Q: As the agency owner, should I completely separate my personal finances from the agency’s finances? Yes, yes and yes! Absolutely yes. Q: Why? Isn’t the money still mine either way? You’re right, it is! But keep in mind: Agency valuations are typically set as a multiple of EBIDTA. The inclusion of personal expenses decreases… Continue Reading
Category: Virtual CFO
The Marriage of Financial and Organizational Excellence: Developing Employees to Ensure Financial Stability
This is a continuation from our previous blog post, The Marriage of Financial and Organizational Excellence. Read the introduction, here. Below is part two of the three most impactful ways this union will move your agency forward. Catch up on part one, here. Employee Engagement One of the largest expenses within an insurance agency is… Continue Reading
The Marriage of Financial and Organizational Excellence: Strategic Plans that Unite Both Sides
This is a continuation from our previous blog post, The Marriage of Financial and Organizational Excellence. Read the introduction, here. Below is one of the three most impactful ways this union will move your agency forward. How an agency approaches strategic plan sessions dictates how likely it is to achieve their goals. Typically, an agency… Continue Reading
The Marriage of Financial and Organizational Excellence
Often, our clients and prospects share a laugh when we note that Don is the “numbers” and I (Roe) am the “human.” Don has an intuitive sense when the figures don’t look right just as it’s common for me to spot an employee who doesn’t seem right. While it is easy for each of us… Continue Reading
Unacceptable Assumptions
Don’t take a hands-off approach to year end planning As we head into the fourth quarter and year-end, many agencies will be preparing to work with their CPAs to produce year-end financial statements and tax returns. This time of year is usually filled with more dread than excitement as agency owners face up to the… Continue Reading
The Vanishing Act
How your clients are disappearing before your eyes! One of the most talked about topics we come across is client retention. Agencies put so much effort into obtaining a new client and yet keeping them over the years is even harder. In fact, for some it’s absolute mystery. Because of the effort involved with tracking,… Continue Reading
The Real WHY!
Earlier this year, we were contacted by an agency owner who had heard us on a podcast. Little did we know how much that initial phone call would come to mean. There was something very special about this owner and we were intrigued to learn more. The organic growth rates his agency was consistently achieving… Continue Reading
Trajectory
Trajectory:The Forgotten Key Performance Indicator Imagine being a passenger on a flight to the moon… The command center is busy collecting and monitoring hundreds of dials, gauges and metrics. The pilots are reviewing the results to ensure all systems are “go.” Every last detail is scrutinized for potential dangers. As a passenger, we’re really unaware… Continue Reading
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT! Your Agency’s Next Successful Producers
Would you recognize your next producers if you saw them? It may be one of the most talked about, stressed over and confusing topics in the world of independent insurance agencies: Hiring new producers. Progressive agencies can’t grow with out them but they seem to be elusive as a mythical creature. It is an issue… Continue Reading
The Difference: Bookkeeper to CFO
What’s the difference between a bookkeeper and a Chief Financial Officer (CFO)? I suppose it is a matter of interpretation. No pun intended! Every business (and yes, insurance agencies as well ) no matter how large or small has the same essential accounting functions. Therefore, almost every agency needs a bookkeeper, CFO, and CPA. Surprised? It will all… Continue Reading