Retirement Planning Agents Need to UP THEIR GAME now!

 

January 11, 2016 - Carmel, IN-  It will come as no surprise to financial advisors who’ve been around for a while that "it’s a whole new ballgame out there!" Consumers in the magic "pre- or in-retirement" mode are much more informed by doing their own due diligence before they select an advisor to "handle" their retirement planning needs. And the simple reason is this: The World Wide Web! Yep. That crazy ol’ Internet thing is helping our potential clients do their homework before they respond to our attempts to get in front of them. But, that’s a good thing!

Raymond J. Ohlson, President and CEO of The Ohlson Group, Inc. and Safe Money Places, specializes in helping financial advisors market their services, particularly their retirement planning services, to folks who are nearing or already in retirement. Ray recommends that "every serious agent who wants to increase his or her ‘qualified’ appointments should ‘up their game’ by achieving their Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) designation."

"Today’s consumer," Ohlson says, "is far more educated and much more diligent about doing research on financial advisors BEFORE they agree to an initial meeting. They get online and look for key information, including designations such as CRC. In today’s financial services game, it’s a war of credentials. And The Wall Street Journal cites the CRC as one of the ‘top three look-for’ retirement planning designations when seeking retirement planning help.’"

Ohlson adds that consumers, today, want to know "what makes you qualified to handle their retirement income and accumulation needs?" And many are not afraid to ask you directly, "show me some proof that you’re qualified!"

Though we all know that the "alphabet soup" that follows your name on your business card doesn’t guarantee that you are "pro," with all of the pressure today from the media and online reports, it is imperative that you can establish as much credibility as possible through all of your continuing education endeavors. Ohlson explains his commitment to this concept with a brief "resume" of his and his sons’ background.

"Nick, who is the Managing Director of our Chicago office, has his Chartered Financial Consultant, ChFC, and just finished his Chartered Life Underwriter, CLU, from The American College. Joe, the Managing Director of our Carmel, Indiana Office, has his Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow, LUTCF, from The American College as well, and he will soon be obtaining his Certified Retirement Counselor, CRC, designation from InFRE ( International Foundation for Retirement Education).

Ray, himself, along with his CLU from The American College, is also a CRC and throughout its entire history, The Ohlson Group has always been big on education. "If Americans entrust their retirement saving with us," Ray adds, "we should be on top of the latest while always paying attention to the consumers’ desires and needs!" To motivate his affiliated agents to pursue their CRC designation, Ohlson is offering to offset up to 50% of the cost for completing the coursework and passing the exam. "I know how important it is for all of our affiliates to have this designation," he explains. "That’s why I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is! If you’re going to compete in today’s retirement planning world, you’ve simply got to up your game!"

If you have questions, contact The Ohlson Group at 877-844-0900 or email us at info@ohlsongroup.com.