Tuesday, April 8, 2008

How a Blind Annuity Insurance Agent Tripled His Income in Just 90 DAys

Had a phone call from an agent who said that by following these five marketing strategies he went from being blind about marketing to tripling his annuity production.

Check it out...

1. He was blind to the fact that he needed a good quality mailing list to use when he mailed out a series of postcards he received from our marketing system. In fact by following our "3-Step Postcard System" and mailing a 1,000 to 1500 postcards every week his production increased.

In addition, he found by mailing the same prospects at least three times over a three month period his response increased.

2. He was blind to the marketing fact that he had a horrible phone approach and door approach that cost him sales. He took our advice and by using just three key words he was able to set two appointments for every six seniors called who had received his postcard, but never responded to his 800 number or website he placed on the postcard.

These three magic words I've tested for years and I could personally call in the morning just six seniors (preferably widows) and I would have two solid booked appointments for the afternoon.

3. In addition, he learned in my marketing system that he was blind to how to approach prospect at their door. I gave him a door approach that I used when I was full time in the field working that allowed me a 65% in the house ratio for the initial interview. He used this approach with the people who he mailed out the postcards, but never responded to his request for a free report, or a benefit kit.

4. And that's not all...he was blind to the fact how important it was to stay in touch with his current client base on a monthly basis. He uses both our Annuity Pro Lead Capture Web Page and monthly Client Newsletter to stay in touch with his clients.

5. And here's the kicker...he started using our referral technique that gave him an average of three referrals on every appointment.

You will slap your forehead when you learn this technique.

The above five steps allowed this agent to average three solid appointments per day and literally triple his annuity production.

You can read more success stories and also my story how I was a lead junkie and always had 50 new leads a week in my shoebox on my front seat.

Go forth and prosper,
Russ Jones
http://www.ultimateinsurancesystem.com
http://www.PmrSystem.com
http://www.89Million.com (new)

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Sunday, March 30, 2008

Want More Annuity Sales Leads? Use a Pitch Book

A ?pitch book? is a short explanation about what you do as a salesperson and a brief insight into our industry and our products.

My pitch book changes constantly as situations in the financial marketplace change but it is always the same. It tells the prospect about me and our industry. I like to keep it fresh and always in movement as situations evolve. This business is very competitive and keeping a pitch book fresh will have an impact on your ability to build relationship quickly.

Here are some tips to building and managing a successful pitch book.

A historical perspective of the past is important. If you are an annuity salesperson then show how annuities have helped so many people in the past. Connect the past to the present with human evolution such as ?Did you know that Benjamin Franklin owned annuities??

A nice touch is to relate the American economy with the possibilities of the future. This allows for your prospect to relate to their present situation w by viewing a longer period of time such as 1950 to 2000. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S/P 500 can be very persuasive in making this point.

A good point is to show how world events can affect the financial markets and by showing the possibility of a downside will strengthen the overall presentation. This allows the prospect to understand that there can be times when investments may become more volatile and that a plan that stays the course is a plan that will work over a long period of time.

Third party information is essential. By referring to another source will show credibility to you. These can be newspapers and magazines that are relevant and allow their use.

Explain the process about how you work and the time frames and the steps to working towards a goal. Try and place the client into understanding how this process can be personalized to his situation.

Fully explain your services and what the prospect may expect from you. I always include a list of references in my pitch book and I always give my book to the client as a first meeting gift. If possible package the book in an upscale manner so that your prospect fully understands you are a professional and you expect to be treated that way. By setting the stage in this manner you will remove many obstacles that will appear during the final sales process.

1. Describe how any unique features of your approach that are aided.
2. Close by showing samples of what your thinking might look like if it were pulled together into a plan or specific portfolio for today.

A good pitch book helps point out what you have to offer, how it's different and what you hope to accomplish. Your pitch book will set you aside from other salespersons and by taking the extra step in content and packaging will take a huge step in making your prospect your client.

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

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Friday, March 28, 2008

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

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Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Offshore Annuity, Deferred Variable Annuity

An Offshore Annuity works very similar to a deferred variable annuity. The owner pays into the annuity during the accumulation phase using either a lump sum or paying scheduled amounts over a period of time. The money in the annuity will gain interest at a rate determined by the investment portfolios in which it was placed, and either the owner or annuitant will be taxed once the withdrawal period begins.

You should remember that the owner and annuitant do not need to be the same, and for an Offshore Annuity the owner is usually an offshore trust. If the two annuities are so similar, then what is the benefit of having an Offshore Annuity versus a U.S-based deferred variable annuity?

BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES OF AN OFFSHORE ANNUITY

There are several advantages to having an Offshore Annuity, but they can be easily narrowed down into three main benefits:

1. flexibility

2. protection

3. tax advantages

FLEXIBILITY OF AN OFFSHORE ANNUITY VS DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY

When you choose to purchase a deferred variable annuity you are usually opting to place your money into mutual funds, equity funds, bond funds, etc. The investment portfolio chosen for your money is done by the insurance company you purchase the annuity from, and is limited to venders they have contracts with.

An Offshore Annuity offers more investment options since the overseas advisor can choose to place the money in any of the previously mentioned portfolios, or, for example, they can invest your money in gold. The overseas advisor is not limited by contracts and can invest your money into a number of diversified accounts. Your rate of return is not guaranteed, and is determined by the success of your advisor?s chosen investments.

ASSET PROTECTION AND SECURITY OF AN OFFSHORE ANNUITY

Offshore Annuities offer much more than just increased investment options; they offer a secure way to hide your existing assets from the U.S Government. This feature of an Offshore Annuity is also known as Wealth Preservation. If the offshore issuer of your annuity has no U.S-based affiliations, U.S Courts have no jurisdiction over them or your annuity. This means that anyone wishing to effect a garnishment of your assets must receive permission from the host country where your Offshore Annuity originates.

This is not as easy as it seems since Offshore Annuities are not subject to U.S foreign account reporting requirements. This feature of an Offshore Annuity makes it extremely difficult to link you to any funds other than what you report on your income taxes. It is important to note that while you can be both the owner and annuitant for your annuity, this situation only applies if the owner of the annuity is an offshore trust. (Please note Estate Street Partners and its partners do not ever condone on misreporting on your income.)

FRAUDULENT TRANSFER LAWS ON ANNUITY

If you are both the owner and annuitant, you may be ordered by a U.S. Court to use your annuity to pay a creditor. There are only a few states which exclude annuities from creditors, but you will be subject to fraudulent transfer laws if you obtained the annuity for the sole purpose of hindering or delaying a creditor?s claim.

Having an offshore trust take ownership of your annuity avoids this situation altogether, although it is important to investigate the fraudulent transfer laws of the offshore trust and choose only those which appear investor friendly.

OFFSHORE TRUST OF ANNUITY: WITHHOLD DIRECT ANNUITY PAYMENTS TO BENEFICIARY

Having an offshore trust for your annuity offers you, as trustee, the option of withholding direct annuity payments to a beneficiary. If the beneficiary is affected by a drug or alcohol addiction, or is battling legal issues, you may choose to allocate annuity payments indirectly for their benefit. This is very different from a deferred variable annuity which only offers a direct payment to the annuitant or beneficiary in the form of lump sum or scheduled payments.

TAX ADVANTAGES OF OFFSHORE ANNUITY AND OFFSHORE TRUST

Your Offshore Annuity will grow tax-deferred until you begin withdrawing money, and the U.S Government only requires a one percent excise tax on the premium you paid to implement your Offshore Annuity. Another difference between a deferred variable annuity and an Offshore Annuity owned by a trust, is your beneficiaries do not need to receive payments immediately following your death. Therefore they can delay paying taxes on your annuity until the trust begins distribution of the annuity.

HOW TO PURCHASE AN OFFSHORE ANNUITY? WHO IS IT FOR?

An Offshore Annuity is not for everyone. Most issuers require more than one million dollars to implement your annuity. As previously mentioned, it is wise to have an offshore trust own your annuity. In this case, the offshore trust completes the annuity application and sends it to the issuer. Upon approval you will wire funds to the bank account of your trust, who will then wire the premium to the issuer to complete the transaction.

author bio - Rocco Beatrice, CPA, MST, MBA
award-winning estate planning & trust expert
MS - Taxation, Master of Science Taxation
MBA - Management / Taxation
BSBA - Management / Accounting
CPA - Certified Public Accountant
-----
Asset Protection Irrevocable Trust, Estate Planning
Annuity Types
71 Commercial Street #150, Boston, MA 02109
tel: +1.508.429.0011 fax: +1.508.429.3034

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Annuity - Fixed, Variable, Equity-Based Annuity - Deferred, Immediate Annuity

Annuities are not a new concept, although they have become more complex over time. The first annuities were documented in America during the mid-eighteenth century by Pennsylvanian ministers, and it was not until the early twentieth century when they became available for purchase by the general public.

WHAT IS AN ANNUITY? HOW CAN YOU BENEFIT FROM AN ANNUITY?

So, what is an annuity, and how can you benefit? A simple answer is that an annuity is an agreement between you and your insurance company. Annuities can only be sold by agents specifically licensed to do so, and each insurance company is regulated by individual state insurance commissions. Your insurance agent must possess a life insurance license as well as a license from the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

If your insurance company goes bankrupt, other licensed companies in the state are required to honor your contract. The terms of an annuity are that you will pay a sum of money to the insurer (either a lump sum or series of payments) and they will make scheduled payments to you immediately or delay payments until after a certain period of time.

Unlike your 401(k), annuities grow tax-deferred and you will not pay any taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) until you begin withdrawing funds from your annuity. Unlike other savings options through a bank which may calculate and charge yearly taxes on your interest, in a tax-deferred annuity your taxes are based only on the final accumulation of your annuity at the time of withdrawal.

ANNUITY TYPES: FIXED ANNUITY, VARIABLE ANNUITY, EQUITY-BASED ANNUITY

In addition to deciding when you will receive your money from an annuity, you can also choose between a fixed and a variable annuity. A fixed annuity guarantees a minimum interest rate while your annuity accumulates, and guarantees equal check amounts when you withdraw from the annuity.

A variable annuity allows you different investment options for your funds, with a mutual fund as the most common choice. A variable annuity offers no guarantee to payout amounts, and your income from this annuity will fluctuate depending on the investment vehicle you chose. On occasion you may be offered an equity-based annuity which determines your interest rate based on an equity index such as the S&P 500.

CHOOSING BETWEEN A DEFERRED ANNUITY AND IMMEDIATE ANNUITY PLAN

Deciding between a deferred and an immediate annuity is a matter of personal preference. If you prefer to save for a long-term goal such as retirement, and have no immediate need for the money, you should consider a deferred annuity. It is important to remember that if you choose this type of annuity there are penalties for early withdrawal. The IRS imposes a standard ten percent penalty, in addition to income tax on accrued funds, if you withdraw money before the age of 59 ?. Your insurer may also charge you surrender fees for early withdrawal.

3 METHODS FOR REQUESTING PAYMENT FOR DEFERRED ANNUITY

If you wait until retirement to withdraw money, there are three methods for requesting payment from a deferred annuity. You can:

1) Request a lump sum payment or

2) Take out money only when you need it or

3) Annuitize and receive a set dollar amount every month for as long as you live

Most people choose to annuitize because it also spreads out the required income tax payments. If you die before withdrawing from the annuity your beneficiaries are entitled to receive the balance of your annuity by these methods as well, although if they choose a lump sum they will be charged all the tax on your accrued interest at once.

IMMEDIATE ANNUITY IF CLOSE TO RETIREMENT

If you are close to retirement, or already retired, an immediate annuity is a wiser financial choice. Immediate annuities must be purchased with a lump sum since payments will usually begin within one month of purchase. When you purchase an immediate annuity you are guaranteeing a steady income for the rest of your life, or for a predetermined time period. When you receive payments from an immediate annuity you are only taxed on the earnings from your initial investment. The part of your check that is the principal is not taxable.

3 MAIN OPTIONS FOR WHEN YOU RECEIVE AN ANNUITY PAYMENT

There are three main options to choose from when receiving an annuity payment.

1) The first is Income for Life which guarantees you a set income for the duration of your life, but payments will cease upon your death. This option is risky since you don?t know exactly when you will die. Should you die before your annuity has been completely paid out, the insurance company, and not your beneficiaries, will receive the remainder of the annuity funds.

2) The second payout option is Income for Life with a Guaranteed Period. This option is more appealing because it provides the same coverage as the first option, but if you die before the predetermined guarantee period expires, your beneficiaries will continue to receive payments until the guarantee period ends.

3) A third option is known as the Joint and Survivor option. This option guarantees payment to you and another person, usually a spouse, until both of you dies. Annuity payout options are flexible and any of these options can be combined to fit your individual needs.

DOWNSIDES TO AN ANNUITY

Annuities may also be used to fund your 401(k), 403(b), and Individual Retirement (IRA), although it is not generally advised to use your annuity for this purpose. The two downsides of greatest concern are a contribution limitation, and the federal government requirement for you to begin receiving minimum payments by age 70 ?. Additionally, once you have used your annuity to finance your 401(k), for example, you will incur a ten percent penalty for early withdrawal if you take money before you reach age 59 ? and there are few exceptions to paying this penalty. Once you begin receiving annuity payments you cannot change your mind, and you will continue to receive payments for the predetermined time frame established during the accumulation phase.

author bio - Rocco Beatrice, CPA, MST, MBA
award-winning estate planning & trust expert
MS - Taxation, Master of Science Taxation
MBA - Management / Taxation
BSBA - Management / Accounting
CPA - Certified Public Accountant
-----
Asset Protection Irrevocable Trust, Offshore Asset Protection
Will Contest: What is it? How can you Protect a Will?
71 Commercial Street #150, Boston, MA 02109
tel: +1.508.429.0011 fax: +1.508.429.3034

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Sunday, March 16, 2008

Where Do You Find A Qualified Buyer of Structured Settlement Annuity?

Finding a qualified buyer of structured settlement annuity is much easier these days thanks to the Internet. With just the click of a mouse you have access to the top note buyers in the country, and you can sell your annuity in a matter of days. It's just a question of finding the right buyer.

Many people find at the beginning or over time that the monthly payments they receive as part of a structured settlement no longer work for them. They might need an immediate source of cash, might be looking to retire or just might not want to assume the risk anymore. Whatever the case may be, there are professionals who are willing to purchase these settlements and assume the risk for you.

It's important to remember that you do not have to sell your entire note. Rather, you can tell the buyer of structured annuity settlement that you only want to sell a portion of it. This is called a partial and it is a common way of structuring the deal. Here's an example of how this works:

Let's say you have a $100,000 settlement paying over 5 years. You need $40k now for a new investment. Well you can sell $40k worth of payments (however many months that works out to be) and retain the rest of the monthly income. Once those payments are made, you resume right where you left off and start receiving your monthlies again.

There are other ways to sell as well, and a knowledgeable buyer of structured settlement annuity will be able to explain all of them to you. After hearing all of the options you can decide which works best for your particular financial situation.

How much will you get for your structured settlement?

That depends on a number of factors, including but not limited to the remaining balance, months/years left, inflationary concerns, timeliness of payments and the financial stability/reliability of the payor. The buyer of structured annuity settlement will take all of these into consideration to come up with their valuation. Remember, it has to make financial sense for them as well as they are taking on the risk of holding this annuity, possibly for many years to come.

If you're considering selling your note, make sure you find a qualified buyer of structured settlement annuity with many years of experience in the industry. This way you are sure to get top dollar for your settlement.

Jamie has been working in the finance industry for many years and is a contributing editor to http://www.selling-your-note.com. Find a buyer of structured settlement annuity and learn more about cash flow instruments on our site.

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Sunday, March 9, 2008

How Do You Get Cash For Annuity Payment In a Lump Sum of Money?

Rather than wait to receive money monthly you can get cash for annuity payment today from what is known in the industry as a note buyer. Many people who find themselves in need of an immediate source of cash choose to sell their annuities either in their entirety or just a portion of the payments.

Annuities can refer to a variety of different financial arrangements but basically they all work out to a steady, monthly payment for a set number of years. In a structured settlement, which refers a financial plan for injury victims, the insurance company sets up an annuity whereby the victim receives x number of dollars, tax-free, for x number of years. You can also personally invest in an annuity, which works sort of like life insurance. You pay a certain dollar amount every year for a certain number of years, and in return when you reach that point you start getting x number of dollars a month for a specified amount of time.

Regardless of the type you currently have, you can receive cash for annuity payments if you have a need for a large sum of money in the short term. It certainly is much easier than applying for a loan at the bank or with another creditor, and it can usually be executed with 10-14 days with an experienced note buyer. Many people choose to do just this to free up funds for a new investment opportunity, a big purchase or some other financial need.

How do you know the total amount of cash for annuities you will receive?

There is no way to determine the exact amount you will receive for your annuity before you speak to a note buyer. This is because there are a lot of factors involved that must be considered in order to arrive at a quote. What is the balance, how much time is left, what are the inflationary concerns, how financially stable is the payor?

These are a few of the questions a buyer offering cash for annuity payment will ask in order to determine how much your annuity is worth. Also, keep in mind that you do not have to sell the entire annuity. Rather, you can sell just a portion of it and retain the rest. You can also often split the monthly payments, so you receive some and the buyer receives some.

That's why it's so important to find a reputable, experienced note buyer to purchase your annuity from you. He or she will be able to present all of the available options to you so you can make an informed decision. And remember, money today is always worth more than money tomorrow, so you really can't go wrong with a cash for annuity arrangement.

Jamie has been working in the finance industry for many years and is a contributing editor to http://www.selling-your-note.com. Learn more about cash for annuities and get a free, no obligation quote from professional note buyers on our site.

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Monday, March 3, 2008

Understanding Annuities Can Lead to More Annuity Sales

I am always amazed about the questions I get from agents regarding the types of annuities available. Annuities come in many shapes and sizes each designed for a specific use. One annuity may have benefits another does not and it is important to know the features and benefits of each contract.

Single premium deferred annuity: As the name implies it is a one time deposit and no further deposits are accepted. A single premium annuity can be many different types such as a fixed annuity, an indexed annuity and a variable annuity. Each of these types of single premium deferred annuities has their own features and benefits. I will discuss each of these later.

Flexible Premium Deferred Annuity: This type of annuity allows for continual or sporadic additional deposits. Each deposit is added to the account value and can be deferred. Variable, indexed and fixed can all be flexible premium annuities.

Single Premium Immediate Annuity: These contracts are used to create an income stream. A single deposit is made and an income will begin at a pre-agreed upon time. These payments to the annuitant can be monthly, annually or most other time periods. Any time period for the payout can be selected from any number of years to a lifetime guaranteed payment.

Variable Annuity: Variable annuities are securities and are sold with a prospectus. Variable annuities allow for the annuitant to designate a specific type of sub account or investment for the funds to be invested in. These sub accounts are like mutual funds in the sense the money is managed by an outside source and there is no limit to the growth of the funds or the exposure to loss. The money in the variable annuity is not at the insurance company but is on deposit at the fund manager. Variable annuities do have a guaranteed rate of return section which usually is a lower rate of interest. Variable annuity owners may switch investments in the annuity in the event of a new investment goal is desired. These changes can be completed without any tax liability. The funds in a variable annuity are not guaranteed and exposure to loss is part of the investment risk. In the event of death, variable annuities will guarantee at least the return of the original investment in the event the account is lower.

Indexed Annuity: Indexed annuities are fixed annuities whose returns are set to an outside source such as the Dow Jones Average. The funds in an indexed annuity are on deposit with the insurance company and not actually invested in the indexes. There are numerous options for selecting the type of crediting rate and how it interfaces with the specific index. One strong positive about indexed annuities is the deposit is fully guaranteed to never lose money and once a new amount is credited to the annuity then that becomes the guaranteed minimum.

Fixed Annuity: Fixed annuities come in all sorts and sizes from a few years contract to a longer period. Some will fully guarantee the interest rates the entire time period while others will allow the insurance company to determine the interest credited year to year. The funds in a fixed annuity always have a minimum interest which is fully guaranteed. Fixed annuities also guarantee the full account value.

Annuities are not for everyone but for those that will benefit from these contracts they can be perfect. Safety and security is the basic attraction to an annuity and when these benefits are needed they can be of enormous value. Developed your expertise, understand which annuity products are right for the unique circumstances and needs of the investor and increase your annuity sales.

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

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Sunday, March 2, 2008

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

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Friday, February 29, 2008

Radio Talk Show Annuity Selling System

Pre-selling skills are as important as closing skills and more important than presentation skills. The more you pre-sell, the less you have to sell during the face-to-face phase. The more your prospects perceive you as the expert, the less you have to convince them you are.

Our new Radio Talk Show Annuity Selling System engages the power of perception in your prospects. It is not actually a selling system. It?s a pre-selling system. Pre-selling is the easiest, most time- and cost-effective part of the sales process.

Here's an example right out of history. In 218 B.C. when Hannibal led his army of 38,000 foot soldiers, 8,000 cavalry, and 37 war elephants across the Alps to do battle with the mighty Roman army, the march itself, not the ensuing battles won or lost, established him as the greatest military strategist in history. So admired and feared was Hannibal that, by reputation alone, many battles along his historic march to northern Italy were won without a single sword unsheathed, without a drop of blood shed.

This story demonstrates the awesome power of perception. This strategy applied to selling annuities will make you the undisputed expert in your field.

If you were your prospect, would you rather sit down with a ?nobody special? insurance agent or a well-known expert on the subject of financial retirement solutions, someone you listen to on the radio? You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

Look at the world from your prospect?s point of view. Who would you rather discuss your retirement nest egg with, (a) an insurance agent who contacts you through telemarketing or direct mail, asking for an appointment, or (b) a prominent expert with his or her own radio talk show covering subjects like, How to Stop The IRS From Plundering Your Social Security, or Three Easy Steps to a Guaranteed Income For Life, or Why Your IRA Is a Ticking Tax Time Bomb and How To Defuse It.

An Annuity Selling System That Makes You The Expert

It?s a fact that 96% of the U.S. population listens to the radio at least once a week and 75% listen EVERY DAY. This is more than any other medium. Listeners pay more attention to guest speakers than they do to commercials. Which would you rather listen to, a commercial, or a guest with an amazing story to tell, a guest who can make you laugh, teach you something new, save you money, save you time, open up a controversial topic for you to argue about?

Notice I did not suggest a radio show guest who talks about ?why you should buy fixed annuities,? or even ?what an annuity is.? Your topic is your hook. Your hook needs to pull listeners in with the strength of a black hole.

Once your listeners tune in, you don?t want them to feel tricked because you launched into a sales pitch for a product. You want to let your personality radiate, to reveal the three-dimensional human being you are, and to give genuine take-home value by way of solutions to their financial problems.

Remember, nobody buys annuities; they have to be sold. Nobody wants you to sell them a product, but everybody wants you to help them discover a solution. If you can learn how to do this in a radio talk show format, reaching tens of thousands of listeners at a time, you will truly position yourself as the popular, trusted expert while propelling your insurance practice to record heights. You will have your own very personal pre-selling annuity selling system.

But who has time to script a compelling radio show? Should you just wing it and hope for the best? How do you tie your theme to a hot topic that people will clamor to listen to? Should you go live or pre-recorded? Do you take calls, give away freebies, go solo or be interviewed by a host? Yikes! Too many questions and not enough answers!

Until Now

Now, a limited number of annuity agents have a rare opportunity to participate in "Safe Money Secrets," our turnkey Radio Talk Show Annuity Selling System, with exclusive broadcast rights in protected territories.

If you are a licensed life insurance agent not currently contracted through Life Sales and wish to begin or advance your career selling fixed annuities, you may qualify for our Radio Talk Show Annuity Selling System. Come onboard with two or more of our carriers ? Allianz, ING, Sun Life Financial, or American Equity ? and receive 200 leads as a signing bonus. Then with your first 3000 QPCs (roughly $40,000 in paid business depending on carrier and product) within three months of coming onboard, you?ll be interviewed as a guest expert on "Safe Money Secrets" and receive your first half-hour pre-recorded radio show with exclusive broadcast rights, ready for airing in your local market.

We provide you with a script of all the questions, coaching on all the answers, anecdotes, segues, ways to make the phone ring and generate warm, pre-sold prospects. It's all done over the phone. I call you as host, interviewer and show producer. You are the exclusive guest expert in your marketing area. You speak from the comfort of your office or home with all your notes at hand, in your pajamas if you like.

I use professional recording and editing hardware and software to make you sound like a professional radio talk show star. I burn a broadcast-quality CD-ROM of your show, which you take to your local stations and shop the best demographics, listening audience, frequency, time slot, and rates.

Simply click on the link below to contact me. Then, as Charles Osgood says, "I'll see you on the radio."

http://www.Free-Insurance-Leads.com Gary Le Mon is a wholesale distributor of fixed indexed annuities for Allianz, American Equity, Sun Life Financial, and ING. Author and developer of the Safe Money Seminar, a financial planning seminar for Seniors, Gary serves as guest speaker on behalf of agents and agencies nationwide. He is coach, mentor and motivator to over 700 general agents in his insurance marketing organization, InsuranStar Marketing.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Ramp Up Annuity Sales Using Secret Tool

Lots of annuity sales with this Tool. Most of our competitors hammer us and our prospects about the surrender penalties in annuities.

7 years, 10 years, 17 years - YIKES!

I look at it differently. I love surrender penalties because they provide me with lots of future prospects and clients. How can that be?

It is the exclusion ratio. The exclusion ratio has made more annuity sales for me that anything I can ever think of. The exclusion ratio is a benefit we should all make certain our clients and prospects are aware of. Explain it this way:

If you convert accumulated funds in an annuity to an income stream you can access the exclusion ratio. The exclusion ratio is the percentage of income that is excluded from tax liability.

I like this example

? A $50,000 deposit has grown to a value of $100,000.

If the annuitant takes any funds from this account it is 100% taxable at ordinary income tax rates.

In our example let?s pretend that the annuitant selects a 10 year payout and we will round off the calculations for the sake of illustration.

? $100,000 will provide an annual payment of $10,000 for 10 years.
? $5,000 basis and not taxable, $5,000 interest and taxable.

The $5,000 basis is the exclusion ratio.

Because we have accessed the exclusion ratio we can ?spread out? the tax liability over the selected time period which in our example is 10 years. This means that only 50% of the income received is taxable. By spreading out the payment we have spread out the tax liability!

An annual payment of $10,000 will only have 50% tax liability. Mrs. Prospect, this allows you to completely manage your annual tax liability and to take advantage of the ?Exclusion Ratio.? How about selling the exclusion ratio to the client for the beneficiary?

Mrs. Prospect did you know that when your daughter receives these funds as your beneficiary she can also access the exclusion ratio??

Your beneficiary can accept the funds out over a fixed period of time and spread the tax liability over the payout period.

When a prospect asks me about surrender period I always say this:

?Mrs. Prospect, you cannot enjoy the benefits of this contract unless you allow the insurance company to hold your funds. There are many benefits you can enjoy with this product, have you ever heard of the exclusion ratio??

I use the power of the contract and the exclusion ratio to explain the need for surrender period. Easy to explain and makes for very happy clients. This is especially good when someone comes to me with an existing annuity. Often times they are not happy and did not understand the time period for the surrender penalties. I would say this..

?Mrs. Prospect, unfortunately your agent did not really understand your contract well enough. It is really not his fault; he probably did not have access to the training that I have had. Let me explain a terrific benefit of your contract, the exclusion ratio.?

Once I am able to explain this powerful benefit it is easy to sell another annuity to her. The benefits of the contact sell the annuity for me.

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

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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Fixed Annuity Choices - Significant Considerations

When it comes to fixed annuity choices you have two basic types to select from - the immediate annuity and the deferred annuity.

If you opt to enroll in a plan that offers an immediate annuity, you will receive a check from the company anytime within twelve months of signing on the dotted line. An immediate annuity also offers you the choice of receiving the check every year for a specific pre-determined number of years or whether you just want to keep receiving the checks every year for the duration of your entire lifetime. In the latter case the insurance company will figure out how much each payment will be based on how much insurance you bought in the first place and the length of your projected life expectancy.

A deferred annuity is a little more complicated. It is a two-step type plan. During the first phase of the plan, known as the accumulation plan, your money is invested and allowed to grow in bulk. Taxes on this investment are deferred until you should choose to withdraw the money out, either as a series of payments or as one lump sum. The second phase of the plan is this payout phase

When it comes to fixed annuity choices many people opt for the deferred annuity because it offers more control over your money -especially over the dates when you can withdraw the money. The benefit of this is that you decide when to pay the taxes on income incurred from your fixed annuity.

When assessing your fixed annuity choices it is probably a good idea to assess whether or not you are going to need to withdraw the money before retirement. If you think you will need money before you retire then the deferred annuity is a better choice as it offers more flexibility in both what amounts you can take out and when you can withdraw the funds.

Tiffany Walker has finally revealed her annuity secrets online. Read the latest by clicking here: Fixed Annuity Choices.

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Thursday, January 17, 2008

What Is A Split Annuity?

The Split Annuity is a combination of an immediate annuity and a deferred annuity, structured to provide immediate income, much of which is after tax dollars (return of premium), while returning the original premium (before taxes).

The income is guaranteed for the length of the contract, while the deferred dollars grow at current, tax-deferred interest rates.

A single premium is used to fund the Split Annuity. Annuity Companies issue two contracts, one for the guaranteed income and one for tax deferred growth.

The Split Annuity offers a guaranteed monthly income.

The Split Annuity features competitive interest rates, tax-deferred growth and partial withdrawal options.

The Split Annuity is flexible. A new income stream may be developed from the deferred annuity proceeds at a later date. The deferred annuity also allows for additional partial withdrawals, plus the continued tax-deferred growth eventually ?replaces? the immediate annuity premium.

What is a Tax-Deferred Annuity? A tax-deferred annuity is a contract between you and the insurance company with guaranteed interest and guaranteed annuity income options. There are no upfront sales charges or administrative fees during the life of your contract.

Advantages of Tax-Deferred Annuities include tax deferral, stability, may avoid probate, liquidity features, and guaranteed income.

One of the primary advantages of deferred annuities is the opportunity to accumulate a substantial sum of money by allowing your premium and interest to grow tax-deferred. Unlike taxable investments, you pay no taxes on your annuity interest until you begin to take withdrawals or receive income. This allows your money to grow faster than in a taxable account, because you earn interest on the money that would have otherwise been paid in taxes.

http://HappyRetiree.com/

You can freely reprint this article as long as the author, bio, and live links are left intact.

Jeff McLeod is a fixed index-linked retirement income annuity specialist. To get a copy of the Buyer?s Guide visit http://happyretiree.com/

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Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Compare An Annuity Rate - Foolproof Method

You should never buy insurance without first taking the trouble to compare annuity rate offers from several different companies. This will definitely prevent you from running the risk of accidentally buying high-cost insurance.

Millions of people needlessly pay unnecessarily high interest rates because they were too lazy to try to compare annuity rate offers. For instance many people don't realize that a variable annuity actually has higher fees and sometimes-higher interest rates then a fixed rate annuity.

Just to remind you of the differences between types of annuities, a fixed annuity pays you a guaranteed rate of interest and a variable annuity helps you invest in a portfolio of mutual fund type accounts. There is also a third type of annuity called an equity-indexed annuity. It is like a mating of the two types and offers a minimum rate of interest as well as the opportunity to invest your money in a portfolio as well. Equity indexed annuities are the hardest plans to compare simply because they are complex and marketed as being risk-free when in fact the opposite is often true!

Another unfortunate yet common consequence of neglecting to compare annuity rate offers is settling for the first deal that comes your way. Many people do this just to get the whole tedious job of comparing annuity rate offers over with. This could be a big mistake, especially if you don't read the fine print. For one thing you might end up paying really high fees should you decide to withdraw your money one day.

Another problem is that you are often stuck in the deal that you chose in the first place as there could be very high penalties for withdrawing your money early. This makes it almost impossible to get ahead financially even if you did have a better annuity rate offered from another company.

Tiffany Walker has finally revealed her annuity secrets online. Read the latest by clicking here: Buyer of structured annuity settlement.

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Sunday, November 25, 2007

How To Purchase An Annuity

An annuity is a contract with an insurance company to make periodic payments for retirement income and sometimes other purposes.

There are basically two types of annuities.

Fixed Annuities

A fixed annuity earns a guaranteed interest rate over a specific period of time. When this period of time expires a new interest rate is set for the next period of time. Is important to note that a fixed annuity is not backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Variable Annuities

Variable annuities offer a much greater range of investment funding options than fixed annuities. Because their performance depends on the investment options your principal and return are not guaranteed. Some variable annuities offer a fixed accounts alternative that guarantees principal and interest a lot like fixed annuities. You can then divide your funds between the low-risk option as well as high-risk options such as stocks.

Purchasing Annuities

There are two ways to purchase annuities. You can either pay the premium using one lump sum or you can make ongoing contributions to what is called a flexible payment annuity. With a flexible payment annuity you can contribute money pretty much any time you want. Another benefit of variable annuities is that they allow you to transfer money from one account to the other without having to pay taxes on any earnings you make as a result of the transfer. The disadvantage of variable annuities is that you will most likely pay higher fees than you would with a fixed annuity.

If you are wanting to save money for retirement a fixed tax deferred annuity may be the best option for you. With a tax-deferred annuity you don't pay taxes until you make a withdrawal or begin receiving annuity income. This can allow you to accumulate a greater amount of money over an extended period of time. You should think carefully though before putting money into a tax-deferred annuity. If the money is needed before age 59 and you withdrawal the money the IRS may apply heavy penalties. In addition the insurer may also impose its own withdrawal penalties which are often cause surrender fees.

You can also purchase what is called an immediate annuity. When you purchase an immediate annuity you make a one-time payment and distributions usually begin within 30 days. Immediate annuities can be fixed or variable. Because an immediate annuity can provide stable income payments guaranteed for a selected period of time, this is a good option if you need a financial vehicle that can provide guaranteed income for life.

Before purchasing an annuity is important to speak with a professional financial adviser so you have an understanding of the various tax consequences of an annuity as well as the expenses which may be associated with the contract.

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.com. Visit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.

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