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Author Archives: Tony Ratcliffe

Kicking off CE credit for the year!

Continuing education (CE) credits are required by different organizations, particularly in relation to maintaining professional designations. The Institute for Advanced Financial Education (The Institute) is no exception for the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Certified Health Insurance Specialist (CHS) designations I hold. The annual requirement is 30 hours of credit approved by The Institute. My [...]

Advocis Banff School 2011

In its 57th year, the Advocis Banff School was held at the Banff Centre, from August 21 to 25, 2011. This is a continuing professional development (CPD) and networking experience for financial and insurance advisors and planners, run on a volunteer basis (including speakers) by advisors for advisors. It was my first year attending. In [...]

Informal and self-directed learning for insurance agents

This was one of those posts where it could have gone on either this blog or my learning related one. It was about a Linkedin group I created for professionals in or related to the life and health insurance industry. Well, I wrote it on the other blog. It is not long, if the topic [...]

Advocis 2011 Advisors’ Conference

I’m up early and looking forward to today’s conference. As a member of Advocis, I look forward to their full day of educational activity for advisors. Held at the Crowne Plaza Chateau Lacombe in Edmonton, it promises to be a day of learning, networking, and good food. Continuing Education credits will be more important for [...]

Travel Insurance video and article

I’m just preparing an article on travel insurance for the newsletter of an association to which I belong. After writing most of the content, I’ve referred back to a video on the subject that we created in my early days in social media. I still like it as a basic introduction to, and overview of, [...]

Business owners can expense medical and dental costs

A Private Health Services Plan (PHSP) allows business owners to expense medical and dental costs for themselves and their employees through their company (even self-employed). I am considering adding one program to my product shelf, but I would like to gauge the potential interest. I have added a link to a one question survey that [...]

Newsletter: April 2010

It was time for a newsletter for my clients and other readers. I won’t apologize for it being short and to the point, but please ask if you would like to learn more. This edition asks you to understand your travel insurance coverage and limitations. Newslettter, April 2010 *** This is the blog of Antony [...]

Question for HR professionals about benefits!

Some Human Resources professionals deal with employee questions and concerns about their group benefits (insurance, investments, pension), or lack thereof. Whether it be through a seminar, short articles, or other means, what are the questions for which you think they would like to see more answers? By all means, if you are a manager or [...]

World Critical Illness Insurance Road Show

The 2010 World Critical Illness Road Show came to the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in Edmonton yesterday, and I had the opportunity to attend. Until last year, there have been six World Critical Illness Conferences held within Canada. The Road Show is visiting different locations across Canada for 2010. Next year, the Conference will be held [...]

Disability solutions for self-employed, unemployed, low earners, students, retired

As one of the ‘living benefits’ in insurance, we often speak of income replacement in the event of disability. We look to coverage through group benefits at work, and the benefits of a personal policy cannot be underestimated. However, there are people whom would typically be missed by such coverage. The newly self-employed, unemployed, those with [...]