Ratcliffe Wealth & Risk Management

Well, perhaps not really a rumour, as I’ve often talked about having two passions! From this website and blog, you definitely know me as being in the insurance industry. You may also know that I love to talk about distance learning, both as a lifelong learner and as an educator. It may come as no surprise that I am pursing both, and I am motivated to obtain a PhD. Please allow me to share.

My start in financial services certainly began with investments. One client in particular refers to me as her “money guy.” However, particularly since becoming an independent advisor, my focus has shifted to Life Insurance and Living Benefits, and I readily promote myself as an insurance agent and broker. As you have likely learned from my blog, the Living Benefits provide income and asset protection while you are living. You have certainly heard of the Disability Income component, but there is also Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Health & Dental, and Travel Insurance to consider. My dedication to these areas has included completion of the Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) designation. I also recently completed the 6th of 7 courses in the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) program. This goes well beyond industry requirements for continuing education, and I urge you to support advisors whom are dedicated to lifelong learning in the industry.

In 2002, I completed the Master of Distance Education, and I’ve had the pleasure of teaching both in a traditional college program and online for a university. I believe very strongly in the advantages and opportunities available within distance learning, particularly with what has become known as e-learning. Pursuing advanced studies at the doctoral level has been on my mind for some time, and I am now excited to be exploring PhD programs in areas such as e-learning research and learning technologies. There are programs that incorporate courses and research, while others offer research alone (taking additional training as required to bridge gaps). It is the latter that I am really focused on, allowing much flexibility as I continue serving past and new clients, and providing an international opportunity that I will talk about later.

An important consideration for a research degree is the need to have a solid research proposal going in. That is the stage at which I am at, building on interests, experience, and some observations from my master’s thesis work. Generalizing, I am interested in e-learning for corporate training, professional development, and certification. Behavioural issues are important, such as motivation to engage in e-learning and concern about the propensity to cheat (don’t forget, I’m also a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), so dishonesty is a natural topic to pursue). While research will be broader, I have commenced enquiries within the insurance industry to determine perceived needs.

So, yes, it is fact not fiction, I am following my heart and combining the love for my business together with my my passion for learning. I truly believe that the combination will make me a stronger player in the life and disability insurance industry as an educator and researcher.

**This message is an expression of the author’s personal opinions. The companies represented by Antony (Tony) Ratcliffe of Ratcliffe Wealth & Risk Management, as an independent agent/broker in Alberta, Canada, will not be held liable in any way for the opinions expressed herein.