Fran Tarkenton is a classic entrepreneur. Yes, he did play in the NFL for 18 years, and is in the NFL Hall of Fame as well as the College Hall of Fame. He earned those accolades by his own performance and the ability to make his teammates better. That same strategy is still working for him today as he continues to strive to make his business partners better.His business career is even more impressive than his football career. He has built fifteen different ideas into successful, thriving businesses.
- He had his first insurance license at 19.
- He did the first payroll deduct guaranteed issue Life Insurance Program at Cannon Mills in North Carolina. By utilizing National Life & Accident of Nashville, Tennessee, 26,000 people at Cannon Mills were insured. Fran took that idea to corporate America and built a large company.
- He started the practice of advertising on airplane ticket jackets in 1980. He eventually had every airline except Eastern and Braniff utilizing his system.
- He built a software technology company in the 1980's partnering with IBM and Ernst & Young. This company went from $0 in revenue to $129M in revenue within just a few years. View Morningstar Article by Dr. Donald Moine.
- During his esteemed career, Fran has formed close relationships with several business leaders whom he greatly respects; among them, Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart and Jay Abraham, marketing guru. Sam was a great fan of Fran and the feeling was reciprocated. View a letter from Sam Walton.
- Fran has worked for many years with marketing genius Jay Abraham. Jay says of Fran, "He is the most intuitive businessman I have ever known. He has a proven ability to lift his partners and increase their chance for growth."
Fran was among the pioneers behind the launch of Guthy-Renker Corporation in 1986. Today it is the leading infomercial production company. Guthy-Renker Corporation introduced television spokesperson Tony Robbins to the world and is the promotional genius behind successes such as Power-Rider fitness products. Fran also helped launch 1-800-BAR-NONE, the top sub-prime auto loan program in the United States.Fran is a founding partner in one of the fastest growing conference call companies in the U.S. He owns GoSmallBiz.com, a leading small business portal and consulting service provider. He partnered with Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. to develop its small business plan which is growing at a rate of 110% per year.
In 2003, he started Tarkenton Financial, a company focused on financial education and the benefits of fixed annuities and single premium life products. The company markets these services to the growing senior market through hundreds of representatives in the Tarkenton Financial network.
A highly regarded entrepreneur for the last 40 years, Fran's philosophy is that there is only one reason for a business to exist - to provide products and services that enhance and improve the quality of life of its customer. Tarkenton Financial is the culmination of his work for the last 10 years. It embodies his vision, values and his passion. Meet Fran Tarkenton and you'll understand why Tarkenton Financial is right for you.
Q: As an NFL Hall of Fame inductee, you are a well-recognized celebrity and a sports legend. Describe how the two areas of expertise - sports and business - intersect in your career.
The relationship between success in sports and success in business is closely aligned. In sports, you quickly recognize the need for help from others - and that's in both team sports like football and individual sports such as golf. In football, I learned fast as the quarterback that I could throw the football. But, that's not all it takes to win a game. To be successful, to complete a pass, for instance, I needed a line in front of me to block. I needed a receiver to catch, coaches to instruct, recruiters to build a winning team - and the list goes on. Was all of it on my shoulders?Absolutely not. As a team you share the bonus of success.
The same principles apply in business. Nobody has all of the answers, so it's incumbent upon business leaders - the good ones - to assemble a team that brings together the best of everything. I'm talking about leadership teams, product quality, and recruiting those with impeccable skills and the brightest ideas. I'm talking about fashioning a team that's motivated by winning customer respect, by answering their needs, and by providing the highest level of service and commitment possible.
Q: What led you to the formation of Tarkenton Financial?
My entire career has been dedicated to building products and services that people need and that deliver great benefit. I believe the only reason for a business to exist is to provide products and services that make customers' lives better.As I approached my senior years, I saw the opportunity to build a team that could lend individual areas of expertise and add tremendous value by educating people my age. I am a Senior, myself. I intend to keep the quality of life that I have now and with enough money and protection to do so in the future. I know other seniors share the same view.
Q: You sound passionate about what you do.
I am. Of all of my businesses throughout my career - this easily provides me with the most passion and satisfaction. It comes from the satisfaction of helping someone meet their personal goals. We are able to help our customers meet long-term financial goals and improve their quality of life without risk. That gives me great satisfaction to help seniors like myself and give them accurate, helpful information.
Q: You are assembling a national network of Tarkenton Financial agents. What are some of the attributes you look for in a agent?
We recruit and retain only the most skilled independent insurance and financial professionals. Our agents must be skilled and they must be honorable and ethical professionals. They must also share my passion - our passion - for educating senior citizens and for improving lives. Each agent that joins our team must live up to a commitment to provide all customers with an unrivaled level of service and intelligence. Trust is at the heart of all of this and anything that we can do to engender greater trust is key. Certainty, intelligence, ethics and accountability are at the very root of that trust.
Q: What do you like about your business?
We truly help senior citizens make better decisions for their financial future. We are able to educate them and give them the tools they need so they feel confident in their choices. We are able to help them keep the quality of life that they have always envisioned and give them peace of mind. That's what I love about this business.
