You did it: AEP is over – and we are proud of you!
Another AEP has officially come to a close, and before anything else, the Tidewater team wants to say this: We are beyond proud of you. This season demanded long hours, deep focus, and an astounding level of commitment. You showed up each day to serve clients, answer hard questions, bring clarity to situations, and truly make a difference in people’s lives.
Although the season has ended, your momentum doesn’t have to. In fact, the days and weeks following AEP are some of the most crucial for building retention, strengthening your book of business, and setting yourself up for a stronger new year.
To help you do just that, here’s a Post-AEP Checklist to guide your next steps.
Your Post-AEP Checklist: What to do Now
✔ Review Your AEP Performance
Take time to reflect on the past seven weeks:
- What worked well?
- Where did you feel pressure points?
- Which processes, tools, or partnerships (maybe you talked to an individual on our team!) made the biggest difference?
Understanding your wins and challenges now will help you improve your strategy for next year.
✔ Reach Out to Your New Clients
AEP may be done, but the new client relationships you made are just the beginning.
- Send welcome and thank you mailers, emails, or handwritten cards
- Prepare them for what to expect next (ID cards, important dates to remember, benefits, etc.)
- Remind them how to reach you anytime during the year
You want to position yourself as a year-round partner and friend, not just an enrollment contact.
✔ Follow Up with Existing Clients
Your current book of business is valuable.
- Thank them for their continued trust in you
- Check to see if your clients are satisfied with their coverage and ask if they want to add any additional coverage (such as a hospital indemnity plan)
- Communicate that your door is open for questions they may have in January and beyond
Making clients feel seen and remembered strengthens retention, builds long-term loyalty, and encourages them to look at your other offerings.
✔ Update Your CRM
While everything is fresh in your mind:
- Add notes from client conversations
- Update contact information and plan changes
- Schedule future check-ins with clients
- Organize your book of business before heading into Q1
- Sorting clients into plan types could be effective for marketing efforts during the year. (Groups could look like: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Annuities, etc.)
These tips could save you time all year long.
✔ Begin Your Retention Strategy
Retention begins today, not six months from now.
- Draft up Q1 and Q2 talking points
- Plan newsletters, postcards, flyers, educational events, birthday cards, and quarterly check-ins
- Create educational content your clients will appreciate
- You can post these on socials just as easily as sending a mailer or hosting an event!
Consistent, value-driven communication builds long-term relationships.
✔ Strengthen Your Brand Identity and Presence Online
Your clients are online, and you should be too.
- Refresh your website
- Update your professional headshost
- Create and post more on social media
- Invite clients to leave reviews and testimonials
Creating a consistent experience that your clients can rely on is crucial for success. Check out our blog “How to Build a Brand Clients Can’t Ignore” for more on this topic.
✔ Enhance Your Portfolio
As a Partner of Tidewater Management Group, you have access to over 140 products.
- Consider additional product offerings
- Consider adding annuities, cancer plans, dental, vision, and hearing, or final expense to your portfolio
- Look for cross-selling opportunites
- Some of your clients may benefit from additional coverage. Check out what is available and if they could be a good fit.
Explore our carrier products and contact us at (888) 622-9122 to find out which states and counties are available.
✔ Prepare for SEP & OEP
- Reach out to SEP clients
- Chronic individuals or those undergoing significant life changes
- Familizarize yourself with SEP and OEP guidelines
- Understand what changes can happen
- Join our weekly TMG agent trainings to stay updated with carrier information
✔ Start Prepping for AEP 2026 Early
Great agents don’t wait until October to prepare.
Consider:
- Completing any trainings you may have missed this year
- Reviewing updated carrier information/benefits for 2026
- Updating tools, marketing efforts, technology, and workflows
- Setting 2026 goals based on this year’s lessons, wins, and challenges
- Register for TMG’s AEP Roadshows when the dates are released!
Early preparation = smoother enrollment season.
✔ Rest, Recharge, and Recentre
You’ve poured a lot into AEP. Take time to:
- Sleep/Rest
- Reset
- Celebrate your wins
- Spend time with loved ones
- Step back and breathe
- Pat yourself on the back
A rested agent is a strong agent.
✔ Lean on Your Support Team
No agent should walk through any season alone. Reach out to your Tidewater family for:
- Contracting
- Certificaiton help
- Business/Growth planning
- Marketing/Lead Strategies
- Tech tools
- Post-AEP support questions
We’re here to help you keep growing – long after AEP ends.
Final Thoughts
AEP may be over, but your opportunity to grow and serve others is just getting started. We hope you take pride in the work you’ve done, celebrate your accomplishments, and embrace the new year with confidence.
You finished strong-now let’s build what’s next, together.
