January 2023 CGIB News

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Dear Subscriber,

As you are reading this, I'm somewhere in Vietnam or Cambodia. 

That's one of the best parts of being in this industry... you can literally work from anywhere (with an internet connection). I've returned client calls while anchored off the coast of Turkey, had zoom meetings while on a small island off Croatia and kept up with e-mails, all over the Caribbean. 

In the past I'd say we are fairly unique in our ability to work so well remotely, but the pandemic has shown a great majority of people can do the same. It just takes a bit of tech, some resourcefulness and is helped by great relationships with clients. In my case, my clients usually know I'm away and due to some great PA training, they handle things on their own quite well.

The reason I mention this vacation, is that I think life balance is important. We need downtime to recharge and be the best that we can be for both our clients and ourselves. Travel always makes me more appreciative of all we have. Canadian healthcare, good insurer partners, fantastic clients, and great opportunities. I'm often asked how I find the time to take so much vacation. There is only one secret... Plan for it. Add it to your calendar and then make it happen. That's it.

Think you don't have time? No problem, book time off in 2024. Once it's in "the book" it's easy to arrange things around it. No one can take a full calendar and make more time. Both you and your clients will appreciate a refreshed and reinvigorated you.

Keep doing great things.

Dave
 
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OUR EVENTS

I am pleased to release the Canadian Group Insurance Brokers & Business Career College podcast called The Navigator.

This is a regular event sharing and discussing all things group benefits. A huge thanks to Jason Watt (he/him) CD CLU for making this possible. 

Watch our newsletter and website for upcoming episodes and details. 
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CGIB COFFEE CHATS

Coffee chats are like a virtual breakfast. Log in, ask questions, share problems, seek solutions and talk about what's on your mind.  Best done from a computer, with a camera and a microphone. No CE credits, but also no cost, just show up.

Tuesday January 31st @2pm (EST)
Tuesday February 14th @2pm (EST) - The Valentines Day edition
Thursday March 2nd @2pm (EST)

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BREAKFAST MEETINGS
CGIB supports the volunteers that runs the breakfast meetings below.

Please find the details for your closest location below.
Ajax, Atlantic Canada, Cambridge, Edmonton, London, Markham, Oakville, St Catherines, Toronto, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Windsor or the Virtual National Meeting

Please contact the event champions to be added to their lists, and receive more info.  https://cgib.ca/breakfast-meetings
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Upcoming CGIB Events:

We've had some of the newer and a few longer term members ask for a repeat of the "Building and Using a Plan Administration CheckList" workshop. Some are looking to up their game, as a refresher, or for their support staff and others in their firms. 

  • This seminar is a must for those who specialize in employee benefits or that want to. Hundreds of brokers have attended this seminar with many making it an integral part of their business practice.
  • We will help you create a checklist to utilize when you install new cases, train new plan administrators and conduct client renewals.
  • Information reviewed will include: taxation, privacy, administration, HR issues and other items that will help reduce both broker and client liability.
  • The content will assist you in adding more value to your client relationships and to move the discussion away from price to one of added value.
I guarantee that you will learn things to help attract new clients, maintain existing relationships and improve your practice.

REGISTRATION OPEN AND ALREADY ⅓ SOLD OUT
 
GET ON SLACK

The CGIB SLACK channel is a great place to pose questions, share info and learn a ton from your fellow members.  The info and discussions that are posted there are unlike anywhere in the industry with documents, videos and information available in MEMBERS ONLY to make your life easier. 

NOTE TO ALL SLACK USERS: We now have 75+ channels in Slack to handle different topics. Please take a moment to add these channels to your menu. To do so, just click on the + next to Channels on the top left.  
Browse the channels and then click JOIN to add each of them. By doing so you won’t be missing really great info.
 
SUGGESTED READING

We think the information contained below is of great value and encourage you to read the articles and check out the events that interest you.  In most cases, these articles and events are not run by CGIB, so please contact the organizers for more information. We take no responsibility for the websites, events, organizations or their content.
Suggested Reading:










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Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Pharmacists Can Now Prescribe
Ontario pharmacists can now assess and prescribe medication for minor conditions such as pink eye, eczema, and urinary tract infections, says the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA). It says Ontario is taking an important step to improve access to healthcare for Ontarians. Until now, patients have had to visit their primary care provider, walk-in clinic, or a local hospital to treat minor ailments. Patients can now simply call their local pharmacy to make an appointment or go to their nearest pharmacy during regular hours and speak to their pharmacist. Patients must present a valid Ontario health card to access this publicly funded service. Patients are not required to pay a fee. Pharmacists already have the clinical training and expertise needed to treat minor ailments such as pink eye, eczema, or urinary tract infections, among many others. The OPA also has accredited training and refresher educational programs in place to ensure all pharmacists are comfortable, capable, and confident in their performance of assessments and treatment of patients with minor ailments.
 
SETH GODIN'S BLOG - Hustles end badly 

“They can always say no” is the mantra of someone who is hustling for attention, promo or a sale.

But when you hustle a colleague or a friend, they can tell. They can tell that you’re being selfish, angling for a short-term win and trading something precious for something now.

When we ask someone to do something for us that we wouldn’t recommend they do for someone else, an important bond is lost.

Hustle belongs in hockey.

My Take on Seths Post

Put another way...No need to as this is self explanatory. Be truthful, put the client first, be open and honest, be vulnerable, listen...
 
EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

ONLINE CE CREDITS

Looking for benefits dedicated online CE courses? Want to provide your admin and support staff with basic knowledge? Want to dig into something more detailed for your benefits/insurance business?
 
Business Career College (BCC) has an extensive catalogue of online CE courses with a number of group benefits specific courses covering topics ranging from contractual concerns, plan designs, and underwriting requirements, to product specifics and integration with government benefits. Courses consist of narrated videos with short, online quizzes.
 
The full catalogue includes over 60 courses, podcasts, and videos covering topics from the world of insurance, investments, financial planning, taxation, and ethics with a focus on technical content and real-world application. Courses are accredited for the maximum categories of credits and can include provincial Life and A&S credits, FP Canada, Advocis, and more!
 
Use code CGIB on registration for your first three months free!  
 

ANCA Associated Vasculitis: An Autoimmune Disease that Affects Small Blood Vessels
Mapol Inc. invites you to attend a complimentary webinar sponsored by Otsuka Canada.

The webinar will be held on: Tuesday, January 17, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

The Speakers are:

Dr. Christian Pagnoux, MD MSc MPH
Associate Professor, Vasculitis Clinic,
Division of Rheumatology, Mount Sinai Hospital

Jon Stewart
President
Director of Vasculitis Foundation CanadaLearning Objectives:
  • What is ANCA Associated Vasculitis?
  • Learn how this condition is treated, new treatment options and how plan members may be impacted in the workplace.
  • Gain insights from a patient's perspective.
Please follow the below steps to register:
  1. Click the registration link.
  2. Fill in the required information on the registration page, then click "Register."
  3. Closer to the webinar date, you will receive a registration confirmation email with the webinar login details.
An application for 1 CE credit will be submitted to the Institute for Advanced Financial Education. Individual CE applications are not submitted to any other regulatory body (i.e. AIC, ICM, CSF, IIROC, etc.).Please note, this complimentary webinar is limited to invited guests including insurers, PBMs, TPAs, benefits consultants, and employers. 

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Group Benefits 2023 Industry Outlook: Questions, Answers, and Insights

2022 has been another banner year for upheaval, disruption, and even some new opportunities. What will 2023 look like? What trends are you seeing and what questions do you have?

Join us January 19, 2023 for insights and perspectives from industry leaders Stephen Frank, President and CEO of the CLHIA, and Empire Life President and CEO, Mark Sylvia.

In this webinar, we'll answer your questions and discuss:  
  • Significant trends emerging from 2022,
  • Insights to help you position your business for growth in 2023 and beyond.
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Welcome to the Chronic Disease at Work virtual event registration page
Event Date: Thursday, February 2, 2023
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM ET

Click Here to view the latest agenda.
Please fill out your information below to register for this event.
Important: Your email will act as a username when accessing the virtual event platform; make sure to check for typos before submitting your registration. We will send you the event platform access link and password on Wednesday, February 1 via email. Further, please be aware that your registration is non-transferable.
Should you have any questions, please contact: Katerina Galkina at katerina.galkina@contexgroup.ca


CE Credits: This conference will offer Institute-accredited continuing education (CE) credits. An application for CE credits will be submitted to the Institute for Advanced Financial Education. Individual CE applications are not submitted to any other regulatory body (i.e. AIC, ICM, etc.). You must attend the entire conference in order to be eligible. 
Please be aware that after the event is over, we will provide registrants with a separate registration link to access CE credits. At that time, a $40 plus tax charge will apply. Please contact Lolita McArthur for more information regarding CE credits. 
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Attracting talent with a bulletproof contract
 
Employment law is constantly evolving – and that means your workplace contracts need refreshing. 
 
HRD’s Employment Law Masterclass Vancouver is bringing together two leading contract law specialists for a comprehensive update in Employment contracts – Anticipating problem areas for employers. 
 
Join Overholt Law’s Carman J. Overholt and Roza Milani for a discussion on some of the most common issues associated with employment contracts, including enforceability and multi-jurisdictional employment. Key points include:
  • minimizing the risk of your contract being found to be unenforceable  
  • addressing mitigation income following termination of the contract 
  • defining amounts payable and not payable for incentive compensation upon termination 
  • evolving terms of employment and the best practices you can use today 
Speaker_Carman J. Overholt

Catch these legal stars online this February 23rd for an update that every business needs. 
 
Register now to claim a limited time holiday discount – use code HOLIDAY2022. 
 
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This online event is exactly what you need to get up to date on your new workforce standards and start the new year off on the right foot. 
 
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Paul M. Pulver - Partner - Pulver Crawford Munroe LLP 
Dianne Rideout - Partner - McMillan LLP 
Victoria Merritt - Associate - Dentons Canada LLP
Abigail Owen - Associate - Harris & Company LLP 

Join us February 23, 2023 for a comprehensive employment law overview that’s sure to get you ready for the challenges ahead. 
  • Reduce your risk exposure with an update on constructive dismissals 
  • Avoid health accommodation pitfalls and make sure your workers are getting the support they need to thrive 
  • Stay on top of the changing rules and regulations surrounding hybrid workers and their rights 
  • Get essential tips on managing impartial workplace investigations on bullying, harassment and discrimination 
  • Keep up to date on the key occupational health and safety issues employers  
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TELUS Health Annual Conference  
Preparations are underway… Get ready for Canada’s largest private payer virtual event! 

For the past 19 years, the TELUS Health Annual Conference has been an industry-leading source of insight and trends across the private payer ecosystem. 

Save the date today for your exclusive access to:
•Comprehensive data trends and national benchmarks 
•Informative and topical presentations on workplace benefits trends 
•Continuing education credits 
•Virtual networking opportunities 
     
 Join us on April 26 and May 3, 2023
Registration opens in February 2023*
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Need help? Have questions? Looking for something?

Reach out to CGIB - Dave Patriarche - dave@cgib.ca - 905-886-9203

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