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Our process

Whether you’re retired, preparing for retirement or running a business, using an integrated planning process, we’ll work with you to build a customized financial security plan that best fits your needs, helps you manage risk and brings your goals within reach.

How we work

Financial security planning is about more than planning for retirement or protecting yourself against risk – it is about making dreams come true.

We are focused on helping you achieve freedom and choice at all stages of life. To do this, we use our planning process, which is based on the four cornerstones of financial security. It is a process designed to help you:

  • Better understand what financial security means to you by reviewing your current situation and defining goals
  • Identify and discuss any roadblocks to achieving your goals and analyse your situation
  • Identify any gaps and build a plan to help you achieve your short- and long-term goals and dreams
  • Review and monitor your financial security plan regularly to help ensure it continues to meet your changing needs

Four cornerstones of financial security planning

Whether your goals are long-term (such as retirement) or more immediate (such as starting a business or saving for a child’s education), we can help you build a financial strategy tailored to your needs and those of your family. In developing your financial security plan, we’ll consider the four cornerstones of financial security planning:

  1. Financial security at death
    • When you die, how can you help safeguard your estate for your family?
    • How much income will your family need?
    • How will inflation affect this income?
  2. Retirement
    • Would you like to retire early or reduce the time you spend working?
    • When you retire, what type of lifestyle do you envision?
    • How much income will you need to retire comfortably?
    • How will inflation affect this income?
  3. Liquidity
    • Do you have access to cash or liquid assets (i.e. assets that can be easily converted to cash)?
  4. Disability and critical illness
    • How would a critical illness or disability affect your income?
    • Would a reduced income affect your retirement savings and would this reduction affect your lifestyle?
    • How much disability or critical illness insurance coverage is enough?
    • If you become critically ill or disabled and take time off work, how will inflation affect your income?
    • If you become critically ill or disabled, will provisions in your group plan allow you to continue saving for your retirement?

Life stages

We want to understand your needs, recognizing they may change as you proceed through life’s stages.

Early Career

As you start your career, you may want to:

  • Purchase life and disability insurance to cover your income or protect your ability to earn an income
  • Purchase term life insurance or critical illness insurance as a cost-effective way to cover an outstanding mortgage or debt
  • Purchase health and dental insurance coverage if your employer does not offer a group benefits plan

Family

Having children changes your life and your needs. Now is a good time to:

  • Review your financial security plan
  • Plan for your children’s education with options such as a registered education savings plan (RESP)
  • Plan for your children’s education with options such as registered education saving plans (RESPs)

Business Owner

If you own your own business, you may want to:

  • Buy insurance to help cover outstanding business loans or mortgages if you die or suffer from critical illness
  • Purchase a health and dental insurance plan
  • Consider group insurance options for your employees

Retirement

If you are retired or plan to retire soon:

  • Insurance can help supplement your income and can help you leave a legacy
  • Health and dental insurance coverage can take over if your benefits through your employer end upon retirement