Collaborators

I am still happily meeting with existing and new clients. In some cases however with new clients, often the children of existing clients, I am introducing my collaborators Shanna Liber (left) and Nikki Downie. They have been in the insurance business for a few years and are building a solid foundation of client accountability and professionalism. Nikki and Shanna are both part of Cove Continuity Advisors, and learning from Bernie and Warren on a daily basis. In addition to helping me today, they are part of my succession plan, to ensure that if I leave the insurance business, there will be uninterrupted service for my clients.

As part of the succession planning for Spectrum Continuity Planning, we are aligned with Warren Campbell, CLU, CFP. Warren is introduced to certain of Spectrum’s clients, when his skills and perspective will be beneficial for the client.

Warren’s strength is doing thorough research into insurance solutions and implementing an orderly approach to the decision-making process. Warren is right at home when there is an abundance of data to work with that allows him to plan an insurance program based on the client’s objectives.

Some Spectrum Continuity Planning clients benefit from extremely detailed and sophisticated insurance planning. This planning involves projecting assets and liabilities into the future, and modelling cash-flow and estate preservation options which is normally done in conjunction with a client’s Accountant and/or Lawyer.

For these clients, we often introduce Bernie Geiss. His unique abilities include brainstorming new solutions, experimenting and modelling different options, studying the effectiveness of those options, and discerning the best approach. He is an award-winning advisor and a recognized expert in the field of insurance planning.

In discussions with clients over the years, we have learned that people have different “relationships” with money. They spend too much, they save too much, they have preconceived ideas about what they are worth, or a husband and wife have greatly differing attitudes about money.

Many of our clients will benefit from meeting Jose Jaimie Guerrero. He is not a financial planner, or a seller of financial products, but is a “counsellor”.

His extremely unique ability is to work with clients to help them understand their emotional relationship to money. And maybe more importantly, help couples understand how each other thinks about money.

When we help a client or business with their insurance planning, we always insist that the client complete the project. This includes ensuring that the client’s will is up-to-date and will do what the client wants it to do.

The majority of people do not have a good up-to-date will, and even if they do, it is good to review the will at the time of making changes in insurance and business succession arrangements.

We do not practice law, but encourage everybody to do their will planning with a Wills and Trusts specialist. One such specialist is Hugh McLellan.

Although Spectrum Continuity Planning offers Employee Benefit Plans, in some situations we like to bring in an outside Employee Benefit Plan expert to provide a different perspective, another set of eyes, very detailed analysis, and some productive brainstorming for our clients.

That person is Carlo Nichini. His firm has an unmatched knowledge base and unmatched experience in all aspects related to Employee Benefits. Carlo is an expert problem-solver and the straightest straight-shooter. Most importantly, many Employee Benefit Plans are ticking time-bombs due to procedural problems at the employer firm, and Carlo is extremely diligent about helping clients implement procedures at their firm, to ensure an administrative error doesn’t cost the firm owner thousands.

Many Spectrum Continuity Planning clients are at the stage in life where they are no longer generating income, but are expecting to retire on the assets they have accumulated. This is an important stage because for most people, making the right plan at this stage is no-turning-back! The correct plan involves coordinating retirement-funding vehicles (annuities, RRIFs, etc) and tax planning, and balancing the needs of the retiring person and their desire to help other family members.

For this situation, we refer clients to Mr. Randall B. Reynolds. Randall does not sell or manage investment products. His role is to help clients understand and plan their cash-flow and income requirements and tax strategies for after retirement.