Tech: More Than Shiny Things

Let’s take a look back in time to a year that seems so far away but really wasn’t — 2019. It was the last year of “normalcy” we experienced. And it holds some clues to the environment in which we work today.

Just for the fun of it, I Googled “office technology of 2019” and found a website that predicted the Top Five tech trends to watch that year. They were: 1) cloud computing, 2) blockchain, 3) the end of the open office floor plan, 4) increasing use of mobile devices, and 5) the rise of remote work.

Cloud computing is old news, you rarely hear about blockchain these days, and no one cares what kind of floor plan your office has when you and most of your staff are working remotely. But the increasing use of mobile devices and the rise of remote work are at the forefront of today’s insurance practice.

Zoom is so 2020. InsuranceNewsNet’s November issue takes a look at advisors who are going beyond Zoom to incorporate technology into a practice that is increasingly remote and is serving clients who demand access to products, services and an advisor on their terms and on their timeline.

We found that advisors have a dizzying array of tech platforms from which to choose. The challenge is in choosing the tech that works best for their practice while ignoring the “shiny objects” marketed to them. And we also found that clients are more inclined to do business using their mobile devices. That means that carriers and advisors must make their information accessible by smartphone. For example, it may not be feasible for a client to download a large file or use DocuSign on a phone. 

Technology is much more than incorporating the next new thing into your life. It’s figuring out the best tools to employ in order to get the results you want and that your clients need.

And technology continues to march along. A few years ago, I read an article written by a trade association executive who complained about those who live by the motto “That’s the way we’ve always done things.”

He looked back on the 35 years he spent in the workplace and all the changes he saw in the office during that time: the personal computer, the fax machine, texting, email, etc. “If I continued to do things the way we’ve always done them, I’d be unemployable!” he wrote.

Finish Strong, Start Strong

We are nearing the midpoint of the last quarter of the year. For many of us, that means the holiday season is almost here. It also means we are running out of time to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves 11 months or more ago. On top of that, we are looking ahead to next year and planning what we want to accomplish.

Are you coasting through the final weeks of 2021? Do you feel like giving up on your 2021 goals already and skipping straight to 2022? Or are you trying to squeeze every last opportunity out of the current year while setting the stage for a strong new year?

Rebecca Korn wants to reassure you that no matter what your year looks like so far, you can have a strong finish to 2021 while planning for a strong start to 2022. Korn went from being homeless to being a top insurance producer before she turned her attention to coaching others in the business. In this month’s issue, she describes how you can have an unstoppable mindset and sprinkle some magic into your relationships with clients and prospects.

We also share the story of Barjes Angulo, who started his working life as a bank teller but was determined to do something bigger with his life. He absorbed as much as he could from those around him and eventually founded a Midtown Manhattan practice that bears his name. Read about his approach to the business and how he and his wife formed a successful working partnership.

November is a time when the brilliance of fall gives way to the darkness of winter for many of us. Thanksgiving gives us a reason to pause and count our blessings before the frenzy of the holiday season scoops us up. 

Whether your year has exceeded your wildest dreams or has left you disappointed, remember that somewhere there’s someone who was able to keep a roof over their head, send their child to college or have a secure retirement because of you. They may not express their thanks to you, but know that they are grateful for the advice you gave them.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Susan Rupe is editor in chief, magazine, for InsuranceNewsNet. She formerly served as communications director for an insurance agents' association and was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Contact her at susan.rupe@innfeedback.com.