Global Atlantic Financial Group - Leaders Insights Spring 2020 | Page 13

IN 2005, after working 20 years in
the financial services industry, James
P. Smith, CLU, ChFC, founded Atlantic
Coast Advisory Group (ACAG) with the
mission of building a boutique platform
that serves customers and provides
support for insurance professionals.
Fifteen years later, ACAG has grown
into a national presence with insurance
professionals spanning 28 states (soon to
be 30), offering a full array of products to
help people prepare for—and protect—
their future. ACAG is founded on a
culture of caring, a culture that starts in
the Charleston-based home office and
spreads out into every community its
agents serve. Over the years, community
service has come to play an important
role in ACAG’s success.
Anyone who has met Jim Smith will
attest that he leads with charisma,
compassion, and a knack for creating
strong and lasting bonds. Jim personally
handpicks
the
relationships
into
which ACAG enters, based on each
organization’s service, product offerings,
and especially their compatibility with
the ACAG family. As Jim puts it: “It all
begins with people. Whether we’re talking
about the companies we work with or the
insurance professionals who work with
us, if you pick the right people, it’s a great
journey. We have people who have been
with us for a long time. We’ve been able
to watch them grow, develop as business
professionals, and become a part of their
families. It’s an important part of our
unique culture.”
Supporting their people is a key part of
what makes ACAG’s model so successful.
“It’s lonely out there,” Jim says. “Most
associates are on an island. We try to
create an atmosphere that makes them
feel they’re part of something special, a
place they can share their successes and
their failures. This is about them, not us.
Our job is to bring added value to what
they’re already doing as professionals.
We share with them how to be an
integral part of the community and how
“WE’RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A REAL
PASSION FOR WHAT THEY DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
THEY CARE ABOUT ALL THEIR RELATIONSHIPS—
FAMILY, BUSINESS, AND COMMUNITY.”
to build successful relationships. Years
ago, I gave a national talk, and I said,
‘There’s three things you have to do to
be successful in this business: Number
one, see the people. Number two, see the
people. Number three, see the people.’ If
you have a market, a strong work ethic,
you’re coachable, and you have a passion
for the business, the sky is the limit.”
ACAG offers life insurance, retirement
planning, long-term care, individual
and group health, plus a strong annuity
platform. Life insurance is a critical driver
of ACAG’s success. As Jim puts it, “It’s who
we are. It’s our main focus on a daily basis.”
Once a relationship is established, agents
focus on meeting the clients’ needs, goals,
and objectives.
As Jim says, “When you protect your
assets using life insurance, you protect
your family, you protect your business,
you protect your legacy, you protect
everything. Our job is to make insurance
an easy transition, whether it’s for
business, personal, or legacy needs. We
support all of these opportunities under
our ACAG umbrella.”
ACAG considers its Global Atlantic
Insurance Network (GAIN) membership to
be vital to the service it provides. “Global
Atlantic is part of the ACAG family! It’s
exciting to have a relationship with an
organization that’s focused on the future”,
says Jim. “The platform, relationships,
and teamwork between GAIN and ACAG
provide opportunities for our insurance
professionals to grow their practice.
“Relationship” is a word that comes
up a lot with Jim, and part of ACAG’s
business model is to be active locally in
charitable endeavors, inside and outside
the insurance industry. As Jim describes,
“We’re looking for people who have a real
passion for what they do on a daily basis.
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They care about all their relationships—
family, business, and community.”
ACAG actively encourages its people
to engage with their communities in
meaningful ways. “Anybody can write
checks,” Jim says, “and that’s great.
And if your logo is in a magazine, that’s
important. But for you to be there and
really care is invaluable.”
Jim’s
personal
penchant
for
community involvement is one reason
he’s so supportive of GAIN Gives, a
new program designed to encourage
community activity by members of the
Global Atlantic Insurance Network.
As Jim says, “Just think of the impact
an entire organization can have if
everyone participates in something,
even if it’s at the smallest, local level.
There’s a cumulative effect. That’s
one reason I’m so excited about the
new GAIN Gives initiative. It’s helping
causes, but it’s also helping our
members. People who are active in the
community know the pulse. They know
who’s building a new building, who’s
starting a new business, who’s moving
into town. The more active you are,
the more informed you are, and that
matters a lot in our business.”
You can learn more about GAIN Gives
on page 14.
Atlantic Coast Advisory Group (ACAG) is a member of the Global
Atlantic Insurance Network SM .