Having the right insurance protection can have an enormous effect on your life and the ones you love. A proper financial plan can mean the difference of leaving the ones you care about well positioned financially or leaving behind debts and adequate income.

LIFE INSURANCE

Canadians generally agree that life insurance should be part of a sound financial security plan, but many aren't sure what type or how much to get.

We can assist you with all of your personal financial planning needs and goals. Your financial plan should consider life insurance, savings, other assets such as your home, cottage or business and other forms of insurance. All of the pieces should fit together and be tailored specifically for you.

Life insurance helps to create security for you and your family. If you should die unexpectedly, it can be used to:

• pay final expenses and any debts you may have

• provide an income for your family

• ensure your family has the resources to maintain a comfortable standard of living

• leave a legacy to your favourite charity

While you are still living, some life insurance policies can:

• build a tax-advantaged savings fund which you can draw upon as needed for personal or business opportunities, to supplement your retirement income, or to provide for long term care or home care for a family member. However you look at it, life insurance is a valuable part of your financial plan.

CRITICAL ILLNESS INSURANCE covers such conditions as heart attacks, strokes and life threatening cancer . . .

You may know someone who has survived a critical illness such as a heart attack, cancer or stroke. You may also know the financial burden this has placed not only on them, but also on their families.

What are the chances this could happen to you? Probably more likely than you think:

• 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women are predicted to develop heart disease in their lifetime
• there are 40,000 to 50,000 strokes in Canada each year
• during their lifetime:
• 1 in 2.3 men and 1 in 2.6 women living in Canada will develop cancer
• 1 in 9 women will develop breast cancer
• 1 in 12 Canadians will develop lung cancer
• 145,500 new cancer cases were estimated to occur in Canada in 2004
• an estimated 50,000 Canadians, twice as many women as men, have Multiple Sclerosis

Surviving a critical illness or condition is also more likely than you may think:

• 80% of hospitalized heart attack patients survive - the percentage is higher for those with their first heart attack, and lower for those with recurrent heart attacks
• 80% of stroke patients survive the initial event

How do you help ensure you have the financial resources available to look after yourself and your family if you are stricken with a critical illness?

Critical illness insurance can provide you with a lump sum benefit at a critical time in your life. Use this benefit any way you wish - seek timely treatment outside Canada, purchase special equipment, modify your home, arrange child care or domestic help or pay down your mortgage.

Other conditions covered may include:

• Alzheimer's Disease Loss of Limbs
• Aortic Surgery Loss of Speech
• Benign Brain Tumour Major Organ Transplant
• Blindness Motor Neuron Disease
• Coma Multiple Sclerosis
• Coronary Artery Bypass Occupational HIV Infection
• Deafness Paralysis
• Heart Valve Replacement Parkinson's Disease
• Kidney Failure Severe Burns
• Loss of Independent Existence