Accescompetences.com | Business – Financial News

For most insurance agents, the most challenging part of the job is finding prospective clients that are interested in purchasing an insurance policy. It doesn’t take long to exhaust your list of family, friends, and acquaintances; and what then? Many new agents learn finding new leads and making enough money to keep the doors open is much more difficult than they anticipated. The truth is, it is possible to maintain a continuous flow of prospects into your office. Here are some pointers to help you find potential clients and keep your business booming. Buy good quality leads. There are many companies out there that specialize in providing quality leads. Check out services like InsureMe to get a burst of business. These services often have low fees or might be altogether free. Today’s technology allows you to receive new leads in real time. Potential leads are usually prescreened and made up of individuals actively seeking new insurance polices. This means you should have a very high closing percentage. Take on an authoritative position in the insurance industry. Take the time to create easy surveys for your clients to fill out. Pay attention to any statistical trends you see and publish or publicize your results. You can send your findings to the media or simply post them on your own website. This is a great way to gain recognition and credibility. Plus, the added exposure is sure to gain you more leads and sales. Form relationships with other professionals. Know another professional in a similar line of work. Consider sharing contacts to your mutual benefit. This is a wonderful way to get a hold of more quality leads, and it won’t cost you a thing. Consider giving seminars. Contributing your knowledge in the form of seminars or lectures is another great way to gain credibility and make useful contacts. This often leads to word of mouth recommendations or media exposure. Purchase Newsletter advertising. There are many relevant online newsletters available to advertise in. Design a clever logo and whip up some quality copy. You’ll be able to track your conversion rate too, so you’ll know if it is worth the money. Consider getting involved with networking groups. Networking organizations provide a good way to increase your business contacts. Although they generally have annual fees, they give you an effective way to increase leads. Try participating in trade shows. Regional trade shows are a wonderful way to put your business in the spotlight, and get in touch with a wider range or prospects. Advertise online. Most interested consumers look for insurance info online. Try placing ads on search engines or relevant sites. Take another look at your list. See customers you haven’t heard from in a while? Give them a nudge and you might make another sale. Remember word of mouth works. Provide an extraordinary service to your clients. Ask them to refer anyone they know who might be interested. Word of mouth advertising is very effective. By following these ten tips for increasing leads, you will be able to give your business a much needed boost. So don’t despair; start building more leads and generating more sales today!

Mortgage brokers are blossoming in the current environment and are gaining an increasing share of the mortgage market. This is great news because you should consult with a mortgage professional when you’re making one of the most important financial decisions of your life. But, keep in mind, that not all mortgage brokers have the same level of training and experience.

That’s why it’s such great news for Canadians that the mortgage industry now has national accreditation: the Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP). When you meet with a mortgage broker with an AMP, you’ll be assured that your business is in the hands of a professional.

Canadians are accustomed to purchasing financial products like investments and insurance from an accredited professional. Now they can look for a similar professional designation from their mortgage expert.

Like similar accreditation programs for mutual fund sales people, or stock brokers, the AMP is designed to ensure an appropriate level of training and experience. Mortgage professionals from every field are eligible to acquire the accreditation: from mortgage brokers on the front lines to those who specialize in lending or mortgage insurance, for example.

While the vast majority of Ontario mortgage brokers take seriously the important responsibility that they have to their clients, the designation provides mortgage customers with a tool to help select their mortgage expert. This kind of designation is especially valuable in an industry where provincial regulations vary – and so a variety of practice standards are in place. A single national proficiency standard brings mortgage brokers in line with other financial professionals.

The AMP designation can now offer you confidence that your mortgage broker has industry experience, has taken ethics and industry training, and is committed to a program of ongoing education to retain their designation. In order to qualify for the designation, mortgage professionals must have at least five years experience or successfully complete a recognized mortgage professional proficiency course, and take an ethics training course. They must also commit to a minimum 10 hours of continuing education each year, and agree to be governed by the professional code of the national CIMBL organization.

With a growing number of Canadians now seeking the services of independent mortgage brokers to help them assess their mortgage options – in a $600 billion industry – the timing is perfect. It’s your money, after all, and you should have the tools to make the best possible decision. An independent mortgage broker can offer you the broadest range of mortgage rates and options. Now they can also offer you the added assurance of their newly minted designation: the AMP.

When it comes to mortgage financing, more and more Canadians are choosing to work with a professional mortgage broker. According to a recent study by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), 23 per cent of mortgages written were arranged through a broker.

Canadians are just catching up with their American neighbors, who are far less likely to simply walk into their home bank for a mortgage. In 2000, almost 70 per cent of all U.S. mortgages were arranged through mortgage brokers.

If we follow the U.S. model – and it seems that we are — then we’re in for a sea of change in the way Canadians manage their most significant personal asset. It makes sense. After all, investment returns aren’t as lucrative as they were five years ago, and investors are seeking out ways to make financial gains through avenues they may have overlooked.

There are some significant benefits to working with an independent mortgage broker. Firstly, let’s compare mortgage expertise: Most banks have one or more representatives who are specifically assigned to assist with mortgages. Their role is to develop mortgage business for the banks. A ontario mortgage broker, on the other hand, is a trained mortgage professional who has met standards for education. The comprehensive training of an independent mortgage broker may exceed the training of their counterparts at the bank. More importantly, the mortgage broker is independent. He or she is not an employee of a lending institution, but has access to rate and option information for a full spectrum of chartered banks and other lending institutions. Their role is to find the best possible mortgage rates and options for you.

Let’s also look at choice: A mortgage broker offers you access to many competitive lenders, each with a range of mortgage options. It would take weeks of research, telephoning and personal visits to recreate the range of features and options that a mortgage broker has at his or her fingertips. Rate information, mortgage options and payment schedules are up-to-the-moment, so you and your broker can make valid comparisons of the options available. The result of all this choice is a mortgage which is customized to meet your needs and to save you money.

Also consider accessibility. Your mortgage broker will be available to you before and after your mortgage closes, which will be good news for those who have spent long hours on hold or in a telephone voice answering loop.

Above all, clients have turned to mortgage brokers for better rates. Access to a broad range of lending institutions is a critical advantage for mortgage shoppers. A quarter-point difference on your mortgage rate can add up to thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage. Many mortgage brokers work inside a brokerage organization with sufficient mortgage volumes that they can negotiate the best possible rates for your situation. Canadian homeowners who have experienced the benefits of a mortgage broker are unlikely to ever return to a world in which they simply accept the best posted rate at their local bank.