Articles by Catherine Oak and Bill Schoeffler

Oak is the founder of the consulting firm, Oak & Associates, based in Northern California and Central Oregon. Schoeffler is an associate of the firm. Oak & Associates. Phone: 707-935-6565. Email: catoak@gmail.com.

Compensation for employee benefits staff should mirror commercial lines

In our travels as consultants to the insurance industry, we have noticed that one of the more elusive “standards” or “norms” is compensation for employee benefits producers and staff. The difficulty in establishing an “average” is that the plans are …

Four goals for owners

Take out your business plan when reading this article and see if it needs to be revised and updated. If you don’t have a business plan, then this article should be used as the basis of the plan for the …

Four goals for owners

Take out your business plan when reading this article and see if it needs to be revised and updated. If you don’t have a business plan, then this article should be used as the basis of the plan for the …

When all else fails, do something different

An old “Seinfeld” episode portends George Costanza fed up with his string of bad luck. He figures that the things he normally chooses to do end up with something bad happening. George decides that in order for things to change …

When all else fails, do something different

An old “Seinfeld” episode portends George Costanza fed up with his string of bad luck. He figures that the things he normally chooses to do end up with something bad happening. George decides that in order for things to change …

Developing a sales and marketing plan, part 2

The first part of this two part series described the self-analysis of the agency’s book that must precede an effective sales and marketing plan. This is accomplished by reviewing each producer’s book for the type and size of accounts and …

Developing a sales and marketing plan, part 2

The first part of this two part series described the self-analysis of the agency’s book that must precede an effective sales and marketing plan. This is accomplished by reviewing each producer’s book for the type and size of accounts and …

Developing a sales and marketing plan, part 1

Sales and marketing plans are an essential element of strategic planning and one tool that leading agencies use for the proper management of their business. Many carriers often require that an agency have a sales and marketing plan to receive …

Developing a sales and marketing plan, part 1

Sales and marketing plans are an essential element of strategic planning and one tool that leading agencies use for the proper management of their business. Many carriers often require that an agency have a sales and marketing plan to receive …

Top 10 goals for agents to make ASAP

The year is winding down and it is time to focus on goals for next year. The easy route is to take the current results and add X% for growth and improve results by Y%. A few other ideas might …