Living Benefits

Is your client legally competent?

On Monday, France's wealthiest woman, L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, lost control of her vast fortune after she failed a court-ordered incompetence test.

By Dean DiSpalatro |October 19, 2011

3 min read

Insurers to lift real estate fund suspension

Great-West Lifeco is preparing to lift a nearly three-year-old suspension on transfers, redemptions and withdrawals on the $3-billion real estate fund it shares with Canada Life. The move will take place on Oct. 17 and comes nearly seven months after it lifted a similar suspension on its London Life Real Estate Fund. Alf Goodall, senior […]

By Renée Alexander |September 27, 2011

4 min read

Bad documentation leads to fines

If you’re an insurance advisor who hasn’t been keeping detailed records, watch out. Any files connected to transactions after October 2007 must contain detailed needs analyses demonstrating product suitability and reasons for recommendations. If they don’t, advisors need to revisit transactions, speak to clients and create suitable records, says Rick Forchuk, vice-president of retail distribution […]

By Al Emid |August 4, 2011

2 min read

Stamp of Approval

Even if an insured answers all the health questions accurately at the time of application, a material health change could occur between the application date and the time the insured signed the good health declaration. So it’s vital the declaration be completed accurately and with the same diligence used in completing the application.

By Eli Wahby |August 1, 2011

5 min read