NAILBA Perspectives - July/August 2014 - (Page 9)

chairman's corner Technology is a Tool We All Need H BARBARA CROWLEY NAILBA CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD appy summer to my NAILBA friends. In this issue I have been asked to discuss technology and our industry. I do not know the details of how everything works in the tech world. I do, however, generally know what I want it to accomplish and what we need it to do. As my predecessors have noted in this space in the last several years, technology has and will continue to have a profound impact on our lives and our businesses. Gone are the days of rotary dial phones, typewriters, fax machines, and postal mail as the main methods of communication. Today we text, tweet, and even Face Time! But technology is and always will be a tool to help us build the relationships that are so vital to our business. We have a connectedness via technology that is unprecedented. Our office is on our smart phones and tablets, giving us 24/7 access to email and more. Technology allows us to communicate with coworkers and advisors at any time. We have unlimited opportunities to obtain information from the internet on industry related and unrelated issues. Life Happens offers fabulous materials that are a few clicks away (see page 24 for more on what Life Happens offers for NAILBA members). Our carriers have posted outstanding resources on their websites and microsites. You can find everything from simple product descriptions to complex sales concepts. There are helpful calculators and basic sales training modules for new producers, and even end client presentations for our advisors to use. There is more relevant and use- ful information than ever before, all easily accessible. Most desks at Brokers Clearing House, Ltd. have cameras on the monitors. We use "Join Me" for everything from onboarding a new account to helping an advisor use our website. While it's utilizing technology, it also personalizes the experience. We must remember we are humans dealing with humans. We still need to pick up the phone and visit with our clients. When possible, a personal visit still trumps email. It's my opinion this unlimited access requires a work life balance. These technology tools for learning are great but it's important to remember they are just tools, not people. Even though technology has given us 24/7 access, don't forget to put the phone down when it's time to reconnect with the most important people in your life. Or when you are in a business meeting, remember the focus is on what's happening in the room, not what's happening on your phone. It's hard to describe the affect social media has on our lives today. It seems our industry has just scratched the surface in this area. We have Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, You Tube, blogs, Pinterest, and Flickr, just to name a few. Some NAILBA member agencies have developed a presence in the social media arena but many have not. It takes resources, planning, and commitment. Marketing groups and carriers are assisting with do's and don'ts. As with all public information there are rules and compliance is necessary. Our agency has moved slowly (perhaps too slowly) in this arena. We have had more success attracting new advisors through our website and our sales department recruiting efforts. Our existing producers follow us on social media. As with many things it's a work in progress. (see page 12 for more on how to develop valuable social media skills) Our industry has a long way to go to catch up with our colleagues in the health insurance, property and casualty, and securities space. These industries have standardized processes, reporting, forms, plus much more enabling their participants to quickly and efficiently work within their systems. NAILBA members recognize the differences in our industry but we also yearn for the same ease of doing business. While BGAs and IMOs continue to build technology platforms and invest in the future, our insurance carrier partners bear the largest continuing cost. NAILBA remains engaged in technology. We continue our partnership with the independent Life Brokerage Technology Committee (LBTC) which includes carrier, vendor, and BGA representatives (see page 38 for more on how to get involved in the activities of the LBTC). We are also engaged with ACORD and continue ACORD Board representation with Art Jetter and Butch Britton. You do not need to be a "techie" to be engaged. We all want to streamline process at reasonable costs. We need to identify our pain points, those things that drive us crazy, and share them with NAILBA. We need your constant input. Let us communicate with ACORD and LBTC on your behalf. It is incumbent on all of us to work together to find sound solutions for all partners. www.nailba.org 9 http://www.nailba.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NAILBA Perspectives - July/August 2014

NAILBA Perspectives - July/August 2014
Contents
Chairman’s Corner
CEO Insights
Social Skills
NAILBA 33 Preview
NAILBA Charitable Foundation
Life Happens
The Remote or Virtual Office
Member Profiles
Mooers Award Nominations
Agency Successor Networking Group
Agency Resources
BGAs Leading Technology Through Connections
Reading Ahead
Calendar of Events
Index of Advertisers

NAILBA Perspectives - July/August 2014