There is a natural no-man’s land for privately owned businesses that are between $1 million and $5 million in revenue. If your business is one of those that is stuck in the “black hole of business,” rest assure there are reasons for the challenge and hope for your successful escape.

Which are you more likely to believe: a company representative telling you how great a product or service is or a recommendation from another person about how it worked for them? If you’re like most people, the words from a fellow consumer pull more weight than even the best written ad copy. That’s why no matter what product or service you’re selling, you need to use testimonials from satisfied customers in every ad and marketing piece you create.

Symetra Investment Services has formed a strategic partnership with Crump Life Insurance for the sale of life insurance and annuities.

Insurance agents and financial service professionals may face additional threats from banks based on new research, which shows that financial institutions who allow investment and insurance products create a stronger relationship with their members.

Aon Affinity is buying Access Plans, a marketing company that specializes in turnkey, private-label membership benefit plans that provide discount products and services, protection benefits and retail services to more than 1 million customers in the United States and Canada.

The Phoenix Cos., based in Hartford, Conn., entered a distribution agreement with National Agents Alliance (NAA) to allow NAA agents to offer to clients a new life insurance product.

There are few offenses in business worse than challenging the validity of the near sacred “elevator speech,” the one-minute message verbalizing the unique qualities of what a salesperson does or sells.

Every child loves stories. They so excite the imagination that they can’t get enough of them. How many times does a child ask for The Little Engine That Could? Stories are the way to captivate children and ignite their curiosity.

The largest trade association of public-sector retirement funds endorsed a Washington, D.C.-based insurer’s fiduciary liability insurance program for its members.

Every company is trying to use Facebook in an attempt to move their business forward and stay connected to their customers in this fast paced world. Why are some companies more successful at this than others? Content is the key to staying in touch with your customers and keeping them informed. The content, however, must be a rich mix of information, education, humor and fun.