LinkedIn Secrets you need to know

Creative Commons Copyright

Author Randy Taylor 2/3/2015

LinkedIn is What You Make of it.

Like any other social media site; it is more effective if you follow the basics:

Content is king and engagement is queen and she runs the household.

1. Be secretive. When you’re updating your LinkedIn profile, it can annoy your contacts if they’re alerted to every little change. When you’re in edit mode, head to your privacy controls. Turn off activity broadcasts and change the setting for  “select who can see your activity feed” to “only you.”

3. Be redundant. Know the top five strengths for which you want to be recognized and use them in your profile – repeatedly.  Be specific. If your top skill is marketing training, but not sales training, explain in simple terms your  proficiency in your summary.  Also list multiple experience descriptions. This will help the right audience find you. Sometimes logic is as important in writing your profile as key word searches are.

4. Be ungrateful. Ask your contacts to endorse you for only your top skills. Having the highest number of endorsements for your signature strengths will influence those who are looking at your profile. Have the courage to delete or reject the endorsements that aren’t central to how you want to be known.

5. Be promiscuous. Ignore LinkedIn’s advice to only accept connection 
requests from people you know. That helps sell Premium, but it doesn’t help you get found. LinkedIn’s search algorithm favors those who are in your network. That means when people are looking for what you have to offer, the results of their searches are displayed with 1st level connections first, then 2nd level connections and so on.

LinkedIn also has several free features that allow you to build your audience faster and with less hands on time than other media.  Please message me for a free telephone conversation or to schedule a hands on workshop for your sales force. 1 (916) 572-6730 .  No MLM solicitatons please.

Reach: Randy Taylor, Interviewed on TV, Radio, and Forbes Magazine. Sales trainer since 1975. Message  at:   www.RandyTaylorMC.com

Compare: cheap term life insurance with refund options*

How to spend all of your retirement funds, die broke, but STILL, provide tax-free funds for your children

                                                       

                            Retirement Planning Made Easy

                                           Author,: Randy Taylor, Lic. # 0643596,

                                            Calif.  Retirement specialist since 1983.                                         

                                           Published in financial periodicals since 1998.

                                           Copyright, Creative Commons Licensing. This article 

                                           may be copied or re-distributed as long as it is copied in

                                           it's entirety and not altered in any way.

The Problem: How Can I defer taxes on my retirement until needed, spend it all and still pass on a financial legacy to my children income tax free?

The solution: Combining the benefits of two safe financial vehicles to do all of the above.

Step #1: Making sure that you will accumulate saving tax-deferred without losing any of your current funds to bad investments, taxes, or stock market fluctuations.

Step # 2: Keeping the savings accounts safe while deferring taxes on future income received.

The closer that you get to retirement the more important it becomes to keep all or most of your 

nest egg safe so that it will be there when you are no longer working and need it the most.

Annuity savings accounts are often the best solution if your goal is future income payments.

Why choose an annuity savings account instead of a bank c.d. or possibly a bond?

 This is easy!  Annuities are designed specifically for retirement purposes and offer 3 major benefits for the retiree:

                   1.) Income tax deferral on all interest until it is received.

                   2.) Guaranteed safety of principal and a minimum interest rate if held 

                   3.) Any unspent funds pass to your heirs at death without the need of a will or trust.

There are approximately 1.200 insurance companies to choose from in most states. (1,274 in California for example) You will want to find a company that has minimal exposure to junk bonds so that they can stay competitive while you are growing your account. 

What type of annuities are best for retirement and which product features should you consider?

                 1.) Variable annuities are best suited for those that want maximum upside growth potential but may not offer safety of principal as a result

                 2.)  Fixed Indexed annuities have minimum interest rate guarantees and no exposure to decreases with the market drops if they are used specifically for retirement purposes.

#3)  How to provide  an income tax free account for your children after you have passed away.

A simple solution would be to buy a life insurance policy equal to the value of your retirement account projection payable to your children. This gives you "permission" to spend everything you own on your retirement since the children will still get theirs income tax free when you are gone.

Very important:

Both of above alternatives offer an option to have a guaranteed level & in some cases and increasing income payment for life that is often higher than bonds. For a 65 yr. old this could be in the 6% range for life, even if the entire account is spent. The variable annuities might pay out approximately 1% less but offer more money if you cash the account in in 1 lump sum. These alternatives involve paying from .75 of 1 % to 1.5 % approximately in exchange for lifetime payments should the product itself perform poorly.

Summary:  This is not meant to be specific legal, tax, or investment advice but is offered up rather for entertainment purposes and a different point of view. An honest and experienced multiple company insurance broker or financial planner can help you with this. Do not make any purchases or transfers of any type before sitting down with your advisors.

I personally am still accepting new clients in the California area for those that would like a second opinion of life insurance, annuity savings accounts, or legal shield/ identity shield programs.

I can be reached at the links below. If you find this article helpful; please share it in it's entirety without alteration via social media.

Follow my blog :http://randytaylorfinancial.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AskRandyTaylor

                https://www.facebook.com/RandyTaylorActor?

Linked in Recommendations:http://www.linkedin.com/in/randytaylorlifeandannuities

Life insurance and I.R.A. Account Specialist
Serving clients and brokers since 1983
(916) 601-5270

Photo above from Sheboygonwidds.com

The Key to Success is not Goal Setting or Motivation , Ask The Beatles

About the author: 

Randy Taylor has been a state or national speaker regarding the sales process in 3 different industries since the 1970s. He was first published in in 1998 and was quotes in Forbes
regarding small business practices in 2012. He also has appeared as an actor on T.V. and in films.

So you want to be a pro?  Are you willing to pay the price?

There is no such thing as a natural. There are those  born with more talents than others; but not with real world class or even "next level",talent. Please read the brief examples below of what really separates the good from the exceptional!

The secret to success in sales or entertainment is skill development. Skill development is never by chance, but rather by hard work.  

Ask yourself: When is the last time that you practiced your craft?  When you did practice did you do it in a real sales call when money was at stake, or did you practice dozens or hundreds of times with a mentor or accountability partner before testing your skills?  

What did the legends do when they wanted to become legendary?

The Beatles:  The Beatles made a huge splash when they "came out of no where and appeared
on the Ed Sullivan show. Did they arrive with talent from just playing in their garage. Philip Norman, author of Shout, disagrees. He said that before 18 months of nightly performances in Germany, that " They were no good onstage when they went there but they were very good when they came back." They performed 270 times during that period for up to 8 hours per day! Naturals? Hardly. naturals. When they were seen on Ed Sullivan; they had already done 1,200 live performances.

Gary Player: Inducted inducted into the world golf hall of fame, was once approached by a fan.
The fan said to him: I want to practice and be able to play like you.  Player's self absorbed but candid answer was: "You can't play like me unless you are willing to get up at 5:00 a.m. get to the course
before anyone else and hit golf balls until your hands bleed.  Then you have to tape them up and hit another 1,000 balls? Excessive? yes, but the point to be made is that motivation alone, reading, mentoring, will not get you to the top unless you are willing to practice your skills until they improve.

George Young Olympic Steeplechase Competitor:  My high school track coach was a brother to George Young who was the American record holder in the steeplechase and the oldest competitor in the world to  run a sub 4 minute mile. He held down a full time job, had a bleeding ulcer and and managed to still run up to a 100 miles per week in training before the olympics. He placed third in the high altitude of Mexico City. Not a natural, but rather a highly trained athlete that tried to out train his competition.

Summary even if you goal is only to succeed in your local community in a narrow niche market; you have to practice your skills. Start today, call a friend and set up a practice session. " If I become complacent, I will remember my competition"  Og Mandino, "The Greatest Salesman in the World"

Creative Commons Copyright  5/26/2015
This article can be copied or distributed as long as it is not altered in any way and is coped in it's entirety.

Please contact at:        https://www.RandyTaylorMC.com
                                  https://www.facebook.com/groups/salesandmediatraining/
                                  https://www.facebook.com/RandyTaylorFinancial
                                  https://www.facebook.com/RandyTaylorActor

The Fastest Growing Crime in The World, Identity Theft

About The Author

Randy Taylor has been involved in insurance and financial services for 32 years and was first published in 1998.  He has additional specific training in identity theft  and was quoted by Forbes Magazine relating to small business practices. He can be reached at: https://www.facebook.com/RandyTaylorFinancial

Why We are at Risk

Identity theft is reported to be the fastest growing crime in the world. It is a crime where the criminal is more often able to remain anonymous than other crimes while being able to steal money directly from individuals by breaching social media sites, large retail store credit card databases and more.
Bob Sullivan, technology correspondent for MSNBC, estimated that there are as many as 10 Million cases worldwide. As social media sites grow exponentially; these online communities offer an ever growing market for exploitation by cyber criminals.
In this article I will address areas that might be overlooked by the consumer that put them at risk as well as how to be prevent the occurrences of identity theft and finally, what to do after the fact if your information has been compromised.

In some instances you cannot protect yourself. 

 Several large companies that have experts trying to safeguard clients information have been hacked by cyber criminals. This includes sophisticated companies like Go Daddy, Target, Neiman Marcus, and LinkedIn. The key is to do the best you can on your own to protect any of your sensitive account information by taken precautions like those mentioned below.

Scams to Watch Out For

Emails asking for personal information relating to a tax refund or economic stimulus payment.

Income Tax Fraud: The criminal actually files a fake tax return with your social and claims a refund.

Job offers by email: Beware of official looking emails with links to websites suggestion that you only have to complete on online application.

Phishing . This occurs when online scammers send you e-mails disguised as legitimate organizations while asking for personal information. They may ask you to confirm an account number or address.

Fake U.S. Census emals

Medical Identity Theft: Don't give out your social security form unless asked..

Fake jury duty phone calls.


How to Best Protect Yourself

Social Networking: Do Not Make Your Date of Birth Public

One of the first things people should do is to keep their date of birth hidden on all social media sites.
In 2011 for example 67% of all identity theft cases reported were cases where people had made their true dates of birth public. With many social networking sites your password can be stolen by a hacker with just your date of birth and the email address you used to sign up with.

Protect your passwords

Hayley Tsukayma, of the Washington Post August 7, 2014,  suggested that first you write down passwords, keep them separate from the user names, and store the document in a safe place.  The also recommend a strong password with letters, numbers, or more. Finally they also suggest password managers, online services such as I pass, or free alternatives like LastPass or Dashlane.

Other practices to consider when on social media sites

Go to your account settings and select posts to be private or to be seen by friends only.

Do not include your age or hometown in any screen name or home page.

Do your research, and If a new unknown friend asks to join your network;ask your friends if they know him or her.

Use common sense. Do not click on any link on the sites or in personal emails that was not solicited or those with no subject line listed in the case of an email. Assume that you are not the winner of any contest that you did not enter and when in doubt; call the person who sent you the communication.

Maintain an up to date virus protection and malware protection program on your computer. While there are several free virus protection programs available; the cost for a state of the art upgrade is minimal compared to the time and money lost if you are hacked.

Change passwords frequently

Purchase an identity theft program which not only monitors changes in your credit reports etc; but also monitors your M.I.B., Medical Information Bureau account, V.A. accounts

What to do if you suspect that you have been hacked

If it seems like only your password has been stolen, first change your password, then clear your cache or history. You might also want to contact some friends on you email list to see if they have received any emails that you did not send out.

What if it appears to be a serious identity theft situation:

Immediately contact your identity theft provider which can advise you, and your credit card companies. Most I.D. Theft programs do not help you repair any credit issues etc. so you would have that responsibility yourself.  A select few companies will make the phone calls for you and restore your credit retroactively.

If you do not have a identity theft program in place; you should contact the FTC and request their reporting forms and help.

In summary, Take every precaution to protect yourself when supplying personal information on social media, group sites, or by email. Maintain a professional identity theft program, and respect that many cyber thieves are professionals that are out to do harm.

Creative Commons Copyright 4/27/2015
This article can be copied or distrubuted as long as it is not altered in any way and is coped in it's entirety.

How to Increase Event Attendance Dramatically, and for Free

Simple Steps for Increasing Event Attendance

I have helped get a group page add   874 Likes in one day and have managed to keep

very high attendance in a networking group for 52 weeks in a row by inviting directly from an event group page. I also multiply  my reach by adding myself to large groups and sharing the event url addresses to them. How to set up a facebook  events here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8tP7D-kwEk

1.)  Reach 40,000 people, not 5,000.

 Don't rely on a non-specific data base like your Facebook page. Use target marketing lists & groups. I can only reach 5,000 from my page but can reach around 40,000 by posting my event link on group pages that allow it.

2.) Create a Group Page on Facebook: 

With a Facebook group, you can create a new event page from your

target audience; then with a single click of the mouse send out both a Facebook invitation and an email that includes the link back to your event.

3.)  With all event notices use engaging, eye catching photos. 

4.)  Keep your event page descriptions brief by using bullet points instead of text.

5.) Create a second group on LinkedIn.

  Linked In allows you to belong to as many as 50 groups. Create your own, start your own discussions and develop a following.

6.) Ask your friends to share your links to their databases and above all, their groups.

7.) When posting on any site about your event, Keep your text description of one sentence and then copy and paste the event url address. The url address will create the photo and  back link for you.

8.) Finally, think about how you can automate and  simplify the process . Use 1 link or two only, Copy and paste them to all social media sites and groups.

For weekly tips that teach field tested ideas; please go to this free page  ( Content, not Commercials ) at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/salesandmediatraining/

Protected by Creative Commons  Copyright , Author Randy Taylor, 4/21/ 2015

Spam Social Media Ads Don't Work, 4 Easy Solutions

Spam Advertising Posts Don't Work & Can Even Cost You Followers.

Question: When you open up the newspaper or a magazine; do you go to the classified ads section or
stay on the pages that have content?

Question #2: When you are on Facebook and you see an obvious spam ad, do you skip it and to to something more interesting like a video or photo from a friend?

The Real Risk to the Spammer

If you spam too frequently on social media, even group pages, you run the risk of people actually getting offended, skip your ads, deleting them, blocking you, or just unfollowing you. The above reactions are not only common; they can result in the opposite effect that you were looking for.

What is the Solution ?: 

Engaging people while spreading your brand is not rocket science. The secret is not better technology either. Here are 3 easy but effective ways to keep people engaged without hurting your SEO rankings:

1.) Post Tips that are related to your industry. This establishes you as an expert, not as a salesperson.

2.) Use the chat feature on Facebook or messaging on other media to actually schedule appointments with people. Instead of sending more spam or a sales video; ask for a networking appointment via chat.

3.) Keep your status updates short: 82 characters only; like a tweet might be. Keep your videos under 60 seconds sot that they also do not appear like a infomercial.

4.) Finally, use back links to your website, blog, or other content filled sites.

Because I have personally tried to do the above I have been able to contact people that had networks much larger than mine that were willing to hep me. The result: I now have access to 2 media networks that each have 20 million viewer monthly and I have met individuals with up to 500,000 Facebook followers that have posted my business page links for free.

Weekly tips and workshop notices are also available at  https://www.facebook.com/groups/salesandmediatraining/
You can also message me at the above url address or request to join the group page:
Content not commercials  , on Facebook via the above link.
Creative Commons Copyright 3/31/ 2015

Tax Season I.D. Theft and Fraud Warning

The article below is a guest article offered by Legal Shield and not meant to be specific tax of financial advice.
Should you want more information on affordable identity theft detection and credit restoration
in the event of identity theft damage;simple click on the link below to research or purchase a plan:
legalshield.com/info/taylorr

Tax Season: ID Theft and Fraud Warning! Tax scams and tax related ID theft take many forms including mail, phone, e-mail and now even social media and texting. HIGH RISK DEMOGRAPHICS: While everyone is at risk, many of these scams target older people, those that may be newer to the United States, or simply those less experienced with computer security or tax filing procedures. Watch out for your friends and family who may fall into any of those categories and share this with them. EMAIL SCAMS: Phishing Taxpayers and their advisors should be prepared for e-mail scams that use the IRS name. Some demand payments while others promise refunds or request information on you or a payment you’ve made in the past. They want your name, social security number, bank account numbers, and other identifying details they need to accomplish anything from printing fake checks to taking control of your checking account or even filing a false tax return and collecting a refund in your name. The IRS has explicitly stated that they will never request personal or financial information by e-mail, texting, or any social media. Forward scam e-mails to phishing@irs.gov. Do not open any attachments or click on any links in suspect e-mails. Taxpayers should also be aware of unrelated scams (such as lottery sweepstakes winners) and solicitations (such as debt relief) that fraudulently claim to be from the IRS. PHONE SCAMS: Impersonating the IRS One scam currently operating (just one of many) that involves several callers including an initial “agent” and then an angry “supervisor” who call and demand immediate payment to avoid threats ranging from arrest to deportation. They have scammed people in every state and continue to operate from a variety of area codes (many calls use numbers with Washington D.C. and Virginia area codes). I actually asked a number of people who received these calls in the past to send me the phone numbers; they were all from the same three numbers and by simply entering the numbers in Google, I brought up many identical fraud complaints. According to J. Russell George, the treasury inspector general of the Tax Administration, this scam has already taken $14 million from the thousands of taxpayers who have actually reported it; many likely have not. George cautions that the scam continues to grow, “It is critical that all taxpayers continue to be wary of unsolicited telephone calls from individuals claiming to be IRS employees. This scam, which is international in nature, has proven to be the largest scam of its kind that we have ever seen. The callers are aggressive, they are relentless, and they are ruthless,” he said. “Once they have your attention, they will say anything to con you out of your hard-earned cash.” According to the IRS website and various government press releases, the IRS usually first contacts people by mail — not by phone — about unpaid taxes. And the IRS won’t ask for payment using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer. The IRS also won’t ask for a credit card number over the phone. The callers who commit this fraud often: • Utilize an automated robo-call machine • Use common names and fake IRS badge numbers • May know the last four digits of the victim’s Social Security number • Make caller ID information appear as if the IRS is calling • Send bogus IRS e-mails to support their scam • Call a second or third time claiming to be the police or department of motor vehicles (caller ID supports their claim) Fighting Back: How to Report Scam Attempts The IRS itself provides substantial guidance on these issues and even has a form you can complete on line if you’ve already been defrauded. If you get a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS asking for a payment, here’s what to do: • If you owe Federal taxes, or think you might owe taxes, hang up and call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you with your payment questions. • If you don’t owe taxes, fill out the “IRS Impersonation scam” form on TIGTA’s website, or call TIGTA at 800-366-4484 • You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.FTC.gov. Add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments in your complaint. Special Thanks to of-counsel attorney Ike Devji with LegalShield provider law firm Davis Miles McGuire Gardner PLLC for providing the content of this article.

Life insurance, How to avoid the minimum 50% health surcharge

How to avoid life insurance surcharges

About the author: The author ,Randy Taylor has advised consumers and  financial planners, stock brokers, and insurance agents on life insurance planning for 32 years  He has also been a state and national speaker in regards to life insurance.  Ca. License #0643596

What is an insurance "rating", and what does it mean in dollars and cents to be "rated up"

There are several rate classes with preferred plus and preferred being available to those that are not taking 

routine medications, no history of adverse driving records, and have no family history of immediate family deaths before age 60. 

The next class up is known as standard and is available to those in average good health

that might have a minor health condition that is well controlled by medication.

Surcharges known as "table ratings", work as follows: The minimum rating is usually a 50% surcharge

added to the standard rate to cover the insurance company for the increased risk. After the first table rating; there  are incremental charges of an additional 25% for each table or rung on a ladder until a decline which is around 7 increases.

The bottom line: How can an applicant avoid the minimum 50% surcharge?

The first thing to commit to memory is that all insurance companies are not created equal in terms of 

how strict they are when  looking at your health. A single company agent is less likely to be able to help you versus working with an objective broker that can match your health history up with the  company and product that is best for you.  The second thing to consider is that you should get a second opinion if you have a health condition and are rated up.

Give me the bottom line. When might I get an average good health rate if working with an

objective broker?

These common conditions can often be overlooked if there are no other health or lifestyle concerns.

High cholesterol history: If controlled with medication for over 1 year and now in the normal range, no rating.

High blood pressure: If controlled with medication for over 1 year and now in the normal range, no rating.

Occasional Cigar or chewing tobacco use:   Out of 1274 companies approx. in California, only a handful will allow cigar use without  charging tobacco user rates. A broker can often get a standard non smoker rate.

Height vs. weight issues:  Some aggressive companies will allow up to 6' 0 and 250 lbs. normal rates

while others will charge the full 50% rating.

Private pilots:  The rating for private recreational pilots can be as high as $2.50 per thousand , If the client is in perfect health he is also often not given the good health rate; but instead a standard rate, 30%+  higher  plus the $2.50 per thousand of insurance surcharge.

However: a male over 50 with 100 hours of solo experience may qualify with No surcharge at all if you have a knowledgeable broker!

Diabetes: Once again, average good health rates, with No rating is available if controlled  with medication so that the A1C ratio is within guidelines. If the onset of the condition is after age 40; some companies, will allow the lower rate of average good health, saving 50% or more.

Note that each company has their own separate underwriting guidelines but some companies have certain niches, like cigar users for example; whereby they are less strict that other carriers.

As with all financial decisions, you should consult with your insurance broker,financial advisor, attorney, and/or tax advisor before making decisions.

Copyright: Creative Commons 2/28/2015

Author: Randy Taylor, Lic. #0643596

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AskRandyTaylor

                https://www.facebook.com/RandyTaylorActor?fref=ts
Linked in Recommendations:http://www.linkedin.com/in/randytaylorlifeandannuities
Life insurance and I.R.A. Account Specialist
Serving clients and brokers since 1983

How to get referrals on the spot with only two questions

2 Easy But Specific Questions Can Lead To More Referrals in any industry!

About the Author:

Randy Taylor has been both a state and national speaker in 3 different industries:
Office products, Hospital Research, and Financial Services.  He was interviewed 6 times on television or radio and sales and acting. He is a veteran of over well over the 10,000 presentations and has exceeded the standard recommended for expert status.

Questions are the Answer for all aspects of the sales process

Questions are the underlying secret to success in all key areas of the sales process including referral acquisition. That includes the following:

  Building Rapport
  Fact Finding
  Presenting
  Objection Handling
  Closing
  Referral gathering

The bottom line:  Referral Collection
Don't wait for referrals: Ask for them. 

The general method: Be specific and ask for the exact client referral that meets you ideal client profile.  

Question #1: " I am expanding my business and I need your help: Who do you know who: ( Fill in the blanks with age, geographical location etc, income."  Do not change a single word. *

Question #2: First go to LinkedIn or Facebook and find out who recommended them on that media.

Feed those names as follows:  " I plan on contacting , fill in  the name,  Do you mind if I mention that you and I are friends. Don't ask for permission to call them; only permission to use your current contacts name. 

Those 2 easy questions can actually be the difference to success or failure.

To be included in tips on a Facebook group page and to also be notified on online or offline sales

and networking seminars; asked to be added to the Facebook group at the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/salesandmediatraining/

Other free tips are offered with no opt in at:

https://www.facebook.com/RandyTaylorFinancial

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=72389552&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

http
s://www.facebook.com/AskRandyTaylor 

Subject to Creative Common Copyright, 2/10/2015:This article can be copied or shared as long as it is used in it's entirety and not altered in any way.

To schedule Randy Taylor as a speaker; simply instant message me with a call back phone number at: https://www.facebook.com/AskRandyTaylor

* Quote attribution, question 1, to Mark Sheer.

"Telephone Sales for Dummies" How to be more effective

Selling is Not Telling:

Telephone sales techniques are no different  than person to person sales calls.
If you use time and field tested principles instead of a script; you will 10 times more effective.

About the Author:  Randy Taylor has been trained in sales by fortune 500 companies, in 3 totally unrelated industries and been both a state and national speaker on sales practices. He was also quoted
by Forbes Magazine regarding sales practices for home based businesses. He is also a sought after speaker on networking practices and was interviewed on television and radio 6 times in 2014.

The Basics:

  Use an outline to keep you on track that includes questions you want to ask; but never a script.

 Immediately identify yourself and the purpose of your call.

 Ask the prospect "Is this a good time to talk?" " I need about 5 minutes"
 The client will usually say: No , but what is this about?  You can then begin by asking questions.

If they say no, mention I understand; what it was
 about was a way to: reduce your advertising cost, or whatever bullet is important.

Ask questions about their current situation to immediately engage them in a conversation and to uncover their needs that you can solve.

Take notes about their goals and needs and address that later when you present a single solution.

Try to keep your entire sales call to 10 minutes which includes fact finding, presenting, and closing.

After presenting, Close by summarizing the concerns they mentioned; and which feature of your service addresses that. Do not add other product solutions. Finally ask for the business and ask a closing question.

Finally explain what you will do and when. Then get a verbal commitment for them to follow up; mail a form back; go to a website etc.

Key Point:  The Person that talks the least, ( The one asking the questions), controls the call.

When calling from a referral lead:  Ask only for the appointment. Do not present product features. Referral procurement and telephone objection handling will be addressed in another article, workshop, and video.

For more information please contact Randy Taylor below.
Copyright by Creative Commons author Randy Taylor 1/5/2015
https://www.facebook.com/groups/salesandmediatraining/
https://www.facebook.com/RandyTaylorFinancial

LIFE INSURANCE FOR THE LIVING

Finally Something New in Low Cost Life Insurance

Living Benefit Term Life Insurance from Transamerica*

The author ,Randy Taylor has advised consumers on life insurance planning for 21 years while also advising financial planners, stock brokers, and insurance agents on product selection for an additional 10 years. Ca. License #0643596

* Not an offer of insurance and see a specimen policy for complete details while also consulting

with your financial advisors including tax professionals or attorneys before making decisions.

Much easier to apply for than traditional term insurance plans.

No blood test, no exam , and application can be taken online if you are in normal good health, and applying for less than $500,000 at ages 60 years old or younger.

More than just a death benefit

Terminal Illness payout: One of the ways that you can access tax free money when you need it most.

Should you be diagnosed with a terminal illness; you can ask for a small amount or most of the death benefit to be paid out to you while you are still alive. See your tax person for advice but consider that the advance is normally tax free and can be used for any purpose.

Critical Illness Benefit: (Not available in all states. Check with your insurance agent)

Should you be the victim of a stroke or heart attack you can also access part of the death benefit while alive; even you are not terminally ill as a result of the life event.

Of course once the policy is issued, you can select the guaranteed level premium period that best

suits yours needs and age. Guarantee periods can be as long as 30 years or as short as 10 years; depending on your age.

Suitable for Business or Personal Use: Shorter term periods are often ideal for partnership buy-sell agreements and longer term periods are available for needs such a mortgage payoff insurance.

In summary, you now have low cost term life insurance that allows you to replace all or part of income that would be lost if you had a life threatening event and need cash or an affordable traditional death benefit for your beneficiaries.

Article submitted by Randy Taylor, 10/31/2014 . Copyright: Creative Commons

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RandyTaylorFinancial

                https://www.facebook.com/AskRandyTaylor

             
Linked in Recommendations:http://www.linkedin.com/in/randytaylorlifeandannuities
Life insurance and I.R.A. Account Specialist
Serving clients and brokers since 1983

Risk Management, often overlooked in Retirement Planning

Why You Shouldn't Put the Cart Before The Horse

Whether your projected retirement date is 30 years from now or in the near future,it is
absolutely essential that  you protect yourself against all types  of  financial loss that could
possibly erase years of cash accumulation with  just one negative circumstance.

Key areas to address before investing for retirement:

Disability  income insurance  Insuring yourself against loss of income:  Disability  income insurance can supply income without interruption all the way to age 65 if you have the right insurance carrier and insurance contract. Ask your agent/advisor about an "own occupation definition of disability."

Pre-paid legal assistance:  One lost  civil suit or I.R.S. audit can erase years  of savings or destroy business assets. I use the monthly service provided by Legal Shield . Pricing & details here at www.legalshield.com/info/taylorr

Identity theft protection:  Several companies offer  continuous credit monitoring for about $10.00 per month. Identity Shield, one option, includes having professional people write the letters and make the  phone calls to also reinstate your credit to where it was 60 days before the invasion. Details at: www.legalshield.com/info/taylorr

Life insurance designed to replace income loss: The family of  a 30 year old  that died by natural causes or an accident; would lose around $1,000,000 !! even if that person only earned  $30,000 per year and would have otherwise been able to work until age 65. A broker can design an inexpensive solution to  this.

Protection against investment risk:  It is not enough to be  diversified since that does not protect against  loss; instead it just  spreads the risk. You can search for bank c.d. or money market rates if you want to have some money liquid at  www.bankrate.com . It you are nearing retirement you also haveover 1.200 companies in most states that will compete for your retirement money with annuity products that feature:  Safety of principal, tax deferral, and freedom from fees if held until the term end or if they are used for lifetime income payments. An "income rider" can be added to fixed indexed annuity accounts that will then add  a guaranteed crediting to the account combined  with guaranteed lifetime payments. See your advisor for specific  advice  that  relates to your situation.

None of the above comments are meant to  be income advice. Always consult with your financial advisor,and/or your insurance agent,tax man,or attorney before making financial decisions.
However, in this difficult  economy in particular; proctect yourself and your family by using basic risk management strategies.

Author: Randy Taylor Lic. #0643596 Creative Commons Copyright 10/15/2014
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AskRandyTaylor             
Linked in Recommendations:http://www.linkedin.com/in/randytaylorlifeandannuities

Life insurance and I.R.A. Account Specialist
Serving clients and brokers since 1983

The Best and Worst Times to Post on Social Media

Best Times to Post on Social Media Sites

We all agree that social media sites are important  vehicles to use but the question  remains: When is the  best time to post to reach the best audiences  in real time?

Please note the entries  below. The source for the recommendations is from a  site known  as Social Caffeine, that checked mashable etc.

Facebook: Best times: 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
                  Worst  "     8:00 P.M.  to 8:00 A.M. 

Pinterest:  Best times: 2:00 P.M.  to 4:00 P.M.  
                 Worst  "      5:00 P.M.  to 7:00 P.M.

LinkedIn:  Best times:12:00 A.M. to 5:00 PM.  
                  Worst  "    10:00 P.M.to  6:00 A.M. 

Google +  Best times:9:00 A.M. to 11:00 AM.  

Of course there is more to social media than mere posting. The people that succeed the most
are those that optimize their sites so they can be found. That is best done by a professional.

For questions on any topic related to networking or the creative uses of social media; please message me below on Facebook.

Follow my blog :http://randytaylorfinancial.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AskRandyTaylor

                https://www.facebook.com/RandyTaylorActor?fref=ts
Linked in Recommendations:http://www.linkedin.com/in/randytaylorlifeandannuities
Life insurance and I.R.A. Account Specialist
Serving clients and brokers since 1983

Creative commons copyright , author Randy Taylor, 9/9/2014

Retirement mistakes Baby Boomers Make

How To Get the  Most From Your Retirement Money With Safety

1. What is the most common mistake that people make in selecting investments? They often don't consider that there are 3 phases to investing money. Accumulation phase, distribution phase..spending, and Legacy phase.
   They let greed or excitement get them thinking too much about short term results, and invest too aggressively..instead of building a safe foundation first. The result is that they experience losses that they don't have time to recover from. Warren Buffett once said that there 2 main rules in investing. 1..Don't lose money....and #2..see rule #1. Investing should be a marathon and not a sprint!
2. Example trying to TIME when to buy and sell in the stock market instead.
3.  Peter Lynch who once ran the largest mutual fund in the world said: Marketing timing is impossible.

2. How does age enter into what types of savings accounts people should consider? The closer to retirement you are; the more conservative you have to be since you don't have time to recover from stock market losses. 1 rule of thumb that is a place to start is: To look at your age as a starting point for which what percentage of your savings would go into something with guaranteed interest , and the rest should be invested more aggressively.
   Younger people still need a foundation; but have MORE time to re invest and recover from losses.

3. How much money should someone put at risk?
   As much as you fell you can afford to lose and still recover.
   Other things enter into the formula too like..if you have insurance of different types, disability income etc.. Then you can take a little more risk. Getting back to age again, Baby boomers might have to be safer with their money because losing money when you are closer to retirement would create a life style change., They would have to put off retirement several years for example.

4.)There is the big rush now for Baby Boomers to retire. How can they best use their current IRA money? I like indexed annuities which offer safety, tax deferral on the interest and secondary guarantees that can pay as much as 6 to 7% out for life..

5.)What is the most commonly overlooked piece in a retirement puzzle?

Risk management while in the accumulation phase.. Retirement savings require income..Being able to set aside money for your childs college or a home purchase requires money. its lost if you disable or die.. Losing a law suit could bankrupt people..There are programs like legal insurance to help you..$19 month.

All so, simple insurance protection against income  loss

due to disability or death is often overlooked.

Follow my blog :http://randytaylorfinancial.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AskRandyTaylor               

Linked in Recommendations:http://www.linkedin.com/in/randytaylorlifeandannuities
Life insurance and I.R.A. Account Specialist
Serving clients and brokers since 1983

The Real Secret Code to Success

Struggling with motivation? The answer is NOT what you think

 Affirmations don't work!

That's right. The "I am " statements we have heard about and practiced just don't work and according to
author and guest of several national T.V. interviews; Noah St. John, they can even sabotage our efforts.

Why don't affirmations work?

First of all, we are trying to ask our subconscious mind to do something it just doesn't want to do and has already defeated our attempts in the past. Your  mind may say yes, while your  subconscious is saying: " Yes but you have failed before."  Still a skeptic? Read the book. It will make a believer out of you.

Noah St. John explains in his book that  our mind works like Google. In other words,it is programmed to answer questions like : "Why am I now on track to lose weigt" with only positive responses.
When you do your "I am statements in the current format, your subconscious can fight you. When you do them in a question format and in present tense; you have a breakthrough; a new solution that works.

This book changed my life for the better. I am sharing this link with you:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Code-Success-Happiness/dp/0061715743


Have an open mind, make a few subtle changes in your self talk; and be pleasantly surprised.

Please follow me on Mondays on Facebook and/or this blog for motivational ideas, original quotes, and
posters. Please also contact me by message on Facebook with any questions or comments.

https://www.facebook.com/AskRandyTaylor

Creative commons copyright: This article may be re-distributed or copied but may not be altered or changed in anyway. 6/9/2014 /

Annuity Lifetime income Pros and Cons

GUARANTEED LIFETIME INCOME PROS & CONS

About the author: Randy Taylor

Randy Taylor has advised consumers on retirement solutions for over 21 years and has advised financial planners and insurance agents on which companies and products to use for an additional 10 years.  The article and video below are not meant to be investment advice. Please consult with your financial advisor including tax or legal counsel before purchasing any financial instrument.


Question: How Can I have both safety of principal, guaranteed growth, and higher yields than
traditional savings accounts?

The Solution: A fixed indexed annuity offered by and insurance company can do just exactly that if your future goal is to take income payments that are available for life. A feature known as an "income rider can be added to provide a contractual guarantee of lifetime growth to your account combined with lifetime payments that can be as high as 6% for life for a 60 yr. old for example.

Complete details are offered below via video;regarding all types of annuities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wFD-b5zwWI

Traditional Safe Alternatives for Retirement :

Bank C.D. accounts:
 ( To compare rates go to: www.bankrate.com)

Pros:
         The deposit is backed typically by the F.D.I.C. for up to $250,000.
         You know in advance  that your principal is protected while the account also grows at a guaranteed rate.
         Bank C.D. rates are typically higher than money market rates.

Cons: There are penalties for early withdrawal.
          The interest is typically taxed as earned whether you spend it or not; unless it is part of a tax sheltered like an IRA.
          Probate Fees: At death the account is often reduced by probate fees unless some estate planning is done in advance to prevent that. The fees of course reduce the amount of money available for your heirs.

Bond Funds:

Pros:

          Interest crediting if held to maturity is often higher than bank cds.

           They are issued by the federal government or corporations.

Your advisor can search for both higher yielding bonds that  might have risk involved or for bonds with a higher safety rating.

Cons:

           If you have to sell the bond early during an inflationary period, you might have to sell at a discount and are not used for retirement purposes as much as a vehicle designed specifically for retirement.

Insurance Annuities: 

There are over 1,200 companies offering insurance annuities in most states.They typically look like a bank c.d. in that they have penalties for early withdrawal  and usually have minimum guaranteed interest over a set term such as 5 or 10 yrs.

Pros:
          Safety:
                     Annuities offer safety of principal if held until the end of the term period.

                     There are typically no upfront fees unless an income rider is attached.

                     Income rider fees do not reduce the guaranteed income payment.

                     There are normally no probate fees at death and the money goes to a named beneficiary

                     An income rider guarantees a scheduled payment after as little as 1 yr. of deferral that is                                typically higher than money market, c.d.s, bonds, or other safe investments. Some companies                        guarantee that the account will grow in 5 years to 1505 of the deposit and in 10 years to                                225%; if used for level income payments for lifetime income.

The bottom line: The penalties for early withdrawal are longer with a fixed indexed annuity than they would be with a c.d. for example; but as a result: the annual crediting is much, much higher.. I personally feel that they are best suited as a long term spending vehicle that they are for short term accumulation in most cases. Therefore, I always tell my clients to consider adding the income rider which provides an annual crediting to the account of 6 % compound interest with many companies, regardless of what the stock market index credits.  It is frankly hard to beat 6% compound creditng with a 6% payment for life for someone in the baby boomer age bracket. For more details; refer to the video link above; and contact me via the links below:

Phone number: (916) 601-5270
California Residents only.
Facebook Business Page: https://www.facebook.com/RandyTaylorFinancial

How to get guaranteed life time income from an annuity

How to get the safety, tax deferral, and guaranteed lifetime income tax deferred annuity savings accounts.

Older traditional annuities versus, the newer more flexible annuities with income riders

In the past and still offered now; are programs where you can take immediate guaranteed lifetime income
from a savings account backed by an insurance company or payment for a set period such as 10 years only. The payment amounts are based on your age and which payment option you choose...(10 years only, lifetime only; etc.)

With the traditional plans you can not change your mind if you want to get at any principal and interest that is not yet spent; should you need it. You trade access to the deposit in exchange for lifetime income payments.

Newer plans also offer lifetime guaranteed income but with other options

Tax deferred growth
Avoidance of the added expense of probate, a will , or trust in most cases. See your attorney.

You can get at cash in your account that has not been spent, should you decide to cash in any balances in stead of continuing to receive payments.. See policy for details.

The optional income rider is priced at about 3/4 of 1% per year.

The rider cost does not reduce your retirement payment and only applies to you accumulation account
which is available at death or at partial or complete surrender.

The income rider is very well suited for those that  want to take income payments rather than a a lump sum.

With some companies the guaranteed crediting for the account used for income payments can be as high as 6% until spent. Some companies only guarantee the crediting for the first 10 yrs. so you would want to see your advisor before making decisions on any annuity regardless of your goal.

For more details; see your financial advisor and/or insurance broker. For people that might want to defer
taking income until required by the IRS etc
, I have attached an example of a program well suited for many that want the option of a level income payment or one that increases with inflation below:

https://www.allianzlife.com/annuities/fixed_indexed_annuities/masterdex_x.aspx

With this and all financial decisions you should see  the advice of an experienced, insurance broker,
tax advisor, and/or an attorney experienced in insurance matters.

To contact the author, Randy Taylor, or to schedule as a speaker :
freeestimates71@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/RandyTaylorFinancial
Linked in Recommendations:http://www.linkedin.com/in/randytaylorlifeandannuities

Creative commons copyright 2/28/2014
Randy Taylor
Licensed agent/broker since 1983
Ca. Lic. # 0643596

When Should You "Rent" Term Life Insurance?

About the Author:

Randy Taylor has Advised consumers on both term life insurance and permanent life insurance for over 30 years and has also advised stock brokers, financial planners, and  insurance agents on which companies & products to select for different client situations for an additional 10 years!
Published since 1998; quoted in Forbes.
California License # 0643596
Copyright 1/31/2014, All rights reserved
California residents only: Call for estimates at 916-601-5270

When Does Temporary Term Life Insurance Make Sense?

The answer is simple; when you have a temporary need for life insurance; 30 years or less.  One of the newer,more cost effective types of term life insurance are absolutely the best solution. Let's look at some examples of which types of insurance are best for temporary insurance needs:

Newlyweds or new couples that are on a limited budget.

If a couple has shared debts that would have to be paid off for the benefit of the survivor; then a simple
program with a rate guarantee as short as 10 years might make sense.. The strategy is to have enough life
insurance to replace the lost income of the main bread winner,or to insure both parties..The solution is to use the least expensive plan at the time that provides adequate coverage until they could afford a more permanent solution.
Most temporary term plans also provide an option to trade the policy to a  permanent one later; without having to re-qualify for the same good health rating. That means no new exam is neeeded for a permanent plan in the future.

Business owners in a new business or partnership

If a business is new and short on cash flow, a term policy designed to be kept for only 10 or 20 years works very well. The money that comes income tax free to the beneficiary can be used to pay off a creditor, to buy any remaining business interest from a partner's spouse; or can be used as collateral for an SBA loan in many cases. An experienced insurance broker and or attorney can  advise you on how to structure the beneficiary wording or buy-sell contract to make for the best use of the money.

Mortgage Life Insurance for Home Loans

There is a new  concept available that I like for those seeking coverage equal to a home loan debt where the loan obligation is for 30 years. If a client is 50 years old or younger; many companies offer a plan  that has  a  low premium guaranteed to stay level for 30 years. All premiums are refunded as per contract conditions if the  owner wants to cancel the insurance after 30 years and ask for a "return of all premiums paid".
If the buyer cannot afford a 30 year return of premium plan a straight 30,20,15, or 10 year plan with no premium return options are available at a lower initial premium.

Summary:

No one  insurance company or insurance plan is ideal for everyone; but for temporary needs it is best to get temporary insurance. Also seek rate estimates from an experienced broker than can recommend a solution for you based on both your health, ability to qualify, and your insurance needs. Often "renting" insurance rather than owning a permanent plan  is better.
The above article is meant for entertainment purposes only; and you should consult with your insurance broker and other financial advisors before purchasing any financial or insurance products.

Randy Taylor, Author
Copyright 1/31/2014 All rights reserved
Follow my blog :http://randytaylorfinancial.blogspot.com/
Facebook:         https://www.facebook.com/LifeInsuranceRandyTaylor

                        https://www.facebook.com/RandyTaylorFinancial
Linked in Recommendations:http://www.linkedin.com/in/randytaylorlifeandannuities
Life insurance and I.R.A. Account Specialist

Serving clients and brokers since 1983
(916) 601-5270