April Contest for Senior Insurance Agents and Administrative Professionals!

In honor of Administrative Professionals Day on April 27th, we're having a Facebook Staff Photo Contest!

To participate, all you have to do is...

1. "Like" our Facebook Fan Page

2. And post a picture of you and your staff on our Fan Page...by April 20th!

Don't be afraid to use your creativity! The office with the winning picture will receive a pizza lunch for their entire office on April 27th.

To get to our Facebook Page just follow this link: http://www.facebook.com/SeniorMarketingSpecialists?ref=ts

Senior Insurance Agents, LinkedIn & Compliance Issues

FYI: LinkedIn basically serves as an online resume. It's similar to Facebook, but was designed especially for professionals. And, according to Senior Market Advisor, it's "compliance-friendly as long as you do not accept recommendations." Do you have a LinkedIn profile?

Click here to see how you can sign up for LinkedIn.

ATTN: Agents Selling Mutual of Omaha's Medicare Supplement

United World May rate adjustment: Effective May 1, 2011, United World 1990 Standardized and 2010 Modernized Medicare supplement products in Colorado will experience rate adjustments.

Mutual of Omaha May rate adjustment: Effective May 1, 2011, Mutual of Omaha 1990 Standardized Medicare supplement products in Colorado, Indiana and Texas will experience a rate adjustment.

United of Omaha May rate adjustment: Effective May 1, 2011, United of Omaha 1990 Standardized Medicare supplement products in Idaho, Missouri and West Virginia will experience a rate adjustment.

United World June rate adjustment: Effective June 1, 2011, United World 1990 Standardized Medicare supplement product in Wisconsin will experience a rate adjustment.

Call for details: 1-800-689-2800

If you think social media is an effective way to market, but you're worried about compliance issues...

Check out this article titled: The best social media compliance products for financial professionals. It's helpful!

Important: Why your clients need Recovery Care

All patients are required to sign something called a "Continued Stay Denial Letter" when they are first admitted into a hospital. This gives hospitals the freedom to send patients home before they are fully recovered which saves the hospitals money and frees up space in their facilities. If you know someone who has been a patient recently, they will probably tell you that their stay was limited!

The fact of the matter is, hospitals have become stabilization units and are no longer recovery facilities. If you're not convinced, here is just one article that supports this idea. http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Features/Insuring-Your-Health/Michelle-Andrews-on-hospital-readmissions.aspx. This article explains that a significant number of patients were readmitted because they left the hospital before they were recovered and had trouble recovering without hospital care. Hospitals are still turning people out once they have been stabilized, they are just trying to minimize the problems that occur once a patient leaves.

All of this raises questions like: Where will seniors go when they are discharged, who will take care of them, and who will pay for their recovery expenses? As an agent you can offer your clients the perfect solution, one they will thank you for, when you present them with a Recovery Care product. If you would like to learn more about Recovery Care, give us a call at 1-800-689-2800.

Dan McNerney's Advice

"The difference between great people and everyone else is that great people create their lives actively, while everyone else is created by their lives, passively waiting to see where life takes them next."-unknown

What makes a senior insurance agent a success?

Feedback from our Agents after our Recovery Care Boot Camp!

"I thoroughly enjoyed the Boot Camp and really appreciate what SMS is trying to do for all of us to succeed in these trying times. I thought all the presentations were fantastic, but especially enjoyed Bobby Richardson's 'taking us in a home' for an overview of how they approach a prospect. I have accidentally done 'most' of the stuff he talked about, but he gave me some ideas I have not used that I intend to put to good use immediately. What an inspiring and educational day it was for both Steve and I. All we can say is thank you and I look forward to working together going forward."
-Randy

"I have learned so much in the past 24 hours and hope to integrate the information into our brokerage. I see the value of the products and want to figure out a way to make that a part of our business. Your office has been great to us and has helped us grow and I really appreciate that. We look to have a great 2011 and with your help and the help of your superb team hope to break some records."

-Brandon

We hope to see YOU at our next boot camp on April 27th. Stay tuned for the details!

What agents told us...

When we asked agents if they have a website, here is what they told us:












We were excited to see that 50% of the agents surveyed do have a website! Do you?
Click here to see the top ten reasons why you should have a website!

Really?

Here are a few things (from Senior Market Advisor) that you should know:

1. It’s okay to screw up a cold call and call that prospect back in a week because it’s doubtful he will remember you.
2. People will tell you anything you want (and need) to know if you have the courage to ask.
3. It’s okay to walk away from a deal if it doesn’t make good business sense.

To find out what else you should know, click here.


http://smsteam.net/

Recovery Care Boot Camp - Hosted by Senior Marketing Specialists

If you are interested in attending this agent training event, call to reserve your spot. March 22nd is only a few days away and seating is very limited! For more details about the Boot Camp, click here!

Replacing a Medicare Card can be simple if you know what to do.

If you are wondering what to tell your clients when they ask, "How do I replace my Medicare card?" click here. This is a helpful resource!

Have a great St. Patrick's Day!

What every agent should know about social media marketing!

Yesterday the creative marketing team at SMS went to a social media
seminar! Here are a few key takeaways that we thought would benefit you:

1. Social media marketing is a must!
Watch this YouTube video if you're not convinced!


2. Focus on building relationships and joining online conversations!

3. Use Facebook to express your personality and build trust...not to sell insurance.

A Great Way to Inspire Your Agents to Sell Additional Products...

During your next agent training session, you should conduct this experiment! Have an index card with these words written on it (or something similar): "Who do you have your cancer insurance with?" Ask an agent in the audience to read the card out loud then thank them and hand them $25. Next ask another agent to do the same thing, and also hand them $25. After doing this a few times tell the audience all they have to do is ask that question out loud to every client that they meet with, and if they sell only one in ten cancer policies, asking that question out loud was worth $25. Imagine $25 for simply saying one sentence out loud. That is just how valuable it is to ask questions or bring up additional products!

Contribution by Dan Mangus.

Personal Responsibility

Here are a few select quotes gathered by Dan McNerney on personal responsibility. Check it out!!!

"You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the season, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of. You don't have charge of the constellations, but you do have charge of whether you read, develop new skills, and take new classes." ~ Jim Rohn

"The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands." ~ Robert M Pirsig

"The choice is yours. You hold the tiller. You can steer the course you choose in the direction of where you want to be - today, tomorrow, or in a distant time to come." ~ W. Clement Stone

"Don't go around saying the work owes you a living; the world owes you nothing; it was here first." ~ Mark Twain

Is Cross Selling Really Worth It?

Congratulations Agents!

Thank you for the overwhelming response to our agent survey! Your feedback is what helps us serve you more effectively! The 10 agents who will receive 1,000 Turning 65 Names include:

1. Mitch champagne
2. Jim Posey
3. John Alan Cash
4. Sheila Hassinger
5. Mary Ellen Gilchrist
6. Will Zinchini
7. Mark Boxman
8. James Thorpe
9. Anthony M Cochran
10. Mark Acre

And our t-shirt winner is Jesse L Cox

Are you interested in other contests? Click here!

Opportunity to earn 1,000 Turning 65 Names if you act quickly....

If you're one of the first 10 people to complete our agent survey TODAY,

we'll give you 1,000 Turning 65 Names in your area!

Everyone who completes the survey by tomorrow will also be entered into the drawing to win a blue or white SMS t-shirt! Follow this link to access the survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BJGH63M

"Do I automatically receive Medicare benefits if I'm eligible for disability benefits?"

Social Security online has a great article answering this specific question. Just click here to read it.

Deadline: March 10th - Help Us Help You!

Inpatient or Outpatient...Not Always What You Might Guess

Did you know that even if you stay in the hospital overnight, you might still be considered an "outpatient"? For details check out this article!

How to be a trusted advisor...

"To be a trusted advisor for our clients we must be a thought leader and a value provider."

-Dan Mangus

How have you gained trust as an advisor?

Senior Marketing Specialists Agent Boot Camp

Agent Boot Camp

You won't want to miss this event!


Join us in Columbia, MO


For a Recovery Care Training Boot Camp!


March 22nd, 9am-4pm (lunch provided)




*Must be contracted with a Recovery Care Product through SMS to attend.

Watch for more details as the event gets closer.

Call with questions: 1-800-689-2800

Where can you find 65 year olds???

ONLINE

The number of social media users age 65 and older grew 100 percent throughout 2010, so that one in four people in that age group are now part of a social networking site.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/15/national/main7055992.shtml

How do you handle objections?

How often do you hear this: "I already have an advisor I work with"? As insurance agents, we all hear objections like the previous one. You'll want to check out Senior Market Advisor's tip of the day for a creative solution!

Click here to read the tip of the day!

Help us help you!

Please give us your feedback so that we can better serve you!

Those who complete our 10 question survey will be entered into a drawing for either the blue or white "SMS" t-shirt (see picture on the right)! The winner will be announced next week on March 10th.

Click here to take survey

Just do it!

"How do you eat an elephant?"

"One bite at a time." - John Boe

What would you do?

• When you're overwhelmed by a task, do you procrastinate?
• Do you find yourself stressed, worried or depressed by the work you should do today?
• Does it take you a long time to finish a project?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you will want to take a look at the article John Boe wrote in Senior Market Advisor - March 2011 edition. He addresses YOU and offers 5 helpful tips for "beating procrastination"!

Wouldn't you like to become more productive today? Click here to read the article: "Do it now: Beating procrastination!

Last Chance to Register for the Legacy Safegaurd Webinar Today!

We already have over 170 people signed up! It starts at 11:00AM, so hurry...you just have one hour left to claim a spot. You won't want to miss out!

Register now! https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/881219435

Product Training Anyone?

Making that first sale can often take the most effort and be the most challenging. That's why we're here...to help you take that first step and continue selling successfully!

What new product(s) would you like to know how to sell? If you give us a call, one of our marketers (Ryan, Kiley or Christine) would gladly take the time to answer your questions and provide you with the training you need to succeed!

1-800-689-28000


For a list of the products we offer, click here!

Join us for a Webinar Tomorrow - March 3rd!

Legacy Safeguard® has partnered with the leading Final Expense Life Insurance Company in the nation to create an industry leading final expense solution that will revolutionize the way you serve your clients!

This opportunity includes:

• A Company Sponsored & Supported Lead Program
• FREE Membership in Legacy Safeguard®-a complete Legacy Planning and End-of-Life Planning Membership Service
• High Commissions & Competitive Premiums
• Easy to Use Application
• NO POINT OF SALE INTERVIEW
• Preferred, Standard, Graded Death, and 10 Pay Options
• FREE Nursing Home & Terminal Illness Rider
• And, an EXCLUSIVE Turn-Key Sales System!

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Server or 2000

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.`` (Tiger®) or newer

Reserve your Webinar seat now at
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/881219435

What is an income-related monthly adjustment amount?

Would you like a concise answer? Social Security online offers a great article on this topic. Click here to read it!