Close More Annuity Sales Leads

Most agents lose tons of sales because they are so obsessed with talking they forget to listen. They need to tell all about their products features and how great it all is. They can never wait to make their point about how much an annuity can yield. Product Product Product.

The problem is simple, the prospect just doesn?t care. The features of an insurance product are secondary and nothing more. Selling product features makes you an amateur. If you want to be an order taker, go to work for the bank, that is what the tellers do, follow and take orders. Focusing on the ?selling of the product? is what bank clerks do, fill an order.

How do you set yourself apart? Listen and focus on what the prospect is saying because they will always tell you how they feel. Once you understand how they feel then you can provide a product that fits their needs. It is such a simple process, listen and quit talking.

It couldn?t be simpler or more difficult. We all want to talk when in fact listening is a far better way to sell. By asking simple probing questions that elicit a feeling answer is how you place the benefits of the product in line with the feelings of the prospect.

A very simple method of ?feeling? selling is basing the sale on building the relationship. This is easily done by using a track to run on. I prefer a fact finder one in which I can follow a script with the questions in order.

Ask yourself, am I an amateur or am I a professional? Professionals develop relationships based on client needs and amateurs spend their time talking and selling products. Professionals focus their time learning their client needs compared to amateurs who use the sales approach. It is not about the products, it is how the benefits of the product can fill the needs of the prospect. The more questions that can be asked and answered will build the relationship the quickest.

Listen, probe, question?sell.

Bill Broich is a 30 year annuity salesman who helps agents generate annuity leads. Visit his website to learn more - Annuity Sales Leads

History Provides Tons of Annuity Sales Leads

Annuities have been with us for a very long time. Actually they date to the revolutionary times when Benjamin Franklin used annuities to help the Cities of Philadelphia and Boston provide funds for their citizenry. The last of these annuities lasted until 1991 when the City of Boston finally cashed it in.

Benjamin Franklin did not invent annuities although he was a great supporter of their benefits. Actually one of the first users of annuities was the Presbyterian Church. The Presbyterian Church used annuities to provide for old age ministers and their families way back in 1720. They expanded their use for widows and orphans and became a backbone of financial security for people of that time.

You might say that annuities are as old as our country and are a major part of the economic growth of America. It is true!

It was not until the tax Reform Act of 1913 that annuities were actually included in our tax code. All the years prior to then annuities were just part of the growing up of America. In 1913 tax rules and regulations of annuities were adopted. It was decided that annuities were so important to the continued growth of the American Economy that tax advantages were granted and are in place to this day.

Babe Ruth used annuities to avoid the risk of the stock market and thus was not hurt by the stock market crash of 1929. The Babe used annuities to provide a lifetime income for his wife and also for himself prior to his death.

I use this history to help my prospects feel comfortable about their decision to buy an annuity. I always say this..

?Annuities are the most boring products in the universe, safe secure and boring.? Their answer is always, that is what I want? boring. They do want boring because there is no risk involved with annuities; they are safe, secure and insured.

How are they insured and who actually guarantees them? I can?t think of a more regulated industry than the insurance industry, maybe atomic energy or some weird thing like that. As far as our industry is concerned, it is heavily regulated. If you do business as an insurance company in any state the safety of the insurance company?s products are guaranteed by three levels.

? The safety and solvency of the insurance company and it is monitored by the insurance commissioner?s department. Solvency is a must to continue business and it is the responsibility of each state to monitor the insurance company

? Every insurance company in each state guarantees each others solvency. Sort of a weaving of joint assets.

? The state guarantee fund in each state guarantees each annuity and life insurance policy. This fund is monitored and managed by the department of insurance. Many states have different levels of guarantees so it is smart to know what your state does guarantee.

I love to tell my annuity sales leads all about annuities and their long and splendid history so enter twinned with the history of America. Some points to remember:

? Annuities were not affected by the stock market crash of 1929 or any other year.

? Each annuity is guaranteed never to lose money.

? In modern history (1913) no one has ever lost a penny in an annuity because of insurance company insolvency

? Franklin, Ruth?..annuities are boring, just the way we like them

Sell our legacy and share the wonderful story of annuities with your clients.

Bill Broich is a 30 year annuity salesman who helps agents ramp up their annuity sales leads efforts. Visit his website to learn more. Annuity.com

Structured Settlement Annuity Buyer

Annuities are one of the most important and inevitable and lucrative policies for the well being of the senior citizens of America. However, at some crossroads of life one might need to have their future to be planned in a proper way, especially during and after the retirement phase. The best time to buy an annuity is age 55 or older. An annuity is the ideal life planning tool for a senior citizen that comes up to him or her with all the advantages near the end of his life.

A structured settlement annuity is a particular kind of an annuity plan that has its own advantages and disadvantages. A structured settlement means ?by the obligation of a payment that is deferred?. This type of annuity results from the settlement of a personal injury lawsuit. Usually a structured settlement annuity buyer has to make his or her payments over a considerable time or over a period of several years. This kind of annuity plan varies from personal injury accidents and such other mishaps to product liability. It is the fundamental right for a citizen to receive the amount of compensation that he or she deserves if he or she is hurt for some other person. Therefore various insurance companies and agencies buy annuity plans. This plan would be valuable enough to pay a combination of principal and interest over a long period of time. This payment is even possible on the conditions of restrictions regarding the schedule of disbursement.

There are a number of structured settlement companies, however, that offer a number of flexible, individually tailored plans. This is a great leap for those who are structured settlement recipients in receiving a considerable amount of money for their future payments. In one word, a structured settlement helps one to meet today?s needs, turning the future and distant payments into the money one needs today.

Annuity Buyer provides detailed information on Structured Settlement Annuity Buyer, Annuity Buyer, Annuity Buyer Payments, Annuity Buyer Guides and more. Annuity Buyer is affiliated with Condos For Sale.

The Variable Annuity versus The Mutual Fund

Get ready for the battle of the new millennium, the variable annuity versus the mutual fund. Over the past few years, the variable annuity has come under extreme attack, as an investment vehicle for retirement because of its expenses and taxes laws regarding withdraws. Actually, many articles have compared the features of the fixed annuity to a mutual fund, but unfortunately; that is like comparing a wagon to a jet ski. On the other hand, the variable annuity experiences market risk and so does your mutual fund; therefore, this provides us with a fairer comparison.

The variable annuity takes a lot of criticism, since individuals pay ordinary income taxes on withdrawn earnings. Also, the variable annuity is subject to stringent tax rules such as early withdraw penalties before age 59 1/2 with a few exceptions; even if the plan is classified as a non-qualified account. Mutual fund taxes are based on the fund manager's classification of the dividend. If the gain is considered a short-term capital gain in the mutual fund, this amount will also be taxed as ordinary income.

There has been some discussion over the high expenses associated with the variable annuity. Most variable annuity plans average a "mortality and expense" charge of about 1.2% a year and each separate account you choose may add another .8 % to .9% a year plus administrative costs. Mutual funds also have fees. Some funds require you to pay a sales charge when you purchase it, while others require you take a number of years to pay off its sales charge or are considered to be no-load mutual funds. Regardless of the mutual fund you choose, you will have to pay internal fees which may include management and those pesky 12(b)1 fees. The average yearly mutual fund fees generally run .75 to 1.3%, depending on the fund. By now you are wondering why anyone would use a variable annuity for retirement planning? Actually, that is for you to decide not me. F.Y.I., those investment specialist crying about an annuities' surrender charges should never sell B-share mutual funds, because there is not much difference.

The variable annuity has one defensive stand left? Let us say two people invested $20,000 in a variable annuity and the other in XYZ Mutual Fund. Both of these people die before spending a dime of their retirement accounts. At the time of death, each person had the same asset allocation model and $14,000 in their account. Whose beneficiary will get the most money? If your variable annuity has a death benefit that guarantees your original investment minus withdraws, you would have done better with the annuity. However, there are many other scenarios to consider, and the tax rules regarding non-qualified annuities and surrender charges may not allow easy access to your money before age 59 1/2. You decide which is a better retirement investment for you. The most important thing you can do is something, instead of nothing at all.

Disclaimer: The information in this article should be construed to be insurance advice. Always consult a financial or insurance professional or tax accountant to determine what coverage is right for you.

Mr. Jason Cunningham is the lead writer for http://www.financial-shopper-network.com and http://financialshoppernetwork.blogspot.com.

Making A Rational Decision About A Structured Settlement Annuity

It is very easy to become aghast by the sheer volume of e-mails, web sites, tv and journal advertising and legal talk when considering the issue of structured settlements or annuities. We will investigate what, exactly, a structured settlement is so that you are better able to understand the concept and be able to make a rational decision.

To begin, let's explore just what a structured settlement is. It is simply a series of guaranteed disbursals - also known as annuities - made over a certain period of time and is usually the result of an injury settlement or another situation in which you are awarded access to a substantial whole amount of money. It is the alternative to accepting an upfront lump sum.

Structured settlements are individualized arrangements meant to help you cover present and forthcoming expenses. By working closely with an experienced attorney or financial advisor you can determine an effective structured settlement to give you the security of a fixed income over a set period of time. This can help you sleep better at night by taking a huge burden off your back.

There are various types of these annuities. You can learn more about them over at http://www.fixmyannuity.com, but here is a brief explanation of each. This is by no means a complete list, but should give you a fair idea of what is out there:

A certain Period Annuity has a certain period of time for the payments to be paid out. They can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. Upon your death, all remaining payments are made to you beneficiary.

A Life Annuity will make periodic contributions for a guaranteed number of years (based on your life expectancy) or for life, whichever is up first. Again, the beneficiary receives any remaining disbursals should you die before the full whole amount is paid.

A Temporary Life Annuity will pay you for a designated number of years if you are still living, so your annuity ends when you die. There?s no provision for a beneficiary to collect remaining disbursals.

In a Life Contingent Lump Sum you?ll receive a lump sum, provided you are alive on the due date. If you die before this date, your beneficiary is not entitled to the whole amount.

Finally, with Lump Sum Option you can set it up to receive the lump sum on a particular date, say, fifteen years from now. Your beneficiary will receive the lump sum on the future date if you have died before then.

So which type is right for you? The best advice we can offer is to do your fact-finding work. Discuss your situation with your financial advisor and family. That way when you make the decision you'll know what your getting and have considered all the options.

Yvonne Volante, the author, is a big fan of annuities and proper planning and writes for fixmyannuity.com, which is the premier annuity resource on the internet. You can see all of the articles over at http://www.fixmyannuity.com