Category: Wealth

Exploring Advisor-Focused Platforms: Introducing Kai-Zen® and ILIA with Jeremy Bickler, CLU® (Ep. 34)

Exploring Advisor-Focused Platforms: Introducing Kai-Zen® and ILIA with Jeremy Bickler, CLU® (Ep. 34)

As advisors, it is incredibly important to differentiate ourselves from the competition.

In 2023, that might look like finding our niche, offering a unique service, or finding a way to create meaningful connections with our clients. 

While this is a good starting point, there’s more we can do. 

In this episode, Jeremy Houser is joined by Jeremy Bickler, the VP of Sales for the Central Region at NIW. Jeremy introduces Kai-Zen® and ILIA as two must-know advisor-focused platforms. Listen in as Jeremy details how these digital platforms support advisors in elevating their business and client experience. 

Jeremy discusses: 

  • Kai-Zen® as the strategy that provides advisors and their clients the opportunity to add up to three times more money to fund a cash-accumulating life insurance policy
  • What you should know about ILIA and its advantages for the preferred IMOs
  • Some advice for advisors looking to differentiate themselves in the industry
  • The benefits of his partnership with the Simplicity family 
  • And more!

Connect with Jeremy Bickler:

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About Our Guest:

Jeremy Bickler is VP of Sales for the Central Region at NIW. He brings over 20 years of industry experience, working across multiple areas of the business. While life insurance is his passion and focus, he has marketed and sold annuities, asset-based LTC, and disability. Jeremy has worked as an external wholesaler for multiple top-rated insurance carriers and is the former owner of an IMO where he presided over the life insurance division. In his current role at NIW, he assists IMOs in implementing Kai-Zen® and other premium finance strategies into their business. He also trains IMO sales staff and individual agents on using leveraged IUL for estate planning and supplemental income solutions.

Reflecting on 2022 & Building on 2023 with Steve Kerns, Founder and President of InsurMark (Ep. 33)

Reflecting on 2022 & Building on 2023 with Steve Kerns, Founder and President of InsurMark (Ep. 33)

After witnessing a record-breaking year in 2022, the future of InsurMark looks brighter and more inspiring than ever.

This week, Jeremy Houser and Steve Kerns, the Founder, and President of InsurMark, sit down to talk about all things InsurMark. From starting in this industry to what’s to come in the future ahead, Steve unpacks 2022 as the firm’s 39th year in business, as well as what to look forward to during their 40th anniversary in 2023. 

Steve discusses: 

  • His and his wife Becky’s motivation to start InsurMark right out of college
  • His definition of purpose 
  • Ways the firm gives back to their loyal advisors 
  • His approach to leveraging and adapting to a more digital and online space
  • And more!

Connect with Steve Kerns:

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About Our Guest:

Steve Kerns is the Founder and President of InsurMark. Steve is a visionary and coach with a keen ability to spot industry and demographic trends. This is why he functions as our chief strategic officer, in addition to his responsibilities as President. He positions InsurMark to proactively capitalize on opportunities–not just stay in the game, but stay on top of it.

The Art of Efficiency with Chad Burns (Ep. 32)

The Art of Efficiency with Chad Burns (Ep. 32)

2023 is the year of speed and efficiency. 

In this episode, Jeremy Houser is joined by Chad Burns, the chief distribution officer at Aspida. Chad unveils everything you need to know about him and Aspida.  He also sheds light on what Aspida does for advisors and their approach to helping you help your clients with all things annuities and retirement planning options from a technology-efficient standpoint.

Chad discusses: 

  • What makes Aspida different from other Insurance Carriers
  • Some company values that have allowed Aspida to succeed
  • How Aspida’s tech separates them from the competition
  • Some key business practices that he’s taking into the new year
  • The firm’s approach to defining the ideal advisors they want to work with 
  • And more!

Connect with Chad Burns:

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About Our Guest:

Aspida’s annuity business is led by Chad Burns, the Chief Distribution Officer. Chad joined Aspida from Transamerica, where he served as Regional Vice President overseeing annuity sales and corporate retirement sales in NC. Chad has also held roles at Prudential Financial, Axa Distributors, and PLANCO (The Hartford). Chad holds a B.A. in Business Management from North Carolina State University.

Wellness Is The Wealth with Stevyn Guinnip (Ep. 31)

Wellness Is The Wealth with Stevyn Guinnip (Ep. 31)

When it comes to financial well-being, most people immediately think about creating a financial plan, saving up for their retirement, and being able to enjoy their golden years after the hustle is over.

What they don’t realize is that without physical well-being, those golden years might be overshadowed by a number of health problems, throwing a wrench in your plans for years to come. What if you treat your health as an asset?

In this episode, Jeremy Houser is joined by Stevyn Guinnip, the founder, and CEO of Grow Wellthy™. Through speaking to many advisors who have been in the business for more than 20 years, including her father, Stevyn unveils the similarities between financial and physical wellness and her approach to helping advisors and investors grow wellthy so that they can retire wellthy.

Stevyn discusses: 

  • Her connection to the financial world 
  • What motivated her to build Grow Wellthy™
  • The parallels between financial and physical wellness 
  • Tips and tricks advisors can follow to live a healthy lifestyle 
  • Ways health is a silent partner in our retirement plan
  • And more!

Resources: 

Connect with Stevyn Guinnip:

Book Time with Jeremy Houser: 

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About Our Guest:

Stevyn Guinnip, MS, CWC is an exercise physiologist, certified wellness coach, and the daughter of a successful financial advisor. She is the Founder & CEO of Grow Wellthy™, a health and wellness advisory firm with a financial perspective. She believes that a financial plan without a wellness plan is only half a plan for success. Her new book on health and wealth for financial professionals will be coming out soon. You can read more about Stevyn’s story here.

2023 New Year’s Resolutions with Felicia Turner, Dave Ray, Binh Nguyen, and Maria Thibodeaux (Ep. 30)

2023 New Year’s Resolutions with Felicia Turner, Dave Ray, Binh Nguyen, and Maria Thibodeaux (Ep. 30)

As this year comes to a close, Jeremy Houser is checking in with his team at InsurMark to celebrate their wins and hear from them.

An important part of Jeremy’s team process (that gets them closer as a company) is to review and share the goals and resolutions they have set for themselves going into the new year.

And that’s exactly what this week’s episode is all about. Jeremy chats with Felicia Turner, Dave Ray, Binh Nguyen, and Maria Thibodeaux as they reveal how they want to elevate their business in the new year, as well as the processes that have led the team to succeed in 2022.  

The team discusses: 

  • Some personal resolutions for 2023 and how they want to go about achieving them
  • Big 2022 wins and their approach to keeping the momentum going into the new year
  • Some important processes that have elevated their business this year
  • Future company projections moving into the new year
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Felicia Turner Annuity Case Manager:

Jeremy and Felicia have worked together for 10+ years. Felicia is one of the top advisor services admins at InsurMark. She was announced as the 2021 employee of the year.

Connect with Dave Ray — Life Advisor Development Consultant:

Connect with Maria Thibodeaux Life Insurance Case Manager:

Connect with Binh Nguyen — Life Case Design Specialist:

Book Time with Jeremy Houser: 

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2023 Business Planning: Advisors, Here’s The Advice You Need (Ep. 29)

2023 Business Planning: Advisors, Here’s The Advice You Need (Ep. 29)

As Thanksgiving slipped through our fingers, December brings in new opportunities to be thankful and discover new relationships with prospects while rekindling old ones. 

In this episode, Jeremy Houser unveils some December themes as well as business planning considerations for advisors. With 2023 being a year of big changes, listen in and discover how the advisors at InsurMark are focusing on refining their processes and making those important improvements to step into the new year on the right foot. 

Jeremy discusses: 

  • Valuable processes to take forward into 2023
  • The importance of a pen and paper 
  • Some 2022 wins for InsurMark’s advisors 
  • Why December is a great time to reel in new prospects
  • Trust and credibility: What you should know about storytelling
  • And more!

Resources:

Book Time with Jeremy Houser:

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Man in the Mirror: Reviewing 2022 (Ep. 28)

Man in the Mirror: Reviewing 2022 (Ep. 28)

As this year starts to wrap up, it is time for Jeremy Houser and the team at InsurMark to review 2022 and celebrate the growth they have seen within the business (and this podcast, too).

In this episode, Jeremy details some big wins he has seen this year and the factors that have contributed to his and his advisors’ success. He explains what separates a good from a great advisor while offering tips for the upcoming year so that you can excel in your business, too.

Jeremy discusses: 

  • Some growth opportunities for the upcoming year 
  • Key commonalities between successful advisors
  • Some important milestones for his advisors
  • Systems to leverage technology as an advisor
  • Ways the team at InsurMark can help advisors with their business planning 
  • And more!

Resources:

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Celebrating Big Business Wins with Tim Whisler, CRPC®, CLTC® (Ep. 27)

Celebrating Big Business Wins with Tim Whisler, CRPC®, CLTC® (Ep. 27)

As the third quarter numbers are being finalized, we are excited to announce that Jeremy’s team has already surpassed 2021’s numbers, even with one final quarter left. 

In this episode, Jeremy Houser speaks with Tim Whisler CRPC®, CLTC® President and Founder of The Whisler Agency. After their annual advisor family reunion trip to Cabo, the advisors at InsurMark left feeling well-equipped and confident in the work that they are doing through engaging with other professionals in the industry. So, get ready to listen to Tim unveil some common business wins he has to share with Jeremy. 

Tim discusses: 

  • Key business nuggets he has gained from talking with other advisors during his  time in Cabo
  • Ways Tim has been able to double his business in a one-year timeframe 
  • Advice for advisors looking to connect with prospects online to see results
  • Reasons consistency is key
  • The power of ‘writing things down’
  • Podcasts and how they work as a tool to expand your network and build credibility 
  • Why he chose to work with InsurMark 
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Tim Whisler:

Book Time with Jeremy Houser:

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About Our Guest:

Tim Whisler is the president and founder of The Whisler Agency, an independent and comprehensive financial services firm. His mission statement is “to provide retirees and soon-to-be retirees with a greater sense of confidence about their retirement plan.” Tim holds the Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM designation and the Certified in Long-Term Care designation. These advanced studies provide him the additional knowledge to help effectively evaluate your financial situation and design a retirement plan tailored for you.

The Value of Processes & Systems To Grow Your Business Virtually with Erich Castillo (Ep. 26)

The Value of Processes & Systems To Grow Your Business Virtually with Erich Castillo (Ep. 26)

Effective management and having systems in place are some of the aspects that Jeremy Houser and his advisors value the most in their business setting. 

However, going 100% virtual when it comes to marketing is not for everyone.

In this episode, Jeremy Houser is joined by financial advisor and founder of Cornerstone Wealth Management, Erich Castillo, to unveil this year’s wins and losses when it comes to business innovation, consistency, and client connection. Erich and Jeremy also shed light on the benefits of incorporating business-oriented online and digital tools.

Erich discusses: 

  • The importance of keeping a consistent message across your business 
  • Some business challenges he has faced this year 
  • Stories and processes that are helping him this year convert prospects
  • How going virtual has allowed his business to scale and become more efficient 
  • And more!

Connect with Erich Castillo:

Book time with Jeremy Houser:

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About Our Guest:

Erich Castillo is the founder of Cornerstone Wealth Management. Originally from San Francisco, he has traveled and lived all around the world, eventually landing in Lexington, Kentucky, while earning a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Education at the University of Kentucky. Erich had the opportunity to work as an athletic trainer for the football, basketball, soccer, women’s gymnastics, and men’s tennis teams. 

Erich began his professional career in 1997 at American Express Financial Advisors, achieving numerous accolades and awards, which inspired him to found his own business. In 2004, he founded Cornerstone Wealth Management, where he has more flexibility to provide personalized and client-centric service. 

Best Practices For The Fourth Quarter with Roger Smith (Ep. 25)

Best Practices For The Fourth Quarter with Roger Smith (Ep. 25)

2022 has been an ever-changing environment for advisors.

Due to the change from the global pandemic to now feeling some sort of normalcy, there have been a lot of changes and adjustments that have had to be made over the past few months. 

In this episode, Jeremy Houser is joined by Roger Smith from Insurmark to unpack his business successes and how he and his team have achieved them through adapting to their clients and upping their customer service and product processes. 

Roger discusses: 

  • The importance of working as a team and knowing each other’s strengths
  • How to properly identify your client’s needs
  • Balancing client feedback when it comes to your services
  • The difference between good and great customer service
  • His team’s approach to supporting clients through annuities, retirement planning, and Medicare season 
  • And more!

Resources: 

Connect with Roger Smith:

Book time with Jeremy Houser:

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About Our Guest: 

Roger Smith has been helping families protect and enjoy their retirement for over 30 years. Roger has over 5000 satisfied clients. Roger is blessed to have two daughters, Chesney & Kennedy, along with his granddaughter Camila.

He has served over the last 21 years as a Rotarian, including 2 terms as President. Chamber of Commerce President and Board of Directors. Board member of William Thomas Helton foundation, which helps people with disabilities. Sunday School Teacher at Waynesboro First Baptist Church. Benefactor for Abigail’s Plan, an organization dedicated to providing baseball fields and facilities to handicapped children, and Sheltering Tree Ranch, a small private Christian school for Autistic children.