Understanding the guaranteed income for life offerings

During one of our recent social media group meetings, the Social Web Meetup in particular, I happened to mention the guaranteed income for life products, known also as Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit. My friend asked if I would arrange a small coffee meeting to provide some information. Of course I will! As I explored what I would present in that meeting and in a webinar, I realized there was a great presentation all ready to go. One of the companies I represent, as an agent, is Manulife Financial Services. They introduced the first such product, known as IncomePlus. Manulife has some really good material on their website. Included is a 15 minute video that describes IncomePlus. There are also shorter videos breaking it down into segments.

I’m definitely ready to meet over coffee to discuss how IncomePlus and other products might fit into your plan, but I feel the benefit of this professionaly prepared video is too good to pass by. Please have a look and then consider talking to me or your financial advisor. If you are interested in the coffee meeting, just let me know and you can join us or we can meet separately.

Please visit the Manulife IncomePlus website. It opens with a short introductory video. The other videos are accessed through a link on the left side.

Passions Resolved

Questions often asked of me, and by me, relate to identifying my target market and my ideal client. This is not always an easy task, but over time the answers have become clearer.

My passions are distance education and personal financial security. I do both, and they fit together nicely. It allows me to associate with those interested in these areas such as faculty, course developers and designers, graduates from professional programs, and security/risk management professionals who understand the need to protect their own financial security (in addition to that of their employers). These passions evolve from my past career experience, my postsecondary educational studies and teaching, and my desire to help clients create a personal financial security plan to build and protect their wealth.

You will see my focus in those areas, including attending conferences and joining online discussion groups. Resources will be developed on my site to address these interests. However, I do welcome clients from all walks of life whom are genuinely interested in creating a personal financial security plan. It is especially rewarding to connect with those with whom I have worked or taught in the past.

In the near future, I will be entering my 5th year as a financial advisor. I also continue to teach as an online instructor for the University of Calgary. Emergency Planning for Industry was taught in the spring, and Risk Assessment is scheduled for January 2009. Does it feel right working as a financial advisor and an online instructor? It sure does!

By the  way, I welcome the opportunity to speaking with anyone about financial services or course development/teaching.

**This message is an expression of the author’s personal opinions. The companies represented by Antony (Tony) Ratcliffe of Ratcliffe Wealth & Risk Management, as an independent insurance agent/broker in Alberta, Canada, will not be held liable in any way for the opinions expressed herein.

Remember Remember the 5th of November!

I have been in Canada for 43 years now after emigrating from England. It was just last year that I discovered the celebration of a British tradition here in Edmonton: Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night. The history dates back to 1605 when 13 young men conspired to blow up the Houses of Parliament with gunpowder on November 5. Guy Fawkes was caught early that day, tortured, and executed. That night, bonfires were lit to celebrate the King’s safety, and Bonfire Night has remained a tradition each November 5, along with fireworks and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes on bonfires. A short description of The Gunpowder Plot and Bonfire Night makes for interesting reading.

Tonight’s celebration, in Edmonton, is organized yearly by the Alberta St. George of England Society. It was held at the Shrine Temple, 14510-142 Street. Upon arrival, members and other attendees were greeted by the effigy of Guy Fawkes and Society Vice President, John Tancred. Tradition has seen children walking the streets with an effigy seeking “a penny for the Guy” from others, so they could purchase fireworks. Tonight, John was not bashful in asking for a penny or a loonie!

After watching the lighting of the bonfire, the effigy of Guy Fawkes was paraded around and then thrown in. This was followed by a brilliant fireworks display. We then moved into the hall for baked potatoes, apple cider, and hot chocolate.  I’m going to throw in a quick estimate of 100 people, but I could be off.

Photographs can be found here.

Canadian Network for Innovation in Education

Canadian Network for Innovation in Education (CNIE) was created through the merger of the Canadian Association for Distance Education (CADE) and the Association for Media and Technology in Education (AMTEC). I know that many in my social communities are involved with training, education, media, technology, etc., so I wanted to introduce CNIE to those who are not familiar with it. There are two journals included in membership: the Journal of Distance Education and the Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology. The  journals are even available online without membership! Please have a look at the site and consider joining.

As you know, my academic credentials include the Master of Distance Education degree and an Advanced Graduate Diploma in Distance Education (Technology). Expect to see more initiatives from me relating to my passion for education in insurance and other financial services.

**This message is an expression of the author’s personal opinions. The companies represented by Antony (Tony) Ratcliffe of Ratcliffe Wealth & Risk Management, as an independent agent/broker in Alberta, Canada, will not be held liable in any way for the opinions expressed herein.

Does Web 2.0 dilute the power of interpersonal communication?

Web 2.0 has become part of my way of communicating with friends, clients, prospective clients, and others interested in what I have to say. It is no surprise that Keith Rosen’s article caught my attention. “When Technology Disconnects Us: How Sales 2.0/Web 2.0 Is Diluting The Power of Interpersonal Communication” was published in Sales Xchange, a newsletter of the Canadian Professional Sales Association.

The article suggests that Web 2.0 activities are having a negative impact on our relationship with clients, potential clients, and managers. (I will take that to also include colleagues.) Rosen stated, “it’s diluting our ability to connect powerfully on a deeper level, the level that long term relationships are fostered.” Contrast this with the view that Web 2.0 brings us closer together for a stronger relationship. I just watched a talk given by Mena Trott, described as “the founding mother of the blog revolution,“ titled “How blogs are building a friendlier world.” The page hosting the talk indicates, “she realized that giving regular people the power to share our lives online is the key to building a friendlier, more connected world.”

If we consider that people often like to do business with those they like and trust, it seems to make sense that getting to know a lot of people through Web 2.0 activities may lead to a stronger business relationship down the road. The face-to-face touch, such as with personal meetings, Meetups and Tweetups, does help, but a lot of the communication takes place virtually. Having taught and studied online, I can also attest to the powerful online communities that can be developed.

I would like to have seen more discussion of the Web 2.0 and Sales 2.0 activities to which he refers. Further, I do not question the validity of the personal meetings. However, as a consumer, how do you feel about successful Web 2.0 activities leading you to future business relationships?

**This message is an expression of the author’s personal opinions. The companies represented by Antony (Tony) Ratcliffe of Ratcliffe Wealth & Risk Management, as an independent insurance agent/broker in Alberta, Canada, will not be held liable in any way for the opinions expressed herein.

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