Latest Posts

3 Hidden Benefits of Permanent Life Insurance

December 6, 2016 10:16 am Published by

It’s a quiet, snowy night in December. The lights of the new tree are reflected in your husband’s glasses as he creates one of his famous desserts in the kitchen. You’ve got your feet up, a small glass of red wine in one hand, a magazine in the other. Your youngest child is busy with his iPad, the other one is locked away in her room. Teenagers, right? That’s ok. Everyone helped with the tree, they can do their own thing and you can do yours.  Everything is in its place, the holidays are still a few weeks away, and...

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3 Key Questions to Ask About Mortgage Creditor Protection

November 19, 2016 10:18 am Published by

A big part of our daily interactions with clients is simply asking the right questions. The questions we ask from our end are fairly self-explanatory – what does your monthly budget look like, what are your financial goals, what are some of the financial hurdles you’re faced with – the clearer the picture, the quicker we get down to brass tacks. After all, we’re dealing with your finances here. Investments, insurance. Big ticket items. It pays to be clear. Literally.  So let’s talk about the not so clear aspect of Mortgage Creditor Protection. 1. What is Mortgage Creditor Protection? As...

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3 Reasons Canadians Are Choosing to Bank On Yourself

November 7, 2016 10:19 am Published by

There’s so much to love about Canada. Well, maybe not another soggy lower mainland day in November. Health care, stable education system, safe schools, workable infrastructure – there’s so much to love and so much to save for. In Canada, you’re free to pursue your goals, make money, and save that money for a future rainy day. However, it’s important to understand the options when it comes to saving your money. For instance, bank GICs or term deposits pay less than 1%. Stock markets can be quite volatile. And both of these types of investments can make it difficult to access your money when you need it....

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Investor Risk Tolerance: Why It’s Time to Take Charge of Your Investments

October 18, 2016 10:21 am Published by

The best conversations we get to have here at MGF are the ones born of ambition, clear cut goals, and plans of a bright future. And sure, it can take time to get to that point. A lot of our conversations are initial discovery missions to find out what type of investment portfolio will work best for people and their families in the short term. But whether you’re looking to put some extra cash away because you know it’s smart or you’re focused on a specific fund, there’s only one constant in the world of investing. The investor. Personalization “What...

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The 4 Key Benefits of Diversifying Your Funds

October 4, 2016 10:23 am Published by

One of the oldest and most trusted pieces of advice in the world of investing is to refrain from putting all your eggs in one basket. One of the true certainties of the global economy is that it’s unpredictable to a degree. Sure, there are trends and indicators trained account managers follow in order to stay ahead of the curve, but there’s always at least a small amount of risk if you want to see a big pay-off down the road. What is a Diversified Fund? A diversified fund contains a range of funds. Let’s say you and your fund...

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Disability Insurance: The Difference Between Any Occupation, Regular Occupation, & Own Occupation

September 20, 2016 10:24 am Published by

Two weeks ago we talked about the importance of maintaining stability in the system upon which disability insurance is built. Disability insurance is important for self employed people in any occupation, but the rules are specific for each individual case. Are we making sense yet? Ok, try this. Let’s say you own and operate your own landscape architecture business. Your work requires you to travel to residential and commercial spaces to implement beautiful outdoor designs for all your unique customers. This is a career that requires physical labour on a daily basis. Now, and I apologize for this, but imagine an...

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Self Employed? The First 2 Things You Need to Know About Disability Insurance

September 6, 2016 10:25 am Published by

The world of self employment is as rewarding as it is challenging. Whether you’re a freelancer, contractor, or business owner, as an advisor, it’s important for to have detailed conversations about the challenges you face so we can manage risks. One area of concern for self-employed individuals is the inability to work due to an accident or illness. So let’s talk about disability insurance. Disability insurance is vital for the self-employed because for the most part, if you’re self employed and you’re not working, then you’re not making any money. It’s one of the distinct disadvantages for self employed people, as...

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How Can You Control the Costs of Your Group Benefits Policy?

August 23, 2016 10:26 am Published by

A big part of my job is helping team leaders purchase group benefit policies for their employees. To illustrate some of that information, two weeks ago we dug deep into a study called The Prevention Plan, which is an interesting look into why group benefits carry the costs they carry. The study is a big help when I talk to employers and professionals about providing group benefit products. We wanted to understand the impact declining health in the workplace is having on the amount of money we’re contributing to insurance policies in Canada. The money quote? According to The Prevention...

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It’s Time to Share Responsibility for Group Health Benefit Policies

August 11, 2016 10:27 am Published by

What’s the best way to control the cost of group benefit policies? Keep the number of instances requiring medical intervention down. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, part of the problem is delegating responsibility for employee wellness. One of the most common questions I get from corporate employers aiming to provide group benefit policies revolves around the reasons group benefits cost what they do. As part of the process of finding the right fit, I make sure my customers understand how to manage the costs of group benefits now and in the future. There are three levels of responsibility when it comes...

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What’s the Difference Between Whole Life vs Universal Life Insurance?

July 26, 2016 10:28 am Published by

For the past few weeks we’ve been talking about the benefits of permanent life insurance, specifically in regards to how the rules of investing your money into permanent life insurance policies are changing at the end of 2016. Remember that permanent life insurance combines two financial products – a life insurance policy that lasts your entire life and a tax-exempt investment vehicle that grows along with it. Long term needs and financial flexibility are two key aspects for individuals employing the permanent life insurance strategy You wouldn’t buy permanent life insurance if it meant sacrificing your mortgage payment or your traditional...

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