Business It can happen to anyone in any industry… sometimes we just want to pack up, call it and day, and say “I quit.” As tough as things may seem, don’t be so... Read more

Trending AHIP will remove their Medicare and Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) trainings on Friday, June 15. We expect 2019 AHIP certification to launch the following Monday, June 18. If you’re currently enrolled... Read more

Business You want more annuity leads. There are lots of places that promise them. Should you buy theirs or pan for prospects on your own? Which annuity lead-generating strategies pay off best? Selling... Read more

Portfolio Sometimes you have to get creative. If a client wants long-term care coverage, but doesn’t like the “use-it-or-lose-it” nature of traditional LTCi, try offering them agreeable, non-traditional forms of LTCi protection! The... Read more

video Original Medicare consists of Medicare Parts A and B. Watch to learn more, including Original Medicare benefits and how enrollment works for your clients. Watch now

Advertisement Take the Agent Survival Guide with you! Our podcast features marketing tips, selling strategies, and more. Listen in your car, between appointments, at home, anywhere you like! Check out our latest episode…...

Compliance For those new to senior market sales, Scopes of Appointment (SOAs) can be a foreign idea. But the basics of SOAs, and how they’ve changed for 2018, play a major role in... Read more

Business Rumor has it that veterans’ health care is now 100 percent covered at any hospital, anywhere. All they have to do is present their Veterans Affairs card. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.... Read more

Business There’s one thing Medicare clients ask their agents more than anything else: How can I save money on prescription drugs? Let us help you answer that question! Whether your client is enrolling... Read more

Trending With Cigna’s recent announcement that it intends to purchase Express Scripts, five of America’s top health insurance companies now own or plan to own pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The move is the... Read more

video Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, is a popular alternative to Original Medicare. We unpack the basics of Medicare Advantage, so you can focus on finding coverage for your clients.... Watch now

Business Bravo! Bravo! Encore! Sadly, you’ll probably never hear a prospect say those words. Insurance just isn’t that inspiring to most. You can avoid the glassy-eyed glare and other sales presentation pitfalls, though.... Read more

Business For many brokers, time is money. While getting involved at the local soup kitchen or assisted living facility seems like a great idea, you might put it off for another day or... Read more

Business Life insurance is more than just a way to pay for outstanding debts and end-of-life expenses. Many use it to provide money to their loved ones after they pass. You can even... Read more

Business Switching your clients’ Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans requires a little planning and consideration of their current health status. Here’s a general breakdown of what to know, and how changing existing policies works.... Read more

Infographic Looking to narrow down your target market for universal life insurance? No sweat! This infographic can provide you with a quick rundown on who should buy guaranteed, traditional, and index UL plans.... Read more

Ritter Tuning in to the ASG Podcast just got easier. We’re excited to announce that you can now stream our podcast episodes on Spotify! Even better? The exact same great content you’ve come... Read more

Business If you’re thinking about selling Medicare but find yourself on the fence, you’ve come to the right place! There are many misconceptions about selling Medicare that deter agents from expanding their primary... Read more

Business Will your clients be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B when they turn 65? It’s more complicated than they may realize, and it’s something to plan months ahead. For years,... Read more

Business A sea-lover afraid of getting in over their head probably wouldn’t buy a high-powered jet ski, but they may purchase a reliable boat. Which universal life “jacket” would you pitch to them?... Read more

Business Recently, Craig Ritter gave his annual State of the Senior Market address to 290 agents from across the country. If you’d like a quick summary, here are some of the highlights: Watch... Read more

Infographic By selling cancer, heart attack and stroke insurance you can provide your clients with a financial safety net and peace of mind. Discover why these plans should be in your portfolio now.... Read more

Trending The most recent resolution to fund the federal government included a number of positive adjustments to Medicare programs and activities that expired or were due to expire. Many of these adjustments are... Read more

Infographic The insurance sales industry is changing in favor of millennials — and the numbers are here to prove it. Read more

Portfolio Do you question the value of cancer, heart attack and stroke plans? Why would (or should!) anyone buy a policy that’s so specific? We can think of a few good reasons. Although... Read more

Business You know the importance of building your Medicare business during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). What if I told you building your Medicare business post-AEP is equally important? Now that it’s the... Read more

Infographic Annuities have the power to excite your prospective clients and existing ones. We cover how to cross-sell them and generate more income in one nifty infographic. Read more

Business Regardless of where you’re at in your career, finding an organization of like-minded professionals to keep you in the loop and sharp in your field is valuable. But why? You went to... Read more

Business As the average insurance agent in America reaches retirement age, they’re making room for younger agents in an industry that’s already perfect for millennials. Why are millennials so poised to take over?... Read more

Business If you got into health insurance sales to improve the lives of your clients, you’ll be happy to know insurance agents play an essential role when it comes to their clients’ health.... Read more

Infographic Need a quick and easy way to go over Medicare Supplement plans and their benefits with clients? We’ve got you covered. Download, save, and print our 2018 Med Supp comparison chart below!... Read more

Trending The Department of Labor recently filed their proposal for an 18-month extension of the transition period for the fiduciary rule with the Office of Management and Budget. If approved, the extension would... Read more

Infographic There’s no time like the present to set fresh goals and review what you can do to grow your final expense business. Our infographic tells you what steps to follow during appointments.... Read more

Business Sensible, simple, succinct, and smart. There are four significant things every agent selling final expense insurance should do for more sales. Do you know what they are? Having your sales process down... Read more

Business It can be tricky for anyone to find the right career path. Maybe you’re new to the “real world” and trying to find an occupation that’s right for you, or maybe you’re... Read more

Business Imagine this. A flustered prospect calls you on January 7. In a voice laced with frustration, he explains one of his friends referred him to you. He’s not happy with his current... Read more

Business Imagine you’re out golfing with friends as they learn with surprise that you haven’t incorporated your insurance agency. “There are great tax benefits,” they say. “You won’t be liable!” Are they right?... Read more

Trending New Medicare cards are coming in April 2018 and your clients are bound to have questions. Even though change can be scary, we think your clients will actually prefer their new Medicare... Read more

Business It doesn’t matter if you’re selling kitchenware, travel packages, or health insurance. If you don’t know what your market values the most in the products you’re selling, you’re missing out on sales.... Read more

Business An apple a day might help keep the doctor away, but eating all the apples in the world won’t prevent the average person from getting sick from time to time. To put... Read more

Portfolio No matter the focus of your business in the health and life insurance industry, if you want to expand your clientele, increase your earnings, or build your reputation as a reliable advisor,... Read more

Infographic There are times when short-term care insurance makes more sense than long-term care insurance. Discover the LTCi prospects who should consider buying STCi in our infographic below! Read more

Ritter Have you heard? We just launched the Agent Survival Guide Podcast, an audio companion to the Agent Survival Guide. Now, you can take the same great content with you wherever you go.... Read more

Portfolio Say your client wants long-term care insurance, but their application is declined due to their age or health or they simply can’t afford the premiums. Fear not! Short-term care insurance is another... Read more

Business Approximately 22.6 million Americans are veterans — 9.1 million of which are over the age of 65, according to the 2010 Census. From World War II veterans to Vietnam War veterans, senior... Read more

Business Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned agent, prospecting can be a challenge for anyone in the insurance business. Recently, one of our agents had a great idea to help... Read more

video Medicareful streamlines the way you sell Medicare. Exclusively available through Ritter Insurance Marketing, this must-have tool helps you quote faster, generate leads 24/7, stay CMS compliant, and more! It starts with collecting... Watch now

Infographic Leaves are changing colors, the air is crisper, and AEP is finally here! While you’re out and about, don’t forget how selling hospital indemnity insurance with Medicare Advantage plans gives clients more... Read more

Portfolio Now, more than ever before, Medicare Advantage plans are leaving beneficiaries exposed to hefty bills for hospital stays. Hospital indemnity insurance helps your clients have the money they need to get back... Read more

Infographic Maximize your productivity on the road. From planning and organization to choosing the right tools, our infographic unpacks it all! Read more

Business Life as an insurance sales agent can be draining. For many, the bulk of your work happens outside of the office. Here’s some advice to keep you focused and driven while you’re... Read more

Compliance The 2018 Medicare Marketing Guidelines turned heads by removing the 48-hour Scope of Appointment requirement. Many agents are asking what this means in terms of compliance. Let’s review what changed and what... Read more

Infographic How can you sell more life insurance? Start by incorporating these four marketing activities during Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM)! Read more

Ritter As an independent insurance agent and a marketer with Ritter Insurance Marketing, I often find myself giving advice to our agents on what products they should have in their sales kit. When... Read more

Business Let’s face it. Your clients don’t want to feel like they’re being sold to. However, when you trade in the checkered suit and take the role of a trusted advisor, sales and... Read more

Business There are three common ways to determine a client’s life insurance needs: Multiple-of-income approach, human life value approach, and capital needs analysis. The latter two methods are more sophisticated and allow you... Read more

Business September is here, and you know what that means! It’s national Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM) and the perfect time to discuss life insurance with your current and prospective clients. If your... Read more

Business Individuals can only enroll in Medicare in one state — the state of their principal residence (i.e., where they vote, file taxes, and have a driver’s license). For health insurance agents, this... Read more

Business With Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) preparations underway, and important sales looming on the horizon, what are you doing to ensure this selling season is better than last year? Now’s the perfect time... Read more

Trending Like agents, Affordable Care Act health navigators help people understand their health plan options, but there may be far fewer around this Open Enrollment season. According to a report from The Wall... Read more

Business When a person goes dress shopping, a good sales associate helps them pick the perfect one. A great sales associate helps them pick the perfect one and pick the matching shoes, earrings,... Read more

Compliance Are you considering holding a marketing event to get the attention of more Medicare clients? You’ll need to follow CMS’ rules for hosting sales events. Check out our streamlined version of the... Read more

Compliance Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, completing the annual AHIP certification is important for licensed insurance agents selling Medicare plans. Today, we answer some frequently asked questions about AHIP certification.... Read more

Compliance Life as an agent before Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period is a flurry of contracting and certifying. But there’s another C that’s even more important: Compliance. It’s not just something to consider during... Read more

Portfolio Think about your personal experiences at the pharmacy counter. Have you ever been shocked by the amount you’ve owed for a prescription (even after applying your health insurance), or seen a fellow... Read more

Portfolio You’ve probably heard your parents say it many times: Nothing in this life is free. If something’s sold at no cost, it might be too good to be true. While that’s not... Read more

Compliance You have your leads in hand and your contracts signed, so you’re ready to sell, right? Well… almost. Did you complete your AHIP certification yet? Remember, the government administers Medicare Advantage plans—and... Read more

Infographic Laying a solid foundation is essential to getting the most out of the Annual Enrollment Period. Follow this guide and you’ll be well on your way to a successful AEP! Read more

Ritter It’s that time of year. Carriers are launching their Medicare Advantage and Part D certification courses! Did you know you can find many carriers’ 2018 Medicare certification training details in one place?... Read more

Business In real estate, the popular mantra is location, location, location. And while we don’t sell houses, when it comes to senior market health insurance, we have a similar motto: renewal, renewal, renewal.... Read more

Business We’re months from October 15, the first day you can enroll clients in a 2018 Medicare Advantage plan. What should you do to prepare? Start with the Agent Survival Guide’s AEP Checklist.... Read more

Portfolio Making the decision to be a health insurance agent is relatively easy. Deciding what type of product to sell? Now, that’s more difficult. When you consider that approximately 10,000 people will turn... Read more

Compliance You’ve probably signed an acknowledgment of HIPAA Privacy Practices dozens of times at doctor’s offices and hospitals. Did you know, as a health insurance agent, you’re held responsible for safeguarding this information... Read more

Ritter Any time an application gets flagged during the submission process, it’s a delay on your clients’ coverage and your commission. What if we told you we can help you avoid stalled applications?... Read more

Business Successfully establishing your insurance business in a specific geographical area will do wonders for prospect conversion. Not sure how to develop a territory? Here are some great growth strategies you can use... Read more

Trending As of today, June 9, 2017, the first phase of the fiduciary rule is in force. If all goes as planned, the law will be fully implemented by January 1, 2018. What... Read more

Business When you hear the phrase “mission statement,” what comes to mind? A fancy, adjective-heavy sentence in a corporate retreat packet? A far-fetched dream that falls flat in the face of practical business?... Read more

Compliance Holding an educational presentation is a fantastic way to grow your client base, but you must make sure to stay compliant. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have set forth... Read more

Portfolio More than anything else, Americans’ top financial worry is not having enough saved for retirement. Although there is one product that’s growing increasingly favorable, but hasn’t totally caught on… yet. According to... Read more

Portfolio Annuities have gotten a bad rap with some investors. You may have heard that they carry high expenses, surrender charges, and are hard to understand because of complex contracts. It can be... Read more

Infographic If you’d like to sell more annuities, we’ve learned a few things you can do to fast-track your success. What’s the secret trifecta for taking your annuity business to the top? Our... Read more

Portfolio You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: Americans are concerned about outliving their savings. According to a 2016 survey, nearly 75 percent of Americans over 40 are behind on their retirement savings.... Read more

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Business As an annuities advisor, you know the sales world isn’t kind to those who are passive. If you don’t bring your “A” game, well, then you may not be able to bring... Read more

Portfolio You’ve heard the news that now’s the time to be selling annuities, you’ve done your initial research, and you’ve discovered the two main types: fixed annuities and indexed annuities. But what sets... Read more

Business Increasing your annuity business can be difficult without knowing the winning formula. Lucky for you, we want to share it with you! If you write health or life insurance, selling annuities is... Read more

Business Clients are likely to choose a Medicare Supplement based on financial factors like premium and long-term rate stability. But, what are carriers doing to appeal to tech-savvy agents like you? In the... Read more

Business You’re armed with fresh leads and determined to sell Medicare Supplements over the phone. So, now what? Common practice might say writing a strong script is next, but here’s our secret: You... Read more

Portfolio Do you tend to place clients in Medicare Supplement Plans C, D, F, or G? While it’s true these Med Supps cover the most out-of-pocket costs, never overlook Plans K, L, M,... Read more

Infographic Thanks to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, we’ll see some big changes coming to Medicare Supplements in 2020. Discover the changes you can expect to see and the effects we... Read more

Trending Those who read the writing on the wall put themselves in a better position when changes arrive. We’re here to tell you that change is coming to Medicare Supplement coverage. In 2015,... Read more

Business Your personal brand is all about you. It’s a combination of your unique talents, attributes, likes, dislikes, hopes, dreams, and more. It’s the philosophy behind your public mission statement. Amazon Founder and... Read more

Infographic Ancillary products can make a presentation a grand slam, but far too often, agents make the mistake of leaving these unique plans on the bench. Check out our infographic below to see... Read more

Portfolio Every agent has a story to tell. In the senior market, that usually means visiting clients and prospects in their homes to discuss typical offerings such as health, life insurance, and final... Read more

Portfolio Critical illness insurance is nothing new. In fact, it’s been around since 1983. But only recently has there been a major uptick in interest in this type of coverage and there are... Read more

Portfolio Stays in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are increasing as the baby boomer generation reaches its golden years. Unfortunately, most senior living facilities are expensive and those costs continue to rise.... Read more

Portfolio Cancer insurance can help offset the cost of care for those diagnosed with the second leading cause of death in the United States. Let’s take a look at what makes selling this... Read more

Ritter Last Tuesday, Craig Ritter gave his annual State of the Senior Market address to 370 agents from across the country. We’ll have a recording for you here soon! If you’d like a... Read more

Portfolio As Major League Baseball warms up with spring training, it’s a good time to refine your selling game as well. You can think of the Annual Enrollment Period as the regular season,... Read more

Business Ever hear of the “slow food movement?” The trend asserts that it’s worth taking the time to prepare meals that are good for your body, rather than inhaling empty calories just to... Read more

Compliance Brokerage firms and financial professionals working in the retirement industry have been preparing for the implementation of the fiduciary rule for more than a year. Now, it may not happen. On February... Read more

Business While there’s no fast and easy way to grow your business, recruiting qualified agents to your downline doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ve gathered these tips to help you start off on... Read more

Business One component that can make or break your business is people. That’s why hiring well is crucial when building an agency of collaborative and successful people. By taking the time to make... Read more

Trending While the loudest promises of President Donald Trump’s campaign centered around the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, another area of health care could be up for reshaping — Medicare.... Read more

Portfolio With the lock-in period in full swing, you’re probably hearing more about Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) lately. Whether you’re new to D-SNPs or searching for information to fine-tune your selling... Read more

Portfolio Studies say 70 percent of seniors can expect to use some form of long-term care during their lives. There are various ways to obtain long-term care (LTC) coverage, but which should you... Read more

video Understanding Medicare benefits should be simple. We broke down Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D, so you can spend less time figuring it out and more time providing coverage. Watch now

Portfolio Don’t believe the commercials. Retirement in the 21st century isn’t always fishing trips, golf outings, and weekend brunches. Rather, 70 percent of individuals age 65 and older will require long-term care, according... Read more

Ritter About a quarter of adult internet users search online for information about health insurance, including private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, according to the Pew Research Center. Right now, 75 million baby boomers... Read more

Portfolio Traditional long-term care insurance is no longer the only way to pay for future long-term care expenses. The longstanding deterrent to traditional long-term care purchases is the “use it or lose it”... Read more

Business Who typically purchases long-term care insurance (LTCi) policies? We’ve got your answer. When you sell non-primary forms of coverage, such as LTCi, it’s critical you develop a clear image of what qualified... Read more

Business When you became an insurance agent, did you know you were getting more than a sales job? It’s true! Your role is equal parts sales and customer service. Keeping in touch with... Read more

Business With less than two months to take advantage of Medicare’s biggest selling season, agents undoubtedly feel a lot of pressure to be productive during the Annual Enrollment Period. We’ve put together some... Read more

Portfolio Like coffee or sushi, hospital indemnity insurance can be an acquired taste, but one that’s definitely worth discovering. If you’ve already realized the power these small supplementary products can pack, we’ll teach... Read more

Business Congratulations! Break out the confetti because you survived AEP! Take a moment to relax, but don’t pause for too long. Now’s the time to ensure you have a clear way to track... Read more

Ritter We hope you’ve enjoyed everything the Agent Survival Guide has published in 2016! We want to give you an update on our latest additions and let you in on some of our... Read more

Business Whether it’s your first AEP, or you’ve been at it for years, it’s always good to start on the right foot. Keep these tips in mind to get the most out of... Read more

Business With just over a month until the Annual Enrollment Period begins, it’s a good time to make sure you’re fully prepared and ready-to-sell. Follow these steps to ensure you’re ready by October... Read more

Portfolio While it’s true the Annual Enrollment Period is the prime time to sell Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplements provide you and your clients a very important alternative this fall. You should already... Read more

Business Do you struggle with promoting yourself or your business? All day long, there’s a lot of noise pinging from various media channels. It’s never been easier to shout your message from the... Read more

Ritter The Agent Survival Guide strives to provide you with the knowledge to thrive in this industry. Ritter Insurance Marketing gives you everything else. If you’re already reaping the benefits of partnering with... Read more

Portfolio If you’re a senior health insurance agent looking to grow your business, selling solely Medicare Advantage plans and/or Medicare Supplements will only get you so far. You know better than to “put... Read more

Portfolio You’ve heard it before, “variety is the spice of life.” People come in all shapes and sizes, so naturally, Part D prescription drug plans will too. From premiums and deductibles to copays... Read more

Portfolio The Agent Survival Guide focuses a lot on preparing you for the ever-changing Medicare Advantage market and its Annual Enrollment Period. But did you know there’s a Medicare product available to the... Read more

Portfolio Sight. Hearing. Taste. These three wonderful senses help people of any age perceive, interact with, and experience the world in full. However, the body parts that allow us to enjoy these faculties... Read more

Portfolio Strategizing your sales during Medicare lock-in is a surefire way to carry your business through the health insurance doldrums. It’s what can set your business apart from a seasonally profitable to an... Read more

Business For senior health insurance agents, the bulk of business is done in the chaotic 54-day Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). So, what’s an agent to do the other 311 days of the... Read more

Portfolio Outside of Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), you may feel that your chances to engage with new clients are limited, but what if we said they’re not? Just because you can’t enroll... Read more

Business It may be the lock-in period, but that doesn’t mean you have to put your business on lock-down. There are quite a few to ways to unlock more sales during Medicare’s nearly... Read more

Business Do you have a client who is unhappy with their new private health plan? Inform them they can still switch health coverage during the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP). As you know,... Read more

Portfolio Another successful Annual Enrollment Period is in the books. Although the busy season is over, it’s not quite time to sit back and relax, but you already knew that, right? Now is... Read more

Business Client loyalty can make or break a business. Building relationships with people that are relying on an agent to guide them through the choppy waters of health care coverage makes all the... Read more

Portfolio It’s that time of year again. The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) has come and gone, and the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP) is here. How can you make the most of this... Read more