What’s New at Advocis

As we enter spring, things have continued to heat up at Advocis! A few highlights include:

• Advocis was proud to announce the launch of its Emerging Leaders Committee, a national group of early to mid-career financial advisors and planners who will help shape the future of the association and the profession. Representing multiple regions across Canada, the committee will provide fresh perspectives and collaborate with leadership to support a future-focused, member-driven Advocis.
• Update 2025: Building Strong Financial Foundations: Earn up to 15 CE credits: 6 credits (including 1 Ethics) for full participation in the webinar, plus 9 additional credits upon completing the Advanced Learning Modules. Fall sessions are now open, offering insights on building financial security in today’s high-inflation, post-COVID world.
• Advocis Virtual Symposium 2025: Available on Oct. 28, and Nov. 12. This CE-accredited webinar features four expert panels on life insurance distribution, cyber risk, AI in insurance, and regulatory perspectives.
• Advocis Coffee Talks, Our popular espresso-sized webinars are here to give you a quick and insightful boost on a wide range of topics. Plus, earn CE credits for that extra "kick" in your professional journey!

Attracting clients in the digital era

By Angelina Hung and Zainab Williams
October 1, 2025

Client acquisition for financial advisors has fundamentally shifted. While networking and referrals remain valuable, they’re no longer sufficient on their own. Today’s prospects research advisors online extensively before making contact. They’re comparing credentials, reading content, and forming impressions about your expertise long before scheduling that first meeting. [...] Read more

What you need to know about the Canada Disability Benefit

By Jamie Golombek and Debbie Pearl-Weinberg
October 1, 2025

The new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is now available to provide tax-free monthly support for qualifying clients or their family members with disabilities.

To qualify for the CDB, applicants must be between 18 and 64 years old and have been approved for the disability tax credit (DTC) by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). They, and their spouse or common-law partner (if applicable), must have filed their 2024 federal income tax return(s), and must be Canadian residents for tax purposes, among other criteria.[...] Read more

An Errors & Omissions cautionary tale

By Jack Mazakian
October 1, 2025

Many Canadians believe we’re less litigious than our neighbours to the south. While U.S. court awards often dominate the headlines, lawsuits in Canada tend to be resolved quietly, well before reaching the courtroom, and rarely make the press. But the reality is clear: litigation is alive and well in this country. In some industries, lawsuits are seen as strategic tools used to delay payments, motivate decisions, or negotiate settlements. But when litigation involves professional services, it becomes personal. [...] Read more

Why Ontario IPPs are more rewarding for connected persons

By Rebecca Neal
October 1, 2025

Individual pension plans (IPPs) offer many advantages over Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), including increased tax-deductible contribution room, tax-deductible maintenance fees, and improved forecasting that eases tax, estate, and succession planning. These advantages result in greater retirement savings, and many employed Canadians who are not covered by private workplace pension plans can and should be taking advantage of IPPs. [...] Read more

Managing through the distractions of a noisy world

By Jaclyn Nemethy
October 1, 2025

You wake up early, coffee in hand, ready to tackle a meaningful project. You’ve blocked the time, cleared your calendar, and committed to deep focus. But then an email pings and it looks urgent. You respond. A few more follow. Teams lights up. A text comes in. You try to clear the clutter, but the moment is gone. Focus has dissolved into distraction. [...] Read more