Life Insurance Software. What is the Best System?

The Hopp · 05-19-2009, 02:45 PM

What kind of software do most of the agents use? Pro's & Con's of each?
I use the Aliss system now. Are there better systems for keeping track of your leads, clients, quoting engine, and case management?

Norwayguy · 05-19-2009, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by The Hopp

What kind of software do most of the agents use? Pro's & Con's of each?
I use the Aliss system now. Are there better systems for keeping track of your leads, clients, quoting engine, and case management?

Yes, no, maybe... The aliss system and National Brokerages (Mountain Financials) OES system both handle well (in my opion) the process once the application is taken ie both have a fillable app system both can upload the app so the paramed gets the signatures (if you wish) and both follow up on the cases and allow you one website to followup on business from multiple companies. The problem is prior to writing the app neither program has a great system. With Aliss the system is manually calling your leads, yes they are imported automatically and it gives you a good system to run on but its mainly call,call,call,call,call,call...

I used to use ALISS but have moved over to the OES system with Mountain financial (Its free) and I supplement it with a sequential autodialer. I have many leads I can never get on the phone that will respond to my emails asking me to send them a quote, I send them what they give me something that is worthless without speaking to me further. I have also used Leadpod to call my leads in the first 10 days and hot transfer them to me...It allows me to keep on top of my securities business (I can't wait to get out of that).

I also backstop the Aliss quoter and OESs quoter with Compulifes software because with Aliss I know they may tell you to tell the client your quoting the top 500 or so companies but they aren't and you know they are not...With Compulife I can use the preffered Health anylizer and tell the client why I didn't quote Ohio National or some other company because based on there height the maximum weight for that classification is x or that they can not use blood pressure or cholesterol medication.

So those are a couple of other systems I use in conjunction with OES or ALISS back when I was using it. The down side is that my autoresponder doesn't talk to OES and Compulife requires me to reinput things while on the phone but it works for me so far.

Markingriffin · 05-20-2009, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by The Hopp

What kind of software do most of the agents use? Pro's & Con's of each?
I use the Aliss system now. Are there better systems for keeping track of your leads, clients, quoting engine, and case management?

The Perfect Contact Management Program (CMP) for the Insurance Professional.
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This software has saved me a lot of time.

Ami · 05-21-2009, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by The Hopp

What kind of software do most of the agents use? Pro's & Con's of each?
I use the Aliss system now. Are there better systems for keeping track of your leads, clients, quoting engine, and case management?

This is an interesting question; however, IMO, the answer depends on what is best for a specific practice and approach rather than on any specific named manufacturer or product.

Insofar as database management and contact management systems, one of the considerations that need to be made is whether you want to go with an on-line (as in Internet based) or boxed (installed, resident and usable on a stand alone machine) or LAN (local area network (peer to peer or shared) server). There are pros and cons to each. I can go into these if anyone wants me to expand; however, for the sake of brevity, I'll leave expansion on this out for now.

Another consideration to keep in mind is security. Again, there are pros and cons to each of the above in this regard. Yes, your data is secure from theft on a stand alone machine... unless that machine takes a walk and the encryption is breached. Yes, internet based version providers may claim security; however, it's not so rare to read that hackers have made their way into (what were thought to be) hacker resistant web-servers, not to mention key loggers and communication interceptors, and other malware that on occasion but too frequently for comfort tags along with "free" software.

Yet another consideration is the manufacturer. The client database is your "inventory" and your asset (not to mention that the detailed notes that you keep in that database could go a long way to cover your ass-ets.). Conversion from one database system to another may be advertised by some providers but it ain't as easy or as inexpensive or as complete as some of the advertisers may claim it to be. IMO, the choice of a database system is a long term proposition! I personally would shy away from "home business" manufacturers. The product may be great and the price may be attractive...but... what if the "brains" of the home biz dies and the wife, kids, brother in law, son in law, and cousin Jedidiah are not all that thrilled or capable to continue with the program, its maintenance and support?

While there are numerous term quoters out there, many of which are on-line and free of charge, and while there are new and better term quoters appearing on the market and while it is as easy as a few mouse clicks to switch from one to another, the choice of a client database / client contact management system needs careful examination of your practice, your needs, your risk tolerance - and most importantly the reliability continuity and level of support that you can expect over the LONG TERM. Although "price" is relevant in any consideration, the cost of committing to a system or manufacturer without careful and thorough examination of the various aspects can easily become unbearable.

I doubt that you will be able to get a statistically viable answer to your question "What kind of software do most of the agents use?" at this forum or in any other discussion forum. As to "best", it's a suitability question as to what is best suited for YOUR short and long term needs, etc.

Good luck, invest the needed time and effort to investigate your options thoroughly, and don't rush your decision on a client and prospecting database.

Ami

The Hopp · 05-26-2009, 03:34 PM

Thanks for all your answers.
I use Aliss now and it's a good program that stores all my clients information, provides quotes (term, UL, annuities), free website w/quote engine, and has a case management section among other things. It is web based and costs me $60/mo. Compulife is good for quoting but doesn't have a contact mgmt system if I'm not mistaken. I like the all-in-one system where I can track everything.
So I guess I would alter my question slightly. I only have experience with Aliss so that is all I know. So are there better all-in-one systems out there or less expensive alternatives?

SportsNut · 05-26-2009, 05:25 PM

No all-in-one that I am aware of... in fact Aliss isn't really an all-in-one system either, but possibly closer to it. You are only quoting the carriers that your upline in Aliss has programmed into the sytem, and not truly a comprehensive quote.

If only Ron Popeil had an early interest in the life ins biz, we would now have exactly what it is you are now describing. Maybe it is not too late, possibly a Primerica Rep will entice Ron on the idea of this HOT concept of buying term and investing the diff... or NOT.

wfs · 05-27-2009, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by Norwayguy

...with Aliss I know they may tell you to tell the client your quoting the top 500 or so companies but they aren't and you know they are not...With Compulife I can use the preffered Health anylizer and tell the client why I didn't quote Ohio National or some other company because based on there height the maximum weight for that classification is x or that they can not use blood pressure or cholesterol medication.

I do not like the fact that the companies are limited - even though I think it is limited to the top companies for most cases. I certainly do not say that I am quoting the top 500 companies though. I do however find it easier to have a top selection of great companies with good contracts than having 500 companies pop up on the screen. I don't need to always sell the "cheapest" product, just the best one that I have that meets the clients needs and budget.

With all of that said, Aliss is still a great system. Sure it has its shortcomings:

No click to call
Windows IE only (yuk)
A few small "bugs" that I have found
Inability to batch upload contacts from Excel (.txt, .csv)
Inability to export prospect/client data to Excel

I have never had any software product that met ALL of my needs. I find that I always need several apps to get the total job done. Perhaps one day we will have utpoia, but what fun would that be??

The Hopp · 05-27-2009, 01:17 PM

I didn't really have any huge complaints about the ALISS system I just didn't know if there was anything better out there that I should try. I agree that there is a lot of stuff they can improve on with the Aliss software.

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 05-27-2009, 05:22 PM

Compulife anyone... or are we comparing apples and oranges?

The Hopp · 05-28-2009, 11:59 AM

I just signed up for the free trial of Compulife but they are just a quoting software, correct? The don't have any contact mgmt software.
Also when you guys are doing case management do any of you use quickview.net? Or do you go into each companies individual agent site. I can only get quickview to update/work with West Coast and AIG.

Marpol · 05-28-2009, 02:40 PM

For you independent guys....ebix is pretty much the defacto standard for quoting systems (using multiple carriers and products). As far as a CMS very few systems were designed for insurance specifically. One of the better ones...and i hesitate at better because they have a lot of bugs and issues.....but better because it is designed for insurance and case management is Smart Office from EZ-Data. There are other but i don't have experience with them.

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 05-28-2009, 06:31 PM

I thought Compulife was the standard. No?

SportsNut · 05-28-2009, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by CHUMPS FROM OXFORD

I thought Compulife was the standard. No?

For quotes, yes, CUL is the best. However it does not offer other features built in, like other systems. But of course the other systems ALL seem to have weaknesses and fall short in one or more area as well.

The ideal work tool would be one system that offers ALL features; quotes from ALL carriers (like Compulife), a total CRM, drip emails and marketing integration, a dialer, ALL forms w/ auto fill, auto ins salesman for the days that you wish to play golf or attend the ballgame, and on and on.

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 05-28-2009, 07:22 PM

OK...Here is what I am looking for. Of course...a quote engine for most/all of the major carriers. And an autoresponder would be terrific as well. And that's about it.

The quote engine is the main thing that would allow me to incorporate it into an email in a presentable way.

Norwayguy · 05-29-2009, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by CHUMPS FROM OXFORD

OK...Here is what I am looking for. Of course...a quote engine for most/all of the major carriers. And an autoresponder would be terrific as well. And that's about it.

The quote engine is the main thing that would allow me to incorporate it into an email in a presentable way.

Compulife will do for the quote engine and it will create a pdf and you can email it to the client....I use a seperate sequintial autoresponder called followup expert...There was a one time cost and the software is on my computer so I don't have ongoing expenses.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Originally Posted by The Hopp

I just signed up for the free trial of Compulife but they are just a quoting software, correct? The don't have any contact mgmt software.
Also when you guys are doing case management do any of you use quickview.net? Or do you go into each companies individual agent site. I can only get quickview to update/work with West Coast and AIG.

never heard of quickview...I submit my Business through National Brokerage/Mountain Financial and they have a case status report so I go to there website and all my cases info is there I can correspond inside my clients file with a rep at mountain financial to answer the carrier questions...work well like the aliss system is similar.
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Originally Posted by Marpol

For you independent guys....ebix is pretty much the defacto standard for quoting systems (using multiple carriers and products). As far as a CMS very few systems were designed for insurance specifically. One of the better ones...and i hesitate at better because they have a lot of bugs and issues.....but better because it is designed for insurance and case management is Smart Office from EZ-Data. There are other but i don't have experience with them.

Never heard of Ebix...not a great standard if we haven't heard of it....any info on this quote engine?

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 05-29-2009, 07:01 PM

OK. Thanks Norway and Sports. I guess I'll stick with Compulife. I just started their 30-day free trial period although somehow it can be extended for another 90 days. I think I have to integrate it into a website.

Norwayguy · 05-29-2009, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by CHUMPS FROM OXFORD

OK. Thanks Norway and Sports. I guess I'll stick with Compulife. I just started their 30-day free trial period although somehow it can be extended for another 90 days. I think I have to integrate it into a website.

to get it extended you have to run a quote and fax it to them...I forget the details, they just want to see you using it.

SportsNut · 05-29-2009, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by CHUMPS FROM OXFORD

OK...Here is what I am looking for. Of course...a quote engine for most/all of the major carriers. And an autoresponder would be terrific as well. And that's about it.

The quote engine is the main thing that would allow me to incorporate it into an email in a presentable way.

Aliss would accomplish what you want. Now all you have to do is to leave your current affiliation and align yourself with an agency that is authorized to use aliss. No problem, right...?

There are some other systems out there that may do the same. (LeadBoss, Aliss, SmartOffice, InsurancePro, Vital Sales Suite by Ebix, )

Now Chumps, your job... should you choose to accept it, (ye old Mission Impossible line), is to investigate and analyze each of the links above and let us know which serves your needs the best, if any.

Norwayguy · 05-29-2009, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by SportsNut

Aliss would accomplish what you want. Now all you have to do is to leave your current affiliation and align yourself with an agency that is authorized to use aliss. No problem, right...?

There are some other systems out there that may do the same. (LeadBoss, Aliss, SmartOffice, InsurancePro, Vital Sales Suite by Ebix, )

Now Chumps, your job... should you choose to accept it, (ye old Mission Impossible line), is to investigate and analyze each of the links above and let us know which serves your needs the best, if any.

You are right that you can select quotes and email them with Aliss...Aliss also has an autoresponder but it doesn't work well...When I was using it I ended up deleting all the programed emails due to the fact that they would go out at the wrong times..Also The big thing is to email to people before the app is written and ALISS will send 1 email to new leads but that is it.

Also as a CRM it is lacking in that you can do a search for policy holders say over age 70 with a term policy etc to generate a list of people that might be a good prospect for Life Settlements etc...Also say I sold John Doe a Term policy now he needs an annuity or DI policy how is that tracked in Aliss as far as I know currently it can't be done, these things can be done in Mountain Financials OES system and they don't charge for it.

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 05-29-2009, 08:12 PM

"Now Chumps, your job... should you choose to accept it, (ye old Mission Impossible line), is to investigate and analyze each of the links above and let us know which serves your needs the best, if any."

Geez...Where's Peter Graves when I need him!

How does Aliss' cost compare to Compulife? I think Compulife is $179 and then you have to pay another $179 or so to have it integrated in your website.