Category: Uncategorized

Allianz has released an update regarding insurance coverage. Other insurers will have similar impacts.

Known Event Date

The conflict is considered a Known Event as of February 28, 2026.

Applicable Exclusions

In accordance with our (Allianz) standard policy terms, coverage does not apply to:

• losses resulting directly or indirectly from war or acts of war (declared or undeclared),
• losses resulting directly or indirectly from government actions or prohibitions,
• losses related to political risk.

Given these exclusions, we have temporarily suspended the sale of policies for travel to impacted countries.

Temporary Accommodations for Affected Travellers

To support customers who were already in an impacted country on February 28, 2026, we (Allianz) are offering limited accommodations for plans that were in effect on or before that date, including:

• Emergency Medical Care for injuries caused by acts of war (where included in the       plan),
• Trip Interruption and Travel Delay benefits for eligible travellers who were in or in transit to an impacted country on February 28, 2026.

Tugo states that their rates will increase on Feb 18th.

The average cost and severity of claims continue to increase, along with a higher overall frequency of claims across all product lines. In addition, like the cost of most goods and services, inflation has also impacted medical costs – within Canada (Visitors to Canada and International Students), as well as internationally.  As a result, TuGo will be implementing rate increases on February 18, 2026. As a result of TuGo’s recent and historical claims experience, Medical Questionnaire Surcharge Adjustments will be made for the following:

• Parkinson’s Disease
•  Diabetes requiring insulin 
• Diabetes not requiring insulin 
• Coronary Artery Disease  
• Arteriosclerosis and/or atherosclerosis also known as hardening of the arteries 

Their tax rate card lays out the marginal tax rates for each income range for each province. It is the combined Federal + Provincial rates.

Downloaded Jan 15th, so if they update after, my copy here won’t have updated!

source: https://www.manulifeim.com/retail/ca/en/resources/all/others/2026-tax-rate-card

RRSPs can help you:

• Save on taxes today
• Grow investments tax deferred
• Be used for specific goals such as Home purchase, Higher education, or retirement.

Other options include a TFSA or a FHSA.

I can assist you setup each of these account types using Segregated Funds.

If you would like to talk about your options, give me a shout!

Schedule a Meeting with Kevin

If you currently don’t have an employer group plan for health insurance, Manulife is allowing enrollment in the FollowMe Basic or FollowMe Enhanced plans without having an existing group plan.

The benefit to the FollowMe plans is it is a group plan, so better prices and benefits compared to the non group plan available to individuals.

If you would like to explore this option, give me a shout!

Schedule a Meeting with Kevin

A note from Allianz:

As of November 4, 2025, Allianz Global Assistance has classified the potential Air Transat pilot strike as a known event.

Impact to travel insurance policies

For policies purchased before November 4, 2025

Travellers who purchased travel insurance before this date may have coverage under Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, or Travel Delay benefits if their plans are affected by the strike, in accordance with the terms and conditions of their policy.

For policies purchased on or after November 4, 2025

Since the potential strike is now a known event, no coverage applies under Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, or Travel Delay for losses related to this labour disruption.

Guidance for customers

In both situations, we recommend travellers take the following steps:

• Contact Air Transat first for information on refunds, rebooking, or other available accommodations.
• Review your policy effective date to determine if you may have coverage related to the strike.
• Submit your claim through the Allianz online claims portal. Claims will be assessed individually in accordance with the terms and conditions of the policy or certificate.
• Direct any disputes regarding refunds or credits to the travel service provider, transportation carrier, or the Canadian Transportation Agency.

I was reading a report on how robo-advisors have resulted in 1T dollars under management in the U.S.A. This means the clients are self directing their investments under the guidance of an IVR phone prompts. People do this because they are embarrassed to ask an advisor for guidance.

In the same report it mentioned how people are now starting to ask ChatGPT for investing advice.

I use ChatGPT and other LLM (A.I.) to write program code. The AI can type faster than I can, and without spelling mistakes. However, it often creates code that depends on things that don’t exist. When asked for references, it will make up URLs (webpage links) that point to non-existent websites and pages. Even specifically telling the LLM to NOT fabricate these references it still will. I have to review, and often correct, the things that it generated. I spend about half my time planning and designing, and the other half fixing what the AI created.

Can you imagine the impact this could have on a person’s investments? Ask the AI to create an investment plan, and it will create a document. Will it contain stocks/companies that actually exist? Maybe. Will it tell you why it chose the ones it did? Sure. Can you trust that it didn’t generate out of thin air the supporting documents and therefore reason(s) to choose that company over another?

But even worse, when you call out an AI on it doing something, and you tell it why you think it is wrong, it will tell you that you are absolutely right. Regardless if your argument has merit or not. It will be your cheerleader when you head down a disastrous path because it wants your engagement, and we typically don’t engage with people who tell us things we don’t want to hear!

Do you really want the ultimate Yes! man to advise you on your investments?

One of my travel insurance providers just advised that they now have a partnership with Air Doctor. This will provide

even faster, easier access to video and in-person medical consultations while travelling.

The Air Doctor service provides customers with the ability to schedule virtual doctor appointments in over 80 countries if they become ill or have a minor injury while travelling, via an easy-to-use, digital booking tool.

Video consultations provide faster access to a doctor, no waiting rooms or lineups, and the ability to receive local prescriptions or requisitions virtually when needed. Depending on the country, booking in-person (at a clinic, home or hotel room) appointments may also be available through the tool.

As a key benefit, there are no up-front, out-of-pocket costs to customers for initial medical consultations when arranged via the Air Doctor web app.

This insurance company will send you an email with details  shortly before their trip with information about the Air Doctor service and a link to access the tool, in case they need treatment on their trip. As well, their 24/7 call center will continue be open. This is just another option.