#Epsilon the Hybrid Nightmare

[kjdragon70]

This is probably going to look like ass since it's transparent, but I did a small Epsilon piece recently :3

I need to practise drawing them again, I miss them 😭

[moicat]

Show me your favorite ocs *holds you at gunpoint*

This is going to be a list for sure! I will try to keep it 'short' or we will be here for a while, I will show pictures and then do a small summary for each. They will also not be my self-insert ones or artist persona ones, just cuz I adore those too but they are in a different category compared to my actual ocs. Thanks for the ask!! (This took me way too damn long to make)

Katt

Katt is the daughter of 2 thieves, when they finally get wanted for a very bad crime, she gets caught in the crosshairs. Now, she is a very young bard, wandering the countryside. Her music is magical.

-Her blue markings glow when using her powers a lot (this is mostly visible in the dark.)

-She is a Siamese mix.

-In this world, the only anthro creatures are cats/felines, meaning lions, tigers, any sort of domestic cat breed, etc. They are also able to transform into a human form. But, depending on the area and culture of the location. Some choose to stick to one form more permanently.

-Katt used to be my fursona! Good times.

Casper

Casper is not a ghost, but an ink elemental (his element.. is ink.) He is an immortal being who lives with his other brothers. They aren't 'blood' related, but treated each other as such and are also elementals.

-Inspired by Oz from Monster Prom!

-Has an 'angelic' form.

-Is constantly tired/half asleep due to having terrible nightmares+insomnia.

Masked Magician

The main villain of the main story of 'Five Thousand Realms'. By the general public, he goes by many names, such as Mask, The Mask, Masked Man, Masked Wizard, Masked Swordsman, bla bla bla. He is well known in the public, due to hosting the arena. He is after something though.

-His real name is Jack

-Inspired by Jack of Blades (hence the name... Jack.)

-Is actually a teenager. But is able to hide that fact, unless you hear him behind closed doors.

Epsilon

The prince of the Starcats. A species that is very close to... well, the stars. Their culture revolves around listening to the stars and worshipping him. A common belief is that the Stars are always watching. So you best be on your best behavior. Epsilon is your typical kinda-bratty prince. But he's nice when you get to know him!

-Inspired by Endermen

-Commonly wear eye and star jewelry

-Due to wanting to be 'close to the Stars' not many Spacecats reside outside of their kingdom. Not saying there aren't any outside, it's just not common.

Stars

Speaking of a species that worships Stars... here he is! He is a ball of light. He resides in the sky for most of the story (The story is called 'The Sky Has Feelings Too' by the way.) He made a massive fumble and let his one true love (The Sky) get a physical form without him being able to stop her. Now she resides on the earth, as he watches over her, planning.

-He is actually comprised of many souls in one.

-His voice echoes, maybe even fluctuates.

-One of his eyes is covered by void, supposed to symbolize his downright obsession with the Sky.

Icarus

The boy who wished to fly, an avian kid who unbeknownst to him... has a very, very tough life ahead of him. Oh dear... the trauma... He is a rare subspecies of avian, called Phoenixes. He has feathers with magical properties and fire powers.

-There's a subspecies of Pheonixes also... called True Pheonixes. They are immortal.

-Icarus gets a happy ending I promise-

-He's an orphan. Did I mention that? Did I?

Lucky

Takes place in the story called 'Lucky and Friends' where it's just him and his buds goofing around. He lives in a rural town, his family owns a farm. And his gang has this cool abandoned shed in the middle of the field that they often visit. The world has hybrids of almost all animals. Lucky is a Highland cow Hybrid.

-I freaking love Highland cows.

-Probably one of the only stories I have that has the least amount of angst.

-Doesn't mean there is ZERO angst!

Paris

The main character for 'Five Thousand Realms', is the classic "Why am I here..." type of guy, the reluctant chosen one. Story starts with him being all grumpy and crap, but as time goes on and he makes some friends, he warms up.

-He wants to own a bakery above all else.

-His character is inspired by Razia's Shadow. Love that musical.

-The story is called 'Five Thousand Realms' despite the realms/universes part only being the main focus waaaaayyy later.

I have more ocs, but I'll just stop here.

[omcik-blog]

New Post has been published on OmCik

New Post has been published on http://omcik.com/reaching-the-middle-market-part-1-why-you-need-a-strategy/

Reaching the Middle Market, Part 1: Why You Need a Strategy

(Photo: Thinkstock)

Most agents and advisors make their first sales in the middle market. Many then move on, but those first anxious visits around the kitchen table or in small, cluttered offices are part of their foundation.

Lower life and health commissions have re-focused agents elsewhere, but the middle market is still there, bigger than ever. As the affluent, senior, and large-group sectors become saturated, advisors are showing more interest in coming home to the middle market.

(Related: 5 Long-Term Care Hybrid Perspectives)

Advisors may have to re-think how they approach this behemoth demographic. Older-style, generic approaches (like mailers keyed to ZIP code or income level) are giving way to high-tech, micro-segmented, education-centered marketing.

“Consumers are used to being able to ask questions and get education before having to engage anything,” says Eric Palmer, chief marketing officer at Brokers Alliance, a life and annuity wholesaler in Fountain Hills, Arizona. “They’ve got access to a lot of information online.”

Middle Market: Huge Potential Rewards

The vast “middle” market (broadly defined by the authors of a 2014 LIMRA/Epsilon middle market study as about 50 million households with $35,000 to $100,000 in annual income) is on record as under-insured and keen for financial advice.

Most of these households are accessible through social media. The younger families will inherit trillions in the next few years. The older families already know the value of insurance and retirement planning.

Average producer commissions on the life insurance shortfall alone (estimated at $1 trillion dollars face value by the authors of the LIMRA/Epsilon study) could run in the billions.

Investment dollars, annuity deposits, health, disability and critical illness premiums (not to mention business, auto and home coverage) are not far behind. Many households even admit they don’t buy or invest because they just haven’t taken the time!

Tapping the Middle Market: New Ultra-Focused Approaches Needed

Sixty-eight percent of the insurers surveyed for the LIMRA/Epsilon study said the middle market is the first priority.

Seventy-three percent said it will be their focus in the future.

One hundred percent said that they haven’t found a reliable way to penetrate it.

(Image: Thinkstock)

While there are pockets of success (including the workplace and senior markets), most companies still don’t see consistent mid-market profits.

The November 2016 Society of Actuaries report “Middle Market Life Insurance: Findings From Industry Thought Leaders” shows that executives think:

Traditional sales practices “don’t work anymore” or are “too expensive” in this market.

Mid-market households don’t have enough disposable income.

Many mid-market buyers “don’t understand” insurance or planning needs.

Millennial and other buyers expect a virtual “D2C” (direct to consumer) Amazon-style experiences.

DIY internet platforms lack the sense of urgency or “call to action” often needed to close sales, especially of life insurance.

Online portals don’t improve complex product sales (but create instead that old agent nightmare “analysis paralysis.”)

This low penetration stems more from an “engagement gap” than the market itself. Broad brush, legacy-style marketing (think advertising lowest price, multi-state generic “need creation” mailers, “close-heavy” traditional sales scripting, not going beyond age group or income level in any strategy) may no longer be enough.

(Related: 5 Long-Term Care Hybrid Perspectives)

The middle market is “very segmented,” says Michael J. Moody in his Rough Notes blog, but the authors of the LIMRA/Epsilon study note, “Less than half of the companies surveyed had a segmentation approach for the middle market.”

Segmenting, or sub-dividing, broad mid-market categories helps the advisor address target-segment concerns, and make the best use of resources. There are many ways to divide up this enormous market.

“Micro-Segmenting” the Middle Market

The authors of the LIMRA/Epsilon middle market study divide this huge demographic into five distinct purchasing profiles, and suggest tailored sales strategies for each. Each niche has different needs and pain points.

Agents and advisors have known this for years. Many have found profitable niche mid-market segments.

(Image: Thinkstock)

They may not follow the exact LIMRA/Epsilon template, but idea is the same: pursue a specific sub-group by addressing its unique needs.

Eric Palmer says Brokers Alliance has micro-segmented the middle market for 35 years.

“Our strategy is multi-generational,” he says, “We take each generation in three segments. We’ve got your millennial, your X, your baby boomer. Then we break it down within those segments — you know, married versus single — because the approach, the script, the reason, the need, those things all change.”

The Brokers Alliance agents educate on potential needs, and offer solutions, unique to each segment, often emphasizing single-policy solutions over multiple plans.

“We’re finding now that providing value is much more beneficial, and are wrapping that value with education,” Palmer says. “So, as an example, teaching somebody just how much they’re going to need in a living benefit and a death benefit, and a potential supplement to their income stream. Educating them about the choices they have, and then showing them what the insurance products can do for them, at a fraction of the cost of buying all these policies separately.

“So, really, educating them about the need, and then using the hybrid type products to show them the cost savings. And providing more value, and so we find that that person, once you go through that process of education, will take a Phoenix life living benefit term, or Transamerica living term, that’s 30% higher premium over that Banner term insurance product that’s strictly focused on death benefits.”

Agents can stay top-of-mind as advisors, Palmer says, by addressing multiple needs with value in mind.

Next week, see: Reaching the Middle Market, Part 1: How to Actually Do It

— Read Capturing The Millennial Middle Market With Smart Analytics on ThinkAdvisor.