Life Insurance Academy Podcast

There are numerous benefits that telesales brings to life insurance professionals. Agents can efficiently connect with a high number of potential clients, offer personalized solutions, and build strong relationships, all from the comfort of their own homes or office. Selling life insurance over the phone empowers agents to reach a wider audience, offering services in multiple states, and unlocking geographical barriers and other personal limitations, to maximize their sales potential. But what if you are unsure about selling life insurance over the phone? We have you covered. The Life Insurance Academy is hosting a series of immersive telesales boot camps and we have agents from all over the country from different agencies join us to participate. Some are brand new, with no sales experience and only one or two products to offer while others are seasoned and selling at a high level. The result is a unique collaboration of diversity, talent, and grit all working together to help each other level up and win. In this episode, Roger is joined by previous guest, top producer, and agency builder Jalon Talley of True Wealth Financial. Jalon and his partner Mike Kwarteng, who was featured in a previous episode, are growing and scaling a Final Expense Agency for both face-to-face and telesales agents. Jalon joined us as one of the mentors/participants and shares his insights in this revealing episode. Learn more about True Wealth here: www.wearetruewealth.com or on Instagram @truuwealth @jalontalley

If you had the opportunity to make your monthly salary in five days, would you take it? No gimmicks, no second job, just you doing the same thing you do every day in a new competitive team environment. The benefits of a focused environment, free from distractions, allow for accelerated growth and success. This training approach can redefine your sales experience and help you make more money in one week than you typically would in a month. The results are astounding, with some participants achieving annualized premium sales of $12,000 to $16,000 in just five days. Collaboration and teamwork play a vital role in this process as agents come together to support and uplift each other. In this episode, Roger Short, Chris Ball, and Zach McElwain discuss the transformative power of independent agents working as a team.

Technology plays a huge role in our daily lives, adding ease and efficiency to most tasks. This is particularly true for a life insurance agent focused on telesales. Now, you don't need extravagant tools to begin telesales. A cell phone, or landline phone, and a laptop can get you up and running. However, for those seeking to optimize their process and elevate their business, gradually integrating innovative technology into your sales approach is crucial. In this episode, Roger,Chris and Zach delve into the world of telesales and discuss the essential technology needed for successful insurance sales over the phone.

As agents we search for the ever-relevant "secret recipe" of success, but it hasn't changed much honestly. While the way insurance sales are conducted has evolved, some crucial factors have stood the test of time. The first thing to remember is that trying to reinvent the wheel in insurance sales is not the way to go. Successful agents invest in proven lead sources and marketing expertise instead of trying to create their own systems from scratch. If you're a new agent looking to accelerate your career or seeking valuable tips to boost your insurance sales, this episode is a must-watch. Don't miss out on the wisdom shared by Roger Short and Chris Ball as they reveal the four indispensable factors for achieving success in insurance sales. Tune in now and level up your game!

Every new life insurance agent comes from diverse backgrounds and skill sets, and everyone starts with varying levels of proficiency in sales. One thing to remember when you are getting started is that you are definitely going to suck. But don't worry! We did too! The learning curve in the insurance business is steep, and everyone needs adjustments and adaptations along the way. The value of perseverance and continuous improvement is key, everyone goes through a period of "sucking" before achieving success. In this episode, Roger Short, Zach McElwain, and Chris Ball reflect on their early experiences in the life insurance business and share their personal growth journeys.

Anyone that has been in sales long enough knows the feeling of being told no. Many agents are solely focused on getting the sale and fail to understand the significance of the entire sales process. The industry's marketing approach often emphasizes the end results, such as financial success and incentives, without adequately communicating the importance of the journey and the steps involved. This misalignment of expectations leads to frustration when agents struggle to achieve their desired results. In this episode, Zach McElwain and Chris Ball discuss the importance of agents not skipping steps in the life insurance sales process.

Recently we discussed what we would do differently if we started all over again. But have you ever heard our origin story? A few weeks ago, Roger Short had the honor of being interviewed by Cody Askins about his entry into the life insurance sales business. Roger shares his story of how he was able to write $137,400 in annual premium in his first four months as a life insurance agent, and how he went on to build a successful agency. The Cody Askins team has been gracious enough to let us share that conversation with you here on our channel. In this episode, Roger Short discusses the strategies and tactics he used to achieve remarkable success in a short period of time selling life insurance.

Last week we talked about how good leadership with solid systems, track records, and trustworthy people is key to success in life insurance sales. We even laid out the path to a six figures sales career in your first year. But what about those who are ready to take the next step? How do you scale your business to seven figures and beyond? In this episode, Roger Short and Zach McElwain cover a simple and empowering strategy to scale your insurance business to seven figures in revenue.

We have all seen videos and podcasts that say things like "6 figures in 6 Days" and wanted to replicate it. One thing to remember is that starting any new business comes with start-up costs, and starting in insurance sales is no different. The trick is understanding what those costs are and setting your expectations accordingly. We realized that in 160+ episodes we have never covered the start-up costs for independent insurance sales. In this episode, Chris Ball and Zach McElwain cover the real start-up cost to begin your life insurance sales journey.

What if we told you there was a way to make an extra $100,000 this year without overhauling your entire sales approach? What if we told you it was as simple as asking a few extra questions on appointments you are taking? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, life insurance agents all over the country are discovering the power of annuities and retirement planning, which is accessible to sell with a life producer's license. By simply letting their clients know they can provide this service, life insurance agents are maximizing the value they bring to the client. In this episode, Roger Short and Zach McElwain talk with Pat Schmidt about the power of annuity sales and how it can propel your life insurance sales journey.

It's easy to look at the challenges life throws at us and just walk away. This is doubly so in life insurance sales. We run into carrier questions, underwriting issues, "problems" with leads, and a litany of other hurdles on a daily basis. But every hurdle is a stepping stone to the next opportunity. That's the way Medicare Master Brian Thompson looks at it anyway. In this episode, Roger Short and Chris Ball talk with Brian Thompson about his journey to find success in life insurance sales.

We have all looked back at our past and wondered if we made the right decisions in our professional lives. We might have thought we would quickly find success or make a lot of money right away. In reality, success takes time, hard work, and the ability to learn from our mistakes. As we all know, hindsight is 20/20, and there are inevitably things we wish we had known or done differently. In this episode, Roger Short, Chris Ball, and Zach McElwain share their own experiences and insights, as well as practical advice for those just starting out.

Every successful team in sports or business has one thing in common, a great coach. This is especially true in life insurance sales. A coach's job in insurance sales involves holding up a picture of their agents' vision, goals, and dreams as well as listening to and building a relationship with them. Far too often uplines, team leaders, and agency owners in the insurance space focus too much on position and not enough on coaching. New and developing agents need practical and tactical coaching, as well as engaging and interactive training to find success in life insurance sales. In this episode, Zach McElwain and Chris Ball discuss leadership and coaching in the insurance industry.

Transitioning into insurance sales is a difficult decision to make, especially if you are currently in a "safe" job. You might worry about not having the correct prerequisites to find success in this business, or the idea of leaving that "safe" position is too scary. Well, what if we told you that you could write $18,000 in business a month working part-time with no degree? That is exactly what today's guest did while she was transitioning from her old career into life insurance sales. In this episode, Roger Short and Chris Ball talk with Lisa Joos about her journey from fitness marketing to final expense sales.

Everyone's journey into life insurance sales is different. Our "Whys" will differ from agent to agent, but one thing is the same in almost everyone's story. That first step into the business is exhilarating…and terrifying. The idea of being your own boss and having an uncapped income is super attractive. But what vertical should I focus on? Should I use a leads-based system or a warm market? Captive or independent? In-person or telesales…or both? It can be intimidating, but success is sure to follow for those who buy into a system and stick with it. In this episode, Roger Short and Zach McElwain talk with Michael Bond about his entrance into the life insurance sales business and how he found six-figure success.

We have been in the life insurance industry long enough to have seen all the cycles. We've seen agents rise, fall, and then disappear. We've seen agents struggle and then give up and we have seen others overcome those struggles and win. And we keep getting asked the same question, what is the secret to success in life insurance sales? The conclusion we have come to is this; success in life insurance sales boils down to one concept, consistency. In this episode, Roger Short and Chris Ball discuss the importance of consistency in your life insurance business.

Many people wonder if they can start selling life insurance part-time. Most opportunities are lead driven. Today, we investigate a powerful life insurance sales niche that can help you accelerate your career. Many agents now are using life insurance products to protect families well beyond funeral and burial costs by paying off mortgages and other debts left behind. But what about using a life insurance policy as a bank? This concept had our heads spinning as well! In this episode, Roger Short and Chris Ball talk with Jonathan Henderson about how to turn a life insurance policy into your own personal banking system.

So, you have your life insurance license and you're ready to break into that "6-Figure Status" that everyone is talking about. But how? You know you are going to need to find clients, but what are the best ways to do that? Do you know what area of life insurance sales you want to start selling in, or even what options are available to you? Which areas are the best to start with and which ones are the most profitable? So many questions that need answers. In today's episode, Roger Short, Chris Ball, and Zach McElwain break it down for you and discuss the TOP FIVE markets to make money in life insurance sales.

Why do we believe everything our clients tell us? "This is a bad time." "I already have life insurance." "I'm not interested." Sometimes people don't say what they mean. The client is trying to find the proper way to communicate their concerns about buying insurance, but they don't know how. They are afraid of making the wrong decision, so they make the easiest decision, and do nothing. We have to understand this truth before we ever knock on a door or pick up the phone. We have to understand the underlying need within the home and our clients' insecurities of making the wrong decisions. Then it is our responsibility to guide our clients to the best solution for their needs. In this episode, Chris Ball and Zach McElwain discuss the importance of understanding our client's concerns even if they don't voice them.

In sales and leadership, listening is vital for success. Top industry leaders know this, and they know how to be vulnerable enough to hear what is really going on. They seek to understand. They also surround themselves with people who will tell them the truth and not just be "yes-men". Are you being vulnerable enough to really listen? Do you have people in your life that you trust that will make sure you do? In this episode, Roger Short, Chris Ball, and Jon Mccallon talk about two key characteristics of great communicators and great leaders.

Have you ever got an objection that you couldn't recover from? Do you find yourself running into the same objections over and over but don't know how to avoid them? Well fear not listener, because we have the solution to almost every objection, the Tie-Down. A Tie-Down is a positive statement followed by an affirmative response question. In this episode, Roger, Chris, and Zach cover the importance of Tie-Downs and how to implement them into your sales process.

If you had to identify one thing to add to your business that would boost productivity what would it be? Better lead sources? Enhanced communication? Upgrading your CRM? The simplicity of what we thought to boost productivity might surprise you, it's fun. People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing. In this episode, Roger, Chris, and Zach talk about the importance of incorporating fun into your life insurance business.

Many agents come out of the gate strongly, closing sales left and right. But then something happens, and we start having difficulty in what seemed very simple. The worst part is we don't even know what we are doing wrong to make the sales process so hard. We call this losing your mojo. In this episode, Roger, Chris, and Zach talk about the top reasons agents lose their mojo and the best ways to find it again.

Are you an agent who just started growing a team? Where do you stand with your team? What are you teaching them? John Maxwell says before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. In this episode, Roger and Chris break down three critical leadership skills you need to have to grow a successful life insurance business.

We know a majority of our listeners are new to Life Insurance Sales. You found this great opportunity and took all the steps to get licensed, but now what? At this point you have more questions than answers on what to do next. On every episode we invite our listeners to reach out with questions and this week we had a listener who went one step further, he showed up. In this episode, Chris and Zach sit down with Chase, a newly licensed agent, with his questions on what first steps to take in the life insurance business.

Have you ever gone through your presentation and told your client all the reasons why they should purchase a life insurance policy from you, and nothing comes of it? Sometimes we frame our conversations with clients on the wrong things like pricing, riders, or other plan benefits. Our focus instead needs to be on providing a vision of how this policy will help their family on the hardest day of their lives. In this episode, Roger, Chris, and Zach discuss how to frame conversations with your clients to help you close more sales.

Everyone knows that the markets are volatile right now. The price of everything from gas to groceries is on the rise. You might be wondering if your life insurance business is safe in these times, and we are here to tell you yes. Because no matter what's going on in the economy, disciplined and knowledgeable life insurance agents can position themselves accordingly. In this episode, Roger and Chris talk about which products licensed life insurance agents should focus on to help navigate the volatile times we find ourselves in today.

Have you ever got into a situation during a sit where you had no idea how to continue? Or how to answer a question the prospect asked? Maybe afterward you reached out to your upline or mentor for guidance, but by that point, it's too little too late. How did you get into that situation and more importantly how did you fix it? In this episode, Roger, Chris, and Zach break down a real issue that an agent had and why it's important to reach out for advice during your sit, not after.

If you are a new life insurance agent, can you start your business with only $100? We think you can. Now, there are a few things you need to have taken care of first like licensing, background checks, and contracting. But with the right mindset and approach, you don't need a large amount of money to get started in life insurance sales. In this episode, Roger, Chris, and Zach discuss the three ways you can enter the life insurance business with limited upfront funds.

Do you feel there is something bigger out there for you? You know you are not satisfied with where you are in life, but you don't know what that means or how to change your trajectory. How do you craft a vision for your future? How do you expand on that vision and continue leveling up and challenging yourself? Sometimes it just takes coming alongside someone with a vision for their future to start to see a vision for your own. In this episode, Roger and Zach sit down with Mr. 8% himself, Cody Askins, and discuss his process of finding and surpassing his vision.

Have you ever had a week where you write a ton of business only to have a small portion stick to the books? Chargebacks are as jarring as it gets in Life Insurance Sales and it happens to every agent at some point. In this episode, Roger, Chris, and Zach talk about the best practices to write and keep more business.

Some people get into something that they have hopes for and see a path to success. But they slam into something. They slam into disillusionment, discouragement, and a lack of mentorship. They slam into something, and it prevents them from having success. In this episode, Chris sits with Tim Wright to discuss his struggles leading to his success in Life Insurance Sales.

According to recent news and research reports, 62% of millennial bachelor's degree graduates were working in a job that does not require a college degree. And only 47% of these graduates said their bachelor's degree was "very useful" in preparing them for a job career, as recorded by Pew Research Center. Sadly the average first-year job earnings for these individuals are between $36k-$42K a year. What if we told you there was a way to change these stats and income numbers? What if you could find an opportunity that allowed you to turn these traditional poor performance results upside down? Our guests this week did just that. In this episode, Roger and Chris sit down with Millennial entrepreneurs, Mike Kwarteng and Jalon Talley of True Wealth Financial and discuss their success in Life Insurance Sales.

Did you know that Life Insurance is not only for when you die? You may have heard about living benefits, something you can take advantage of while you are still alive. Living benefits can protect families in the event of a serious illness such as a heart attack or stroke. But did you know that a properly structured life insurance plan can actually create tax-free retirement money also? Yes! This is money you can spend in your retirement years completely tax-free. Today's guest Aidan Stout started in the life insurance business at age 22 and in just three and a half short years has created a six-figure income primarily using this very unique strategy. In this episode, Roger and Aidan Stout discuss why the life insurance business is a great career for anyone at any age and can help clients in more ways than most realize.

Do you find yourself struggling with closing your sales? You are not alone in that struggle my friend, many agents can get hung up right at the finish line and not close their sales. In this episode, Roger, Chris, and Zach break down the top reasons agents can't close. This is the second part of this series, so if you haven't seen part one be sure to go back so you don't miss a thing.

Do you feel like other agents around you are closing sales left and right while you are struggling to close even a single sale? Well, fear not, because you are not alone in this. We hear from agents all the time talking about having issues closing their sales. In this episode, Roger, Chris, and Zach break down the top reasons agents can't close. The topic is so broad we felt the need to break it down into two parts so we can cover all the angles. So sit back, strap in, and get ready to earn that coffee.

We at the Life Insurance Academy love celebrating "firsts". Your first appointment set, first doorknock, first submitted application, and first monster week. Now we would like to celebrate a first for us, the first podcast recorded in front of a live audience! In this episode, Roger, Chris, and Zach sit down with a room full of life insurance agents at the 8% Nation conference in Dallas Texas. We discuss the importance of branding, hiring, social media presence, and the importance of giving value to those around you.

Have you ever been in a sales slump? Well guess what, all of us have. A slump can feel like the end of the world while you are in it, but it's only a speed bump on your road to success. In this episode, Chris and Zach advise on how to get yourself or other members of your team out of a slump.

Starting your insurance career can feel as challenging as launching a rocket, or jumping into the cockpit and prepping for take off without any prior knowledge or experience. Agents may not be fighting gravity like pilots and astronauts, but they have their own forces that they are fighting. In this episode, Chris and Zach talk about some of the forces that keep agents from finding success, and the strategies that they can incorporate to launch and ultimately soar into their career in insurance sales. VERY LIMITED!! ONE-TIME SPECIAL OFFER! At Life Insurance academy we do our very best to bring the most value to our listeners. Our goal is to meet you where you are and help you get to where you want to go. We have an outstanding opportunity for our listeners to expand their vision, gain valuable tools and learn from the very best in the industry. We have a very special relationship with Cody Askins and the 8% family, and because of that relationship we have a very limited number of specially priced tickets for the 8% conference in Dallas, Texas on July 27th-30th. This includes a handful of fire tickets. You do not want to miss Jesse Itzler, Ed Mylett, and Tim Tebow along with many other amazing speakers. Do not miss your chance to level up your business. You are one decision away from changing your business forever. You can get tickets at lifeinsuranceacademy.org/tickets

How do you feel about your leadership skills? How well do you motivate your team and others around you? We have noticed quality leaders are few and far between in Life Insurance Sales. In this episode, Chris and Zach talk about different types of leaders identified in The Five Levels of Leadership by John Maxwell and how to advance yourself through those levels. If you have aspirations to lead a team, or just want to hone your leadership skills, you don't want to miss this episode.