Nov
21
Filed Under (insurance) by admin on 21-11-2008

In the life insurance business, there are highs and there are lows in activity. There are several factors that traditionally contribute to this ebb and flow, but lately there have been some anomalies that are affecting the life insurance sales industry. In this article, I will examine some reasons why insurance sales would be on the rise or why they are currently in a lull.

Back a few months ago, when it was the beginning of summer, I expected a downturn in business as I always can anticipate in the summer season. Summers are slow as far as life insurance sales because people are either on vacation or they’re just too darn hot to get out and meet with a salesman. What’s more, the life insurance salesman too is on vacation. The agents usually go out and enjoy the nice weather and take the summer off to golf or maybe meet with prospects in a more relaxed atmosphere. Well, the summer is over (as far as the calendar is concerned), but the weather is still fine outside - at least in the South. At any rate, business is still running at a slow pace.

Speaking for this particular month (September 2005), it very well may be that since consumer confidence is down to an all time low since 1990, hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina just ripped through, and the fact that gas is at an all time high, consumers are thinking less about the future (life insurance) and more about how to keep afloat right now.

On a more global scale, perhaps life insurance sales are down because of the war in Iraq or the tension between the USA and other Countries.

Also, could it be that the “me” generation is getting its way? Are folks just not thinking about the welfare of their families as much?

One thing that has impacted the service industry in a huge way is the “do not bother me” mentality that we’ve all adopted. The do not call list, do not fax list, and no soliciting signs are crushing an industry that once thrived and depended upon these methods of communication. The life insurance agent or broker faces a real challenge where this is concerned.

So what can we do to boost sales? Can the companies help? My opinion is “yes”, the insurance companies CAN help to boost business. Just recently, Prudential has aired a consumer awareness commercial about the importance of life insurance where a boy asks his Father “Dad, do you have life insurance?”. I propose that we, as agents and general agents rally the insurance companies and get them to raise awareness and create desire to protect wealth, secure businesses well-being, and promote a better future.

By: Ashley Brooks, CLTC

Ashley is the marketing vice president for the Family Life Insurance Brokerage Business and has a background in Health & Financial Underwriting, Insurance Plan Design, and “best deal” shopping. Brokerage Services carries only A rated (or better) companies in their product portfolio and has been serving the needs of Independent Insurance Agents since 1977.

Get a free online term life insurance quote from Ashley Brooks here Term Life Insurance Quote

General Life Insurance Quote Agent Online Here: Life Insurance Quote

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Nov
03
Filed Under (insurance) by admin on 03-11-2008

Term life insurance has many advantages. But understanding term life insurance and its benefits means sifting through the myths surrounding it; and there are many myths about life insurance. These life insurance myths and misconceptions can result in too little coverage causing financial hardship for families suffering the loss of a loved one.

To avoid this from happening to you, we’ve taken a look at the most common misconceptions about life insurance to set the record straight–helping you to make the right life insurance choice for you and your family.

Myth #1: I don’t work outside the home so I don’t need life insurance.

False! Just because there’s no paycheck to replace, doesn’t mean life insurance is unnecessary. A life insurance policy that provides coverage for a stay-at-home parent isn’t so much about the money they bring in to the household, but instead about the money they keep in the household.

In fact, have you ever considered how much it would cost to pay for childcare and housekeeping in the absence of a stay-at-home parent? Don’t underestimate how much this would require, child care is expensive and is a growing cost.

Myth #2: I’m young so odds are I won’t need life insurance.

Some people are gamblers by nature and choose to take their chances by skipping out on life insurance completely. Although it is unlikely you’ll die during your working years, you’re not insuring for what’s likely to happen but instead, for the worst-case scenario.

That’s why term life insurance is inexpensive for young, healthy people. Buying life insurance now means you’ll be providing financial security without spending a lot of money for it.

For example, online quotes show that a $250,000 10-year term policy for:

a healthy 35-year old woman costs as little as $165 a year
a healthy 35-year old man costs as little as $195 a year

What’s more you may even be eligible for preferred life rates that mean the annual premiums are even less! Preferred rates are lower premiums - for the same coverage - offered by an insurer based on your health. The good news is that eligibility for preferred rates is common and could save you up to 30 per cent off the standard rate.

Myth #3: If it’s really so cheap there must be a catch.

There’s no catch to term life insurance. Your basic term life insurance policy will offer you coverage so long as you pay your premium. You buy term insurance coverage for the duration of time you’ll need life insurance, whether that’s until the kids are out of school or until your mortgage is paid off.

Plus, your premiums are fixed for the length of the term. They won’t increase even if the status of your health changes.

Myth #4: I don’t need life insurance once my children are self-supporting and my mortgage is paid off.

Everybody’s insurance needs vary. But how would your spouse manage daily living expenses without your help? And what if your spouse outlived you by 10, even 20 years?

Even if your children are no longer living at home and you no longer have large debts, like a mortgage, there still are questions you should consider before deciding that life insurance is unneeded.

Myth #5: I have life insurance through my job. I don’t need any more insurance coverage.

False. The truth is your life insurance coverage through your work may not be protecting yourself and your loved ones as much as you think. Review how much your employer-paid insurance provides and calculate whether this is enough to keep your family comfortable through the difficult times if you’re not around.

What’s more, when you leave your job for any reason, including retirement, your coverage usually stops.

Myth #6: It’s such a hassle to get life insurance.

Thanks to the Internet, getting quotes is fast and easy. There are a number of online life insurance quote services and usually, all you have to do is answer a few simple questions to get quotes. Sometimes, you can even buy a policy online.

Final Fact:

From the time you marry, buy your first home, start a family and enjoy retirement, having life insurance means you and your family have the security knowing you can reach the long-term financial goals you have set out.

Life insurance policies provide you with customized coverage for your family’s needs. Comparing quotes on the Internet can help you find affordable life insurance that will protect you and your family in the years to come.

For more information on life insurance, or to get quotes, Kanetix.ca’s life insurance quote comparison service provides instant online quotes from some of Canada’s most recognized and trusted life insurance companies.

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Sep
24
Filed Under (insurance) by admin on 24-09-2008

The life insurance quote business online is booming. Not only are life insurance agents quoting a more diverse portfolio of companies, but consumers are also now able to quote life insurance online for themselves. In this article, I will analyze the impact of the life insurance online quote on the insurance industry, the insurance broker, and the consumer looking for insurance.

In the not so distant past, life insurance was sold, not bought. The typical agent would travel door to door, network locally, and perhaps meet with potential policyholders for dinner at their home. The “debit” agent was also a common profession. These agents would actually go to their clients and collect the premium on a weekly basis. The life insurance quote came from a person back then, not a computer.

These days, consumers can go online for a life insurance quote. The ability to readily compare the cost of life insurance among hundreds of life insurance companies has dramatically changed the environment.

The biggest impact to the insurance industry is the fact that the cost of coverage has decreased significantly. This is good for the client, but is in effect shutting smaller companies down as the claims to revenue ratio is converging.

Another impact is the fact that when consumers get an online life insurance quote, they are rarely coached as to what is the better deal for them. Often times, term life insurance is the only product that they are offered. The customer is not being told about the advantages of whole life insurance or the flexibility of universal life insurancethey are often just given a term life insurance quote as requested. The life insurance agent of past would have talked to the client and done some fact finding before selling them something that may not fit their particular situation.

The online Life Insurance Quote industry has also affected the independent insurance broker. Often times, the local broker is not trusted with the quote because the consumer has gone online and gotten a cheaper quote from an online quote service. Misquotes are usually the result of the lack of fact finding on the part of the online insurance quote companies. Customers would be much better off dealing with a licensed life insurance agent (who can broker any company out there; whatever suits the customer best) for their life insurance quotes.

So the next time you go online looking for the best term life insurance rate, consider that you may be making a mistake by dealing with a “call center”. Consider that the life insurance quote that you are receiving is only from the companies that they carry. Consider calling on an independent life insurance broker for your term, whole life, and universal life insurance needs and information.

By: Ashley Brooks, CLTC

Ashley is the marketing vice president for the Family Life Insurance Brokerage Business and has a background in Health & Financial Underwriting, Insurance Plan Design, and “best deal” shopping. Brokerage Services carries only A rated (or better) companies in their product portfolio and has been serving the needs of Independent Insurance Agents since 1977.

Get a free Life Insurance Quote at my new website - especially for Whole Life Insurance, Term Life Insurance, or Universal Life Insurance!

We are currently seeking Insurance Agents to grant brokerage contracts to. If you are an insurance agent and you would like to work with an Insurance General Agent who cares about you and your clients, please contact us today!

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