Independent insurance agents and financial advisors can provide people retiring with additional information on how to invest successfully through a new, free software program.

“With all that’s happened in the last six months, people who are nearing retirement or newly retired are desperate to know how their situation has changed,” said Bill Kauffman, director of life and annuity marketing for Senior Market Sales, in a prepared statement.

Senior Market Sales is offering the Retirement Reality Check Selling System, a free program that aims to equip agents and advisors with the tools and training necessary to begin offering total retirement solutions, including financial planning, insurance protection and health care considerations, according to the company.

“As a concept, the Retirement Reality Check system stresses the importance of developing a complete retirement plan, rather than simply selling products,” according to a statement from the company.

The Retirement Reality Check consists of a software program that allows agents to run a full diagnostic on a client’s retirement outlook, training on how to use the software, coaching on Senior Market Sales’ field-tested three-step sales process and sales collateral (sales letters, questionnaires, etc.), the company said.

Kauffman added that the complexity of the situation in light of the recession requires boomers to invest more time in planning for their future.

“They need an agent or advisor with the knowledge and patience to sit down with them and run a complete analysis of their situation, identify problem areas and offer solutions,” Kauffman said.

He added “agents who can do that will have a distinct advantage over their peers.”