If you are like most advisors, you have aspirations and dreams to build your business. You may have thoughts of creating business plans to assist you in reaching your goals. However, ask yourself this question: “How many times have I created a business plan only to file it away or lose my motivation to follow it through?”

Oftentimes, advisors start out their business plans with the best of intentions, only to get sidetracked by the day-to-day operations which leave those plans unattended and ultimately unfulfilled. If this has happened to you, rest assured that you are not alone. So what is the solution?

No matter what time of the year, no matter what stage of your planning, a business plan is not enough, you need a business blueprint!

As 2022 draws to a close, now is a great time to reassess your client engagement strategy. Show your clients you care about them and their business with these tips. 

To grow a successful business, you need a team of talented, dedicated individuals working together towards a common goal. As the insurance and financial services industry continues to grow, recruiting top talent is more important than ever.

But how can you find and recruit the best talent for your business? There are a few key things to keep in mind. Read on for tips to help you build a cohesive, diverse, and dynamic team.

The most successful entrepreneurs often have a few common traits. Whether you are an insurance agent, financial adviser, or any other type of solo business owner, use these tips to succeed.

Planning for the Future

Start with a solid business plan. Include funding sources such as loans, marketing and advertising ideas, client acquisition, and financial projections for expenses and profit. A business plan is just a start. Once you're in business, continue making plans and keeping track of progress. Where do you see yourself and your business in five years? Make a detailed plan for getting there!

Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular in the marketing and sales world. If you're looking to increase your revenue and identify opportunities, listening to a podcast is a great place to start. Here are  4 different ideas and strategies to generate more leads using a podcast.

The podcast industry has grown tremendously over the last few years, reaching over 100 million Americans alone. Because of that growth, more and more businesses are turning to podcasts to help promote their goods and services.

If you've been thinking about starting a podcast, you've come to the right place. With this straightforward guide, you'll be podcasting in no time. Even if you're not that tech-savvy, we'll show you how to create a podcast to build your brand in eight simple steps.

You can stay in business for a long time by being efficient in the use of your materials and resources, having a strong hold on who you are, and surrounding yourself with other successful, young entrepreneurs.

Efficiency is key to remaining competitive in today's market. When you determine your strengths, you can harness them to maximize your leverage. Using personified production methods, such as dividing a production process into separate operations completed by different people or at different times, allows you to be more efficient. Play on your strengths and know that developing these skill sets will give you an edge over competition, both new and seasoned.

If you run a company with fewer than 500 employees, you have a small business. According to the SBA, small businesses make up 99.7% of the businesses in the country, so you have good company.

But how do you remain a successful small business – one that doesn’t fail within the first 18 months? Here are 5 things you must know.

How confident are you in your employee classifications and the process you use to categorize them? Do you really understand the differences between exempt vs. non-exempt classifications when it comes to your white-collar employees?