Category Archives: Finance

Dollar Loan Center CEO Chuck Brennan on Helping Las Vegas Charity Rebuild After Fire

Chuck Brennan

Chuck Brennan and his company Dollar Loan Center stepped in when the Opportunity Village thrift shop was destroyed in a fire. According to Chuck Brennan, the celebrated Las Vegas, Nev., attraction assists Opportunity Village in its mission of helping people with intellectual disabilities increase their quality of life. Chuck Brennan explains the store’s importance in the

Las Vegas area and how Dollar Loan Center worked to get them back in business.

ZRYLW: What does Opportunity Village do?

Chuck Brennan: Opportunity Village, based in Las Vegas, Nev., manages job training and organizes employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

ZRYLW: How many people does Opportunity Village serve?

Chuck Brennan: Opportunity Village has assisted thousands of people in the Las Vegas area since its inception.

ZRYLW: How well-known is the Opportunity Village thrift shop?

Chuck Brennan: Celebrities like Elvis Presley and Bob Hope used to visit the shops and often donated their personal effects to be sold there.

ZRYLW: How long has this location been in business?

Chuck Brennan: This particular storefront has been part of the Opportunity Village family for 56 years.

ZRYLW: Are the donations through the Dollar Loan Center exclusively for the store?

Chuck Brennan: Yes, all the money donated will be used to rebuild the thrift shop.

ZRYLW: So, what kind of business is the Dollar Loan Center?

Chuck Brennan: Dollar Loan Center provides short-term loans for people in Utah, South Dakota, California and Nevada.

ZRYLW: How did these efforts help employees of the thrift shop?

Chuck Brennan: The thrift shop employs several people, so the store is crucial to them.

ZRYLW: Will they stay employed by the shop?

Chuck Brennan: That’s the main objective. Speeding up the rebuilding efforts will ensure that these hard-working individuals can keep their jobs.

ZRYLW: What other Dollar Loan Center initiatives give back to the community?

Chuck Brennan: Dollar Loan Center donates $100 a day to Opportunity Village for each day that the temperature in Las Vegas reaches 100 degrees.

ZRYLW: But that’s not all, right?

Chuck Brennan: Right. During the rebuilding and remodeling process, Dollar Loan Center will double this amount to $200.

ZRYLW: Of course it gets quite hot in Vegas.

Chuck Brennan: It sure does. The fact that money is going to charity makes the massive heat an easier pill to swallow.

ZRYLW: Where can people find out more information about Opportunity Village?

Chuck Brennan: For details about special events, program and volunteer opportunities, their website is opportunityvillage.org

Advice for Improving a Credit Rating

zrylw

For people who suffer from a poor credit score, there is not always a simple way to correct the problem. However, a few simple tricks can help an individual repair bad credit in preparation for the loan application process.

The first step in addressing the issue is for the applicant to examine the credit report. If a score is too low to qualify, a computer program will run the numbers to define what action the applicant might be able to take. The detailed analysis also determines if there is any way the score can be boosted to snag a better interest rate.

After all these measures are exhausted and the credit score still has not reached an appropriate level, an individual should maintain appropriate credit behavior over a set period of time. If paying bills is a problem, a lending firm can set reminders for clients or enroll them in automatic bill pay.

As far as which debt to pay at first, a lender will likely suggest that a client gather all bills to figure out which ones carry the largest interest rates. The best bet is to pay these bills in full, and then pay a minimum due on the others. When a credit card balance hits zero, it is often recommended that the client cease usage of that card and center their attention on paying off other accounts.

In the past, lenders had recommended that customers close any credit cards that were paid off. Over time, they have begun to shy away from this strategy. These days a client who holds credit cards and controls them responsibly will be considered as less of a risk than a client who holds no credit cards. By owning a suitable payment history, clients can generally bump up their scores and increase possibility of score improvement as balances get reduced.

Late payments will have a major impact on a credit score. Accounts that are more than 30 days late are considered to be delinquent. Anything within the past year on a credit report will carry the most weight when a score is determined.

Federal Reserve Chairman Examines Economic Recovery

The leader of America’s central bank is hesitant to proclaim an end to economic trouble after examining recent trends. At the Federal Reserve’s Chicago branch recently, Chairman Ben Bernanke stated that current market conditions continue to be precarious even as many financial experts have declared a full recovery.

Bernanke made his remarks during a lengthy speech that described the Fed’s role in observing the successes and failures of the banking system. The speech was a focal point of the 49th Annual Conference on Bank Structure and Competition, which brings together experts in technical, financial and academic research.

As a central thesis of his speech, Bernanke noted that participants in the financial market have been taking considerable risks in recent months. The extended run of economic stability in America reduced their desire to use reasonable provisions.

Securities lending endures as a major problem. Borrowers have proven unable to finance asset holdings and subsequently were forced to sell. This occurrence drove asset prices down even further, leading to extreme asset liquidation.

Money market funds are also susceptible to the unstable environment. Bernanke believes that risk is amplified because the Treasury has been stripped of its power to secure investors’ holdings in money market funds, which proved critical in halting the disastrous 2008 run.

To introduce the subject of income inequality, Bernanke said that wealthier households have made great gains in net worth, while lower- or middle-income households have declined in capital since the financial crisis. This reality is most apparent in the area of real estate. A number of homeowners are still “underwater,” with homes valued at much less than their mortgage balances. According to Bernanke, this fact alone indicates that the country’s financial well-being is more fragile than statistics might show. As a side note, he recommended that additional regulation should be installed in the repossession market—the wholesale market that financial institutions use for their daily funding requirements.

Bernanke stated that more preparation is required for both investors and market participants so that they can deal with any potential consequences. Leading research for this is the Office of Financial Stability Policy and Research, which educates both the central bank and the Federal Open Market Committee on policy decisions.

In closing remarks, Bernanke assured attendees that the Fed continues to identify threats in order to thwart future emergencies, and carefully monitor the activity of the nation’s financial institutions.

Charles Brennan Shares History and Services of Las Vegas, Nevada Based Dollar Loan Center

Las Vegas, Nevada businessman Charles Brennan, whose career includes the music and financial industries, talks about his most successful business venture to date, Dollar Loan Center, in the following interview with Zrylw.

Zrylw: Thanks for joining us.  Please tell readers a little bit about yourself.

Charles Brennan:  From a young age, all I can remember is being an entrepreneur.  I knew I wanted to create a strong financial future for myself.  I started my first business in grade school and was working nights at Citibank while I was still in High School.  Music played a big part in my teenage life, as it does for most kids.  While I didn’t master an instrument, I found I had a knack for band management and concert promoting.

Zrylw:  How did Dollar Loan Center start?

Charles Brennan:  From my financial background, I knew there was a huge gap in lending between the typical Payday Loan Company and a traditional bank.  Short term lending was broken in my opinion.  In fact when I started Dollar Loan Center in 1998 I used my promotions expertise to build our brand. I promoted Dollar Loan Center as I would a rock concert and built our customer base on Rock Radio.  Our original location was in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Zrylw:  Where are Dollar Loan Centers located? Have you expanded beyond Las Vegas, Nevada?

Charles Brennan:  Since 1998 we have grown to 80 locations.  While the majority of them are still in Nevada, we also have several in Utah, South Dakota and most recently, California.

Zrylw:  What services does Dollar Loan Center provide?

Charles Brennan:  Dollar Loan Center offers short-term, installment, signature loans, which means that we provide help to the people that really need it and they chose the term length.

Zrylw:  Who is eligible to receive a short-term loan from Dollar Loan Center?

Charles Brennan:  Anyone can apply, either in person or online at dontbebroke.com.  Dollar Loan Center conducts credit checks and employment verification for each applicant.  It does not benefit us or the applicant to lend someone money that can’t pay it back.

Zrylw:  How is Dollar Loan Center different than typical payday loan centers in Las Vegas, Nevada?

Charles Brennan:  The biggest difference is that our customers can keep the loan out as long as they need it and are only charged interest for how long they need the loan.

Zrylw:  How is this helpful to customers?

Charles Brennan:  The product is less expensive than the loans offered through the traditional payday model.  We have no application, origination or pre-payment fees.  If someone only needs the loan for 2 days, they will just pay 2 days interest.

Zrylw:  Are there other differences?

Charles Brennan:  2 very big ones.  Dollar Loan Center does not require recipients to have a checking account and our loans are true signature loans with no collateral required at all.

Zrylw:  Is this new/alternative model popular with customers?

Charles Brennan:  Last year in Las Vegas, Nevada alone, Dollar Loan Center had nearly 100,000 repeat customers.  They were so pleased with Dollar Loan Center loan services that they came back for other loans, referred friends and stayed loyal to our product.

Zrylw:  Do loans alone keep customers coming back?

Charles Brennan:  We strive to have the best customer service in the industry.  Our locations are nicer than most banks with no bullet proof glass or plastic furniture.  But one of the big key’s to our success is pricing.  We are roughly half the price of the average competition!

Zrylw:  Tell readers about these additional supports.

Charles Brennan:  On the Dollar Loan Center web site, readers can find information about financial education and can ask financial questions at any time.  Dollar Loan Center supports local communities wherever we do business as well and has sponsored sports teams and youth programming.

Charles Brennan is the majority owner and CEO of Dollar Loan Center and co-founder and owner of Clark County Collection Services.  Charles Brennan is actively involved in the Las Vegas, Nevada community, playing a major role in impacting the Sioux Falls community where he was raised.  Along with his wife and children, Charles Brennan currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

Scott T. Sohr Describes the Courtside at Southern Woods Development

Today, the staff at Zrylw talks to Scott T. Sohr of Elmington Capital Group. Scott T. Sohr is the Nashville, Tennessee-based developer behind the Courtside at Southern Woods in Brentwood. According to Scott T. Sohr, the development was recently named Neighborhood of the Week.

Zrylw: Scott T. Sohr, thanks so much for taking some time with us today.

Scott T. Sohr: Absolutely, I’m always happy to.

Zrylw: Tell us a little about Courtside at Southern Woods.

Scott T. Sohr: Well, our goal was to set up a neighborhood that’s close to Nashville and filled with great amenities, but still affordable for middle-class families.

Zrylw: What do prices at Courtside look like?

Scott T. Sohr: The homes range in size from 2,800 sq. ft. to 4,200 sq. ft., with prices from $350k to $550k at Courtside at Southern Woods.

Zrylw: Aren’t there also some great schools in the area?

Scott T. Sohr: Yes, some of the best nationwide. The neighborhood is zoned for Edmondson Elementary, Sunset Middle School and Brentwood High School, all of which have great rankings and performance.

Zrylw: Where is the development located? Is it convenient for commuters?

Scott T. Sohr: It’s really close to both I-65 and I-24, making it great for anyone who’s a commuter back and forth to Nashville

Zrylw: What kinds of amenities does Courtside have to offer?

Scott T. Sohr: Residents can enjoy things like a saltwater pool, pocket-size parks, and tennis courts. Additionally, a playground, clubhouse and community areas are all available at Courtside.

Zrylw: Is the development close to shopping?

Scott T. Sohr: Yes, the Cool Springs Galleria is just minutes away, as are the Concord Road YMCA and Brentwood Library.

Zrylw: Does Courtside at Southern Woods come with covenants?

Scott T. Sohr: Yes, there are covenants rules and regulations and a homeowners association at Courtside.

Zrylw: What’s the projected size for Courtside?

Scott T. Sohr: Upon completion, we expect to have 256 homes in Courtside at Southern Woods.

Zrylw: Is it laid out with cul-de-sacs, or in a grid?

Scott T. Sohr: Gently curving streets and cul-de-sacs. We are very pleased with the completed design.

Zrylw: What do you see down the road for Courtside at Southern Woods?

Scott T. Sohr: We want Courtside to be a warm, inviting, family-friendly place that marries up the convenience of easy distance to Nashville, with the small-town charm of rural Tennessee.

Scott T. Sohr is a veteran developer and entrepreneur in the greater Nashville area. Before he even graduated from Auburn University, Scott T. Sohr had formed his first business, selling specialized plastic compounds for industry. Today, Scott T. Sohr is a partner at a group specializing in investments and transactions in distressed properties. Their team specializes in industrial, commercial, residential, multi-family and land properties. He is also a co-founder of Correct Care Solutions and Health Cost Solutions, a third-party administrator for medical plans aimed at companies that are large enough to self-insure. Scott T. Sohr lives in the greater Nashville area with his wife Lyn and their four children.

Consultant Aldo Todini explains Business Management Systems

We recently sat down with Aldo Todini, a business consultant based out of Udine, Italy, about Business Management Systems and why using a trained auditor can greatly increase its worth.

Q: Thank you, Aldo Todini, for speaking with us today. We are pleased to present you to our international readership.

Aldo Todini: I am very happy to be here.

Q: First, can you explain what a Business Management System is?

Aldo Todini:  Essentially, it is having procedures and plans written out as guidelines for running a business. An effective plan will be written so that every operation in the company can be performed by anyone reading it.

Q: So it means to create standard operating procedures?

Aldo Todini: This is just one aspect of a proper business management plan.

Q: If you had to simplify the process, how would you describe it?

Aldo Todini: Evaluate your procedures to determine areas that need improvement and then do it.

Q: How is that achieved?

Aldo Todini: It depends on the business and its needs.

Q: How long does it take to create and begin using a business plan?

Aldo Todini: It can take weeks or months to really get started. After areas of need are identified and SOPs in place, it’s a continual process of monitoring for compliance and finding new areas to improve upon.

Q: How are they monitored?

Aldo Todini: Many companies choose to have both internal and external audits. An internal audit will usually be performed by a team of executives and supervisory staff. An external audit is completed by an outside source familiar with the company’s industry.

Q: Why have outside auditors?

Aldo Todini: There are many benefits to this. First, an independent audit can identify deficiencies possibly overlooked by staff. And, many top companies require their suppliers to pass a certain level of compliance with industry standards in order to do business with the company.

Q: You mention industry standards. How does a company get certified as compliant?

Aldo Todini: An external auditor can verify that the business they are inspecting maintains operational procedure standards and quality. This makes the company more likely to gain customers who need products manufactured to certain standards.

Q: We appreciate your time today but we must close for now. Thank you.

Aldo Todini: The pleasure is mine.

 

About Aldo Todini
Aldo Todini is a member of the National Register of Chartered Auditors and diversely experienced business consultant. He is proficient in identifying defects in operations, eliminating waste, implementing current technology, and matching investors to businesses in need to financial stimulation.

Aldo Todini is fluent is Italian, French, and English and has worked with clients across the globe.

 

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Aldo Todini consulente d’azienda spiega i sistemi di gestione aziendale.

Un recente incontro con Aldo Todini, consulente d’affari con sede a Udine, Italia, sui sistemi di gestione aziendale e perché con un auditor addestrato può aumentare notevolmente il valore d’impresa.

Domanda: Grazie, Aldo Todini, per questa chiacchierata. Siamo lieti di presentarla ai nostri lettori di tutto il Mondo.

Aldo Todini: Sono contento di essere qui a parlare con voi.

Domanda: In primo luogo, si può spiegare in cosa consiste un sistema di gestione aziendale?

Aldo Todini: Essenzialmente si tratta di definire procedure e piani strategici come linee guida per la gestione di un’impresa. Un piano efficace sarà scritto in modo che ogni operazione in azienda possa essere eseguita da chiunque abbia letto la procedura.

Domanda: Quindi significa creare procedure operative standard?

Aldo Todini: Questo è solo un aspetto di un piano di gestione aziendale.

Domanda: Se dovesse esemplificare il processo, come lo descriverebbe?

Aldo Todini: Valutare le procedure per determinare le aree che necessitano di miglioramento e poi applicare i correttivi necessari.

Domanda: Come viene raggiunto questo obiettivo?

Aldo Todini: Dipende dal tipo di business e dalle sue necessità specifiche.

Domanda: Quanto tempo ci vuole per creare e applicare un business plan?

Aldo Todini: questa fase iniziale può richiedere settimane o anche mesi in funzione della complessità. Dopo che le aree d’intervento sono state identificate e sono state applicate le SOP (Standard Operating Procedures, Procedure Operative Standard), si tratta di un processo continuo di controllo di conformità e la ricerca di nuove aree da migliorare.

Domanda: Come vengono monitorati i processi?

Aldo Todini: Molte aziende scelgono di avere controlli sia interni che esterni. Un audit interno di solito effettuato da un team di dirigenti e del personale di controllo. La revisione contabile esterna è completata da professionalità esterne con esperienza nell’industria dove opera la società.

Domanda: Perché abbiano revisori esterni?

Aldo Todini: Ci sono molti vantaggi. In primo luogo una verifica indipendente permette di identificare le carenze eventualmente trascurati dal piano e dal personale di vigilanza. Inoltre molte aziende richiedono ai loro fornitori certificazioni specifiche prima di poter avere relazioni d’affari con l’azienda cliente.

Domanda: Lei parla di standard di settore. Come fa una società a ottenere le certificazioni necessarie?

Aldo Todini: Un revisore esterno è in grado di verificare che l’azienda che sta seguendo mantenga gli standard di qualità e procedure operative necessarie per la certificazione. Questo offre all’azienda maggiori possibilità nella fase di acquisizione dei clienti che necessitano di prodotti fabbricati secondo determinati standard.

Domanda: Grazie per il tempo che ci ha dedicato oggi. Grazie.

Aldo Todini: Il piacere è mio.

Riguardo Aldo Todini: Aldo Todini è un membro del Registro Nazionale dei Revisori Contabili e consulente aziendale esperto sulla fase gestionale. E’ specializzato nel miglioramento delle operazioni industriali, nell’implementazione di tecnologie finalizzate alla corretta gestione del business, e nella relazione verso gli investitori per imprese che hanno bisogno di supporto finanziario.

Aldo Todini parla correntemente italiano, francese e inglese e ha lavorato con clienti in tutto il Mondo.

Dennis Dachtler Sacramento on Prudent Planning for Professionals

Dennis Dachtler, Sacramento based retirement planning consultant and founder of Dachtler Wealth Management, explains why medical professionals need a helping hand while their hands are busy helping others.

Q. I am still a medical student. My advisors tell me that I really need to consult with a wealth planner. Why?

As a future medical professional, you’ve probably already gotten a glimpse of how hectic your life will soon be. Most physicians barely have time to sleep. Financial planning takes a great deal of time…time you likely won’t have.

Dennis Dachtler, Sacramento Based Wealth Management Expert

 

Q. What tools are available to help a busy professional manage future living expenses?

We offer a variety of wealth planning tools on our website and we are available by phone and email to answer questions or address concerns.

Dennis Dachtler, Sacramento Based Wealth Management Expert

 

Q. How can I monitor my savings/investment progress?

Dachtler Wealth offers quarterly progress reports and clients have access to a “personal wealth” homepage where a summary of accounts is neatly organized and ready to view 24/7.

Dennis Dachtler, Sacramento Based Wealth Management Expert

 

Q. I have several important documents relating to my assets. Is there a secure way to store these online so that my loved ones can access them of something were to happen to me?

The personal wealth homepage also offers ample storage for wills, deeds, and even precious family photos.

Dennis Dachtler, Sacramento Based Wealth Management

 

Q. I only have time to check my investments while on the go. Can Dachtler Wealth help me keep track without making me sit still?

Yes, we can. With our mobile app, keeping tabs on your money is as quick and easy diagnosing a seasonal flu.

Dennis Dachtler, Sacramento Based Wealth Management Expert

 

Q. Why is planning ahead so important in the medical field?

Medical professionals spend so much of their own money out of pocket for things like education, practice startups, and insurance. While you should earn a livable income, with all of the expenses, you need to make sure to set aside for later.

Dennis Dachtler, Sacramento Based Wealth Management Expert

 

Q. I have concerns about Internet security. How do I know my information is safe?

We utilize only the latest software. We update security measures often and accounts are always monitored for unusual activity.

Dennis Dachtler, Sacramento Based Wealth Management Expert

 

Q. What financial products does the team at Dachtler Wealth Management offer?

Aside from financial planning, we also provide life and annuity based products.

Dennis Dachtler, Sacramento Based Wealth Management Expert

 

Q. How long has Dachtler Wealth been in business? Is the firm BBB accredited?

We opened in 1989 and are a Better Business Bureau Member with an A+ rating.

Dennis Dachtler, Sacramento Based Wealth Management Expert

 

Q. I’m ready to secure my future, and my family’s. How do I get started?

Call us at 800.333.1855 – we’ll figure out a strategy just for you.

Dennis Dachtler, Sacramento Based Wealth Management Expert

 

For more information about Dennis Dachtler, Sacramento Retirement Planning, or for wealth calculators and statistics, visit dachtlerwealth.com.

 

Securities and investment advisory services are offered solely through Ameritas Investment Corp. (AIC).  Member FINRA/SIPC.  AIC and Dachtler Wealth Management are not affiliated.  Additional products and services may be offered through Dennis Dachtler, Heather Dachtler or Dachtler Wealth Management that are not offered through AIC. The opinions and views stated in this publication are solely those of Dennis Dachtler and Heather Dachtler and should not in any way be considered to be an endorsement by Ameritas Investment Corp.

This is not an offer of securities in any jurisdiction, nor is it specifically directed to a resident of any jurisdiction. As with any security, request a prospectus from your Registered Representative. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.  A Representative from Dachtler Wealth Management will contact you to provide requested information.  Representatives of AIC do not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax advisor or attorney regarding your situation. Securities products are currently limited to residents of AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IN, KS, LA, MN, MO, NC, NE, NM, NV, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT & WA.

Dennis Dachtler on What Makes Dachtler Wealth Management Unique

Dennis Dachtler founded Dachtler Wealth Management in 1989, based upon a standard of service that hopes to exceed customer expectations. The team at Dachtler Wealth Management knows how difficult it can be to stay on top of finances with so many other priorities commanding our attention throughout the day. For that reason, Dennis Dachtler and Dachtler Wealth offers clients a web portal that will allow them to check up on their finances from anywhere, including a mobile device.

According to Dennis Dachtler, Dachtler Wealth Management provides gold level services to its clients, including personal consultations in the areas of tax reduction, planning for retirement, and managing investments. These consultations are tailored to each client’s individual needs, with meetings held frequently to ensure a client continues in the appropriate direction.

In addition to regular meetings, Dachtler Wealth Management also provides newsletters, reports, and, of course, 24/7 access to Your Personal Wealth Homepage. Additionally, Dennis Dachtler and his staff regularly hold informational sessions and customer appreciation events.

If a client has a 401(k) plan through his or her employer, Dennis Dachtler and the Dachtler Wealth team can review current fund positioning to determine if he or she is getting the optimum return. Dachtler Wealth Management can also consolidate information about a client’s accounts to provide one place where the entirety of his or her information can be reviewed. This allows for easier money management, according to Dennis Dachtler.

Dennis Dachtler can also assist with retirement planning, reviewing a client’s situation to help create a detailed plan for his or her personal retirement timeline. Even in doing this, Dennis Dachtler is aware that a client needs to still have control of his or her finances in order to meet current financial needs. Dennis Dachtler encourages each client to put money away for the future while still maintaining a healthy budget today.

Family wealth management is an important part of Dennis Dachtler ’s focus at Dachtler Wealth, with the firm offering families assistance on transferring assets, coping with financial assets when a loved one passes, as well as financial planning for the entire family. As Dennis Dachtler points out, Dachtler Wealth Management also offers a free consultation with an attorney to clients.

Dachtler Wealth Management believes in providing clients the tools they need to succeed. By providing one-on-one personalized service, Dennis Dachtler and the team at Dachtler Wealth are able to help people in ways that perhaps other financial service providers don’t. For more information or to contact Dennis Dachtler, go online to www.dachtlerwealth.com.

 

Securities and investment advisory services are offered solely through Ameritas Investment Corp. (AIC).  Member FINRA/SIPC.  AIC and Dachtler Wealth Management are not affiliated.  Additional products and services may be offered through Dennis Dachtler or Dachtler Wealth Management that are not offered through AIC. The opinions and views stated in this publication are solely those of Dennis Dachtler and should not in any way be considered to be an endorsement by Ameritas Investment Corp.

This is not an offer of securities in any jurisdiction, nor is it specifically directed to a resident of any jurisdiction. As with any security, request a prospectus from your Registered Representative. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.  A Representative from Dachtler Wealth Management will contact you to provide requested information.  Representatives of AIC do not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax advisor or attorney regarding your situation. Securities products are currently limited to residents of AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IN, KS, LA, MN, MO, NC, NE, NM, NV, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT & WA.

 

Kale Flagg Explains Warm Market Recruiting

Kale Flagg acknowledges that as companies begin recruiting sales teams, it may be tough to know where to start. Flagg suggests beginning by getting in touch with personal contacts in order to either involve those people directly or get referrals from them—find the best sales people that you know, and find the best sales people that they know—and start there. This, Kale Flagg explains, is called “warm market recruiting.” In Flagg’s opinion, this is the only way to build a successful sales organization. Many people prefer into cold market waters first: need a sales leader, run an ad in Monster or in the newspaper.  But Kale Flagg emphasizes that in building his first team, a sales organization that surpassed $65mm in sales on $200/unit average purchases by its 3rd, he did not place his first cold-market advertisement until he had already been underway for over a year.

To explain why, Kale Flagg says to imagine taking all of the unemployed people in this country who are looking for work and putting them in one pool. In a second pool, Kale Flagg says to imagine putting all of the people who already have jobs and are not currently looking for work. He then asks which pool you’d prefer to pull your sales organization from.

According to Kale Flagg, a warm market not only contains higher quality people, but it is dramatically less expensive than a cold market. A personal referral from your college friend, for instance, has a much higher chance of panning out than a person who responded to a “help wanted” ad.

Kale Flagg compares finding good sales people, recruiting a good sales organization, to dating. “How do you know when to ask for that first kiss?” he asks. The answer to that question depends on the circumstances—sometimes it’s the first date, and sometimes it’s the 3rd date and sometimes it’s never! The same is true in recruiting quality sales people, points out Kale Flagg—you have to keep sorting, going thru people and putting them to the test.  Don’t listen to what they say, watch what they do.  Eventually you’ll find self motivated problem solvers—those are who you want to kiss.  You’ll also be able to identify high maintenance problem finders, those are the ones you are going to want to avoid.

Businesses require dealing with people, and no two people are alike. In some situations, Kale Flagg states, you can ask someone to go steady on a first date, but in most situations a second, third, or even fourth date is advisable before making such a bold move. Businesses should advance these professional relationships gradually, by decreasing recruits’ fears and increasing their confidence. If a recruit asks numerous questions, Kale Flagg recommends spending as much time as they need to answer all of those questions. Spend time building a relationship, he counsels, and you will see that time investment pay off in the future.

Kale Flagg has a background in real estate, sales, and finance, with extensive experience in business. Currently serving as General Partners of the American Redevelopment Fund, he speaks on business development in seminars across the country.

Jeffrey Kale Flagg Shares the Secret to Success

Jeffrey Kale Flagg is a start-up expert with over twenty years in marketing, real estate, medical and direct sales. He rose to National Marketing Director at a $200+ million per year direct sales firm when he was just 24, and then built his first start-up company to #1 on the Inc. 500 list just four years later. He is currently General Partner in the real estate development fund American Redevelopment Fund, LP as well as chief operating officer of Array Asset Management, LLC, an asset management company managing utility scale solar arrays worldwide. Today, Flagg shares some of the wisdom gathered over his years of building successful business ventures.

Jeffrey Kale Flagg considers it a great honor being asked to lead, being given the chance to have a positive impact on another person’s destiny.  This role also bears tremendous responsibility, and it’s one that Flagg takes very seriously.  It is what compels him to work when most people that he knows are sleeping, according to Jeffrey Kale Flagg.

To be successful, reports Jeffrey Kale Flagg, one must be willing to put in the effort, commit the time and take the action that is necessary to accomplish his or her goals.  Says Flagg, “Knowledge is important, but the reality is that information is very, very easily found.  What cannot be purchased, rented or leased–and what is the crucial element to success–is follow-through.  It is the kind of follow-through that takes action, makes things happen, that gets up off of the couch and attacks life.  That is the key to success, believes Jeffrey Kale Flagg.

Jeffrey Kale Flagg is a true believer in the theory that we all control where we are and what we accomplish in life. Why do so many people spend more time justifying where they are in life instead of simply taking action and going where they want to go? Flagg points out that we all have the ability to make the changes that will help us achieve our dreams.   Whether or not we make those changes is our choice.  It is one of life’s big tests, says Jeffrey Kale Flagg, a test of character and a moment of truth.

According to Jeffrey Kale Flagg, if deep down in our hearts we believe that we are unable to successfully run our own lives then we constantly look for outside endorsements of our ideas.  We may make tentative decisions, but we never follow through because we need assurances that other people agree with us.  This lack of confidence, says Jeffrey Kale Flagg, strips us of our ability to become successful.  No action ever takes place, because there will always be people who disagree.  Our lack of confidence invites the very criticism that we fear.

On the other hand, points out Jeffrey Kale Flagg, if we believe that we have the ability to run our own lives, to choose our own destiny, then that is exactly what we do.  We decide where we want to go and we make the necessary changes.  We listen to people who have accomplished the success that we desire—but we still make our own decision.  We don’t look back and re-evaluate, we simply make the call and than take action.  Success then becomes our reality, says Flagg.

So, you have a decision to make.  According to Jeffrey Kale Flagg, you have to decide whether you are going to be the captain of your own ship or not.  Now, if you think about it you will quickly realize that the choices that you have made in your life actually have defined your life. Think about it for a minute, suggests Jeffrey Kale Flagg. Are your relationships with your friends and family described more accurately as being filled with trust, respect and love or are they better defined as competitive, argumentative and shallow?  What about your lifestyle—do you have a lot of free time, relaxation, comfort and luxury in your life?  Or do you have penny-pinching, frustration and anxiety?

We must realize that we all have total control of our lives and that any change is possible, asserts Jeffrey Kale FlaggOur choices created the lifestyle that we live and they have defined the type of friendships and relationships that we have.  Our choices have determined whether we are happy or sad—they have created our lives.  In order for us to achieve our dreams, says Jeffrey Kale Flagg, we are going to have to make a commitment.  It is a choice.  And our choices today, the commitments that we make today will define our futures, concludes Jeffrey Kale Flagg.