Setting yourself up for LTCI sales success

February 05, 2010 at 07:00 PM
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It is a well-known fact in the advising world that LTCI sales are among the toughest and most time consuming, and in the wake of the economic downturn, consumers are becoming even more wary of extra expenditures.

These obstacles can become compounded, and even the most savvy advisor may begin to feel less than confident about his LTCI sales ability. To combat self-doubt, take a stand against common LTCI notions and prejudices and start looking at the product in smarter light.

The first step is to educate yourself. The public's LTCI IQ has been growing by leaps and bounds and it's up to you to keep yourself aware of recent updates. Nothing will kill a potential sale faster than an advisor being unable to answer LTCI questions thoughtfully and with honesty. Network with LTCI specialists, attend sales seminars or Webinars and make it a point to learn something new about the product every week. Knowledge isn't only power, it's money in your pocket.

Once you've got the goods, get in position to tout them. Make sure your clients know you as the complete package who can meet all of their financial needs. From there, build upon the benefit of LTCI, rather than the expense. All too often, financial advisors will cut their message short by prefacing it with "Now this is expensive, but…" This kind of negative attitude hurts your sales pitch and your reputation. A complete package will believe in the quality and benefits of all their products, not just the inexpensive ones. Get a client interested by focusing on the good that will come from LTCI; leave the premium-talk to a later date.

More than anything, be patient. LTCI won't sell itself. In fact, LTCI sales can take weeks, months, or longer. If you go into a potential sale with an in-and-out attitude, you're asking for failure. Unlike many other products, LTCI requires a full sales cycle: overcoming objections, identifying needs, devising buy-in and actually putting a plan into action. Be prepared to put in the hours and you can expect to reap the rewards.

LTCI doesn't have to be a mystery. Be smart and you may quickly become a leader in one of the toughest markets around. You just have to use your head.

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