Check in with everyone you know - friends, past clients, former colleagues from your corporate days.

Among the list of Petillo's many past and present clients include:

Most of our business comes from past clients and corporate word-of-mouth recommendations.

On the next page, we'll learn how to find out if past clients loved an agent's work or think you should steer clear.

The company also has a computer full of names - almost 15 years' worth - that were dreamed up for past clients and never used.

"Then you won't mind going over the records of all our past clients, will you?"

Talk to past clients about that and about her communication skills.

In seeking new sales opportunities it's all too easy to forget existing or past clients.

Sometimes, past clients sent me their old amounts as a way to contact me about something new.

However, in addition to looking at a consultant's experience and professional affiliations, families should also ask for references from past clients.