3 tips to overcoming obstacles
We all know life throws obstacles at us. We either choose to absorb ourselves in them and become unproductive, or we can figure out ways to overcome them. In our...
Tag Archives: business processes
Taking over your family business isn’t always easy
Bill Heestand More than 30 years ago, I bought an insurance business from my dad, Robert P. Heestand. I became his employee and then gradually, as I grew, he suggested that...
What kind of listener are you?
In theory, everyone wants to be an open communicator, engaging with another person rather than just waiting to talk. And with that headline above, you’re likely thinking about the way you...
The No. 1 thing buyers and sellers are concerned about when buying a business
By David Grau Jr. Financial advisors looking to buy or sell a practice often ask me how to best determine a practice’s value. While there are a lot of technical answers...
Why being a fiduciary lowers your risk
William J. Heestand By William J. Heestand, CLU, AIF When I started out in the financial services profession 30 years ago, I was told by trainers it was a terrible idea to...
The role of humor in leadership
By Karyn Buxman, CSP, CPAE Great leaders understand the important role humor can play in resilience. The time was one of the darkest in America’s history: the Civil War. In a meeting...
3 mistakes to avoid when compensating junior advisors
By Jason L. Smith When it comes to compensation for junior advisors, companies often make the following mistakes: Giving them too much of the revenue off the sale they make. For example,...
4 important questions to ask yourself
A little more than 10 years ago, Devang Patel, CFP, CLU, was at a crossroads. The now-14-year MDRT member from Edison, New Jersey, was working very hard but neither seeing...
Why many advisors increase staff morale through flexible approaches to time
Brian Nicholas Byars, a one-year MDRT member from Covington, Georgia, said when he focuses on what’s important for staff, staff will focus on what’s important for his seven-advisor practice in...
How the little things make a big impact on staff morale
When it comes to creating a positive culture, even something that may seem elementary can go a long way toward motivation and camaraderie. Renee Hanson, CFP, CDFA, who oversees the seven...
This is why clients should understand your process
Seasoned advisors may assume that clients automatically give them the benefit of the doubt in terms of how they conduct themselves. From the client’s perspective, though, it never hurts for...
Boosting efficiency through technology
If you’re looking for high-tech ways to increase efficiency, check out some ideas mentioned in the “Tips and Technology” section of MDRT’s Round the Table magazine as well as some...
Your obligation to clients: Succession planning
Walton Rogers, CLU, ChFC By Walton W. Rogers, CLU, ChFC Not one of us know the date of our death. That’s what makes life insurance so important to families. It’s also the...
Enhance clients’ understanding using colored pencils and play money
When describing their process, so many advisors come back to the word “education.” So perhaps it is no surprise that Daniel E. Jossen, CFP, has seen such success utilizing a technique...
Do you practice or just fast-forward to the games?
Practice is nobody’s favorite part of performance. The best part is actually utilizing the skills from the simulation in a real-life situation. Yet David John Munson Jr., a one-year MDRT member...
