Optimize sales and marketing to achieve better results

Today’s insurance and financial services marketing professionals are faced with the twin challenges of slashing marketing budgets and increasing sales. To answer these challenges, many forward-thinking firms are redefining their marketing and distribution strategies by leveraging e-engagement technology that enables them to reach financial advisors – more effectively and more efficiently.

Many firms have learned that migrating to an e-engagement strategy is more complicated than simply licensing software and opening your web browser. In order to leverage the full potential of e-engagement there needs to be a firm-wide commitment and a well-thought out plan. Sales and marketing professionals need to consider a multitude of factors – from training, recruitment and compensation, to compliance and marketing support.

Creating synergies between marketing and technology

As a leading provider of strategic advice and marketing solutions for the insurance and financial services industries, Carpenter Group was an early proponent of integrating marketing and technology to create a more efficient distribution model.

Through a strategic partnership with Fugent, a provider of online collaboration tools, Carpenter Group is helping its clients integrate e-wholesaling into their overall distribution strategies as well as providing guidance on how to enhance the overall experience through training and the creation of engaging content, sales tools and presentations. “Through e-engagement,” says Polly Carpenter, President and Founder of Carpenter Group, “insurance and financial services firms have the ability to change the wholesaler-advisor experience in ways that strengthen relationships and drive sales.”

Sharing our perspective

On February 24, 2009, Carpenter Group’s Sheldon Wermes, Director of Business Development, was a featured speaker at the 2009 NAVA Marketing Conference. The focus of the discussion was on how new technologies are helping companies drive sales results by changing the way wholesalers interact with advisors. Attendees learned what factors are putting pressure on the traditional sales model, and how companies are using new communications tools and technology to manage their distribution channels and align the objectives of sales and marketing to more effectively gain access to a wider range of producers.

Joining Sheldon was Kerry Geurkink, Marketing Director at Securian/Minnesota Life, Tom Kolbe, National Sales Manager at Fugent, Inc. and Scott DeMonte, Director of Variable Annuities at FRC.

About NAVA, Inc.

NAVA, the Association for Insured Retirement Solutions®, is a not-for-profit trade association located in suburban Washington, D.C. NAVA provides a variety of services to the industry, including educational forums, research and conferences aimed at furthering the development and understanding of fixed and variable annuities.

About Carpenter Group

For more than three decades, Carpenter Group has helped financial services organizations grow their businesses and improve profitability through objective business advice, branding and marketing solutions, and creative services. Carpenter Group brings together seasoned professionals from the financial services, branding and creative industries to develop and implement solutions that drive business goals forward.

Our clients include many of the most prominent firms in the asset management, investment banking, insurance, brokerage and commercial banking sectors.

About Fugent

Fugent is the leading provider of online collaboration products to the financial services industry. More companies in the financial services sector trust Fugent to meet their online collaboration needs.

For more than three decades, Carpenter Group has helped financial services organizations grow their businesses and improve profitability through objective business advice, branding and marketing solutions, and creative services. Carpenter Group brings together seasoned professionals from the financial services, branding and creative industries to develop and implement solutions that drive business goals forward.

Our clients include many of the most prominent firms in the asset management, investment banking, insurance, brokerage and commercial banking sectors.

Carpenter Group
72 Spring Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10012
212.431.6666 tel
212.334.9723 fax