Life

Basic lessons

Last week I met with a couple that had been referred to our office by their accountant. They were looking for a comprehensive retirement plan. While they had several millions in investments and real estate, that wealth had diminished by nearly 50% as a result of recent market volatility. Now they were concerned about their […]

April 1, 2009

3 min read

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

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

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