In 2015, my year-end column covered how to prepare an annualbusiness plan for your organization, and focused on budgets, salesand marketing goals, and objectives for next year. But that's allabout your business.

What about you? Your life is composed of both your business lifeand your personal life. A good checklist can be a valuable tool inidentifying key issues for you to focus on. If you are an owner,principal or CEO, are you comfortable in your role? Do you feelthat your employees see you as a leader, or just the boss? Use thissample checklist to examine what will enhance your quality of lifeand make you more effective in your business.

Your Personalized “Business To-Do” List:

• Do an IT audit: How can you improve your agencysystem? What do you need that you don't have? Do you have aninternal office policy regarding e-mail — the dos and don'ts — andhas everyone read and signed it?

• Review your disaster plan: Do you have a plan?Is it in writing? Who is responsible for implementing it? Have youever done a rehearsal?

• Update the employee handbook: If you have EPLinsurance, are you asking for assistance with HR issues? Are you incompliance and up to date with all federal, state and localregulations?

• Review your agency/company contracts, includingbinding authority, profit-sharing agreements, soft costs availableand production bonuses.

• Confirm the entity's structure: Is it an LLC,SubS or partnership? Do you know the difference? Discuss therationale for the current structure. Should it be changed? If so,why, when and how?

• Review your professional relationships: Areyour CPA, attorney and consultants all providing maximum value? Areyou satisfied with their performance?

• Examine your producer contracts: Review termsof employment, determine whether compensation and commission levelsshould remain or be changed, and review termination policies, exitagreements and vesting.

• Check the shareholder's agreement: Reviewbuy/sell provisions for death, disability, voluntary withdrawal,and retirement; determine whether life insurance policies reflectcurrent value, and if they are accurate or need to be revised, anddetermine whether a succession or perpetuation plan is inplace.

• Review all leases: Should a leasing company beformed to handle all auto, equipment and premises leases? Discusswith your accountant or attorney.

• Review all vendor costs and relationships:Whether it is office cleaning, snow plowing, grass cutting, trashremoval or coffee service, all arrangements should be reviewedperiodically.

• Rate your centers of influence: Are youreceiving equal referrals to what you are referring out? Are thereany new networking opportunities that you as a principal or CEOshould get involved with?

• Do one thing for your professional development:Do a SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysisand assess where you can benefit most by seeking professionaldevelopment.

Personal “Quality of Life To-Do” List:

• Where do you see yourself in five years? 10 years?

• Improve your health with nutrition and exercise.

• Work with a professional to review the asset allocation of allqualified and non-qualified investments to reach specificgoals.

• Should you refinance your mortgage?

• Review your life and disability income insurance, and considerpurchasing long-term care insurance.

• Review beneficiary agreements on all insurance, annuities andretirement plans.

• Update your will, health proxy and power of attorney.

• Initiate, or update, estate-planning needs with a tax advisor orattorney.

• Analyze your net worth and compare to last year. Target futurenet worth objectives.

• Select a target date to initiate a business exit strategy.