Category: Financial
Why Entrepreneurs Want Simplicity with Bruce Donaldson (Ep. 47)

Why Entrepreneurs Want Simplicity with Bruce Donaldson (Ep. 47)

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Do you ever think about the power of Simplicity in business?

In this episode, Jeremy Houser is joined by Bruce Donaldson, CEO and President of Simplicity Group. They discuss the importance of advisors, creating a positive work culture, differentiating themselves, and achieving work-life balance. Donaldson shares his personal experience with retirement planning and how it inspired him to create a company that better serves its clients. 

Bruce discusses:

  • Simplicity Group’s philosophy when it comes to wholesale initiatives and supporting independent agents and advisors 
  • The importance of simplicity in business practices and the benefits that come with it, such as efficiency and added time for client relationship building 
  • Why businesses who embrace Simplicity and their resources are thriving
  • Simplicity’s competitive advantage in consulting services and institutional support for agents and advisors
  • And more

Connect With Bruce:

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About Our Guest:

Mr. Donaldson serves as Simplicity’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Donaldson is responsible for defining the Group’s strategic direction and managing its various operating businesses. Prior to Simplicity, Mr. Donaldson was a managing director at an international investment bank, for which he was responsible for making and managing private company investments. Mr. Donaldson has also led the successful start-up of a national financial guaranty insurance company and a multi-billion-dollar asset management business. Prior to starting the entrepreneurial phase of his career, Mr. Donaldson held various financial, business, and legal positions in the United States and the United Kingdom. Mr. Donaldson earned a M.B.A. from London Business School, a J.D. from the John Marshall Law School and a B.A. from Hobart College. Mr. Donaldson serves as a Director for Simplicity Group Holdings.

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The New Administration Has Arrived with Jeff Maxey (Ep. 46)

The New Administration Has Arrived with Jeff Maxey (Ep. 46)

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Good leaders are made, not born. 

In this episode, Jeremy Houser is joined by the new President of InsurMark, Jeff Maxey, to discuss his leadership philosophy, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, removing obstacles, and respecting everyone’s role within the organization.

Jeff discusses: 

  • His commitment to the success of his team members and how he plans to elevate the grounds at InsurMark 
  • The growth he has experienced working with top advisors across the country
  • The company culture at InsurMark and how it has evolved over time
  • How serving and helping others will also help yourself
  • And more

Connect With Jeff Maxey:

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About Our Guest:

Jeff Maxey is truly “on a mission” to work with advisors across the country and assist them in taking their businesses to exciting new levels. In 2023, Jeff was named President of InsurMark after serving as the company’s Executive Vice President and General Manager for six years.

A native of Texas, Jeff attended Texas A&M. Jeff and his wife Natalie have one daughter, Camden, and a son, Grayson. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys golf, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

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A New Chapter: Discussing a Legacy with Steve Kerns (Ep. 45)

A New Chapter: Discussing a Legacy with Steve Kerns (Ep. 45)

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It’s the passing of the torch at InsurMark! 

In this episode, Jeremy Houser is joined by Steve Kerns, the CEO and Founder of InsurMark. Steve announces his new role as the Executive Vice President of Business Relationships at Simplicity Group. As Steve assures that InsurMark will continue to provide excellent service and support to agents and advisors, we walk down memory lane, highlighting our top accomplishments as a team and showing our gratitude for the amazing leader Steve has been over the last 40 years, and will continue to be. 

Steve discusses: 

  • The number of advisor relationships he has built through working with InsurMark 
  • Importance of advisors differentiating themselves and achieving work-life balance
  • Steve’s new role advocating for change, new product opportunities, and technological advancements
  • Overcoming challenges as they come, accepting change, and embracing the new
  • And more

 

Connect With Steve:

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About Our Guest:

At the young age of 29, Steve Kerns was one of the two founding members of InsurMark in 1983. Over 40 years, he has taken InsurMark to new heights in becoming an industry leader in delivering first-class financial advisory mentorship services. Steve has recently taken on the new role of Executive Vice President of Business Relationships at Simplicity Group. As he starts a new journey in his life, he leaves behind a glowing 40-year legacy at InsurMark, with the glowing confidence that the company will continue to grow, and that the best is still to be seen.

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There Is No “I” In Team with Felicia Turner (Ep. 44)

There Is No “I” In Team with Felicia Turner (Ep. 44)

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Have you done your homework? Are your papers in order?

In this episode of the Advisor Mentorship Podcast, Jeremy Houser is joined by InsurMark’s very own case manager, Felicia Turner. Together they discuss the evolution of the company over the past decade while Felicia emphasizes the importance of completing product training, maintaining a balanced team, and being licensed before writing new business. 

She also discusses the process of getting funds in and dealing with carriers, staying on top of onboarding paperwork, and highlighting the need for agents to validate the client’s financials and ensure suitability. 

Felicia discusses: 

  • The indispensable role of an assistant in the insurance business
  • Knowing your clients and knowing their products 
  • The importance of communication and collaboration between assistants and agents
  • The positive relationships she has been able to create through her advisor network
  • Her experience at InsurMark over the past 10 years
  • And more

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Unleashing Your Advisor Superpowers – Proven Strategies for Success with Greg DuPont (Ep. 43)

Unleashing Your Advisor Superpowers – Proven Strategies for Success with Greg DuPont (Ep. 43)

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Are you looking to differentiate yourself from your competitors and create a brand that can endure the ever-changing advisor space? 

In this episode, Jeremy Houser is joined by Greg DuPont, an estate planning attorney and founder of DuPont Wealth Solutions. Greg emphasizes the use of themes and systems, the importance of a reliable team, and utilizing the coaching he has received from the Advisor Mentorship Program to pave the way for his success. 

Greg discusses: 

  • The challenges he faces in managing expenses and revenue
  • His mission to positively impact one million lives by 2030
  • How focusing on a team environment improves company performance 
  • Strategies he has learned through coaches in the industry
  • And more

Connect With Greg DuPont:

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About Our Guest:

Greg DuPont is a financial advocate all about using proven strategies to eliminate debt, reduce lifetime tax costs, and generate more disposable income. He helps attorneys, professionals, and small business owners ensure that their money supports their life and the way they want to live it. 

Debt and taxes provide the greatest challenges to building, preserving, and transferring wealth. Greg focuses on true tax planning: not only looking for solutions to current income taxes but also your lifetime tax cost. 

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Systems Work People Fail 2.0: Next Steps To Scale Your Business (Ep. 42)

Systems Work People Fail 2.0: Next Steps To Scale Your Business (Ep. 42)

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As the world has shifted dramatically over the past two years, with virtual appointments becoming the norm, it is essential to stay updated and equipped with the right tools to establish trust and credibility with your clients.

In this episode, Jeremy Houser unpacks the details of the Systems Work People Fail 2.0 Webinar. Listen in as Jeremy details what are some of the resources advisors are using to achieve success in the fixed index annuities arena while differentiating themselves within their industry.

Jeremy discusses:

  • The significance of the recent Systems Work People Fail 2.0 Webinar and its relevance in today’s rapidly evolving market for the independent financial professional
  • Ways consumer behavior has changed
  • Processes and tools required to separate yourself from the competition and establish yourself as an authority within your industry 
  • The role of technology and the value of having a robust digital presence to build trust and reach a broader audience
  • The value of having strong mentorship and messaging as an advisor  
  • And more!

Resources: 

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Taking The Trip: Here’s What To Look Forward To at InsurMark (Ep. 41)

Taking The Trip: Here’s What To Look Forward To at InsurMark (Ep. 41)

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As the summer is right around the corner and the shorts come out to play, it is the perfect time to prep the grill and get ready for everything summer.  

In this episode, Jeremy Houser unveils his plans for the summer. Other than spending quality time with family and flipping those burger buns, Jeremy reveals what’s to come for InsurMark during this sunny season. 

From education and coaching to InsurMark’s 40th-anniversary celebration and even client appreciation events, listen in and discover ways the firm continues to implement new and improved mentoring, coaching, and marketing strategies for advisors.

Jeremy discusses: 

  • What you should know about the firm’s live event in Houston designed to promote marketing, find new prospects, and enhance your overall business practices 
  • InsurMark’s inaugural ‘Taking The Trip’ event
  • Strategies to elevate your client interactions with a more personalized (and human) touch
  • Authentic partnership: How to be more relatable with your clients and prospects 
  • Some of the best practices InsurMark advisors are implementing within their businesses
  • And more!

Resources:

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Athene’s Strategy for Innovation and Customer Satisfaction with Mitch Anderson, CLU®, RICP®, CSSCS® (Ep. 40)

Athene’s Strategy for Innovation and Customer Satisfaction with Mitch Anderson, CLU®, RICP®, CSSCS® (Ep. 40)

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We all know that the insurance industry is facing challenges in the current market environment, but what are the solutions, and what does the future look like?

In this episode, Jeremy Houser speaks with Mitch Anderson, the VP/ Senior Relationship Manager at Athene USA. Mitch talks about Athene’s growth within the annuities space and their portfolio of volatility-controlled indexes. Additionally, Mitch shares the firm’s mission to continue providing innovative product solutions to their clients.

Mitch discusses: 

  • What you should know about Athene’s partnership with InsurMark
  • The awards that Athene won in 2022
  • The importance of volatility control indices and ways the firm selects their index partners
  • Some of the challenges Athene faced in scaling up their business and how they overcame them
  • Athene’s Roth conversion program
  • The value of educating clients on the differences between banks and insurance companies
  • What the future holds for the company
  • The importance of fixed index annuities in volatile markets and the benefits they offer for clients in drawdown situations
  • And more!

Connect with Mitch Anderson:

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About Our Guest:

Mitch Anderson is a VP/Senior Relationship Manager for Athene USA and works with a number of our Key Distribution Partners.  Besides managing NMO relationships, Mitch frequently speaks at training events and helps educate advisors on the benefits of Fixed Indexed Annuities.  

For over 30 years, Mitch has worked in the insurance and financial services industry in a number of different roles, from wholesaling to sales management.

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Solidifying Your Golden Years: Navigating Long-Term Care with Jeff Sather (Ep. 39)

Solidifying Your Golden Years: Navigating Long-Term Care with Jeff Sather (Ep. 39)

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Over the past 40 years, the team at InsurMark has been helping advisors incorporate annuities and life insurance in their clients’ retirement plans.

But that’s not everything. Did you know we also help with asset-based long-term care?

In this episode, Jeremy Houser is joined by InsurMark’s asset-based long-term care advisor development consultant, Jeff Sather, to unveil all things long-term care. 

Advisors — listen in and explore the available holistic options to support your clients during this new phase of life.

Jeff discusses: 

  • His own experience with long-term care planning
  • The benefits of helping your clients with a long-term care option 
  • InsurMark’s approach to asset-based long-term care and ways the team can help you plan according to your client’s portfolio
  • What you should know about processing times
  • Tax-related regulations around asset-based long-term care
  • And more!

Connect with Jeff Sather:

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About Our Guest:

Jeff Sather was nicknamed “The Most Successful Marketer of Hybrid LTCi.”

He is on a crusade to get people this crucial retirement coverage:

  • He served two years on the External Advisory Board for One America
  • Jeff was a key catalyst for Nationwide designing a qualified funding approach for their CareMatters II product
  • Jeff has guided hundreds of Advisors & Agents across the country to write over $100,000,000 in Asset-Based LTCi in 5 years
  • He has a proven track record for closing cases at a very high level
  • He sold over $800,000 in 4 hours over ZOOM to help multiple clients beat the Washington State LTC tax deadline
  • He has created a system for culling clients and prospects to ask about LTCi planning
  • Jeff is passionate about revealing all the secrets to his success, including the strategies, marketing tools, and sales presentations he employs to create this incredibly consistent production!

Overall, Jeff helps protect consumers against the risk of poverty and outliving their income.

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The Power of Forecasting & How To Stand Out (Ep. 38)

The Power of Forecasting & How To Stand Out (Ep. 38)

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The first quarter of 2023 has brought nothing but success to Jeremy Houser and his team at InsurMark.

But it doesn’t stop there.

From human connections to financial technology, marketing, and coaching, in this episode, Jeremy reviews the first quarter of 2023 while giving an overview of what’s to come for the short and long term for the team at InsurMark and their advisors.

Jeremy discusses: 

  • The concept of ‘lost decade’ and the importance of protecting investment returns during challenging times
  • Ways advisors (like you!) can stay on top of technology while managing information overload and delegating tasks effectively 
  • InsurMark’s approach to helping you forecast investment opportunities
  • The importance of building long-lasting and resourceful relationships with your clients
  • What you should know about being ‘coachable’ and the ways coaches, mentors, and like-minded individuals can help you leverage time and technology 
  • The multi-generational wealth transfer that will occur in the next 20 years and the potential opportunities it carries for advisors 
  • And more!

Resources: 

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Connect with Jeremy Houser:

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