Living Benefits

Ensure clients are insured for life

During any discussion regarding life insurance, advisors should be seeking the answer to two key questions: How much coverage is required? and What type of life insurance product is best suited for the client [DASH] temporary or permanent coverage? While both questions are important, the answer to the first usually determines the response to the […]

By Bruce Cumming |January 11, 2010

7 min read

Living Benefits

Assessing the risk of cognitive disorders

prepare meals use transportation grocery shop clean house do laundry do laundry clean house grocery shop use transportation prepare meals use the telephone manage medications IADL functions tend to be complex, requiring a combination of physical and cognitive capacities. For example, shopping requires mobility and a relatively intact cognition to handle the financial transactions involved. […]

By Hélène Michaud, Joan Tolan |December 21, 2009

6 min read

Living Benefits

Helping clients understand annuity value

What’s theoretically rational for an investor may not be what most people actually do. This could be because of behavioural factors, or there could be deeper, and quite rational factors. So it is with lifetime annuities. Academic research suggests they’re superior to other products in providing a lifelong income, and the earlier they are bought, […]

By Scot Blythe |November 26, 2009

5 min read

Living Benefits

Claims Clinic: LTC tools, case studies

After several years of sales, claims under LTC policies are beginning to materialize. The role of the claims adjudicator is to educate the claimant about the policy benefits, while paying special attention to what will be required to determine whether the claimant’s limitations and restrictions meet the definition of Activity of Daily Living (ADL) dependency. […]

By Hélène Michaud, Denise Liston |November 24, 2009

6 min read

Providing for special needs beneficiaries

Special attention must be paid to planning for the needs of disabled beneficiaries, some of whom will be dependent on their parents for most, if not all, of their lifetimes. Issues concerning financial support, housing, healthcare, education, and employment of the disabled beneficiary must be addressed and a comprehensive plan put in place. Providing for […]

4 min read

The role of GMWBS in estate planning

I frequently come across clients who own Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB) plans or are considering purchasing one, and many don’t fully understand the plans because, let’s face it, they’re complicated. Trying to compare the different income options, fees, investments and guarantees offered by each company can be like navigating a vine- and baboon-infested jungle. […]

6 min read

Assessing the risk of cognitive disorders for LTC insurance

grocery shop clean house do laundry do laundry clean house grocery shop use transportation prepare meals use the telephone manage medications IADL functions tend to be complex, requiring a combination of physical and cognitive capacities. For example, shopping requires mobility and a relatively intact cognition to handle the financial transactions involved. Loss of IADLs are, […]

6 min read

Creating your own LTC plan to support clients

When will I (be able to) retire? When will I (be able to) retire? Will I be able to afford inevitable uninsured retirement medical expenses? Who will I end up caring for: my parents, my in-laws, my spouse, my friends? Mary is going to use her own eldercare experience to help define her personal LTC […]

5 min read

Premium Advice: Succession planning and your vacation property

Last summer, we discussed the case of Todd and Joanne Winchester, two siblings from British Columbia who had vacation properties. See that article here. We looked at many things, including estate protection to ensure the properties could be enjoyed by the next generation. However, I glossed over the technical details on estate protection. This month, […]

3 min read

LTD: Helping claimants when they are most vulnerable

This is the final installment of a three-part series. View part one here and part two here. An insurance agent who offers group benefits and/or individual disability benefits will experience the time-consuming and difficult task of helping clients make benefit claims. While it’s tough, it’s also a source of client appreciation for your efforts as […]

5 min read