This country is experiencing what most experts would agree is the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression; and some would argue that it’s worse. The lack of confidence financial markets have in the government to adeptly navigate recessionary waters is astounding; and the lack of confidence that inspires in would-be investors – savers for college, retirees, or those looking to accrue enough wealth to buy a home with a big down payment – makes the sale of traditional retirement and investment products like mutual funds, asset allocation services, and advisory services practically impossible. More than ever, individuals are flocking toward conservative investments like money market mutual funds, CDs, and government bonds that they are sure will preserve principle. This trend explains why annuity retirement is becoming a much more attractive option to disillusioned savers, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a broker who has received an annuity sell order, especially for the non-variable type.
As a seller of structured investments, you are providing a product to your client that meets his or her goals that will also earn you a solid commission – usually a low single-digit percentage of the annuity you sell. Yet innovators in the industry have invented a way that benefits annuity investors and salespeople equally by leveraging principle at very low interest rates. The borrowed money is then either paid back through continued contributions to the annuity or else through the annuity’s own compounded interest. In other words, salespeople are able to receive a call for a much larger annuity sell because the principle is augmented by borrowed money and therefore earn a much larger commission. At the same time, the salesperson should also rest happily with the knowledge that he or she is providing the client with a way to accumulate wealth much more quickly with the help of borrowed money, but at very low risk because a) annuities are principle protected and b) the investor often pledges to repay borrowed money with contributions from his or her own business.
As a financial planner, I know how often interests conflict. Financial product companies constantly put out incentives for me to sell this or that risky, high-margin product to a client that doesn’t need it. Annuity retirement products are a true exception in the investment community. The security and stability they offer to clients are really priceless in their eyes, so I feel as though I’ve earned my commission by giving them a product that they definitely could not structure themselves in their own portfolios.
Bottom line: for greedy but ethical financial planners and product salespeople, selling annuities – fixed or variable, leveraged or unleveraged – is a great way to help people while making a good living.
Tags: annuity marketing, annuity reitirement, annuity sell
My teeth had always been a source of embarrassment for me. They were dull and discolored and had been in poor condition since my early twenties. I had never even visited a dentist’s office until I was nearly thirty, and by then I needed some major dental work. But no matter what procedure the dentist performed, there was nothing that could turn back the clock and improve the condition of my teeth. By the time I turned fifty, I had many people suggest to me that I should just get dentures. But the thought of having every last remaining tooth yanked out of my mouth sounded entirely too painful. There had to be another option.
Then I heard about porcelain veneers. I knew that many celebrities had undergone some type of procedure that dramatically changed the appearance of their teeth. I saw on magazine covers before and after photos of several well know actors and actresses illustrating the amazing transformation. Some of them had teeth lengthened and gaps closed. Others had their entire smile made over. I knew that I would love to be the recipient of a similar type of dental makeover buy unfortunately I did not have the same income as a celebrity.
Dental work was expensive and painful. I did not want to spend the rest of my life undergoing extensive dental work. It seemed as if I were going to the dentist every couple of months to have a cavity drilled and my teeth bleached. I began to see advertisements in local magazines for cosmetic dental offices. Once I found out that porcelain veneers were affordable and that there were cosmetic dentists in my area that were able to provide these services, I knew exactly what I needed to do.
I made an appointment for a consultation and was happy to find out that I would make an excellent candidate for porcelain veneers. The cosmetic dentist took an x-ray of my teeth and showed me exactly what he intended on doing to fix my dental problems.
A month later and I had beautiful new dental veneers on all of my front teeth. The process was quick and absolutely painless. Even though I was nearly sixty years old this simple cosmetic procedure increased my self-confidence and made me feel good about myself. I could not stop smiling. Everyone in my family noticed the difference in both my smile and in my entire personality.
Tags: Dental, Smile Makeover, Veneers