At the recent CALU associate members’ meeting, Malcolm Burrows from Scotia Private Client Group’s Philanthropic Advisory Services gave a presentation on charitable giving. In it, he discussed a renewed client interest in utilizing insured annuities in a charitable sense. Subsequently, at different meetings — within, and outside of, my own company, I again heard talk […]
With the new Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) offering clients another place to park their dollars, it’s likely insurance advisors are wondering how this savings vehicle will affect their business. So, will the TFSA help or hurt insurance sales? In short, it will do both. First, a brief overview of the proposed structure for tax-free savings […]
Headlines of bailouts, rescue plans and bank failures no doubt have your clients on edge, but I bet most of those frantic calls you’re getting centre around whether or not someone’s portfolio can withstand the downward market pressure. Insurance planning, though, has historically played a crucial part in financial planning during periods of market disruption. […]
Headlines of bailouts, rescue plans and bank failures no doubt have your clients on edge, but I bet most of those frantic calls you’re getting centre around whether or not someone’s portfolio can withstand the downward market pressure. Insurance planning, though, has historically played a crucial part in financial planning during periods of market disruption. […]
Since the introduction of the guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (GMWB) and the increase in popularity of structured products with forms of capital guarantee, along with numerous investment writers’ espousing the virtues of proper management of diversified portfolios, the idea of product allocation has taken on a momentum all its own. One common theme you’ll hear […]
It’s that time of year again: back-to-school shopping and saying goodbye to the kids as they head to university or college. For advisors, the new school year means helping families plan for their children’s financial future. RESPs always provide a sound foundation thanks to government grants like the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG), but they […]
Now that school’s out and summer is here, many of your clients are likely planning to spend time at the cottage. Most aren’t thinking about how to use insurance to protect their idyllic home away from home — and if they are, it’s usually related to protecting the asset in case of a casualty, fire […]
A lot of our clients are successful in business, but marriage is another story. Many first-time unions have ended in divorce because of an overworked husband or wife, but now that they have a solid career, it’s often time to find a special someone again. Life isn’t as simple for your client as it was […]
At the recent World Critical Illness Conference and the Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting, Munich Reinsurance made a long-awaited announcement that benchmark definitions have arrived in Canada. Why did they do this, and why is it important to advisors? Although it’s a voluntary measure that each manufacturer must adopt, it addresses what many advisors have […]
Very few roadblocks can be as frustrating in our business as a decline. After spending hours of your time developing a relationship, preparing recommendations, and explaining the benefits of purchasing coverage to a client, some unforeseen problem limits the underwriter’s ability to make an offer, and they are not able to provide coverage. How do […]