Insurance

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

Bomb shells

For most clients and advisors the ongoing financial crisis has been measured by its impact on investment portfolios. But it has also generated questions about insurers and insurance products, among them universal life (UL) insurance and whether that product is about to drop a bomb, as the expression goes. UL has three main components funded […]

By Al Emid |December 16, 2008

7 min read

Do-Not-Call rules create silver lining

Congratulations, you’re a telemarketer. At least that’s what you are in the eyes of the newly enacted Do Not Call Legislation (DNCL). Among other things, advisors’ firms must now register with, and provide information to, the National DNCL operator before initiating a telemarketing communication. But how will this change your world? And what potential opportunities […]

By Helena Smeenk Pritchard |December 12, 2008

4 min read

Insurer strength secures GMWBs

Investors have been seeing the ugly side of guaranteed products these days. Arguably, the most popular guaranteed investments — guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (GMWB) products — remain quite firmly guaranteed as long as their issuer’s balance sheet can carry the risk. Many PPNs and some guaranteed target-date funds that use constant proportional portfolio insurance (CPPI) […]

By Mark Noble |December 5, 2008

4 min read