Consider a commercial insurance broker the next time you buy insurance online, until a recent resurgence of interest due to new online commercial products, they have not had a good Internet experience.

Brokers provide service, knowledge, quality products, claims help and advice as well as comparing insurance quotes, qualities that are rare or missing in the alternative self-service world of the online price comparison websites.

When direct personal lines cover became an acceptable method of selling and delivering insurance via the Internet, the soothsayers of business doom were crying the tolling of the death knell for the insurance broker as a profession. Even more so for the business insurance specialist intermediaries.

Commercial insurance was notoriously difficult to provide auto-quoting underwriting systems for and it was believed by the mandarins that commercial policies could not be sold online to an ignorant public.

It was imagined that all insurance business would be dealt with direct either by phone or online and the broker trade would decline.

What these people failed to realise at the time though, was that the broker business model, one based on comparing covers and tailoring policies to suit individual needs, was a time tried and trusted method that would re-emerge online as the peoples favourite method of buying insurance, albeit in a new bigger form of the price comparison site.

Commercial insurance price comparison websites were then predicted to replace the broker, as in effect they are providing the same comparative quotation service as the brokers but on a much larger scale.

Commercial Insurance Brokers realised that they were missing out unless they embraced the comparison site competition. Many of the larger and more Internet savvy brokers decided to take on the comparison sites and offer comparison websites of their own, often with great success.

They took their back office comparison systems and web-enabled them to provide a user-friendly interface. The larger commercial insurance sites now rival the big four price aggregators and many offer a wider range of covers.

With the ability to offer specialist products a broker has an advantage over a price comparison site, however many Specialist schemes from commercial insurance brokers can now be found on price comparison sites. You will often need to look deep and really research the market of quotes offered, to find them though.

Although many smaller brokers have signed up to the large price comparison websites, when you search for their products you are rarely shown these offerings. This is because many brokers have put tight underwriting criteria to the type of business they want from the comparisons site.

Often these restrictions mean that the price aggregator cannot quote their policy because of the restrictive terms imposed.

All online commercial comparison websites suffer from rigid acceptance rules defined by the underwriting company.

The fact that if for example, an office does not reach strict security requirements, then the office package comparison system is algorithmically instructed to decline the business.

Computer says No!

Consequently when the comparison sites quotes compared are returned to a prospective buyer, they are usually displayed in the order of cheapest first, showing those without any endorsements or cover restrictions.

Those smaller but maybe more relevant schemes that are maybe slightly more expensive or need some adjustments to the information entered to quote, are not getting a look in against the large insurers who can compete on price.

Many people, especially small businessmen on a tight fixed budget, mistakenly believe that the cheapest insurance is sufficient for their business needs.

This is particularly true of the sole-trader or self-employed tradesman who resents being told he must have public liability insurance to work on a building site for example.

His likely first port of call will be a search engine followed by a big brand price comparison site looking for the best deals.

Most commercial insurance brokers do not want this type of cheap liability business anyway, which is more trouble than it is worth if there is a claim.

They do want good bona-fide small business and registered companies for which they have the advantage over the price aggregators of offering not just specialist packed policies for shops,office, restaurants, pubs and commercial property but also a human face.

Today, more and more trade specific packaged policies are appearing on commercial insurance websites each month as bringing the product to market becomes easier.

Online brokers can offer telephone help, callback services, claims services, market knowledge and advice over price, human versus computer or simply just service. All things that are missing from the price comparison sites.

The new online commercial broker is taking back the initiative and levelling the playing field for the distribution of Insurance on the Internet.

On the whole the future looks rosy for the forward-looking broker who is willing to adapt and change from his Main Street outdated business practices and embrace the Web for all its potentiality.

On a cautionary note, many a local broker with traditional product offerings who does not adapt, will not be found by the general public and his market reach will always be local.

The Internet has allowed online commercial insurance brokers to introduce specialist risks and cover to the business market that would probably not previously been aware of the policies.

It has also spawned new risks itself such as cyber risks cover, professional indemnity and liability for consultants in every IT and online profession, and even commercial property insurance for web server farms.

The local broker is now international if he has the placement facilities.

Niche brokers with niche schemes are now providing these services to new global markets.

Tips to get you into one of the hottest industries in the US.

Are you ready for a change? Have you been looking for an opportunity for uncapped earning potential while making your own hours? If you have a mind for problem solving and a sincere desire to help people, then the commercial mortgage industry may be for you.

The commercial mortgage industry is quickly becoming one of the hottest industries in the United States. The surge of Small Cap mortgages coupled with the need for knowledgeable mortgage brokers makes this the best time to take advantage of this opportunity. All it takes is a desire to learn and grow and the right partner on your side.

As with any industry there are obstacles you must overcome to be successful. For the commercial mortgage industry, these barriers include (but are not limited to):

-Proper training in commercial underwriting.
-Lender relationships and loan programs
-Deal Flow. Getting clients in the door.
-Geographical service limitations.

The first step to getting your foot into this hot industry is the proper training. As you are looking for training, it is important that you find the most in depth and comprehensive training possible. While most direct lenders will provide free training, the training is almost always directed toward the loan products offered by that lender. This type of training, while valuable, will not provide you the breadth of knowledge you will need to be successful in this highly competitive industry. Look to the established industry organizations like the Mortgage Bankers Association or the National Association of Mortgage Brokers for better training opportunities. Another option is to look for a company that serves the interests of commercial brokers as a whole. These companies should provide the best training options and may also include other services that will make your transition a bit easier.

The role of the commercial mortgage broker is to provide financing solutions for commercial property owners. Often brokers are called upon for seemingly difficult financing scenarios. The key to finding a solution is locating the right lender with the right loan product. In the past, this meant a lot of research. There are hundreds of sources for commercial loans representing thousands and thousands of financing options. The best route for someone new to the industry is to locate a database of lenders that will allow you to input the loan information and allow the system to narrow your search to a handful of potential lenders. This technology is somewhat new to the commercial industry so be careful that the database allows you to search programs from multiple lenders, not just one or two. Keep in mind that these lenders want your business, you are their client. They should be willing to do the work required to match a loan program to your needs.

So now you have the training and the lender options in place, now comes the most important piece, the clients. You will spend the majority of your time looking for borrowers that need your assistance in helping them find the right financing. The key to building a client base is education. You must educate your potential clients in the commercial industry and above all why they should work with you. Marketing to potential clients is both time consuming and can be costly. Finding the best way to market yourself will require a bit of research and testing.

As you build your business you will find that most of your clients will come from referrals. These referrals can come from friends, family, or your network of existing contacts. Be sure to let everyone you know that you are now a commercial mortgage broker and what services you provide. You may be surprised to find that your existing contacts may be your best source for business.

What about commercial mortgage “leads”? Many companies offer leads that you can buy. Just be careful about buying leads. Some can be great, but some can be a great waste of money. Leads are often offered to multiple brokers at the same time and you will find yourself competing with several (or many) other brokers for the business. The key term you want to keep an eye out for is “exclusive referrals” not leads. This means that you are the one and only broker receiving that referral and in this industry, a referral is gold. Exclusive referrals are of course not free. Often they are part of a membership to a brokerage service which includes additional services as well. Be aware that these golden opportunities may mean a commission split with the provider that may take up to half of your income. The best advice is to go into any lead or referral situation with your eyes open.

The final aspect you need to keep in mind as you venture into the commercial mortgage industry is your geographical reach. I don’t have to tell you that if you limit yourself to working deals solely in your local area, your earning potential will be equally as limited. Though it will take time, or just the right partner, your best bet is to serve as large a geographic area as possible. This flexibility will enable you to increase your potential client base and your potential income. Once you determine your target regions you will need to obtain the necessary licenses and qualifications to do business in those states. A few states require a special license to broker commercial mortgage loans. However, most states only require a basic qualification to do business. You should always consult your attorney to make sure you are taking the necessary steps to operate your business within the constructs of the law. It is a reasonable expense given the peace of mind you will have in knowing that you are conducting your business in accordance with the law.

Finding the right partner or mentor is a great way to start your career in the commercial mortgage industry. We all know it is much easier to get into something new when you have a friend that already does it. How many people decide, on their own, that skydiving is a good idea? It takes a friend that knows about it to get you involved. To show you the ropes and get you off the ground. This puts you more at ease with trying something new. Knowing someone who has “been there done that”. In the commercial mortgage industry, a little research and networking, will allow you to find the right partner to help get you started in this exploding industry.

In summary, the commercial mortgage industry provides a wealth of opportunity for those willing to put in a little hard work. While there are many companies out there that are willing to help and do provide a valuable service, there are equally as many, if not more, that are of no value to you at all. Do the research and go in with your head up and your eyes open and you may find wonderful opportunities within the commercial mortgage industry. Good luck!

You have received your first commercial deal! If you are like most of the brokers I’ve counseled lately your story is probably similar to the one below:

What does the average “money broker” ( I prefer to use the term capital consultant) do? First, the want to know the loan amount and then they quickly tack on 1-5 points (they assure me they are never greedy) and then they take an executive summary and shoot it around the internet asking lenders if they can close this loan in 14-21 days!

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

These brokers are not taking the correct actions. They are simply planning to fail. Why? They are ignoring the proven strategies used by seasoned commercial brokers.

Want to know the “Secret”?

Before you submit any loan proposal to any lender, you must find out:

The number of deals that lender has closed in the past, and how many they intend to close in the current year.

This is critical to your success! And how do you find out? ASK! Ask the lender by phone or email if they are looking for this type of loan and at the amount your borrower requires. If it is a medical office building ask them how many of these have they closed? And how many do they intend to close this year?

You want to hear: “Oh, we did many of these loans last year and we intend to do many this year!” Don’t send your prime office building to a lender that’s seeking to fund retail centers!

Find lenders and develop a personal relationship with them. Find out what their sweet spot is. In summary, Never submit a loan deal to any lender unless you are able to verify that the lender has closed many of the specific types of deals that your are seeking funding for and that they are currently actively lending.

Seasoned commercial brokers have honed their lender relationships over the years. You can begin this week by contacting at least one lender and interviewing them. At the end of one year you could easily have 52 lenders that you’ve developed a file on and what their lending parameters and preferred property types are.

One year from now you too can be a seasoned “Power Broker”.

To your Success!