Life

Here and there

Have you taken a pass on providing support to your clients’ expatriate or inpatriate health insurance needs due to the complexity of this market? Or have you let business go to a competitor because you were unfamiliar with this area of risk? If yes, then it’s high time you gained the confidence to discuss this […]

By Jeff Simpson |April 1, 2009

4 min read

Life

Premium Advice: Dollar-cost averaging and insurance

With recent market turmoil, many articles have espoused the virtues of dollar-cost averaging. The theory is that as the cost of a unit or security goes down, regular and disciplined investments will take advantage of reduced pricing and lower the average cost of acquiring the investment, at least on a temporary basis. But where does […]

By Chris Paterson |March 4, 2009

4 min read

Life

CRA review of 10/8 insurance programs

Much has been written about the Canada Revenue Agency’s plans to review leveraged insurance arrangements, also known as 10/8 programs. These programs typically have the following characteristics: Why would a policyholder enter into this type of loan arrangement? The answer lies in the fact that if the money is borrowed to earn business or investment […]

By Kevin Wark |February 23, 2009

4 min read

Life

Market blow to UL

Both partners in a high-net-worth couple had each taken out a universal life insurance policy with the accumulation account linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average. They saw two benefits to the policies: reasonably priced insurance and tax-sheltered investment. When the markets melted down last fall, the investment value of their accumulation accounts fell by […]

By Al Emid |January 1, 2009

4 min read

Out to pasture

Last week, our client management software supplier told us that as of next December, it’ll no longer support our system. The notice dealt a double whammy because the company doesn’t plan on replacing the software, and no other company has plans to step in. This abrupt severance of a 20- year relationship induced a sense […]

3 min read

Par for the course

On more than one occasion, I’ve exchanged views with clients and colleagues about participating (par) whole life. At issue are various nuggets of wisdom passed along by industry associates, and others who share a view that par provides a poor rate of return. While whole life providers have given advisors a plethora of marketing material […]

6 min read

Bomb shells

For most clients and advisors the ongoing financial crisis has been measured by its impact on investment portfolios. But it has also generated questions about insurers and insurance products, among them universal life (UL) insurance and whether that product is about to drop a bomb, as the expression goes. UL has three main components funded […]

By Al Emid |December 16, 2008

7 min read

Do-Not-Call rules create silver lining

Congratulations, you’re a telemarketer. At least that’s what you are in the eyes of the newly enacted Do Not Call Legislation (DNCL). Among other things, advisors’ firms must now register with, and provide information to, the National DNCL operator before initiating a telemarketing communication. But how will this change your world? And what potential opportunities […]

4 min read

Assuring solvency

It was April 1943. An enthusiastic fellow entered the head office of an insurance company for a job interview. After a barrage of questions from the interviewer, the prospective insurance agent was asked if he had any questions regarding the position. “Yes,” the applicant said, “what would happen to my clients if your company went […]

3 min read

Premium Advice — Will the TFSA kill or help insurance sales?

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 […]

5 min read