Deck the Halls at Lifeplan's Christmas Party

We would like to give a huge THANK YOU to David Bulinckx and Leeanna Bulinckx for hosting this year's spectacular Christmas Party this past Friday! Partnered with Percuro Medical Clinic, we enjoyed a spectacular evening out at the Robert Bateman Centre in downtown Victoria. Beautiful acoustic guitar music was provided by Brad Prevedoros, and the amazing hors d'oeuvres were prepared by Cook's Day Off Catering.
 

Special Guest, Merlayna Snider, friend of Marilyn Rose, joined us as one of the artists who was chosen to do a piece of work named 'Embracing Elegance' as part of the 'One Tree Exhibit' which was on display at the Robert Bateman Centre. Read here for an amazing story about how she created her beautiful wooden bowl from a 200 pound, 100 year old maple tree!

With a delicate selection of white wines, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages surrounded by the beautiful artwork in the atmosphere of Victoria's Inner Harbor, it was a night to be remembered! Thank you to everyone who came to enjoy the Spirit of Christmas with us and we hope you have a safe and enjoyable Christmas with your families this year.

Working Professionals: How Disability Insurance Insures What Matters Most

You’ve heard it before, but maybe you’ve never really believed that Disability Insurance holds much value for you and your family. Ask yourself, “If you had a machine in your home that could print $60,000 a year in REAL MONEY, would you spend a $600/year to insure it in the event that it broke? If you're like most people the answer would be a resounding "Yes!"

Well guess what... You are that machine! You make the money. I’m sure you’re better looking, and likely funnier, but your income is your primary source of wealth, and being insured could protect your future.

David Brown, from his years of first-hand experience as a financial advisor shares on Advisor.ca why Disability Insurance matters. You never think you will be the one in six Canadians to find yourself unable to work for three or more months, but the statistic is too high to ignore. Group insurance may include some provision for Disability, but it might not be sufficiently tailored to your needs.  David shares a great case study of a man named Jack, a health CEO whose Disability Insurance saved his business many years after obtaining coverage.

Photo credit: accuquote

At Luke 1428, financial blogger Brian stresses the importance of protecting our most important source for generating wealth; our income. With Disability Insurance, we often try to dissect if we really need it, and if you review your Group Insurance coverage you may find that an individually-owned Disability Insurance policy really is needed. Maybe you need long-term coverage but your employer only offers short-term. If your group plan is insufficient, individual policies can be obtained to top up group plans to ensure you are protected. Do not depend on worker’s compensation or the excuse that you’re too young or too healthy to need Disability Insurance.

If you’re trying to decide how to move forwarded with Disability Insurance, follow these expert suggestions to act today.

1)      Review Group Plan – Does your current employer have Group Disability Insurance? Review your current plan carefully at home or with an advisor to determine if it fills all of your needs.

2)      Embrace Healthy Lifestyle – Some behaviors make a debilitating disability more likely to occur. Review your lifestyle and ensure that you are avoiding risky habits or activities.

3)      Be Honest with Yourself – We love to rationalize; but take time to read the statistics and don’t rationalize away today something that could save your future finances later.

Disability Insurance can be something that we put off with rationalizations, but just remember,  you are the machine, and your future wealth is determined significantly by your income. If you have any questions after reading these experts’ advice, contact an advisor today for a no-obligation meeting to discover what the next step in your financial future should be.

Lifeplan Financial is a locally owned Managing General Agency (MGA) in Victoria and we work hard to give advisors the tools they need to succeed across all of British Columbia.  We give our advisors the independence they need with the support they deserve. “Because Your Success… is Our Success.”

Newlyweds: 3 Things to Know About Life Insurance to Stay Ahead of the Game

Are you recently married or ready to start a life together with some special? My name is Brianne, and I spend my days comparing life insurance products at Lifeplan Financial so that I can turn around share with you what you need to know.

Expert Sarah Brown from Advisor.ca breaks down relevant factors to consider when looking at life insurance in her article, “Insurance for Newlyweds.” She suggests that you first and foremost consider the pros and cons of multi-life insurance and joint-life insurance policies. While joint-life policies may be slightly cheaper, consider whether each of you in your relationship might actually need your own individual coverage. If you do, multi-life may be the better option. If you already have insurance from a previous relationship, or from your parents, make sure that the beneficiaries are still relevant to your new relationship. Research shows that 62% of couples wish they had talked about finances before marriage so make sure you have these discussions with your spouse even though you may already be married!

Photo Credit: Bankrate.com
 

At Globe and Mail, Marjo Johne further discusses the topic of Life Insurance in her article, "Financial Life stages" by introducing the role it plays on a national level. She discusses what kind of life insurance is needed in each life stage as well as situations that may influence the kind of coverage you need. Do you need Term coverage or Whole Life coverage? Should you insure your children to ensure them being eligible for coverage down the road? Read her article here or meet with an advisor to discover more considerations to include in your financial plan.

If you are recently married and are looking to get ahead on your life insurance, follow these experts’ advice and stay in control of your finances.

1)      Choose Coverage – Meet with an advisor today to discuss what kind of coverage would be best for you and your family. Remember that you don’t have to make these decisions alone.

2)      Manage Beneficiaries – You may have taken out an insurance policy years ago but not looked at it since then. Review your policy regularly to ensure that the beneficiaries are relevant.

3)      Discuss Finances – Have regular conversations regarding your finances with your spouse and your advisor. This will help you stay on the same page as you move through life to ensure that you are protected and prepared for anything; from life insurance to retirement!

There is a lot to consider when you get married and everything is a whirl of happy change. Remember to make life insurance an important part of your financial plan with the help of an experienced advisor and I wish you the best as you start your new life!

Lifeplan Financial is a locally owned Managing General Agency (MGA) in Victoria and we work hard to give advisors the tools they need to succeed across all of British Columbia.  We give our advisors the independence they need with the support they deserve. “Because Your Success… is Our Success.”

Check Your Insurance Before Travelling→

Winter and Christmas holidays are on their way and you may be thinking about leaving BC for a short break. There's a lot to plan, pack, and prepare for, but a carefree holiday break can become a financial disaster without including travel insurance. Read here to learn about the difference between travel protection pre-underwritten at time of application versus post-claim underwriting. What kind do you have, and are you protected?
 

It's a Frightful Friday Here at Lifeplan!

Halloween is in the air, spooky things are everywhere! In celebration of Halloween being tomorrow, we came together this Friday for lunch and a costume competition in our spookily decorated office! A big shout out to our winners of this year's best Halloween costumes:

• Scariest Costume: Don Gordon
• Most Creative Costume: Caitlin Hatch (Minnie Mouse)
• Funniest Costume: Clayton Snow (Bad Santa)

Have a happy and safe Halloween as you head out this weekend and take our festive spirit with you!