Time flies when you’re having fun. It also flies when you realize the Summer is gone like Don Henley, and the focus involves finishing 2025 strong while preparing your downline agents for new goals and strategy for 2026.

First things first. AIP Marketing Alliance, an Integrity Company, recommends submitting your life insurance and annuity applications in October. Turnaround time could lag into the new year, but the sooner your business is submitted, the better chance your agents have of those cases getting paid in 2025 vs. 2026.

If you are contracted with AIPMA, contact us if you have pending business which needs some potential additional attention (or a little nudge). We communicate with our carrier Regional Vice Presidents on a weekly – or even daily – basis as they always do their best to assist with cases getting placed. They also can help position a product for a niche client situation and keep track throughout the application and underwriting process.

Now that AIPMA has checked last-minute applications off our list, let’s move forward to a few other topics, which may move up in your priorities before the holidays slow everything down to a turtle’s pace.

Most wholesalers and agencies are looking to recruit new agents before the new year – and year-round for that matter. AIP Marketing Alliance understands how this topic has become top of mind for most insurance agents in an incredibly competitive marketplace.

For the record, everyone has commission and can make that part of the equation standardized across the board for agents based on the needs for carriers, products, back office support, marketing, and other resources. The differentiators vary from lead programs, technology, and tools to simple things such as support services.

At AIPMA, the difference is personal. That mantra was echoed by many of our wholesalers and carrier representatives during our annual Members in Motion Conference last month. The recurring message involved how the people in our company make the difference as we make sure commissions are on time, a physical person responds to your calls and emails, and we believe in fostering relationships as much as partnerships – some spanning as long as 30 or 40 years. Our conference is a mini-family reunion honestly.

Now that we’ve sold ourselves to you, let’s talk about how aligning with AIP Marketing Alliance can help you recruit more licensed and qualified agents. Here’s a couple of differentiators that we think could improve your recruiting efforts.

• Lead programs: Today’s lead sources are being scrutinized much more as regulators crack down on non-compliant content, which could impact your downline agents with potential monetary or licensing penalties. As part of the Integrity family, AIPMA can give you access to IntegrityCONNECT for compliant, fully-vetted leads for life insurance, final expense, and Medicare – plus options for annuity leads as well.
• Training: Sometimes, a family member or friend wants to start selling annuities and life insurance. Training becomes essential – especially when carriers may require training for selling specific products. We have basic training available through the Accelerate program and our new LARC (Life and Annuity Resource Center) and can assist with state and carrier required training courses for selling annuities.
• Agent Recruitment Tools: Looking to start some conversations with local independent agents in your area or even within a 50-mile radius (or more)? We can provide detailed information including phone and email addresses plus customized marketing (email, social media, direct mail) branded with your information to help make those connections happen.
• Dedicated portal: Leveraging our proprietary CRM, myAIP, our marketing team can build a custom agent portal for your downline including annuity quoting and submission (FireLight), life insurance quoting (iPipeline), Dynamic term life insurance (Techficient), online contracting (SureLC), online training, and much more at NO COST to you or your agent.
• In-House Marketing Support: Each month, AIPMA’s marketing team creates social media posts, email marketing, and industry-driven support materials for agents to use to promote annuities and life insurance. We also share carrier approved consumer and agent resources.

Is your current IMO/FMO/Nationwide Distributor offering any or all of these tools for your agents? Do they return your phone calls? Are your downline agents complaining because they have not received their commissions on time? Do their lead programs actually generate current prospects or are the printed lead cards collecting dust in a mailbox or trash can while burning through their budget?

Today’s agents are looking for agencies who offer more than just commission as the tools and resources will generate more success, and in turn, more business. Agents using Integrity technology – like AIPMA’s – write 64% more applications than other agents. AIPMA believes that selling point would appeal to agents looking to find a new home at your agency.

Let’s all finish the year strong as AIPMA has challenged our downlines to #STRIVEin25 as we are committed to growing their business year-over-year. Despite the disruptions and economic fluctuations throughout 2025, there’s still time to make the most of these last days – and also invest some time in recruiting some new agents.

AIP Marketing Alliance is always looking to help independent life insurance and annuity agents and wholesalers to grow their business. Sometimes, we become a great fit for an agency with our a la carte services and resources; other times, we’ll have a conversation and see if we can align with your strategy or not.

If you are interested in learning more about AIPMA and what we do for agencies and wholesalers nationwide, please contact Chris Howe, Vice President of Business Development, at (248) 312-2602 or [email protected]. He can share some of our recruitment ideas, resources to support your strategy, and open up some carrier relationships and technology that your agents may not have access to… YET!

For more than 40 years, AIP Marketing Alliance (AIPMA), an Integrity Company, serves as a premier life insurance and annuity distribution partner to provide full-service support to independent wholesalers, brokerages and agents from our Troy, Michigan office. NOT AFFILIATED WITH OR ENDORSED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.

AIP Marketing Alliance is committed to STRIVE in ’25 as we support our independent insurance wholesalers and agents. Visit our blog on aipma.com to stay informed on these upcoming launches and learn why wholesalers nationwide choose AIPMA as their distributor for selling life insurance, annuities, long-term care insurance, final expense, and much more. Ask about our lead services, myAIP CRM platform with customizable recruiter portal, and online tools/resources designed to grow your business. The difference is personal.

AIP Marketing Alliance, an Integrity Company, has developed this electronic communication for informational and educational use only. Be advised, AIP Marketing Alliance, Inc., does not provide legal advice, tax advice, or guidance on issues involving securities laws, insurance laws nor securities or insurance regulations. This material should not be relied on as providing any such advice or guidance to either agents or retail consumers. Within this communication, AIPMA shares links for usage as information only. This content should not be interpreted as solicitation to purchase life insurance, annuities, or other products or as advice designed to meet your clients’ specific needs. Content involving fiduciary, tax, or legal advice should be directed to your legal, tax, and financial professionals for specific advice or product recommendations. AIPMA will not accept any legal liability resulting from any use of 3rd party material(s).