The quote "no does not mean no" is commonly attributed to Tom Hopkins, an influential sales training expert. However, it's important to note that this quote can be misleading when taken out of context. Tom Hopkins emphasizes the idea that "no" should not be seen as a final rejection, but rather as an opportunity for further exploration and understanding. Therefore, to complete the quote in a manner that reflects his philosophy, we can say: "no does not mean no; it means 'not yet,' 'not now,' or 'not in the same way.' It's an invitation to uncover objections, address concerns, and find alternative paths to a positive outcome." But I have a much better example of NO Does not mean NO just try telling a determined 5-year-old NO!

I was on a Zoom wiht Jeff Mason today presenting a Cash Balance Plan. It turns out the case worked up was actually the Wealth Manager we were meeting with. This individual was blown away at the potential for tax savings and wealth accumulation using this vehicle. This particular Wealt Manager has a handful of Ultra HNW clients who can utilize this type of solution. After Scott presents a Holistic Tax Plan, I am certain we will tap into a lot of potential opportunities. This is collaboration at work.

Another day at the office for Redwood. Check out this monster tax planning client submitted by Jerry Bruno.

Would you do this voluntarily? Imagine you and a partner own a business. The business is your IRA, 401k or 403b. You are the business owner AND the employee. Your partner is the Internal Revenue Service. You own 60% and your partner owns 40% (your partner can increase its share at any time). You contributed 100% of the capital and your partner 0%. Welcome to the real world of $30+ trillion dollars.

AI may replace some aspects of the role of insurance salespeople in the future. AI-powered chatbots, for example, can assist customers with simple inquiries and essential insurance quotes. Machine learning algorithms can analyze large amounts of data to determine customer preferences and identify potential sales opportunities. However, it is unlikely that AI will completely replace the role of insurance salespeople, at least not shortly. Insurance sales is a complex process often involving building customer relationships, assessing their unique needs and risk profiles, and providing personalized advice and guidance. These are skills that are difficult to replicate with AI alone. Furthermore, many customers prefer interacting with a human agent when making critical financial decisions, such as purchasing insurance. AI can augment the work of insurance salespeople by automating routine tasks and providing data-driven insights. Still, ultimately, it is likely that human agents will remain a critical part of the insurance sales process for the foreseeable future. ____________________ I think life insurance professionals (I hate using "agent" to describe what we are) will have a much easier life because commissions will go through the roof... I already see the power of AI working. The future is here for anyone wanting to grow as an intermediary. We have the best platform for anyone with a little insight. I like knowing I can be just part of the insurance sale. I personally like promoting the pros in the back office and still getting 50% of the commission. This way, I can scale my business. Please do share your thoughts. Happy Sunday!