BridgeForce News | May 8, 2017
HEADLINES
APEXA expected to launch in May
After running into some snags, APEXA, the much talked-about contract and compliance platform, has been given a new start date of the first half of May. “We’re going to be connecting the industry,” Tonya Blackmore, CEO of APEXA, told the Canadian Life Insurance EDI Standards (CLIEDIS) annual seminar in April.
Federal Budget 2017
A year to the day after delivering his first budget, Finance Minister Morneau tabled his second budget (“Budget 2017”), which is entitled “Building a Strong Middle Class.” This budget has been influenced by a number of political, financial and economic events: the threat of increasing federal deficits; the need to stimulate job growth and innovation; supporting the growth of the middle class; and the “threat” of major tax changes and growing trade protectionism in the United States. Weaving a budget to deal with these important and often conflicting issues has clearly forced a rethinking of the government’s tax priorities and spending initiatives, as evidenced by the limited scope of Budget 2017.
COMPLIANCE
The cybersecurity challenge
Cyberthreats are evolving to become more complex and harder to detect. Financial advisors and their clients are prime targets of cyber criminals. Part one of this three-part series on cybersecurity highlights some of the cyberthreats that advisors face. Part two looks at some of recent major cybersecurity attacks against financial institutions; and part three offers advice on what to do if you have been hacked.
BridgeForce | Compliance Update (April 2017)
Updating the advisor disclosure template, Replacement disclosure reminders.
SUPPLIER COMPANY NEWS
Assumption Life
What’s up (April 2017)
Increase in the maximum amount of coverage for non-residents holding post-secondary study permits, Provincial tax on individual insurance premiums in Saskatchewan, Our Critical Protection product will soon be available with a 20-year pay option, Why is Louisbourg Investments’ Canadian Small Capitalization Equity Fund performing so well?, Index Returns, Market Report from our Louisbourg Investments Manager, New Sales Representatives and Appointments.
Canada Life
2016 Financial facts
Financial facts has been updated with 2016 data. Additional details about factors that affect the performance of the participating account have also been included.
New individual asset diversification tool
If you have clients who have a substantial amount of money in their portfolio but are worried that ongoing tax obligations can erode their investment growth, you have the opportunity to help them.
New policy change acknowledgement form required if tax status affected
Effective May 1, a new form is required for policy change quote requests that affect the tax-exempt status of a life insurance policy – Acknowledging tax-exempt consequences of my policy change form, Client Service will email the form to advisors only if the requested change will cause the policy to lose tax-exempt status.
Empire Life
Insight
Introducing the new Empire.ca, Changes to Ordering GIC Applications, Fast & Full just got faster: Introducing eContract Delivery, ADDCALC.NET for Life Illustrator, Empire Life Investments announces new Portfolio Managers, 8 Pay Flyer is now available in simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese.
Equitable Life
Sales promotion: Go green. Make green. (February 1 – May 31)
If you haven’t used EZcomplete for face-to-face online applications yet, there’s no better time to start. Between February 1 and May 31, 2017, use EZcomplete to submit your new applications and make some extra cash!
Foresters Financial
Membership Matters (May 2017)
What’s best for you and your family?, Budget basics for parents, Give Mother Nature a hand, Welcome home, Mom and Dad.
Sales Promotion: Join us in spectacular Whistler (November 1 – June 30)
Foresters Financial and BridgeForce are very excited to give you the opportunity to join us in beautiful Whistler, British Columbia from August 27 to 31, 2017.
iA Financial
Canadian job growth is below expectations
This week, U.S. job growth is back above 200K in April while Canadian job growth is at its lowest in almost 20 years.
ivari
eNotifications to the rescue
Now you can receive your Life New Business Activity and Last Outstanding Requirement alerts by email or text message.
La Capitale
Sales Promotion: Add a little spice to your sales (March 27 – May 19)
La Capitale sales campaign for disabiltiy insurance products. Get bonus money based on the number of applications submitted for Pillar Series Disability Insurance products.
Manulife Financial
Sales promotion: Manulife Vitality (April 10 – May 31)
For every Manulife Vitality application submitted to BridgeForce you will receive a $50 PC gift card for all those healthy purchases.
RBC Insurance
Go Paperless
Did you know that Advisors are able to access their clients’ RBC GIF semi-annual statements via AdvisorTrax™? You too can have the same ability to view all of your advisors client’s holdings by having a Dealer view access to the same tool.
SSQ Insurance
The benefits of SSQ’s fund manager monitoring and selection process
Management quality and fund performance depend on the selection of quality managers. To do so, SSQ relies on the expertise and steadfastness of its resources, as well as a rigorous selection process.
SSQ Newsletter
Need an easy way to introduce critical illness insurance to your clients?, Quarterly fund performance reports for SSQ Strategy and Celestia GIFs, Wishing for a reward? The SSQ Merit Plan can help you.
Sun Life
NewsFlash
What you need to know for May 15: Sun Life GIFs point-of-sale materials, Wondering what Plus premium benefit changes are allowed?, Did you know? You have innovative insurance solutions at your fingertips, Updated marketing materials for participating whole life insurance products, Ontario announces prescription drug coverage for children and youth age 24 and under.
Information and links to other websites contained in this document are solely for the information and convenience of BridgeForce Financial Group brokers. This information is not intended to provide financial, legal, accounting or tax advice and should not be relied upon in that regard. No endorsement of any third party products, services or information is expressed or implied by any information, material or content referred to, included in, or linked from this bulletin. The approved materials are the property of individual companies used under license and may not be copied, transmitted or used without express written approval. E. & O.E.