The Insurance Journal - what readers say about us

The Insurance Journal is one publication which I always look forward to reading. The articles are informative and give me a unique perspective on the industry, particularly regarding trends in distribution and innovation in the marketplace. Congratulations on your tenth anniversary and keep up the great writing!

Ken Aberg
President and Chief Executive Officer, First Prairie Financial Inc.
Edmonton, Alberta

My feeling is that The Insurance Journal really attempts to bring a non-biased view to the marketplace, for the benefit of the consumer by way of advisors. Clarity and objective information assists us as advisors to really present – and feel confident – that the information we are receiving is unbiased. I can take that information and work it into my practice in a way that I can benefit my client. That’s really what I appreciate about The Insurance Journal – the fact that it’s not being slanted because (a large advertiser) may run an ad. The facts are the facts. I appreciate that as an advisor in the field. And, the articles aren’t very long, they’re very matter-of-fact and there’s a variety. It’s not just about insurance.

Brian McMillan
Managing Partner, RBA Financial Group, Collingwood, Ontario

The Insurance Journal gives me a broader perspective on the industry and the Canadian marketplace. I find it useful to know what is happening in different regions, with different insurers, and multiple managing general agencies. I frequently read some useful technical information and find the comparative tables useful. Most of the articles are interesting and they often provoke some thought and discussion around a variety of business issues. There tends to be a broad spectrum of opinions or information from various different sources including companies, associations and individuals. All of this information provides me with important components to develop a competitive analysis and to familiarize our company with industry and company changes.

Susan St. Amand
President and Chief Executive Officer, Sirius Financial Services
Ottawa, Ontario

The Insurance Journal is an invaluable source of objective information about our industry. It is by far the best publication if you want to keep up to date with current products available. The Insurance Journal provides me with exemplary journalism providing points of view on important topics and events from several sources; typically their journalists will interview several industry professionals on each topic and event. If you feel it is important to keep up to date with industry and political trends, The Insurance Journal is a must read.”

I look to The Insurance Journal for news about our industry. I say “about” rather than “from” because some other media material reads more like press releases or infomercials. If critical illness is not selling well, for example, I can read about it in The Insurance Journal whereas other publications regurgitate stories about how great or how important critical illness insurance is. I think the most important feature of The Insurance Journal is the comparative tables of policy features. I have used this on occasion as the start point of a search for a company offering a particular product feature.

The Insurance Journal provides me with an opportunity to take a step back and look at the trends shaping our industry. The information is timely and unbiased, creating an enjoyable, useful reading experience. The magazine provides a combination of news and tips that have a tangible impact on the growth of my business. It gives me a chance to hear about the issues challenging other brokers and to learn about strategies from other leaders in the industry.

At one time, the “whole industry” was your “career agency office”. As the insurance world grew, the need for good information grew with it. The Insurance Journal fills that need like a smart Agency Newsletter for today’s expert insurance advisor. News, views, analysis and advice all come in a tidy package you can’t get anywhere else. It’s mandatory reading if you want to be super effective.

The Insurance Journal is one of the key Canadian financial publications that I read cover to cover. While the nature of our work means we’re often at the leading edge of breaking issues, I always find something in every issue that I didn’t know. The Insurance Journal helps me keep current - especially in areas where we’re not focused. Keep up the good journalism for at least another 10 years.

The financial services industry in Canada has been well served by The Insurance Journal. Coast to Coast you have informed, educated and stimulated debate on issues and matters that dictate our very existence. The future will demand that issues continue to be debated and discussed to gain input from all segments of our industry. I wish The Insurance Journal another productive decade to come!

Alphonso Franco
Top of the Table, Chairman 2006, Creator and founder of the World Critical Illness Insurance Conference

The Insurance Journal brings timely information on a wide variety of subjects that are either directly or peripherally applicable to our profession into our office on a monthly basis. More often than not the articles contain the views of a number of very knowledgeable people, representing a variety of viewpoints, allowing us to get a good overview of the subjects discussed, from all perspectives. Most of the time these articles provide more in-depth information than can be readily accessed from any other single source.

Lawrence Ian Geller
L.I. Geller Insurance Agencies Ltd., Campbellville, Ontario

Every issue brings the insurance world to my doorstep. It is very much my window to the world of insurance. I read it cover to cover since it is not only informative, but also well written. The information is always very timely. I guess to me it is the CNN of insurance journalism. As to what it has brought to the industry, The Insurance Journal is the voice for the industry. It is highly regarded because of it’s non biased position. It reports the news as it is happening, rather than as it should be happening. Continued success and let’s celebrate another 10 years of excellent journalism.

Sam Albanese
President, Albanese Consulting Inc. Insurance Industry Director, Seneca College

A quick note to compliment you on another fine issue. I sense that The Insurance Journal is becoming the standard for timely information about the insurance industry. As I work with independent advisors, I find the articles very helpful in keeping me abreast of issues and trends in our industry. Profiles of successful advisors such as Sean Long and Lorne Marr are excellent.

I received my copy of the May edition yesterday and wanted to say that your mag is a must read. I have always found each edition and each article to be relevant and of interest.

Thank You,
Bob Dickson

I have read your magazine for years and have always used it as a source as to where the business is going. Keep up the great work.

Brian Popp
Director of Sales, Western Canada Unity Life of Canada

I think its one of the best insurance journals in Canada; better than Canadian Insurance and Canadian Underwriter.

Scott Goodison

I love it, my favourite read in the industry.

Someone from your organization handed me a comp copy of the November/December 2002 issue in Vancouver, as part of my attending and speaking at the first WORLD CRITICAL ILLNESS CONFERENCE. I loved it. Being a writer of sorts [columnist in BEST's REVIEW and BROKER WORLD here in the states, etc.], I appreciate your achievement probably better than most. Bravo!!! I am subscribing. ... Looks like the best thirty bucks I have spent in a while.

Hank George FALU, CLU, FLMI
President, Hank George, Inc.

I think you have done a great job with The Insurance Journal. You have stayed on the leading edge of critical illness and everyone else is playing catch-up to you!

Alphonso Franco
CEO, Critical Illness Insurance Centre

I believe that your magazine stands out among all the mass of paper that Canada Post and the insurance courier deposit on my desk. Your publication is most timely and informative. I am always surprised to see that there are no articles in the magazine that are to be skipped. Each one seems to be of interest, and has something to teach. The research is obviously well done and there is always something new in each item.

Larry Joseph
CLU, MDRT Life member, member of the Court of the Table, Independent broker

...the only attempt I have seen to set out the information in a factual non-biased manner is The Insurance Journal. This information is critical if we are going to act in the client’s best interests, without having to do hours of tedious and difficult analysis. ...The Insurance Journal is the only publication that addresses the relevant issues from a broker’s perspective.

Jim Bullock
Independent Producer and former President,
Independent Life Insurance Brokers of Canada

"CONGRATULATIONS! I just finished ... The Insurance Journal cover to cover. Having subscribed to Canadian, American and several British Insurance journals for many years, I would rank your publication right at the top."

Walter Simon
Clover Insurance Group

I am a subscriber to The Insurance Journal – your publication publishes great spreadsheets comparing one company's products to another company's products - usually by type of product i.e. disability insurance, critical illness insurance etc.
You have some great critical illness and universal life comparison tables in this issue that I refer to quite a bit!

Cathy Barber
Brokerage Manager
PinnAcle – Victoria

I would like to compliment you on your magazine. Articles are for the most part are well written and researched well.

James H. Duquette
Duquette Financial Services Victoria, B.C.

I regularly read your magazine and finished the latest issue on the weekend!

Ken McCrea
VP & Chief Operating Officer
Wawanesa Life

You did some great articles in September comparing different universal life and critical illness products. Are you planning to do a similar presentation with Seg funds since all the changes have happened?

Kimberly Taylor, CFP
Assistant Manager, Financial Planning
CUFPA Financial Planning Group Ltd.

The June/July 2000 issue of The Insurance Journal contained an article entitled "universal life investment options illustrations or illusions?” I request permission to copy this article for distribution in connection with a presentation I will be delivering to The Life Brokers' Education Summit sponsored by the Independent Financial Brokers of Canada.

Gerry Anthony, CLU
Senior Consultant, Education and Sales Development
Standard Life Assurance Company

Just a note to congratulate you on the contents and presentation of The Insurance Journal.

André Desharnais
André Desharnais Insurance

We always read the articles in The Insurance Journal attentively. You invariably do an excellent job. The research is on the mark, and every article is of great interest to industry players. Congratulations and keep up the good work. You provide an essential service for financial security advisors.

Paul-Émile Brunelle
Former Vice-president, Sales, Industrial Alliance

"I would like to reiterate how impressed I was with your latest issue..."

Brian E. Shumak
B. Sc. Financial Services Consultant, MDRT member.

I enjoy your magazine. The comparative tables are excellent, however I would recommend adding at the bottom of the chart, where to get more information from the insurance company. E.g. phone number, contact person, website. Keep up the good work.

Dave Speir

Congratulations to your magazine on your Feb 2001 excellent article on critical illness claims. What we were wondering is if you have any numbers on CI policies sold in the year 2000 in Canada, also by province if that information is available. We would appreciate any information you can provide!
Thank you very much

Alphonso Franco

“I really enjoy The Insurance Journal! I’ve been receiving it now for about three years. You’re doing a really comprehensive job, and it’s really the only magazine out there that I read from one end to the other. I like the information that you put in there. Great job!”

Larry Gagnier
Former Regional Manager for Royal & SunAlliance Financial in Toronto. Now works with Qualified Financial Services, a Toronto-based MGA.

I subscribe to your magazine and I find your product comparison tables to be a very valuable resource that I reference frequently. However, in this computer day and age I prefer to file these tables electronically instead of keeping reams of paper files. Is there a way for current subscribers to get these tables in electronic format at time of publication instead of waiting a year for them to become available in the archive section of your website? [Editors note: Not yet, but thank you for your interest!]

Glenn Lester B.B.A., CLU, CFP
Lester Financial Services, Ottawa