Life Insurance Leads

Life Insurance Leads

Selling life insurance policies can be an extremely rewarding and lucrative profession. But has to have proficiency and know the tricks of the trade. There is no dearth of people who are in actual need of life insurance. Yet generating and then translating a lead into a closed deal is one of the most challenging tasks in this industry.

Earlier, leads had to be generated primarily by individual agents through cold calls or door-to-door selling. These resulted in lower rates of sale, as there were greater chances of the having a bogus lead, or a lead becoming unresponsive as the emphasis is more or quantity rather than quality. This had become a stupendous task, given people's aversion towards uninvited salesmen giving cold calls and barging into people's private spaces, making a dig for their time and money. Insurance agents and companies had to multi-task themselves and their employees, ensuing in loss of efficiency and direction.

Newer, more advanced techno-savvy and people-friendly techniques have been devised in recent times. Generating a life insurance lead and working on it has never been as easy as this before, what with online and off-line vendors supplying qualified and actual leads through newer technological approaches and research methods.

While these too intrude upon the people's spaces sometime, they are less invasive and aggressive than cold calls and door-to-door selling. Many online and offline vendors offer highly authentic leads which they generate through their networking with various search engines like Yahoo, Google and AOL, direct marketing and advertising about insurance policies, educating the people about the benefits of insurance, etc.

Most people who are in actual need of insurance sign up and fill out forms that ask for personal details like bio-data, age, name, number of dependents, kind of insurance (investment or purely protection) desired, kind of need (short term or long term), etc. Companies and independent agents can buy leads and specific information regarding the potential customers. There are various techniques to generate a lead independently.

The Internet opens up newer avenues for independent agents and companies, generating leads with novel forms of advertisement like emails, pop-ups and free newsletters. Joining a lead club, lead exchanging with local business professionals, free reports and booklets, and conducting seminars are some of the other techniques for lead generation. Actual sales, however, depend solely on one's marketing and sale capabilities.

Life Insurance Sales Leads

Life Insurance Sales Leads

Generating and transforming a life insurance sales lead into actual sales has never been an easy task. It involves a lot of strategic planning, time and energy. Producing a life insurance sales lead through infinite cold calls and door-to-door approaches is not a good solution to the problem. Devising industrious techniques of turning authentic quality leads into actual sales calls for tactical planning, not unidirectional mulish effort. A truly new era of life has ushered in life insurance sales leads with the advent of modern techniques and tools of research, data generation, advertising and marketing.

Generating leads independently is the best option where money is a concern. Most insurance companies have their own in-house data generation teams who pass on the information to the indoor or outdoor agents to work on the leads. In recent times, many telemarketing companies have cashed in by offering their services for lead generation. Their trained staff of telemarketers go on to field questions from gatekeepers, get information and details about the contact, his/her specific life insurance needs, set a particular rapport and tempo with the potential leads, and help in converting them into actual customers.

These fresh, hot leads are passed on to the specialized agents who can concentrate their skills and efforts in actual marketing and product demonstration. For independent agents there are various avenues and techniques to hunt down actual leads without adopting an overly aggressive marketing and sales technique, which is a big turn-off.

Pop-ups on the Internet, mailers and free newsletters with catchy, informative and emotional headlines and content can not just grab the attention of the potential customer, but actually motivate them to approach the agent for a deal or information. Apart from these, one can join lead-exchanging clubs. Once the leads have been tracked, one should garner command over communication tools and marketing skills to gain leverage on these leads.

When time is a constraining factor one can look for good lead brokers to buy leads. One can test the quality of the leads by buying small quantities of leads and working on them. Some online and offline brokers even offer discounts and free leads as a promotional and introductory offer. Some vendors offer genuine leads, while others deliver on their promises. Genuine leads are generated through actual searches or queries logged in the vendors' website, through the vendors' tie-ups with search engines like Yahoo or Google, direct telemarketing or tie-ups with telemarketing companies, and other sophisticated and novel data -generation techniques.

Globe Life Insurance

Globe Life Insurance

Globe Life Insurance is a wholly owned subsidiary of the S&P 500 traded Torchmark Corporation, a company with nearly $15 billion in assets under management. Torchmark's investment portfolio does not invest in subprime loan-backed securities or products, thereby enhancing the quality of its holdings. Torchmark specializes in getting affordable life and supplemental health insurance into the financial lives of working middle-class Americans.

Glob Life Insurance has over $52 billion of life insurance in force, comprising an estimated 4 million placed and active policies. The health and life insurance company has been in existence since it was formed in rural Oklahoma in 1951 by two men with $60,000 in borrowed capital. Globe's great claim to fame among life insurers is that they have been successful at cutting out the middle man--in other words, customers can search for and buy life insurance online without having to talk to an agent. Globe life also provides health insurance. Their unique product portfolio includes both adult and child term life insurance, accidental death insurance, and their Medicare supplement insurance. But what's more, the company has a child safe kit product, a tool which records information (picture, physical description, and fingerprints) about a child which can be used if that child goes missing.

Since Globe Life enables anyone to get life, accidental death, and health insurance by way of the Internet without an agent, it can pass on the savings it enjoys (by not needing to finance agents) in its premiums to customers. In addition, there aren't any medical examinations that prospective clients need to pass, either. Insurance applicants need only answer a handful of health-related questions, although they are expected to answer them honestly and accurately. Their answers can be checked against the national bureau of health and medical records, and if a claim is made against the company and an investigation uncovers inaccuracy or fraudulent answers on the part of the insured the benefits may be reduced or not paid out at all.

Globe Life also offers a special incentive whereby the first month's premiums on a life insurance policy is only $1.00. And, their life insurance coverage begins immediately and comes with a full 30-day money back guarantee.

There are limitations with such kinds of insurance, of course. Globe Life policies are limited to no more than $50,000 of death benefit. What's more, the policy expires at the age of 80 regardless of how much was paid into it in premiums. Globe does not offer cash-building policies. But, they are highly touted for their superior customer service.

The AM Best Corporation, which has been an independent ratings agency analyzing insurance companies since 1899, has recently given Globe Life its highest rating of A+ based on the company's financial asset strength, corporate management, and integrity.

Some of the advice about its products and services that Glob Life offers to prospective customers is: "There is a good chance [additional insurance] might be [necessary]. Inflation has weakened many insurance policies. Life insurance is the ideal way to supplement your existing insurance. It can be used to cover funeral expenses or other miscellaneous debts that are left behind....[You don't need to sit through a sales call or meet with an agent]. Globe Life insurance is handled conveniently online and through the mail. You can review the materials in the privacy of your home and purchase your policy directly online and through the mail without any outside pressure."

Given today's economy, cultural need for speed, and people's exceptional concern about individual privacy, Global Life insurance company is filling an important market niche.

The Basics of Life Insurance

The Basics of Life Insurance

No one likes thinking about insurance. It can be depressing trying to account for all of the potential unpleasant eventualities in life and most of us are trying hard just to carve out a little slice of happiness for ourselves. Moreover, I can't think of very many things more boring than sitting through a bunch of sales pitches from insurance agents just trying to get us to write a check every month for something I hope I never have to use.

Sure, insurance is a burden-until we need it. All the depressing issues aside, insurance is an essential and vital financial planning tool that everyone should take advantage of. A certified financial planner can help you to evaluate your insurance needs and will recommend policies that suit your lifestyle. When considering any kind of insurance, from term life to mortgage life insurance, several issues need to be addressed

Do I even need life insurance?

If you have no dependents or loved ones that will be affected by the loss of your income, you may not need life coverage. However, if there are people that depend on you, life insurance is not something you should consider optional. Most people won't really perceive the value of life insurance until they have children. I remember when this first occurred to me. I had always wanted to go skydiving and finally I had my opportunity in all of the excitement, it hit me. What if I don't come home from this trip? My newlywed wife is 7 months pregnant, we are barely making the bills month-to-month as it is and I know there is no way she can do it alone. Needless to say, I cancelled my trip for the greater good of my new family, but I also took a long hard look at my insurance situation.

How much life insurance do I need?

If you are still reading at this point then you have probably recognized how much your loved ones depend on you for financial support. In order to keep supporting them as well as you currently are, even after you pass away, you should choose a life insurance policy that covers at least the full amount of your income for as long as you expect to be working. It is also important to include any substantial debts that will need to be taken care of. For example, let's say you owe 10,000.00 on a car, 70,000.00 on a mortgage, you make 40,000.00 per year, and are 30 years old, planning to retire at age 59. You should select enough insurance coverage to pay off your 70,000.00 in major debt, as well as 29 years worth of your annual income.

What type of life insurance policy is best for me?

All of the various types of life policies have their benefits and drawbacks, however, as a general rule you cannot go wrong with term life. If you purchase term life coverage early, it can be very affordable. Unfortunately, the longer you wait to get a term life policy, especially if you wait until you have developed significant health problems-which tend to occur in old age, the cost can become overwhelming. If you are starting out late in life, it may be a benefit to get a variety of policies. For example, you may want a personally owned mortgage life insurance policy to cover the outstanding balance of your mortgage, along with a modest sum of term life to aid your family with their other financial needs.

What type of life insurance should I avoid?

Whatever you do, stay away from the mortgage life policies offered by your lender bank when you are purchasing your home. The policies they offer are designed to protect themselves and not your family. There are a multitude of mortgage life insurance options available from independent parties that will protect your loved ones. In addition, if you are young and healthy, you probably do not need a mortgage life policy. It would be best to simply purchase enough term life. to cover all of your family's needs.

Whole life policies are often pitched as an investment, however they often have a high price tag and do not provide enough return to justify their cost. Most people are much better off buying term life and then finding a good mutual fund to invest in.

Where should I buy my life insurance policy?

It is always a good idea to investigate various companies before settling on something that is such an important safety net for your family. Ideally, you should talk to a certified financial planner before making any decisions, however, don't underestimate the value of your friends and family's opinions. Talk to the people around you and find out what experiences they have had. Sometimes financial planners will get caught up in the numbers and forget about the people involved. Do some research on the various life insurance company ratings and choose one that is consistently rated high with a stable longterm outlook. Moreover, there are several places online that will allow you to compare rates from all of the top rated U.S. insurance companies.

Primerica Life Insurance

Primerica Life Insurance

Primerica financial services company has its roots back in 1977, when its founders spearheaded the "buy term and invest the difference" movement that had already taken root in the minds of some Americans as the public was slowly growing disgruntled with the then-trend of being sold whole life insurance.
Primerica specializes in term life insurance products. The company does not deal in any other kind of life insurance. However, the company also offers investment services including stock brokerage services and mutual funds. Like most of the big life insurance and financial services companies, Primerica offers people a free Financial Needs Analysis (FNA) to help them get a better understanding of their own personal financial situation, money management habits (good or bad), and financial product needs. The idea with FNA is to help make sales, but it's also about showing people exactly what they need and then matching those needs up with the most appropriate products offered by Primerica.
Primerica has grown into a very large life insurance and financial services company and has become part of Citigroup (the latter, which is the world's largest financial services company, manages over $2 trillion in assets and is one of the 30 member companies that create the Dow Jones Industrial Average).
The salient facts on Primerica listed by the company are:
*Primerica serves six million clients in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and Spain
*The company has over 100,000 licensed representatives, including 25,000 licensed to sell mutual funds, and to them paid over $682 million in compensation in 2007, making theirs the single largest sales force in North America
*Primerica placed over $90 billion in life insurance in 2007 alone, and the company's securities clients have $40 billion in assets invested in the care of Primerica
*Primerica pays out an average of $2 million a day in death benefits
*Independent insurance company rating institution A.M. Best in the Spring of 2008 gave Primerica a financial strength rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of "aa" in recognition of "its continued strong profitability, leading position in the U.S. term life insurance marketplace, strong risk-adjusted capitalization, and favorable liquidity profile."
Primerica also actively encourages the general public to live within its means and stop the consumption habits that have the average American household owing 20% more in debt than it brings in in annual pay. The company says Americans need to learn to stop habitually using revolving lines of credit (credit cards), to get on a fixed debt program and get debts paid down and paid off, and if need be to make lifestyle changes with these ends in mind. "Wants" must be separated from "needs", says the company in its ongoing efforts to make people's financial lives more safe and sound.
However, despite these good qualities of the company, its name continues to be tainted by much of its sales practice. Primerica has many licensed agents who only work part time for the company, hoping to make a little extra money on the side. The company also has many more licensed agents who can only sell life insurance than it has those who can do a full FNA and sell the full range of investment products to enable people to "buy term and invest the difference".
Since Primerica's term life premiums are far from being the cheapest, and since it encourages a very aggressive sales methodology to be carried out by many agents who, since they are just part time, lack experience and expertise, a methodology that actively encourages writing replacement policies (kicking out a household's current life insurance and replacing it with Primerica), if a Primerica client does not in fact "buy term and invest the difference", that client is getting a raw deal. Much of Primerica's placed insurance gets replaced by other companies who offer better premiums and better client service by better trained agents.

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Life Insurances

Life Insurances

Getting a life insurance is very important for anyone who desires to safeguard the future of his family. Since life is very unpredictable, it is essential to make sure that in case of your unforeseen demise your dependents do not have to suffer financially. People have kids or other family members who do not earn. When they pass away there is no one to look after them. Those who get an insurance can provide their family with financial security in case of such a scenario.

Although many people take an insurance as a burden but they do not know how useful it is in case if they die. It serves as a very important financial tool that helps you in the long run. Those who do not have dependents can do without life insurance. On the other hand, if you have family members whom you support financially, you ought to benefit from insurance. If your kids are studying or if you have a wife who doesn't work, you must get an insurance so that in case if you pass away the life of your family members is not disturbed. Those who have to pay back their loans should also get an insurance.

You can find many different types of insurance policies. Some are more cost effective than others. Getting term life coverage early can help you to buy policies in an affordable way. The best way to settle for a life insurance is to do thorough research. You should check out all the options available and get the one that best suits your budget and need. You should get multiple insurance quotes and compare them so that you have a clear idea about the cost and the cover of your life insurance.

You can use the internet to explore and buy an insurance. Other than your own research, it is always good to talk to friends or others who have already for some policies and get their consent about the best options available. However, your need, financial status as well as the number of your dependents some other factors that you need to consider while looking for an insurance.

Remember that bearing the burden of an insurance is better than ruining the future of your family. So do not hesitate and get a life insurance if you have not got one so far.

Off post OCONUS Housing Rentals can be found online

I already posted this on my Twitter page, but I know many of my readers don't use that....so....I have found in the past, that some OCONUS duty locations managed their own housing websites, with rental listings for their area.  Now, I see more and more are putting up their listings on AHRN.  If you are moving to a new overseas location, be sure to stop by and get a jump on what's available for housing off post.  Of course, you won't be able to bid for homes, but at least you know what will be awaiting you:-)

Imagine renting a horse caravan through Ireland...

I've been meaning to write about a book recently written by a fellow military wife I knew while stationed in Germany.  She used to come and see us where I worked with these amazing stories of where she went....all accomplished with three kids under the age of eight at the time!  She had the most brazen and interesting travel ideas, most initiated right after her husband got home from work for the weekend....piling all the kiddos and their gear into their faithful minivan.  I thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it to others who have young children especially.  Here are some adventures she gives her itineraries for.

Enjoy some of these ideas:

• a caravan through the beautiful countryside of Southern Ireland for a week, with you navigating the route, caring for your horse (you get a class first of course) and sleeping in the caravan.  Some of the author's favorite moments included reading the kids' bedtime stories by gaslight with the soft sounds of nature and the horse munching on his hay and oats!  Here is a family that blogged about their experience.  And if you are already hooked, book your next trip with Clissman's Farm or check the Wicklow County Tourist Bureau in Ireland.
• A weekend trip through France's Loire Valley with all the chateaus and castles doting the countryside.  Stay in an honest-to-goodness chateau and visit a local chocolate factory to see their production (and of course to taste), not to mention all the quaint villages along the way.
• Exploring Naples and the Amalfi Coast, staying in a military campground situated in an extinct volcano crater, visiting Pompeii and discovering some ancient temples and hidden grottoes.

She includes many more itineraries, as well as points of interest with notes and their websites/contact information.  This is not your typical travel book, and we are all thankful that Dorothy finally listened to everyone's prodding and wrote this book to share.  Be sure to check it out as it is well worth it!

Dorothy, I haven't seen you since we moved of course, but if you stop by this blog, be sure to drop me a line!  Order her book, "All Aboard...Europe" by Dorothy MacKenzie, here.

Things that make Belgium "different"

I know before you arrive in Belgium, you're probably telling yourself not to compare it to the US or its citizens....your family and how you do things....as for me....I had in my mind that I wasn't going to compare it to Germany.  Now, seven months later....I have to laugh at these differences, because if I don't....I'm just gonna cry!  Read below and tell me what you think and keep in mind that I am talking about the Wallonian region and not Flanders...which might as well be a different country, but we're all not supposed to NOT talk about it....like the elephant in the room....but a bit of trivia, we are now the European country that holds the record for the MOST DAYS without an elected government!

In no particular order or sense of organization:

• Belgian bureaucrats love the words "possible" and "not possible" and will use them interchangeably!  Customer service Belgian-style is not as customer friendly as American-style.  In fact, I was told by a Belgian that the product or service is supposed to speak for itself, so no customer service is needed (I must say the Germans feel this way too).
• Belgium truly is the land of great French fries (frites), and I have NEVER in my life seen so many different toppings (at least 10 at the last friterie I went to)...the favorite topping still being mayo:-)
• Priority from the right while driving...always, unless specially marked...even if the road coming from the right is a little goatpath.  If it's deemed "a road", it has priority.
• High percentage of windshield dings and other road mishaps.  Lots of turnip trailers and tractors in Wallonia and potholes as big as kingsized beds, especially now that winter has taken hold.  Not sure where all these road taxes are going that everyone must pay (although Shapians are exempt from paying this tax for their first vehicle).
• The customer is NOT king....although, I must say, Wallonians are some of the friendliest Europeans I have ever met.  Go back to my comment on customer service.
• Grown men, not just little boys, peeing along the side of the road.  I've also noticed that public toilets aren't so easy to find and many stores just don't have toilets.
• Some cars so small, they can fit SIDEWAYS into the smallest parking space.
• McDonald's serving beer (all over Europe actually).
• Grown men hugging and kissing each other (ditto in many other areas..mostly down South).
• The hundreds, maybe thousands....of different Belgian beer varieties to choose from.  My DH is continuing his beer label collection here in Belgium.
• That if you buy a hunk of cheese or bottle of beer or whatever food item that says it comes from a monastery, it'll be at least twice as expensive as the normal brands.
• People buy baguettes around here like Americans buy donuts.
• The small serving sizes for anything you'd like to drink....unless you are going to Starbucks, you can forget a big glass or mug of anything (except maybe beer in some cases).  And forget asking for ice.
• The small serving sizes in restaurants and the resistance I have found in Chinese restaurants to refill the darn plain white rice dish!
• Bringing your grocery bags with you shopping, or being prepared to buy some.
• Your vehicle MUST have a fire extinguisher and if it is older than 5 years, you'd better have that rear foglight installed.
• My surprise at how little people speak English language around SHAPE (in Wallonia)....must be a Wallonian thing as NATO Brussels and Brussels in general is mostly bilingual...must be a Flemish thing.
• Almost everything shuts down on a Sunday.
• The slowness of getting anything done.  It took us about seven months to get our day/night electric meter installed...which was part of our home rental contract....it's like work is drawn out, because you don't want to finish everything at once.  You'll see this a lot with your landlord too....again, most are supernice, but you gotta give them time and lots of it.
• Don't mess with a Wallonian's vacation or time off or give him a more efficient way to do his job....work ends promptly at whatever time it is scheduled to end.....vacation time is sacred here....I've heard bureaucrats who have lived and worked in other European countries tell me they had to actually slow down at work or else they'd finish all their work in two days and twiddle their fingers the rest of the week.....pacing yourself apparently is the idea here.
• Relaxed rules.  I had a Dutch farmer in Wallonia tell me that they moved the whole family, cows and everything down here from their family farm in the Netherlands....not to Flanders where they also speak Dutch....but down here, the land of the French-speaking Belgians...here land was cheap when they came and the rules can be interpreted a dozen different ways...which is why in the same day you can get the "possible" and "not possible" answer referring back to the first item on my list.
What Wallonian or Belgian-isms do you have to add?

Ask VMW: We are moving & our child is EFMP

I get this question or a variant of it about every few months.  I know it weighs heavily, especially on moms.  I don't know if I can help but here goes.

The question:

"My husband got orders for Germany.  They are for 36 months which I understand includes dependents. We are very happy because we wanted to go to Germany. On the other hand, once I started reading about the command sponsorship I became very concerned with the idea of us not being able to go. Our oldest son is enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). My first concern was if they have the special need resources at the school over there.  My question is, do you have a self-contained room for special ed? Do you know what happens if you don't have the services my son requires? Do they just cancel the orders, change them or they just send my husband alone for those 36 months?"

My response:

Please take a deep breath....and step back a bit.  I applaud you for taking the time to research your new duty station! I wish more wives would take the time to do this.

Now....the EFMP screening which you and your family will do, will determine if there are services for your son available at your husband's projected new duty station.  Right now, your husband only has assignment instructions....orders for his actual duty station will be cut (made) locally, once he and his family meets all the requirements, the most important being EFMP screening.

I can obviously not tell you what the doctors and administrators at this screening will say...you'll be in a room with a few doctors and administrators with your health records...they will also ask you questions.  I personally do not know if your projected duty station in Germany is equipped to handle your son's disability, and the American Disabilities Act requires that disabled students be integrated into the classroom as much as possible...this is not just military-wide but US wide.  There are some students with dedicated para-educators who are with them at EVERY moment of the school day.  They may take some small group or individualized instruction in the special education room/facilities and as their disability allows, be integrated throughout the day in the mainstream classrooms with a para-educator by their side, if needed.

If for some reason, the staff at the EFMP screening determines there will not be sufficient services for your son in this duty location (I have no way of knowing), then your husband's assignment instructions will be rescinded and others will be issued for another location.  I don't know if he'll be given the opportunity for an unaccompanied tour (2 years) either.  This will in no way hurt his career.  That is one of the reasons why the EFMP system was developed.

Please don't worry too much about this, as right now, there is really nothing you can do about this process that all overseas bound families must go through.  You can try to see if there are other wives on the Army Wives Forum and ask if anyone is in EFMP in your projected area.  There are many wives on that forum who are overseas. 

Unfortunately, many of the Army hospitals and posts have closed in Germany. The only REAL hospital is up in Landstuhl...the closest Army base or collection of bases would be in Kaiserslautern, still a very big military community. Ramstein Air Base is also nearby. The rest of the bases and posts, both AF and Army rely on US military health clinics and off-post care on the economy.  German healthcare is very comparable to ours and in many ways more advanced, so no worries there.  Yes, sometimes there are language barriers, but for the most part, many doctors and some staff do speak some English.

Good luck to you!