Janet Freedman

Helping widows

Despite an avalanche of media attention, advisors are still encountering women who have been left out of the financial loop. This becomes particularly evident soon after they’re widowed. Sometimes wives left decisions to the husband; other times men insisted on control. Either way, we’re still seeing widows who are left confused, and without sufficient income […]

By Janet Freedman |May 1, 2009

3 min read

Market Insights

Time to open an emergency account

It’s something every advisor knows and hopefully puts into practice: get your clients to establish an emergency bank account. From the 1970s through to the 1990s, this was a no-brainer, as interest rates were relatively good on the usual savings vehicles — high-interest savings accounts and Canada Savings Bonds. But in the last decade or […]

By Janet Freedman |February 10, 2009

4 min read

Living Benefits

How to integrate RDSPs, Henson trusts and annuities

With the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) expected to launch late this year, financial advisors need to make sure all relevant aspects of planning for people with disabilities are properly coordinated. Based on the RESP model, the RDSP offers incentives to friends and families to provide higher income for people with severe disabilities and encourage […]

By Janet Freedman |December 18, 2008

10 min read

Living Benefits

Coverage conundrum

Waiver of premium Respite care Respite care Waiver of premium Return of premium Cost of living protection Future purchase option/option to increase Some policies will pay out the daily amount to the policyholder once a physician’s diagnosis is received, regardless of how the money is to be spent. This gives total control to the policyholder […]

By Janet Freedman |August 8, 2006

6 min read

Living Benefits

Funding Disability: Clawbacks discourage private savings

(February 2006) Ask any family who has a relative with a disability what their major concern is and they will answer “what happens to our family member when we die?” But another common question is “how do we cope financially when we are retired and still caring for them as well as trying to cope […]

By Janet Freedman |February 9, 2006

4 min read