Life insurance helps the economy

Canadians receive more than $1.2 billion per week in benefits paid by life insurance companies, and more than 90% of payments go to living policyholders, says the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association.

But stories—not statistics—sell life and living-benefits insurance. Tell a story about how insurance protected you and your family, or talk about recent news stories and how insurance could have eased victims’ pain. You could be the only person standing between financial ruin or well-being for hundreds of households and businesses.

Read: Kids need life insurance, too

“Thirty years ago, people led pretty modest lives,” said Les Herr, CLHIA president, at a recent financial brokers’ summit in Toronto. “They didn’t have all the toys we have. So, financial devastation today due to premature death, disability or a critical illness is far greater.”

Read: Canadians unprepared for life-changing events

If you hear the objection “I don’t believe in life insurance,” ask clients if they’ve ever bought a lottery ticket or played in a sports pool. Get them to understand two important factors: when they buy insurance, they’re sharing risk and buying the possibility of a cash payout that is greater than what they contribute.

Read: Financial planning includes death

The only difference with life and living-benefits insurance is they are putting money down on a return that may be needed years later—whether it’s because of death, disability or a critical illness.

Since people in good health get the best rates for life and living-benefits insurance, always talk about this with clients and prospects.

Helena Smeenk Pritchard has over 36 years of experience in the insurance industry and is the Principal of Helena Smeenk Pritchard & Associates, a leader in “Insurance Know-How” training. Helena publishes a weekly free ‘Did You Know’ newsletter on her site.