It’s not often one of our referring financial advisers launches a pretty cool website, so I thought it only fair to give him a plug.

Author of hassle free real estate, Brian Dalley, has entered the electronic age and created a website that blogs all things related to property and mortgages. His easy writing style and sound advice makes Property Profits  worth the visit.

Brian’s an avid writer on the property market, and meaner than two coats of paint. In fact that’s the hallmark of Brian’s advice. He will save you money! 

It didn’t take Brian long to learn that mortgage protection cover can be purchased most cheaply if sourced direct from insurer Pinnacle Life, so it was only logical that he has talked about Pinnacle Life on his website.

Good stuff Brian! We wish you every success with your website.

Life insurance joke from Elise…

James Hacker was a rich old man dying from a rare disease. On his deathbed, he called for his life insurance broker, doctor and preacher:

“I trusted each of you my entire life. Now I want to give each of you $30,000 cash in an envelope to put in my grave. I want to take it with me.”

Mr Hacker died and at the funeral, each one placed the envelope on top of the coffin, then he was laid to rest.

On the way from the funeral, in the limo, the doctor confessed “I must tell you gentlemen I only put $20,000 on top of Mr Hacker’s coffin. I wanted to buy this new machine that would enable me to diagnose his rare disease and save others. It’s what he would have wanted.”

Then the preacher said: “I have to confess I only put $10,000 on top of Mr Hacker’s coffin. We needed that money to help more homeless people. I know it’s what Mr Hacker would’ve wanted”

The life insurance broker was angry at both men and said: “I can’t believe either of you, stealing from a dead man. I wrote Mr Hacker a check for the full $30,000!”

In assessing Pinnacle Life’s marketing campaign, we looked at what traditional Insurance companies sponsor.  Interestingly they like to sponsor the referee, and I pondered why this should be. After all, the collective marketing intellect of these huge international Insurer’s must surely exceed my meager ability? So why sponsor the ref,

·         He represents neutrality…. in most instances, (unless it’s a heavy weight boxing bout promoted by Don King)

·         They are not compromised to try pick “winners”…. justified by invoking that all too familiar phrase ‘sport is about participation’. Nothing worse than an Insurer being compromised.

·         Refs are always the focus of attention  …  they always near the action, generally copping abuse from players and supporters alike.

So if sponsoring the referee is such a great marketing strategy for a neutral, fence sitting, always participating, centre of focus, but never winning Insurance company, then I guess as a strategy it works.

However, here’s the question, what happens when things don’t go so well in sport (as is often the case) Example, who sponsored Derek Barnes (that now infamous one-eyed, out of his depth, barrister excuse for an international referee)? Question, did that insurance company feel rewarded by the presence of their brand all over his shirt? If so, they must have been a French. Given all the verbal abuse hurled at the referee, does the brand adhered to his shirt remain neutral? Does the image in the spectators mind of the cheating, one-eyed, referee conjure up the same for the brand? I suspect so … all can see is Derek Barnes plastered by XXXXX insurer all over his shirt. Would I buy XXXX brand? Probably if I was looking for cheat (oops that should be a p) under-delivering, useless product, they would be top of my list. But as a rule I look for other attributes when looking to buy goods and services.

So I guess for now, while Ed and I remain the marketing brains behind Pinnacle Life, we’ll leave neutrality for the fence sitters. Pinnacle Life was pleased to be the principle sponsor of the National Wynrs Soccer Academy Tournament 2008. We don’t sponsor referees, we sponsor grass roots sports, and yes, we don’t mind picking winners.