Your guide to
Growing
If you are interested in growing your
business here are some things you
should know about group savings
and retirement plans…
Canada represents the 5th largest pensions market in the world. With current demographic
trends, the potential is huge and plan sponsors are looking for qualified advisors to assist them.
Savings and retirement plans don’t renew every year. In fact, most clients stay with their
providers for considerable periods of time. This means you can spend less time servicing current
accounts and more time prospecting new business.
Your compensation grows as the plan grows, making it a win‑win proposition for everyone.
Your current client base of business owners is probably in need of a good group savings and
retirement advisor. Why shouldn’t it be you?
DCRPP, Group RRSP, STRP, DPSP, EPSP, NREG, DBIO, IPP and RCA are not just a bunch of
confusing acronyms, they are the solution many employers are looking for and many employees
need. By partnering with an expert, you can offer a solution that is right for them.
Standard Life is a recognized leader in providing group savings and retirement plan services and
expertise to the marketplace. Here is an opportunity to establish a partnership with an industry
leader and present these opportunities to your clients.
About Standard Life…
The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada is a major investment, retirement and financial
protection company. Along with its affiliated companies in Canada, The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada had $36.89 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2006. We offer a wide range of financial products and services to over 1.31 million individuals, including group insurance and pension plan members. Total premium income and deposits reached $5.17 billion in 2006. Standard Life group has been a prominent player in the Canadian marketplace since 1833. (www.standardlife.ca) The Standard Life group is a leading provider of financial products and services, with approximately 7 million customers and 1.5 million shareholders worldwide. As of December 31, 2006, its investment management business had $301 billion in assets under management. Founded in Edinburgh (Scotland) in 1825, The Standard Life Assurance Company demutualized in 2006 and a new public company – Standard Life plc – was born. Standard Life plc was listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), under the ticker symbol or code SL., on July 10, 2006. Standard Life plc entered the FTSE 100 on September 18, 2006, after the quarterly review of the index by the FTSE group. In March 2007, Standard Life Plc became part of the FTSE4Good Index, which is used to identify companies that meet globally recognized corporate responsibility standards. (www.standardlife.com)
About our tools and services
For the advisor
We will support you in front of your client by:
Helping you in prospecting and identifying potential sources of business •
Offering you competitive compensation based on invested assets, including assets in relation to retired and •
terminated members
Providing pension expertise from the most knowledgeable representatives in the industry •
Ensuring full legislative compliance and CAP governance support •
Granting access to the VIP Room password‑protected website •
Assisting you in choosing and monitoring investment funds within our Quality & Choice •
Investment Program
Guiding members during retirement and terminations •
Providing exceptional service to your client •
For the plan sponsor
Relax and leave the heavy lifting to us. We help you by offering:
Complete transition and implementation support designed to simplify the process and eliminate worries •
Systems designed around clients’ needs with a view to minimizing their day‑to‑day involvement •
Access to information and reporting through the VIP Room password‑protected website •
Support from one of our local Client Relationship Managers who will provide training and information •
as required
Full legislative compliance and CAP governance support •
All‑inclusive pricing providing peace of mind that everything will be taken care of •
For the member
Confident, well‑informed members simplify the role of plan sponsors.
We help members filter out the noise by:
Concentrating on the three keys to success: contributions, risk/return and time •
Providing live on‑site activation sessions to get members enrolled in the plan, conducted by salaried •
financial consultants
Developing communication material designed to reflect the member lifecycle, including important life •
changes, and provide members with the tools and services they need to take action
Assisting them with the help of salaried financial representatives available to provide investment guidance •
through a toll‑free number
Providing a variety of eServices through our password‑protected VIP Room website: electronic enrolment •
and statements, account information, transactional capabilities, calculators and financial education modules Providing
• Plan for life – an enrolment guide unique in the industry, designed to grow with members as they
transition through various lifecycle stages
Offering payout products including a very competitive group RRIF/LIF •
Plan types offered
Registered Pension Plan (DCRPP) – Defined contribution plan governed by provincial or federal pension •
legislation designed to provide an income during retirement
Group RRSP (GRSP) – Similar to an individual RRSP but with latitude from the plan sponsor to determine •
eligibility. May include a Spousal RRSP
Structured RRSP (STRP) – As above but with the opportunity for the employer to make contributions •
Deferred Profit Sharing Plan (DPSP) – Defined contribution plan that allows a company to share the firm’s •
profits with employees in a tax‑sheltered environment
Employee Profit Sharing Plan (EPSP) – As above but in a non tax‑sheltered environment •
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) – May be registered or non‑registered to allow employee investment •
in publicly‑traded employer stock. It may be offered as a separate plan or as an investment option within an existing plan
Non‑Registered Savings Plan (NREG) – To allow for the investment of contributions above the •
established limits
Defined Benefit Investment Only (DBIO) – A one‑contract simplified solution for defined benefit investment •
Individual Pension Plan and Retirement Compensation Arrangement (IPP + RCA) – Two unique plans to •
provide high‑income earners effective funding options that reflect their individual needs Complete actuarial services are also available.
Investment solutions
Our Quality & Choice Investment Program offers diversification by asset class, geographic region and investment style, through some of the best fund managers in the business today. Our investment alternatives range from conventional balanced funds to emerging market equity opportunities. We offer choices between equity and fixed income, domestic and foreign, value and growth styles, and active and passive management. We provide several packaged investment solutions to members: Avenue Portfolios, Lifestyle Funds and Target Year (lifecycle) Funds. There is also an à la carte selection for those who want to build their own investment mix from the funds offered.
Our Avenue Portfolios approach combines the best features of Lifestyle and Target Year Funds in a single framework, a proactive way to help members keep their investments on track over the long term. Plan sponsors can also customize a matrix of portfolios with the funds they have selected.
Some of your questions answered
1. Do I need to be a pension expert?
You may know the ABCs of pension but you
may not feel comfortable handling more
complex pension issues raised by your clients.
You can rely on Standard Life to provide all the
expertise required to assist your client on these
matters. You will have the complete support
of a group savings and retirement industry
leader. Our support extends to helping you
identify target markets, offering legislative and
compliance support, as well as ongoing plan
management including investment reviews.
2. How complicated is plan set‑up?
Not at all. Once your clients have decided
that Standard Life is their partner of choice,
we take care of the plan installation. Your level
of involvement is completely up to you, but
we always keep you in the loop. For larger
plans, we assign a dedicated Implementation
Manager. Regardless of the plan size, we
take care of everything in an efficient and
professional manner to provide you and your
clients with peace of mind.
3. What about ongoing reporting and
meeting regulatory requirements?
Standard Life prepares reports and information
to help you and your clients comply with
legislative requirements. We can work with
your clients’ accountants and lawyers to
provide the information required, should the
need arise.
4. How do I know my clients will be happy
with Standard Life?
We have an industry‑leading retention ratio.
Not only are we retaining our current clients,
but we are also growing faster than the
industry average.
5. Will you treat me like a partner and not
just another broker?
Of course. Our Valued Partnership Program
recognizes advisors who are interested in
establishing a long‑term relationship with
Standard Life.
6. How profitable is this type of business?
Savings and retirement programs should be
considered a long‑term investment in your
business. Satisfied clients tend to stay with a
service provider for many years. With no annual
renewals to negotiate, your compensation will
increase as assets in the plan grow.
7. My clients demand personal service; a
website or toll‑free line just won’t do.
How will you help?
Each client is assigned a Client Relationship
Manager (CRM) to oversee the relationship and
deliver the appropriate level of personal service.
The CRMs have an established protocol,
which allows them to provide service and
meet your clients’ expectations. In addition,
clients will have an assigned Customer Service
Representative who will handle the plan’s
day‑to‑day transactions.
8. Will I have to talk with all members of
the plan to get them enrolled?
Leave that to us. The dedicated Member
Services team is committed to providing
information and guidance to members every
step of the way. Whether it’s conducting live
on‑site meetings at enrolment, or assisting
members on the phone with ongoing
investment questions, our fully salaried
Member Services team is here to answer the
call. Of course, the role you want to play is
entirely up to you. Just let us know; we are here
to help.
GE10994C‑11‑2007 GS
