RME360 launched LocalMotion, a Web-based SEO program designed to improve advisors' local search visibility in their target markets. The program identifies and repairs inconsistent listings of advisors' company contact information, otherwise known as citations. LocalMotion works to ensure an advisor's online search results are consistent and visible across more than 150 different local search portals and navigation tools such as Siri and TomTom. This advisor-focused program also includes custom review cards for an advisor's business as well as instructions for how to obtain and promote reviews hosted on third-party sites, per the SEC's new IM Guidance Update No. 2014-4.
See also: What's your Web presence?
RME360's LocalMotion program begins with a marketing consultation to identify the advisor's local search goals and pinpoint any search marketing challenges, such as a new office location or company name change. From there, a single consistent search listing is created by RME360, which is optimized for key words and then distributed across more than 150 top local search portals, replacing inaccurate information and capitalizing on missed opportunities. A diagnostic tool is available on www.RME360.com/diagnostic to help advisors detect any inaccuracies or overlooked opportunities to enhance their local search listings.
In other industry news:
AssuredPartners Inc., through its subsidiary AssuredPartners Gulf Coast Insurance Agency, acquired Landry Harris & Co. in Lafayette, La.
As part of the acquisition, 37 Landry Harris employees will join AssuredPartners Gulf Coast Insurance Agency. Local operations will continue at 600 Jefferson Street in Lafayette, under the leadership of Landry Harris principals Mark Landry and Frankie Harris. Landry Harris & Co. reports revenues of approximately $10 million, and specializes in commercial insurance, bonds, employee benefit programs and personal insurance.
Through its subsidiary Assured SKCG Inc., AssuredPartners also acquired CBS Coverage Group, Inc., headquartered in Plainview, N.Y. The agency specializes in commercial insurance, employee benefits and financial planning services, and personal insurance. Founded in 1947, CBS Coverage Group has locations in Plainview, New York City and Westhampton Beach, N.Y., and in Summerville, S.C. As part of the acquisition, 68 CBS Coverage Group employees will join Assured SKCG. Local operations will continue under the leadership of CBS Coverage Group CEO Gerry Levy.
CBS Coverage Group reports revenues of approximately $12 million.
The board of trustees for The American College recently welcomed five new board members:
- Ron Carson, CFP, ChFC, Founder and CEO, Carson Wealth Management Group, Omaha, Neb.;
- Michael Doughty, President and General Manager, John Hancock Insurance, Boston;
- Salene Hitchcock-Gear, JD, President and CEO, Ameritas Investment Corporation, Bethesda, Md.;
- Anne Long, President, NFP Life, Austin, Texas; and
- Mary A. Weiss, PhD, Deaver Professor of Risk, Insurance and Healthcare Management, Fox School of Business, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.
Willis North America, a unit of Willis Group Holdings plc (NYSE: WSH), appointed industry expert and author, Dr. Ronald S. Leopold as national practice leader, Health Outcomes, Willis Human Capital Practice. In this role, Leopold will lead the Health Outcomes Practice and focus on integrating clinical data analytics with Willis' health and wellness offerings to help employers develop a comprehensive strategy to lower medical costs and risks, and improve the health and productivity of their workforce. He will focus on a variety of areas to help organizations, including: assessing the impact of health care reform on benefits strategies; integrating technologies with health and wellness data; and, leveraging employee absence and productivity data to help firms optimize the business value of a healthier workforce.
Leopold is Boarded by the American College of Preventive Medicine in Occupational Medicine Physician, and holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business, the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters in Public Health from Boston University. He will be based in Atlanta and report to Jim Blaney, CEO, Willis Human Capital Practice.
Timothy C. Mosler, FCAS, MAAA, joined Pinnacle Actuarial Resources Inc. as a senior consulting actuary in its Atlanta, Ga., office.
