With less than two months left in the year, it’s time to finish strong by investing a little time in your insurance agents and their goals. You can improve your business, and year, by setting goals and reconnecting with your clients and community.
Goal Setting
One significant way to finish the year strong is to set smart goals for the coming year and review those from last year. The SMART goal-setting process, adopted by the Corporate Finance Institute, is used from education to finance to make goal-setting more effective. Below are examples of how insurance agent goals can be made using the SMART criteria.
S- Specific- Clearly Define the Goals
- For insurance, having a clear goal should take you outside of your comfort zone.
M- Measurable- Decide How You Will Measure Your Progress
- Examples might include the number of clients gained or sales made using numerical benchmarks.
A- Achievable- Set Attainable Goals
- Increase your goal incrementally for next year. Don’t set yourself up for failure.
R- Realistic- Base Your Goals on the Resources You Have
- Research market changes and more. Set a realistic, educated goal that is within reach.
T- Timely- Set Specific Start and End Dates
- This includes breaking a year up into smaller mini-goals. If wanting to gain 20 clients in one year, breaking it up can consist of making sure to close on at least five clients per quarter.
Close Out Leads
Another way to finish the year strong is to review your leads for hot prospects that just need an extra push. Prioritize the clients who are the closest to committing to the products they want and contact them first. Be sure to send all your pending clients updates on the current specials or promotions which may be relevant to them. Ask them what their outstanding concerns are so you can help prioritize meeting their needs before the end of the year.
Update Your Website and Network
Over the past year, you have changed and grown, and so has your business. Take time to finish the year strong by updating your website and online presence. Remember the first interaction your clients will have with you will be on your website, so the new year is a great time to update your online presence.
Take stock of your social media presence as well. Update your LinkedIn and other social profiles. Try local events and meet-ups to network with other professionals and clients in your community. Networking can be one of the most powerful ways to increase your business and renew your opportunities.
Personalize Your Client Care
One of the most impactful ways to finish the year strong includes direct contact with clients through a simple, but genuine, greeting card. Wishing them a “Happy New Year” with a short personal message will remind them that you are thinking of them and want to truly help them. If appropriate, include spouses and children in your well-wishes. After all, insurance is to help your clients care for their families too.
Share the positive experiences of your business in action. Create case studies based on your clients’ performance and highlight your impact on their success. Having statistics and data at the beginning and end of the study, simply use the three sections:
- Business challenge
- Your solution
- Results
The case study is a great example of how not only you, but also your clients end the year strong.
Pursue Continuing Education
At XCEL Solutions, the resources that help you stay up-to-date and at the top of your game are at your fingertips. Check out our Insurance Licensing Library for insight on everything from updating your license to opportunities for continuing education.
Our site also has study guides for the exams and opportunities for dual licensure in insurance and securities with full training options. Our securities page has a comprehensive list of training opportunities.
Excellent preparatory courses available through XCEL are the Life and Health classes for insurance agents interested in having the most up-to-date information on life and accident insurance.
Finish the Year Strong
By investing time in insurance agent goals and tips, you can finish the year strong. From continuing education to updated licensure, XCEL Solutions is here to support you and your business.
Article Sources:
CFI Team. (2022, May 8). Smart goals. Corporate Finance Institute. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/smart-goal/
Mseka, A. (2021, November 12). Try these 3 tips for end-of-year goal-setting exercises. InsuranceNewsNet. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/try-these-3-tips-for-end-of-year-goal-setting-exercises
Preparing insurance professionals to succeed. XCEL. (2022, September 28). Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://www.xcelsolutions.com/
QuoteWizard. (2021, December 6). Closing out the year for insurance agents. QuoteWizard. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://quotewizard.com/marketing/resources/closing-out-the-year-for-insurance-agents
