Blog

Over the past few years, I have had the honor to participate as a judge for the Manulife Life Lessons Scholarship Program.  The judging for the 2025 scholarships wrapped up today. It takes incredible bravery and determination to pursue post-secondary education in the...

Life insurance is imperative if you have loved ones or dependents. The coverage helps to provide them financial security in the worse case scenario, your death.  It is often easy to forget about your life insurance once it is in place, but it is important to...

I hope you all had a chance to enjoy this past Family Day weekend, whether playing in the snow or staying cozy indoors with each other. We would all do just about anything to protect and keep our loved ones safe.  Insurance is never a glamourous thing to talk...

As children get ready to go back to school it can be a very emotional time for many parents, especially if your children are going away to study.  Why add the stress of the possibility of unexpected medical care costs?  When packing up your child to go away to school,...

Although interest rates have dropped slightly in the past months, the higher interest rates have created a situation where many people have looked to trim their expenses and life insurance is often one of those areas. It makes sense that people tend to focus on other...

It is hard to believe the school year is ending and it is the last week of June already.  Congratulations to all the high school graduates and best of luck in the next chapter of your lives.  Next year will also mark a new chapter for Ontario high schools.  After 25...

Usually at this time of year as cottage season starts to ramp up, I like to post a little reminder on social media about “What You Need To Know About Your Cottage”, linking it to the previous blog of mine from a few years ago that outlines how a cottage can be  a...

Life insurance is often a topic of discussion people avoid. The thought of one’s own mortality can make people uncomfortable, but it is important to understand your risks and to protect your family and your wealth.  There are several times in your life that you...

One of the main reasons for purchase life insurance is to help replace income that your family depends upon, in the event of your death. Being a stay-at-home parent is more than a full-time job that does not come with an actual pay cheque. So, do you still need to...

‘Tis the season for travelling and visiting friends and family. With the snow flying many people are also heading to sunnier and warmer destinations to get away.  Making sure you and your loved ones are protected against the cost of unexpected medical emergencies...

November is Financial Literacy Month.  The goal is to raise awareness of the importance financial literacy; the ability to understand how to earn, spend, save, manage, and invest money. Financial literacy is an important life skill that sadly many individuals don't...

Breast cancer affects millions of women and their families worldwide each year? It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian women. This month, we can unite in the fight against this life-changing disease by raising awareness and supporting those affected....

We have made it past the chaos of September and are back to our regular schedules after the summertime. There is no better time to review your insurance needs than now. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of ensuring that you have adequate protection in place for...

Do you have enough money to retire? Are you worried about out living your money? These fears are not uncommon. The combination of stock market uncertainty, increased longevity, and rising interest rates throughout the past year have made annuities more appealing. The...

You have worked hard to build your business and want to make sure you maximize the legacy you leave to your beneficiaries.  One strategy that can be used to achieve this may be owning permanent life insurance inside your business. There are many considerations...

Last month, Canada Life launched a first-of-its-kind, single payment life insurance product designed solely for charitable giving. This innovative product, called My Par Gift, is changing the landscape of charitable giving. The simple one-time premium payment donation...

This latest announcement was a big change for people visiting Ontario and it wasn’t an April fools joke. At the beginning of the month, the Ontario Ministry of Health announced that it will no longer provide medical coverage for visitors to Ontario, effective April 1,...

What impact would your death have on your family? Not something we like to think about, but something we need to. Here are a handful of young peoples’ real-life stories about their hardships and perseverance following the death of their parent. The financial...

As we go through life our financial goals change. When we are younger (20-40’s), our objectives tend to be focused on debt management, building wealth and protecting our income.  Moving towards retirement, typically we have less or no debt and greater asset and...

Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance that helps to offset or cover the cost of long-term care services. These services may be needed if you are unable to perform everyday tasks (activities of daily living) due to a chronic illness, disability, or cognitive...

Does your life insurance policy give you anything back? Did you know owning a life insurance policy can help you take that holiday you wanted to go on? Or that purchasing life insurance can also get you a free Apple Watch or wearable device (Fitbit or Garmin)?...

An aspect of estate planning that is typically overlooked is charitable giving.  Many of us are very passionate philanthropists who like to support numerous causes.  Why would you give money out of your estate when with some forethought you can use a life...

There are many financial strategies for saving and investing your money so you can have sufficient income when you retire.  In Canada, there are 4 areas where you can take advantage of tax-free growth: RRSPs, TFSAs, your primary/principal residence and permanent...

We all hope to make it to retirement without suffering a major or severe illness.  Unfortunately, two in five Canadians (44% of men and 43% of women) are expected to develop cancer in their lifetime[1].  The good news is that things like heart attacks and...

Your most important asset is your ability to earn an income. You work hard to pay your monthly living expenses, including mortgage payments and saving for retirement or a child’s education.  If you are unable to work due to illness or an injury, the financial...

What you should know before you sign up for the creditor insurance on your mortgage Congratulations. It is a very exciting time, you just bought a new home for yourself and your family.  You have met with your lender/bank and they have suggested creditor...

So you were on top of your game and purchased term life insurance years ago, when you were younger to protect the ones you love. That is fantastic.  Now, you are coming to the end of your term and it is time for your insurance to renew.  Here are a few...

Investing?  Segregated funds are often a misunderstood product.  They can be a valuable tool in certain circumstances but are not always suitable for everyone.   Here are the pros and cons of seg funds that may help you decide if they are right for...

Purchasing life insurance is not hard.  Unfortunately, it can sometimes be overwhelming and confusing with all the terms and fancy names that insurance companies use.  Below is a basic breakdown of the two fundamental types of life insurance.  Hopefully this will...

As we get together with loved ones over the holidays and move into the new year, there is no better time to start thinking about protecting your family and making getting life insurance one of your New Year’s resolutions.  Purchasing life insurance often gets...

Life happens and life insurance is not high on the priority list for the majority of people. The sad truth is that many people only start thinking about insurance after an eye-opening experience.  Covid-19 has reminded us all that “any thing can happen”. Many...

One of the worst things a parent can experience is hearing the news your child has been diagnosed with a severe life threating illness.  As parents, we would leverage everything we had to make sure our child was going to be ok. A children’s critical illness...

Many people ask, “What is children’s insurance and why would you ever need or want to insure a child?”  Tragedies can and do happen and generally people use children’s life insurance to provide the funds for their child’s funeral expenses. It can also provide funds so...

Adding a new member to your family is a wonderful and exciting time.  It is one of the largest milestones in your life. There are so many things to think about when growing your family it can be overwhelming.  Here is a helpful little checklist of some of the things...

Great news. We are finally getting back to travelling!  As we move forward in the pandemic re-opening plans and the government moves to re-open international borders, don’t forget to protect yourself and your loved ones before leaving the country.  Purchasing travel...

Almost all of us are impacted by cancer in some way, with nearly 1 in 2 Canadians diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime [1].  Severe illnesses like cancer are often associated with extensive and costly medical care and treatment that can exceed traditional health...

It is officially, cottage season.  With the May long weekend upon us, cottage expenses and finances are on people’s minds again. The cottage is a big part of many people’s childhoods and acts a central hub for families to gather, relax and grow. If the intention...

It is that time of the year again when people like to dust off the winter cobwebs and do some spring cleaning. It feels great to tidy up, re-organize and get rid of the things that you no longer need.  Maybe it is time to tidy up your financial situation too....