by David and Tracy Bell | Oct 14, 2021
In our community, we have seen many businesses struggle to keep staff. Some of the restaurants are altering their hours because they don’t have enough workers which means that they are forced to pay overtime and this erodes their profit margins during this critical “jump-start” phase. As we emerge from the restrictions and quarantines, it’s not just restaurant owners facing these frustrating challenges.
We recognize that the pandemic will impact our clients and partners forever. While the risk of infection is diminishing due to vaccinations, many of the workflows in the service sector have been forever changed. Employers will need to carefully navigate through the “new normal”. Without a doubt, flexibility is imperative. Also, technology will continue to play an important role by allowing collaboration without the necessity of face-to-face meetings.
While technology is the tool, the most important asset of businesses will continue to be the human element. Competition for dependable and experienced workers will require a renewed focus on recruiting and employee retention strategies. As a stimulus to employers and direct payments to employees run out, business growth will only be limited by the employee-supported service capacity.
Our strategy, at Syndicated Resource Group, will be to offer products and services to employers which augment their ability to remain flexible and allow growth supported by a reliable workforce.
by Syndicated Insurance Resources | Dec 17, 2020
While everyone has encountered trials during 2020, the concept of expecting the unexpected continues to serve insurance brokers and agents well as we move into the years to come. Why? Because preparing for potential risks in the future is your sweet spot.
It is no secret that substantial challenges have found many small businesses reinventing the way work gets done. Those business leaders who have prepared in advance are positioned for continued growth throughout uncertain risk environments.
Are all of your clients and prospects prepared for what the future may hold? In today’s shifting times, most employers find themselves waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Since the only thing that is certain is death and taxes, use this time to help your clients prepare for the what ifs of tomorrow and the unknowns. Now is the best time for insurance brokers and agents—like you—to help employer clients prepare for tomorrow’s potential risks with a flexible mindset.
Help Employer Clients Succeed
Become a hero they remember by anticipating your existing and prospective employer client needs. Help them transform potential pain into power. Remind them that things aren’t as bad as they seem because they could be worse. Here are four ways you are well-positioned to help them succeed:
Offer Your Expertise. Don’t wait for employers to knock on your door. Proactively reach out to remind them that you’re available to help with risk preparedness for the coming year. The counsel you provide today will help employers remember you when it comes time to renew any of their insurance policies.
Provide Meeting Options. If you haven’t made the shift already, set things up so you’re able to accommodate virtual and in-person meetings. Make yourself accessible in a variety of ways to connect in a way that makes your clients comfortable. Consider options like Zoom, Skype, FaceTime for live meetings. Send free personalized video messages using Loom. When it is possible, offer outdoor coffee meetings for a change of pace.
Offer Payment Plans. With shifting payrolls, paying monthly insurance premiums based on traditional workers’ compensation systems is next to impossible. Eliminate estimates and ensure accurate payments by offering a pay-as-you-go plans. Your clients’ cash flow will improve, and end-year audits will be much easier to conduct. Short-term periods that rely on weeks instead of months will save time and money.
Find Needed Solutions. Meet your customers’ needs right where they are by finding solutions to protect their shifting workforce. With different norms created from temporary positions and short-term commitments, risk management lost control programs are critical. Spend time educating clients about ways to cut costs and share risks.
Access Free Support. Realize you’re not in this new normal alone. Syndicated Insurance Resources is well-equipped to help you find what your clients need. With access to 150+ markets and more than 40 unique customized solutions for small businesses, we specialize in helping you meet small businesses’ needs with seasonal ebbs and flows.
Contact us today to help find what you need: 877-333-8195.
by Syndicated Insurance Resources | Nov 19, 2020
COVID-19 has created many things, so it is no surprise that there is also an increase in entrepreneurial activity. While the pandemic shows large numbers of start-ups and businesses impacted somehow, today’s American workforce remains resilient and creative.
Entrepreneurial businesses have pivoted to meet needs borne from the crisis by creating new goods and services. In turn, the pandemic has created an opportunity for many to start new businesses.
Instead of seeking unemployment or another job, Americans are feeling the freedom to explore entrepreneurial opportunities. New and existing business owners are bringing needed services to today’s shifting marketplace that extends entrepreneurism beyond the norm of high-tech start-ups.
It is encouraging to see September 2020 census data showing a 19 percent year-over-year increase in new business applications throughout the U.S. There has also been a surge in solopreneurs and small businesses hiring employees, part-time workers, and contractors.
Disruption of everyday life has facilitated the rethinking of societal norms while creating space for innovations to meet needs that did not exist before today’s “new normal.” This long-game scenario has created ‘pandemic entrepreneurs’ who are setting up new business ventures and virtual shops throughout the nation.
These in-demand businesses are creating additional revenue streams that need insurance coverage as they build out and grow strong. The business opportunities that have been boosted by the current climate are many, including cleaning services, e-learning, logistics, medical supply/care businesses.
Sell Insurance Options That Entrepreneurs Need
Selling the right mix of goods and services to meet needs is just as important as having the right type of insurance coverage in place. But to do that requires insurance brokers—like you—knowing what ‘pandemic entrepreneurs’ need, finding viable insurance solutions, and offering payment options.
We all know there are options for every type of business need. From business liability (aka general commercial liability) to commercial auto to cyber to business interruption to property to professional liability—the insurance products are endless. The key is offering options that meet each business owner’s unique needs and budget.
The ‘pandemic entrepreneurs’ who need your insurance services are now projecting forward to post-pandemic activities. These prospective employer-clients are in the process of planning, innovating, and in some cases reinventing services to ensure they position themselves for long-term success.
As a broker or agent, you are well-positioned to help them plan and prepare for the future. Why? Because you’re on the ‘front lines’ using digital tools and holding virtual meetings to guide customers through challenging times and prepare for tomorrow.
If you focus on building relationships and genuinely listening to customer needs, you will help bring order into the chaos by offering advice, expertise, and protection. Getting the right type of small business insurance is critical to safeguard from accidents, mishaps, and unforeseen crises.
Find the Options You Need Fast
As an insurance wholesaler with more than 30 years of experience, Syndicated Insurance Resources has a proven track record for finding small business clients options when others cannot. From hard-to-place to high X-Mod, we help you deliver value with customized personalization that offers pay-as-you-go options.
Reach out to us one of four ways, so you deliver the best options for today’s ‘pandemic entrepreneurs’ and small business owners.
- Call us to speak with one of our relationship manager: 877-333-8195
- Use our online Broker Gateway for free. Click here.
- Submit via email at [email protected]
- Use one form to answer 12-quick questions. Click here.
by Syndicated Insurance Resources | Oct 2, 2020
Do you remember R.E.M.’s 1980s song “It’s the End of the World as We Know It?” The chorus seems relevant today more than ever. Doesn’t it?!
The pandemic has changed so much for everyone throughout the U.S. and around the globe.
But it isn’t all doom and gloom. What is happening now is just another fact of life that everyone will learn to navigate eventually.
Since readjusting is a consistent part of life, insurance brokers and agents—like you—are well-positioned to show employer clients what to do.
Your services revolve around helping small business owners manage risk and prepare for change. Right?!
Use this time to your advantage. Show how insurance will support future liabilities and shifts. Why? Because risk and change are inevitable, and you manage change for a living.
Mathematical chaos theories say small systematic changes produce phenomenal evolutions over time. Translation: Change is good. You just need to show people how to make change work for them.
Showcase Your Value
Spend time providing your employer clients with options and alternatives to produce the premium-to-coverage solutions they need. Here are three easy things you can do now.
Shop for Options Proactively: One of the best tools you have at your disposal is your ability to present your clients with alternatives. Be proactive and offer pricing for several solutions. Make sure to include affordable and pay-as-you-go options in the mix.
Evaluate Coverage Needs: Examine coverages to determine what your client may or may not need; especially during the current economic situation. When you do this, you will reduce exposure and increase competition from other carriers. Since you recognize your customers’ requirements may have changed, take initiative to ensure they have what they need.
Consider Increasing Deductibles. Negotiating savings to quantify the risk assumption for every claim is often difficult. If there isn’t small claim activity on an account, it may be challenging to justify large credit. Increasing deductibles is a traditional reduction technique that may help. Request options and run a projected cost impact by looking at historical “as if” loss data.
Whenever you use techniques to show your value, make sure you outline potential risk assumptions related to the proposed changes. Helping your employer clients understand the impact of coverage changes will shine the light on your value and expertise. In turn, you’ll produce results by using change.
How Are You Impacted?
We recently surveyed insurance broker and agent clients to understand the impact of the pandemic.
While a lot of useful insights came from your responses, it was telling that 61.5% of you are:
- Experiencing difficulty getting answers from carriers
- Finding shopping the market for alternatives challenging
In turn, 61.5% said you would feel encouraged and thankful if you could receive responsive, hassle-free insurance provider support. Look no further.
Get Consistent Support Everyday
From workers’ comp to general liability and everything in between, we’ve consistently offered affordable options for the hard-to-place for more than 30 years.
Our solutions are well-known for saving employer clients more than 40%.
From high X-mod to poor loss history from too many small claims or several big ones—we have a reputation for finding solutions where others cannot.
Contact a relationship manager today at 877-333-8195, or click here to get a quick turnaround quote by answering 12 questions on one form.
Showcase your value and use change to produce results when you tap into our hassle-free support.
by Syndicated Insurance Resources | Mar 25, 2020
By David & Tracy Bell—Syndicated Insurance Resources CEO & President
While the global pandemic impacts everyone, there are countless opportunities to find peace.
Like many of you, we are watching business revenues plummet because we have a substantial presence in California and a great number of clients who are in the restaurant industry.
The personal routines of everyone have been interrupted. (In our house, not being able to socialize is a big deal.)
So how do we find peace as the world around us seems to crumble?
What if we changed our focus onto more positive things.
Here’s an exercise we thought of that you may want to try, too. Once we took steps to do this, we felt more centered and peaceful.
Quite simply, list out the ways you have been blessed.
Here are our top five blessings, not in any particular order.
- Relationships: Our business fosters relationships with clients and partners who often become friends. Our marriage, kids, and friends also bring us great happiness.
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- Bottom line: Life is not about accomplishments because relationships are more important than anything else.
- Business: Our insurance business will always be necessary because it provides a financial backbone for businesses of any size.
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- Bottom line: It is great to help clients manage through a challenging process, especially in moments of crisis.
- Adventures: Over the years, we’ve traveled all over the country and seen many things others will never see.
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- Bottom line: Life has given us wonderful experiences that many dream about doing.
- Faith: Despite my flaws or any bad choices, we know we are forgiven and that we were created for a purpose.
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- Bottom line: We both have a personal relationship with our Creator and know we will always have something to look forward to even after our life on earth ends.
- Reality: Today’s crisis is just a blip on the radar. While we may endure some scars, there will be life on the other side of today’s reality.
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- Bottom line:This current situation will pass, and the new reality will ultimately lead to opportunity.
We know we could list 100 more ways that we are blessed.
While it would be easy to focus on how bad things are, we choose to stay positive and remember the great pleasures and blessings we’ve experienced in life.
We are all fighting a similar battle of the mind during the trying times.
Know that your friends at Syndicated are here for you before, during, and after the COVID-19 crisis.
What will you focus on today while we wait for the tide to turn?
by Syndicated Insurance Resources | Jul 4, 2018
Imagine that you’re a prospective customer who needs workers’ comp insurance.
You’re searching Google looking for an insurance agent that offers the types of policies and services you need for your business.
You find several agents that look like they may have what you’re looking for, and you send each one the same email with a request.
The Story of Three Agents
Warm Welcome. One agent responds to your email inquiry immediately with a reply. He warmly thanks you for reaching out and lets you know that he will get back to you within the next 24 hours. In the interim, he sends information about their process for working with clients, so you know what to expect next. He also points you to a page with a Workers’ Comp checklist that has questions he should ask as you work together.
Unresponsive. Another agent never responds to your email request or phone calls for days or weeks. In fact, you start to wonder if you sent an email to the right address. When you call, you immediately go into a voicemail box but never receive a response.
Minimal Communications. The third agent you reached out to lets a couple of days go by before they send you a response. When they finally do, they merely point you to their website or a landing page. They don’t say anything more. This leaves you hanging wondering about the credibility of the agent.
Tough Questions to Answer
If you were the prospective client looking for help with insurance coverage, which one of the three agents listed above would you want to consider working with?
It is easy to see that the first agent had done a few simple steps to connect with the prospect and provide them with helpful information before they have even spoken.
The other two agent response examples show a lack of interest or consideration. If you were the prospective customer, you would mark them both off your list and focus on the first agent in a heartbeat.
Pause for a moment and think about the way you respond to your clients and prospects.
It can be tough to admit, but which of the three agents do you look most like?
Communicate and Connect with Customers
With any form of customer interaction, you can have success when you follow the age-old rule of treating others the way you want to be treated. Here are a few tips to consider.
Provide Timely, Personalized Responses: Today’s society is built on instant everything. We tend to look for immediate responses whenever we send an email. So how can you apply this? Give your prospects and customers a timely response that is personalized to them. Ensure they experience a connection and feel valued by you.
Write Clear and Concise Messages. We live in an age of sound-bite journalism. We all tend to scan the pages of things we see and read. From our emails to social posts and billboards—we all are guilty of scanning. So how can you overcome the scanning issue? Write clear and concise messages that are easy to understand.
Speak Your Client’s Language. It is easy to get caught up in insurance jargon or industry speak. Remember that your customers don’t have an insurance world dictionary to help them translate what you’re saying when you use buzzwords. Use easy-to-understand terminology and analogies without acronyms when you communicate. Doing so ensures your clients connect with you and what you have to offer.
Make Lists & Use Bullets. Writing a detailed paragraph takes up your valuable time. It also means the person you’re sending it to has to take time to unravel what you’ve written to determine how it applies to them. Consider writing short sentences. Make lists and use bullet points to make what you’ve written a quick read.
Give Calls to Action. Have you ever read through an email response and scratched your head wondering what to do next? Your client has, too. Make it easy on both of you by spelling out exactly what they need to do next. Give them a call to action.
These are just a few ways you can ensure you are effectively communicating and connecting with your clients and prospects. You can also apply this tips to every audience you reach out to – from vendors to carriers to customers and friends. Doing so consistently is sure to make a positive impact and create a win-win situation for everyone.
