Don’t Shortcut the Learning Process

Posted by Richard "Dick" Cleary on Jun 22, 2020 3:47:41 PM

Ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius expressed his belief in the importance of
learning from interaction when he wrote, “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I
do, and I understand.”                                                                                                                
There are no shortcuts when it comes to being successful, just as there are no
shortcuts when it comes to gaining knowledge and understanding.

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Topics: Agent / Advisor Training, eLearning, Training and Development, Insurance

Leading the 1099 Associates

Posted by Richard "Dick" Cleary on Jun 17, 2020 9:16:47 AM

If you are leading 1099 associates — those who are not employees of your company paid on W-2’s — be aware of the U.S. Department of Labor’s guidelines on how to differentiate between employees and contract labor. Because rules and laws vary from state to state and from one company to another, we cannot provide detailed information or advice. It is important that you work with your company or get state-appropriate legal advice to make sure you are not crossing any of the existing boundaries that could get you in trouble. 

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Topics: Management Development, eLearning, Training and Development, Insurance

Use Focused Training Groups to Engage Associates

Posted by Richard "Dick" Cleary on Jun 15, 2020 9:24:45 AM

You’ve probably heard these common complaints about training from your mid-tier and top-tier associates: 

  1. “You offer training only to new hires and neglect those of us who are more experienced.”

  2. “You offer the same training to all associates at every level of the career.”

  3. “You force training on us that we can’t relate to and don’t find valuable.” 
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Topics: Management Development, Agent / Advisor Training, eLearning, Training and Development, Insurance

Should You Go Into Management?

Posted by Richard "Dick" Cleary on Jun 3, 2020 8:26:55 AM

If you are a top-performing associate, chances are, your manager is likely to approach you about going into management at some point. This happens often, and when it does, it requires a deep soul search to figure out whether to consider it or not. 

Plenty of producers have left their clientele and practices behind to give management a try, only to discover that they weren’t happy in a management role. Many associates accept the invitation into management because they want to please their managers. Others do so because they aren’t sure where their true passion lies. 

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Topics: Management Development, Agent / Advisor Training, eLearning, Training and Development, Insurance

A Six-Step Guide to Writing an Effective Elevator Talk

Posted by Richard "Dick" Cleary on May 27, 2020 9:13:14 AM

When you have a polished, well-practiced “elevator talk,” you can easily introduce your practice to potential clients, nominators and referrals in any situation. After all, you never know if you’re talking to that one person who might be able to help take your practice to the next level. Using a short but well-planned elevator talk is an effective way to present your unique value proposition to people in an engaging way.

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Topics: Agent / Advisor Training, eLearning, Training and Development, Insurance

Financial Literacy — Understanding Social Security's Impact on Retirement

Posted by Richard "Dick" Cleary on May 20, 2020 9:19:52 AM

Nearly 9 out of 10 Americans aged 65 or older currently receive Social Security. The Social Security Administration estimates that 21 percent of married couples and 43 percent of single seniors rely on Social Security for 90 percent or more of their income.

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Topics: Agent / Advisor Training, eLearning, Training and Development, Insurance, retirement, Social Security

Why You Should Convert Classroom Training to E-Learning

Posted by Richard "Dick" Cleary on May 11, 2020 7:29:15 AM

Traditional classroom training will soon be a thing of the past. E-learning is becoming the new norm because it is highly effective as a learning method, and it is extremely cost-effective. 

It’s Effective and Cost-Effective 

One study that compared e-learning with traditional classroom training reports these compelling numbers: 

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Topics: eLearning, Training and Development, Insurance

5 Reasons Insurance Agencies Should Invest in Video Content

Posted by Richard "Dick" Cleary on May 6, 2020 10:01:56 AM

Regardless of which marketing information source you consult, video content has become the most powerful digital marketing tool to reach consumers. Numerous marketing surveys and study reveal more than 50 percent of consumers prefer to see video content from the brands and businesses they support; and, video content has edged out static photo images as the best performing content for businesses. If you are not leveraging the power of video content to increase your brand awareness and capture leads, it's time to jump on the bandwagon. Video content is the next big thing and it isn't going anywhere soon. Here are six reasons you should invest in video content for your insurance practice:

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Topics: Agent / Advisor Training, eLearning, Training and Development, Insurance

Avoid "One and Done" Training

Posted by Richard "Dick" Cleary on May 5, 2020 5:50:53 AM

Training would be much more effective if we could remember all the new information we are exposed to. 

According to Psychology Today, there is really no such thing as “photographic memory,” although some people can recall information vividly and in great detail. The phenomenon that comes closest is “eidetic memory,” which shows up in about 2 to 10 percent of children, but virtually no adults. “Eidetikers” can hold onto an image for about half a minute to several minutes after it is gone. If you give them 30 seconds to look at a picture, even after you whisk it away, they can describe it with unusual accuracy and detail. 

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Topics: Management Development, Agent / Advisor Training, eLearning, Employee Training, Training and Development, Insurance

How Well Are Your Selling and Marketing Efforts Aligned?

Posted by Richard "Dick" Cleary on Apr 8, 2020 9:15:27 AM

Selling and marketing are two critical components of any advisor’s practice. Although people sometimes use these two terms interchangeably, they are quite different.

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Topics: Agent / Advisor Training, eLearning, Training and Development, Insurance

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