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How to Scale Financial Planning Without Compromising Efficiency

Editorial Webcast Sponsored by: eMoney Sponsored by: Today’s investors aren’t just looking for money management—they demand personalized advice that aligns with their unique goals and life circumstances. For firm home offices, this creates a high-stakes dilemma: how do you deliver tailored client experiences while maintaining the operational efficiency needed for growth? Discover how forward-thinking firms are thriving in an increasingly personalized market. Join our industry experts who will share strategies to: – Deliver personalized financial planning at scale (why it’s no longer optional) – Use data aggregation and actionable insights to exceed client expectations  – Leverage APIs and back-end processes to unlock hidden efficiencies and revenue streams – Utilize technology to turn raw data into smarter, faster client-focused decisions – Incorporate full-spectrum financial planning (from topical conversations to long-term cash flow planning) to bring more people into the planning process. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how your firm can elevate the advisor-client relationship, streamline operations and transform client outcomes—all without compromising your bottom line. The future of financial planning is here. Are you ready to scale? Featured Speakers: Janet Levaux | Editor in Chief | ThinkAdvisor & Investment Advisor Janet Levaux, MA/MBA, is the moderator of this webcast. She’s...

BrokerLink buys its first brokerage in British Columbia 0

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BrokerLink buys its first brokerage in British Columbia

Toronto, ON (Feb. 7, 2025) – BrokerLink is excited to announce its very first purchase in British Columbia, with the acquisition of Schill Insurance Brokers Ltd. (Schill Insurance), effective February 1, 2025, marking a major milestone as the brokerage becomes a true national player with more than 200 locations from coast to coast. Based in Surrey B.C., Schill Insurance is one of the province’s largest brokerages, with 11 locations spread across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Schill Insurance has served its customers for more than 50 years, offering a wide range of coverage and services for auto and home, and through a commercial portfolio that specializes in construction, automotive dealers and residential realty. Expansion from sea to sea Last year, BrokerLink ventured into two other provinces for the first time, through an acquisition that included locations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. This latest acquisition is a clear sign that the company has opened its door even wider to new ventures that support its growth plans, provide opportunities for new and existing employees and welcome new customers. “BrokerLink has built a solid presence in all the communities we serve across Canada and we see a strong future in B.C.,” says Joe...

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Britain’s L&G Sells US Protection Unit to Japanese Insurer for $2.3 Billion

Article 0 Comments Legal & General said on Friday it would sell its U.S. protection business to Japan’s Meiji Yasuda for $2.3 billion in cash and said the Japanese firm would take a 5% stake in the British insurer, in the biggest strategic move so far under CEO António Simões. The group’s shares gained 8% in early trading. They have broadly been trending lower in recent years, but have risen around 12% year to date, outperforming the broader London and European stock markets. Simoes told reporters the transaction was the largest in the company’s history, adding it was part of his wider strategy announced last year to simplify the group, and would be followed by further, likely smaller disposals. The companies will also form a strategic partnership, with Meiji Yasuda taking a 20% stake in L&G’s U.S. pension risk transfer (PRT) business, a fast-expanding market globally as companies offload their pension schemes to insurers. L&G said it planned to launch a share buyback program worth an extra 1 billion pounds ($1.2 billion) after the sale. Simoes described Meiji Yasuda taking a stake in the group as a “vote of confidence” and said it did not indicate a desire for deeper...

Wawanesa the First Insurer to Achieve CSIO’s JSON API Standards Certification 0

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Wawanesa the First Insurer to Achieve CSIO’s JSON API Standards Certification

CSIO congratulates Wawanesa Insurance for achieving CSIO’s JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) Application Programming Interface (API) Standards Certification for Billing Toronto, ON (Feb. 5, 2025) – CSIO congratulates Wawanesa Insurance for achieving CSIO’s JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) Application Programming Interface (API) Standards Certification for Billing. Wawanesa is the first CSIO member to be certified in JSON API Standards, successfully implementing these Standards for Billing use cases and supporting real-time data exchange with brokers. Published by CSIO’s INNOTECH API Implementation Working Groups, JSON API Standards facilitate seamless communication between insurer systems and broker management systems (BMS). These Standards enable brokers to obtain information such as a payment status or billing schedule directly in their BMS, streamlining the process to better support their clients. Wawanesa implementing the JSON API Standards for Billing APIs will allow brokers to receive real-time data for Billing use cases once BMS vendors deploy them into production. This accomplishment demonstrates Wawanesa’s commitment to driving workflow efficiency for brokers. “As one of Canada’s leading mutual P&C insurers, we take pride in leading innovation and ensuring success for our broker community,” said Cam Muckosky, Vice President, Digital Delivery at Wawanesa Insurance. “The JSON API Standards Certification reaffirms our commitment to leading...

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Insurance Groups Pushing Hard for Georgia Tort Reform as State Liability Costs Soar

Article 0 Comments Georgia’s governor has asked state lawmakers for $175 million to cover the growing costs of liability claims against state agencies and employees, as the state’s liability insurance fund has dwindled to a fraction of the outstanding costs. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that, like many U.S. states, Georgia utilizes both self-insurance and commercial carriers to cover liability claims for 325 state agencies and 130,000 employees. But claims have soared by more than 300% in the last decade and are expected to rise further in coming years, according to news reports. Claims range from vehicular damage from state roads to the death of young girls in foster care, to the deaths and injuries to inmates in state prisons. Gov. Brian Kemp also has proposed $600 million in safety and security upgrades in prisons. The requests come as Kemp and property-casualty insurance groups launch a major push for tort reform legislation in the state. The Insurance Information Institute this month launched an advertising and awareness campaign all across the Atlanta area, blaming legal system abuse for rising costs. Excessive lawsuits add an extra $1,415 per year to Georgians’ household expenses, Triple-I has estimated. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association also...

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Prudential Advisors Wants Advisors to Focus on Clients’ Diversity

When financial advisors embrace diversity, firms and clients both win. Understanding and embracing diversity is at the core of Prudential Advisors’ approach to its relationship with clients. This is also why the business is a member of the Luminaries Class of 2024 in two categories. The first is the Broker-Dealer Firm – Corporate Social Responsibility category. In the second, Jordan Toma, a Financial Professional with Prudential, was nominated for an Individual Award – in the Luminaries with Heart category. To better understand the business’ efforts, Jessica Wietmarschen, vice president of strategic initiatives at Prudential Advisors, and Keita Cline, vice president of business and market expansion in Prudential’s Individual Life business, sat down with Think Advisor Contributor Bobbie Turner to discuss the company’s efforts. Wietmarschen and Cline also discuss: ●     Prudential’s Blueprints to Black Wealth strategy and how that program has developed over the last several years; ●      How advisors can embrace client diversity to grow their business. ●      The importance of authentic community partnerships.

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Are you prepared? What Early Policy Changes Mean for Compliance in 2025

Sponsored by: Just a month into the new administration, key shifts in SEC oversight, enforcement, and regulatory priorities are already taking shape. With President Trump back in office and Mark Uyeda named as the new acting SEC Chair, financial firms must prepare for an evolving regulatory agenda and enforcement strategies. What does this mean for advisors, RIAs, broker-dealers, and private funds? How soon will these changes take effect, and how should your teams adapt? Join our panel of regulatory experts and practitioners for a deep dive into the administration’s first 30 days and how financial services firms may be impacted. Key takeaways: ●      Regulatory shifts in the administration’s first month ●      Regulatory proposals to watch—which rules are most likely to advance? ●      Shifts in enforcement priorities and what they mean for compliance teams and programs Don’t miss this timely discussion on the evolving regulatory landscape and how your firm can proactively prepare. Featured Speakers: Jamila Mayfield | Chief Regulatory Services Officer | COMPLYJamila Mayfield joined COMPLY in 2024 as the Chief Regulatory Services Officer, leading COMPLY’s consulting services arm. With her extensive regulatory experience, which spans over 20 years, Jamila will drive the strategic growth of the global consulting and...

Canada’s Managing Partners Program Offers a New Path to Insurance Business Ownership 0

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Canada’s Managing Partners Program Offers a New Path to Insurance Business Ownership

Turnkey Model Removes Barriers to Ownership for High-Performing Brokers Toronto, ON (Feb. 3, 2025) — Insurance professionals seeking to take control of their careers now have a clear, direct path to ownership through the newly launched Managing Partners Program. Designed to eliminate traditional barriers to business ownership, this program provides a turnkey solution with market access, mentorship, and cutting-edge technology, enabling experienced brokers to transition seamlessly from employment to ownership. Unlike franchise models that require high fees and restrictive agreements, the Managing Partners Program offers true independence while ensuring brokers have the support and infrastructure needed to scale their business successfully. Breaking Barriers to Insurance Ownership While the insurance industry has long offered opportunities for professional growth, true ownership has remained out of reach for many brokers due to high startup costs, limited carrier access, and lack of operational support. The Managing Partners Program removes these roadblocks with: Low-Barrier Entry – No costly franchise fees, no restrictive contracts. Exclusive Carrier Access – Direct relationships with leading insurers and specialty markets. Lloyd’s Coverholder Status – Immediate credibility, exclusive underwriting opportunities, and preferred market positioning. Industry-Leading Mentorship – Guidance from Randy Carroll and Andy Friyia, two of Canada’s most respected insurance leaders....

CGC Invests $200 Million in GreenieRE to Remove Financing Obstacles and Accelerate Access to Cheaper Power 0

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CGC Invests $200 Million in GreenieRE to Remove Financing Obstacles and Accelerate Access to Cheaper Power

This investment strengthens the financing ecosystem by removing risk and reducing costs to qualified clean power projects Washington, DC (Feb. 1, 2025) — The Coalition for Green Capital (CGC) is pleased to announce an investment of $200 million in GreenieRE, an impact-focused reinsurance company designed to remove financing obstacles in the insurance market to reduce costs and accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies at-scale. Over the next decade, GreenieRE will create a ripple effect across the financing ecosystem and unlock over $30 billion in private-sector investment toward qualified projects that allows access to clean cheap power. A major obstacle for advancing clean energy projects is the lack of affordable and comprehensive insurance. Green banks, community lenders, and other financial institutions face significant challenges in securing insurance products that accurately assess risk, which is essential to qualify projects as investment-grade and attract private sector capital. Uncertainty around risk results in costly, restrictive, and limited insurance options, slowing the deployment of cost-effective energy solutions. GreenieRE will initially target bottleneck risks that are limiting the deployment of decarbonization infrastructure. The challenge is even greater for projects serving low-income and environmentally impacted communities, where perceived financial risks are higher. With CGC’s capitalization, GreenieRE...

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NC Governor Tests Lawmakers With Hurricane Helene Recovery Funding Request

Article 0 Comments RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein asked state legislators Monday to roughly double their spending so far on recovery from Hurricane Helene, warning that waiting will cause more business closings, housing construction delays and students falling behind. Speaking in a mountain county hit by the historic flooding, the new Democratic governor said he wants his $1.07 billion request enacted now by the Republican-controlled General Assembly — rather than wait for the two-year budget that starts in July, for which he’ll make an additional Helene appeal. At a news conference at a food bank in Mills River, about 260 miles (420 kilometers) west of Raleigh, Stein said the funds are urgently needed in the first half of the year “so that people can get their lives back together.” “If we do not act, some businesses will not be here in the summer, and we will miss an entire building season before the winter weather comes again,” he warned, calling the funds a high priority. The largest chunks of his proposal, which contains no tax increases, would fund grants for struggling businesses; help repair and rebuild homes; clean up farm debris; fix private bridges and roads;...