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Insurance & Benefits Guides
for Alberta Families and Business Owners
Straightforward guides on life insurance, mortgage protection, disability coverage, critical illness insurance, and Health Spending Accounts. Written for Alberta families, self-employed professionals, and incorporated business owners. No jargon. No sales pitch. Just clear answers.
Mortgage Protection
Mortgage Protection
Bank Mortgage Insurance vs. Independent Coverage — What Alberta Homeowners Need to Know
Why bank creditor insurance protects the lender — not your family — and what to do instead.
Mortgage Protection
How Much Does Mortgage Protection Insurance Cost in Calgary?
Real rate examples for a 35-year-old Albertan on a $500K mortgage, bank vs. independent.
Term Life Insurance
Term Life Insurance
How Much Life Insurance Do You Actually Need in Alberta?
The DIME method explained with two worked examples — a Calgary family and a self-employed professional.
Term Life Insurance
Term vs. Whole Life Insurance in Canada — Which One Is Right for You?
An honest comparison with a side-by-side table, including the 'buy term and invest the difference' debate.
Term Life Insurance
Term Life Insurance vs. Bank Mortgage Life Insurance — The Real Difference
Bank mortgage insurance declines in value as you pay down your mortgage. Independent term doesn't. Here's what that costs you.
Term Life Insurance
Best Term Life Insurance in Alberta — 2026 Carrier Comparison
Manulife, Sun Life, iA, RBC, Canada Life, and more — how they compare on price, conversion, and claims.
Health Spending Account
Health Spending Account
What Is a Health Spending Account (HSA) in Alberta?
What a PHSP is, how it works, who qualifies, and whether it makes sense for your business.
Health Spending Account
How Much Does a Health Spending Account Cost for a Small Business in Alberta?
Real GoKlaim pricing tiers, admin fees, and a worked cost example for a small Alberta team.
Health Spending Account
HSA vs FSA in Canada — What's the Difference and Which One Do You Need?
These terms are used interchangeably in Canada. Here's what actually means what.
Health Spending Account
What Medical Expenses Are Eligible for a Health Spending Account in Canada?
The covered list is broader than most people expect. Dental, vision, mental health, and more.
Health Spending Account
PHSP vs. Group Benefits — Which Wins for a Small Alberta Business?
Side-by-side cost and flexibility comparison, plus when group benefits still make sense.
Disability Insurance
Disability Insurance
Disability Insurance for Self-Employed and Incorporated Professionals in Alberta
If you're self-employed in Alberta, you are your own safety net. Here's what that means.
Disability Insurance
Disability Insurance for Incorporated Professionals in Alberta — The Complete Guide
Incorporated physicians, lawyers, and consultants face unique coverage gaps. Here's how to fill them.
Disability Insurance
How Much Disability Insurance Do I Actually Need in Alberta?
The 60–85% income replacement rule, explained with worked examples for Calgary professionals.
Disability Insurance
Own-Occupation Disability Insurance in Alberta — Why the Definition Matters
A surgeon and an accountant have the same 'disability' — but only one of them gets paid. Here's why.
Disability Insurance
Disability Insurance vs Critical Illness Insurance — What's the Difference?
These two products are often confused. They solve different problems and you may need both.
Business Overhead Insurance
Business Overhead Insurance
Business Overhead Expense Insurance in Alberta — The Complete Guide
When disability keeps you from working, your rent and payroll don't pause. BOE insurance fills that gap.
Business Overhead Insurance
BOE Insurance vs. Personal Disability Insurance — What's the Difference?
They solve different problems. Most incorporated professionals need both. Here's the breakdown.
Business Overhead Insurance
Is Business Overhead Expense Insurance Worth It? A Break-Even Analysis
At $200–$400/month, is BOE insurance a smart spend? Real numbers from a Calgary scenario.
Business & Estate Planning
Business & Estate Planning
What Are Retained Earnings and Why Are They a Corporate Tax Problem?
If your corporation is building up cash you're not spending, you're accumulating a future tax problem. Here's how it works.
Business & Estate Planning
Corporate Estate Bond vs. GICs — Why More Alberta Business Owners Are Making the Switch
GICs inside a corporation are taxed every year at ~50%. Corporate estate bonds aren't. The after-tax return difference is significant.
Business & Estate Planning
How Business Owners Extract Corporate Wealth Tax-Free Using Life Insurance
The Capital Dividend Account lets incorporated owners move money from their corporation to their heirs without triggering a tax bill.
Business & Estate Planning
What Is the Capital Dividend Account (CDA)?
The CDA is one of the most powerful tax mechanisms for incorporated Canadians — and most business owners have never heard of it.
Business & Estate Planning
Why You Should Talk to Your Insurance Broker Before Your Accountant About Corporate Life Insurance
Your accountant knows your numbers. Your broker knows the insurance. The conversation needs both — and usually starts with the broker.
Business & Estate Planning
Should My Corporation Own My Life Insurance in Canada?
Corporate vs. personal ownership comes down to a few concrete factors. Here's how to think it through.
Business & Estate Planning
Can My Corporation Pay My Life Insurance Premiums?
Yes — but the structure changes the tax outcome significantly. Here's the important distinction.
Business & Estate Planning
What Happens to My Corporation When I Die in Canada?
Your corporation survives you — but your shares face a tax event, and the business needs someone ready to run it.
Business & Estate Planning
How Is Corporate-Owned Life Insurance Taxed in Canada?
Premiums, growth, and the death benefit are each taxed differently. The full picture, in plain English.
Business & Estate Planning
What Happens to Retained Earnings When a Business Owner Dies?
Retained earnings become part of your shares' value — and can face more than one layer of tax without planning.
Business & Estate Planning
Should I Invest Corporate Surplus or Buy Permanent Life Insurance?
Three questions that usually settle it — time horizon, liquidity, and whether the money is earmarked for your estate.
Business & Estate Planning
What Happens to My Shares When I Die?
Your will, deemed disposition, and any shareholder agreement all come into play at once.
Business & Estate Planning
What Is the ACB of a Life Insurance Policy?
The tax figure that determines your Capital Dividend Account credit — and why it's not the same as cash value.
Business & Estate Planning
How Much Life Insurance Does a Business Owner Need?
Rarely one number — usually several separate purposes added together. How each is sized.
Business & Estate Planning
Life Insurance for a Business Owner With a $5 Million Company
A practical checklist of what usually needs attention at this size.
Business & Estate Planning
How Do Business Owners Pay Capital Gains Tax at Death?
Deemed disposition, the spousal rollover, and how the estate actually funds the resulting tax.
Business & Estate Planning
Business Succession Planning for Canadian Business Owners
Leadership, ownership, tax structuring, and funding — four separate questions, and how they fit together.
Business & Estate Planning
How Does an Estate Freeze Work for a Canadian Business Owner?
The share exchange, the Section 85 rollover, and a worked example — explained conceptually.
Critical Illness Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance
What Does Critical Illness Insurance Cover in Canada?
Most people think CI is only for cancer. The covered conditions list is much broader than that.
Critical Illness Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance in Canada — What Does It Actually Cover?
The 3-condition vs. 25-condition distinction, partial payouts, the 30-day survival rule, and ROP rider math.
Critical Illness Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance for Business Owners in Alberta — What You Need to Know
A CI diagnosis isn't just a health crisis — it's a business crisis. Here's how owners use CI insurance strategically.
Critical Illness Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance for Business Owners and Incorporated Professionals in Alberta
For a business owner, a CI diagnosis isn't just a health crisis — it's a business crisis.
Critical Illness Insurance
Critical Illness vs. Disability Insurance in Canada — Which Do You Need First?
Lump-sum vs. monthly income replacement. When CI makes sense, when DI matters more, and when you need both.