Coffee Talks

For our first Coffee Talks episode of 2026, Advocis welcomed Kathryn (Kit) Bennett, LLB, TEP, CLU, Director of Tax and Estate Planning at RBC Insurance, as she explored how effective estate planning goes beyond efficiency to truly understand our clients.

In this fast-paced session, Kit examined key personal and business-owner planning challenges, highlighting how identifying client needs and tailoring solutions can help build a strong insurance framework. Through practical insights and real-world considerations, she highlighted how well-integrated life insurance strategies can deliver long-term value and support clients’ broader estate planning goals.

In our December episode of Coffee Talks, Advocis welcomed Tania Melnyk, Director, Vitality Distribution at Manulife, as she dove into the future of behavioural insurance and its growing impact on the financial services landscape. In this engaging session, Tania broke down how behavioural insights are reshaping life and health insurance, from shifting client expectations, to evolving risks, to the rise of interactive and personalized insurance models.

In our October episode of Coffee Talks, Advocis welcomed GAMA Global Canada board members, Randy Little, CFP and Jay McMahon, MSc, CHS, CFP. The session dived into the challenges faced by informal leaders (wholesalers, senior advisors, and other leaders) who are often called on to coach or develop advisors, even when it isn’t part of their formal role. Randy and Jay explored how GAMA can support these professionals with the tools, insights, and strategies they need to lead effectively, foster growth, and strengthen advisor development in today’s evolving industry.

In our September episode of Coffee Talks, Matt Austin, B. Math, CFP, CLU, Advanced Case Consultant, Ontario and Atlantic at Equitable Life, shared why participating whole life insurance deserves a place in your clients’ portfolios. Matt discussed how reallocating safe assets to permanent insurance can improve diversification, enhance stability, unlock liquidity, provide tax advantages, and create long-term value through the Capital Dividend Account.

In our August episode of Coffee Talks, Andrew Brandsma, Director of Sales and New Business Development at National HealthClaim, hosted a practical and eye-opening session that spotlighted the often-overlooked Health Spending Account (HSA), a powerful tool that allows business owners to deduct personal health and dental expenses through their corporation and receive tax-free reimbursements.

In our July episode of Coffee Talks, Mark O’Farrell, CEO of the Canadian Institute of Certified Executor Advisors (CICEA) dives into the power of language in estate planning, drawing on jaw-dropping stories from the estates of the rich and famous. He also explored how subtle shifts in phrasing can radically change client engagement and decision-making.

In our June episode of Coffee Talks, Mike Abbott, Partner, Technology & Regulatory Solutions at BDO Canada, and Ian Robertson, Partner at The Jefferson Hawthorne Group discussed what the U.S.-Canada trade standoff really means for you and your clients.

In our March episode of Coffee Talks, Andrew Cairns, National Lead – Wealth Management, HomeEquity Bank and Kate Phillips, Business Development Manager, Wealth, South West Ontario at HomeEquity Bank, discuss the evolving role of reverse mortgages in financial planning. Attendees gained valuable insights into how reverse mortgages can enhance client retention, address retirement income needs, and provide financial flexibility for aging Canadians.

In our February episode of Coffee Talks, Wilson Huang, CFP, CLU, CHS, Senior Sales Consultant at RBC Insurance, dived into the critical role of estate planning, sharing insights on how to ensure assets are distributed efficiently while minimizing taxes and avoiding the costly complications of dying without a will.

In our January episode of Coffee Talks, Alaeddine Jabri, CFP, CLU, CHS, Managing Partner at Longevity Achieved, provides actionable tools for practical strategies on optimizing tax outcomes and managing wealth. Topics discussed include corporate structuring, executive compensation, investment planning, and tax-efficient financial solutions.