fellow association CEOs to celebrate and promote June as National Annuity Awareness Month. He contributed statements on NAIFA’s behalf to a video presentation and a press release put together by the coalition.

When Cliff Kwartner was studying business administration in college, he didn’t know what he wanted to do. When he graduated, he narrowed his job offers down to two positions: mortgage broker or insurance agent. He decided to go into insurance because he saw it as a career rather than just a job. It was 2008—he made the right choice. 

Making a Difference

Kwartner loved his career from the start—he loved talking to new people and helping them plan for the life they wanted. One of the benefits of being an insurance agent is building relationships with others in the industry, says Kwartner. “Your reputation is your biggest asset. If you do good business and you do things the right way, that will go a long way.”

Vinny Dallo, ChFC®, CLU^®, CLTC, LUTCF, serves as President-Elect for NAIFA- New York and has been a loyal NAIFA member since 2005. He practices with Kappan Financial, LLC, in Fairport, NY, where he specializes in personal financial planning.

Vinny’s introduction to the financial services industry is rather unique. He was initially brought on to the MetLife team as a call center manager. He excelled in the position after creating a subscription service that called MetLife advisors’ current clients to strengthen their existing relationships. For a minimal price, advisors both new and established could sign up for these “warm appointments” that ultimately lead to stronger advisor-client relationships and increased production. Vinny’s initial job as a call center manager enabled him to see the ins and outs of a career as a financial advisor with MetLife before pursuing it himself.

As an insurance agent, getting in front of people to deliver your message can be one of your most challenging tasks. For agents looking to attract new clients in today’s market, expertise is everything. Seminars establish your expertise and can put you in front of a large group of people in a single setting. This type of marketing is one of the most cost-effective and time-saving ways to grow your business.

When giving a seminar, you need to study the material you plan on delivering, and having a short PowerPoint presentation is a great visual tool for you to convey the information. If someone is not confident in your expertise, they are simply not going to do business with you. This does not mean you need to know every answer, nor will you. It is ok to say, “I’m not sure. I will find that answer for you.” If you provide accurate, helpful information and appear confident, people are far more likely to trust you and more likely to do business with you.

At 39 years old, Randall Ball, CLU^®, was looking for a career change and found it at Northwestern Mutual. Ball’s friend James R. Goodrich, CLU^®, ChFC®, loyal NAIFA member since 1971, recruited him to the industry and NAIFA and Ball never looked back. 

The Keys to Success

For Ball, there are three qualities every agent and advisor should have—they should have a sense of intellectual curiosity, be a good listener, and be able to put the information they glean into a solid plan. “If you’re the only one doing the talking, it’s a bad meeting,” he says.