Change Starts From Within

James Silbernagel reveals how he steadily expanded his practice to become indispensable to clients.

When Rao Garuda asked why his taxes were so high, little did he know that the question would send him on his life’s quest

Something like Star Wars that was so great can also be so frustrating. At times, indexed universal life insurance, and especially how it is positioned and sold, makes me feel the same way.

Help your client set up beneficiary designations on their annuity contract correctly to ensure their intended distribution after their death.

Several bills establishing government-run health programs already have been introduced in Congress. Would they give consumers more options or would they destabilize the market?

Those approaching retirement are facing a heavy fog of uncertainty over a volatile stock market and no sign of when normalcy will return.

Here’s the dirt on cleaning in an environmentally gentle way.

Agents are always looking for ways to bring new prospects into their orbits, but giving a referral to someone else can be a great way to position yourself as a valuable resource.

Choosing and establishing your niche market doesn’t limit you; it helps you achieve more success.

Industry professionals predict sustainable investment choices for investors will continue to expand.

An organization’s commitment to DEI is increasingly influential in attracting and retaining talent.

Advisors and agents should focus on compliance with the Department of Labor’s investment advice rule by the end of 2021.

I met someone who knew Ben Feldman. It wasn’t the first time, but each time it happens I have to know everything about Feldman. Was he really the salesman of all salesmen?

The pandemic showed a new way of doing business. Read the stories of those who thrived while the world hit pause.

Kristin Andree reveals the keys to a bigger and better practice.

How a less-than-romantic evening helped Stephen Kagawa love his family’s insurance business.

The financial and health impacts of COVID-19 are expected to last for some time. Here is how benefits brokers can work with employers to help ease the effects on workers.

As advisors changed the way they do business, they have gained a better idea of what has and hasn’t worked, setting themselves up for a successful 2021.

Unmarried couples may face tax hurdles with inherited annuities.

Pandemic-related hiring obstacles are not new. Here’s how COVID-19 may give companies reason to improve their hiring.

Adults with autism spectrum disorders and other neurodiverse conditions can qualify for life insurance, but you have to communicate with them in the way that makes them feel comfortable and understood.

Imagine going back to early March of last year and talking to the 2020 you about the year you were about to have.

A study shows only about one-third of consumers have a formal written retirement plan in place.

A seven-association group says the industry should take advantage of heightened mortality awareness.

A survey by a health care website shows Americans are uncertain about when we will return to post-COVID-19 life and that many are apprehensive about it

How an advisor keeps her focus on providing a personal touch to clients while keeping herself grounded.

Third-party reviews can validate your credibility, showcase your values and reinforce your reputation.

With Democratic control, what direction will the federal government take in retirement security?

The fiduciary standard was the ideal at the center of the Obama-era Department of Labor’s Conflict of Interest Rule, so much so that it was known as the fiduciary rule.

Harley Tobon aims to bring professional financial advice to as many people in his Latino community as he can.

NAIFA President Tom Michel talks to Publisher Paul Feldman about how to hire the right people and keep them.

Just like a baseball player has a pregame routine before each game, so can you use a pre-appointment routine to increase your chances of success. Here are the four bases you want to cover.

The four questions you must guide clients through in order to plan for their future quality of life.

The year was actually good for quite a few people. I heard from many advisors and marketing organizations that were having a banner year.

Taxes, health care and labor rules are sure to change, with many other issues expected to come into play.

Workers seek more customization and financial well-being tools as we move into 2021.

It’s a good time of year to plan your vegetable garden.

If you take an organized approach to running your business, you will start making the time to do what needs to be done.

Addressing the excise tax on compensation paid to nonprofits’ key employees.

The costs of care in a nursing home can be financially devastating to a client in a matter of months. Here is one tool that can be an option to cover those costs.

Research shows a high percentage of Americans are likely to buy life insurance in the next 12 months.

Research shows an opportunity for advisors to help people of color catch up with their retirement preparedness.

The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired advisors and the industry to give back in creative ways.

Gregory Dexter is advising today’s clients while drawing on his grandfather’s wisdom.

Greg Gagne tells how others helped him think bigger, and how he is giving it forward.

The pandemic has highlighted health concerns and is a special challenge for those who need long-term care services.

The market for esoteric asset-backed securities offers compelling opportunities for investors seeking greater yields against more traditional fixed-income securities of similar quality and duration

A tax-free gift to a trust that owns life insurance can potentially avoid all taxation.

The pandemic has made consumers more aware of the need for life insurance and more aware of the role of the advisor in the purchase process.

How brokers can provide their employer clients with benefits that help their workers’ financial health.

How annuities can spread wealth to subsequent generations while helping advisors retain clients in the family.

President-elect Joe Biden is busy filling out a team and putting together plans for his administration. Here are the key economic and regulatory players and the potential influence they will have on insurance and financial services.

Every client had their own challenges and opportunities from COVID-19, yet the pandemic taught advisors lessons that can help them empower all their clients in planning for what’s next.

Understand the cause of negative thinking and how it limits your potential.

How are those New Year’s resolutions going? If they are already a distant memory, here is how to restart.

Rarely has a year dawned with such trepidation and hope. The end to the COVID-19 crisis is within view. Or more accurately, we can see the beginning of the end to this crisis.

The life and health industries got past the emergency phase, but conditions are still critical.

In this interview with Publisher Paul Feldman, David McKnight reveals how advisors can use the tax message as their rallying cry and their killer sales proposition. He also shares tips on how advisors can improve their remote selling game.  

A firm that needed a special type of financial planner found just the right person when they hired this military spouse turned advisor.