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1. Updates to Savings & Retirement forms and applications
   To align with the launch of Pivotal Select’s 12 new segregated funds, Equitable Life has updated the following administrative documents for Savings & Retirement.
    
   • Form #375SEL – Pivotal Select segregated fund codes
   • Form #1383 – Pivotal Select TFSA Application
   • Form #1384 –Pivotal Select Application Registered/Non-Registered
   • Form #1403 – Pivotal Select Contract and Information Folder
    
   New online documents and applications are available to download from EquiNet®. Paper applications are also available to order from Equitable’s Supply Team here.
    
   Want to be sure you always have the most up-to-date application? Try our EZcomplete® online application platform. EZcomplete makes it easy to process your non face-to-face applications and allows clients to provide their signature remotely on their own device.
    
   If you have any questions, contact your Regional Investment Sales Manager or Advisors Services Team Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET at 1.866.884.7427, or email savingsretirement@equitable.ca.
    
   ® and ™ denotes a registered trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
    
2. Equitable Life of Canada Webcast Series Featuring Invesco Canada Equitable Life^® continues to spotlight various aspects of our competitive fund lineup and product offerings. This series gives advisors an opportunity to:
   • learn more about products and product features,
   • hear from industry professionals,
   • learn about investment strategies; and so much more.
   
   In this webcast, we welcome
   
   
   Join us to learn the reasons for the growth in ESG, how the following funds are managed and how they can be positioned in a client’s portfolio.
   • Equitable Life S&P/TSX Composite ESG Index Fund Select
   • Equitable Life S&P 500 ESG Index Fund Select 
   • Equitable Life NASDAQ 100 ESG Index Fund Select 

   Learn more

3. Application cloning option now available on EZcomplete As of September 10^th, you will now have the option to clone any Life Insurance and Critical Illness applications that is showing on the EZcomplete dashboard. “Cloning” means the information that has been completed in the existing application is duplicated in a new application.
    
   This feature is meant for situations where multiple applications are being completed and at least one of the parties (the policy owner or insured person) is the same. For example, a single policy owner might own policies on the lives of each of their children. Cloning the application will save re-typing the information about the policy owner into each application.
    
   Please note the following important details regarding cloning:
    
   • Cloning the application will duplicate all information that has been completed in the existing application into the new application.
   • In the family situation described above, the information about the policy owner should be completed in the original application. The application should then be cloned before entering any information about the insured person, as there will be a different insured person for the new application.
   • Cloning applications can be convenient, but it carries risk. It is imperative that the advisor review every section of the new cloned application to ensure that the information is meant to apply to the new application. If an advisor incorrectly includes information about an individual in the new application, this could give risk to a privacy breach or to liability for the advisor if the questions are answered incorrectly for that individual.
   • If the application was submitted and is no longer on the dashboard you will not have the option to clone it.
   • You will not be able to change the product type on a cloned application so if you need to select a different product, you will need to start a new application.
   • Any documents that were attached to the previous application will not be cloned. The documentation will need to be attached again if required.
   • All information from an existing application will be duplicated to the cloned app up to the Signatures step (step 8). Signatures/advisor report will need to be obtained and completed again on the new cloned application.
    
   Resources
   • EZcomplete FAQ
    
   Please contact your Regional Sales Manager for more information
    
4. SMS is Available for Individual Insurance Application Updates If you haven’t opted in to receive your client's application status via text message, give it a try on your next application. 
   
   When you submit a client’s application, you can opt-in to receive text message updates for your new business applications. No need to log in to your advisor portal to know exactly what is going on with a case.
    
   Once you opt-in to receive text messages, you will receive short text updates for your new business applications. That’s a text message when:
   • The application is received,
   • Equitable Life has made a decision,
   • The policy is ready for delivery, and
   • The commissions have been triggered.
   Please note, this number is not monitored for incoming texts. Please contact Customer Service with any questions.
   
   In addition to these messages, Equitable Life will continue to send proactive emails detailing outstanding requirements.
   
   Be sure to opt-in to text messages when you complete your next application on EZComplete®.
   
    

   We’ve recently made a number of changes to make doing business with us easy. Learn more about SMS and other ways we are making it easy to do business with us.
    

     
   ® denotes a registered trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
    
5. A New Universal Life Insurance Solution for the 21st Century – Available NOW! Introducing a new universal life solution built for the 21st century: Equitable Generations™ universal life insurance is available for sale NOW!

   
   Check out our Equitable Generations universal life splash page: www.equitable.ca/ul

    
   Our new Equitable Generations universal life insurance
   Equitable Generations is a universal life product that offers investment options that resonate with today’s 21^st century client while reducing every fee possible. It also reduces the cost of insurance to help clients maximize their opportunity to purchase coverage and build tax-advantaged wealth.
   
   NEW: EZstart^TM Generations
   Today we are launching EZstart Generations which is:
    
   • A mobile-optimized tool for advisors
   • Designed to start a conversation and provide a possible universal life solution in under one minute
   • Goals based - you can see how Equitable Generations™ universal life insurance can perform at different stages of a client’s life.
   Give it a try and use this tool as you are starting the conversation about universal life solutions with clients. EZstart links directly to the EZcomplete® online application for an easy digital experience.
    
   NEW: SMS
   Effective today, September 26, 2022 when you submit an application, you can opt-in to receive text message updates for your new business applications.
   That’s a text message when:
   • The application is received,
   • A decision has been made by Equitable Life,
   • The policy is ready for delivery, and
   • The commissions have been triggered.
   Please note, this number is not monitored for incoming texts. Please contact Customer Service with any questions.
   Learn more
   
   Find all the exciting details on our virtual launch splash page (www.equitable.ca/ul) and watch our informative videos to get all the information you need to start selling Equitable Generations universal life.

   
   Check out our Equitable Generations universal life splash page: www.equitable.ca/ul

   
   Click on the Marketing Materials tab on EquiNet® for all of our new Equitable Generations marketing materials.

   Please contact your Regional Sales Manager for more information. 

    
   ^TM and ® denote trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada. 
    
    
6. Equitable Life Webcast Series featuring Franklin Templeton

   
   Equitable Life^® continues to spotlight various aspects of our competitive fund lineup and product offerings. This series gives advisors an opportunity to:
   
   •  learn more about products and product features,
   •  hear from industry professionals,
   •  learn about investment strategies; and so much more.
    
   
   
   
    In this webcast, we welcome
   
   
   
   
    
   
    Join us to learn about Equitable Life ClearBridge Sustainable Global Infrastructure Income Fund Select along with the fund’s people, process, philosophy, and performance.

    

   Learn more
    
    

7. 5 Things You Need to Know About Equitable Generations Universal Life

   Here are five things you need to know about Equitable Generations™ Universal Life

   1. Affordability

   Because Equitable Life is owned by its policyholders, we don’t have to worry about paying shareholders. That means we can focus on offering competitive pricing!

   2. Investments

   Equitable Generations Universal Life is built for the 21^st century with investment options that matter to today’s buyer including Target date, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) funds for sustainable investing.

   3. Fees

   Equitable Generations has eliminated most universal life fund administration fees as well as the policy administration fee.

   4. KIND™

   Equitable Generations has a suite of contractual and non-contractual claims features we call KIND, designed to help your family navigate the claims process with ease.

   5. Flexibility

   With such competitive pricing, fantastic investment options and minimal fees. Equitable Generations Universal Life provides a level of flexibility rarely seen in the Universal Life space.

   
    
   
   See Equitable Generations Universal Life for yourself within one minute - try the EZStart quick quote software for advisors, available on EquiNet!
   
   Please contact your local wholesaler for more information. 
   
   ^TM and ® denote trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada. 

8. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin - October 2022

   Introducing new Gender Affirmation Coverage for group benefits plans

   Providing an inclusive benefits plan can play a critical role in fostering a workplace culture that welcomes diversity and helps employees thrive. While most provinces cover the cost of gender-affirming surgery, each person has unique needs. Some may require procedures that are not publicly covered.
   
   That’s why we’re pleased to introduce a new coverage option for gender affirmation surgical procedures that are not covered by provincial health plans. Gender Affirmation Coverage helps plan sponsors to close the gap where provincial health coverage ends. 

   Coverage details and eligibility

   Gender Affirmation Coverage can be added to any Equitable Life plan with an in-force Extended Health Care plan. It provides coverage for gender-affirming procedures that are not covered by provincial health plans. This might include tracheal (Adam’s apple) shaving and voice surgery. It will also cover some additional procedures to further align the plan member’s features to the transitioned gender, such as facial bone reduction and cheek augmentation. This makes a wider variety of gender-affirming surgeries accessible to plan members and helps minimize their out-of-pocket costs.
   
   Plan members are eligible for coverage with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria from a qualified health care professional. 

   Offering a more inclusive benefits plan

   The coverage provides one more way for your clients to offer more inclusive coverage and to offer holistic support to their plan members undergoing a gender transition. We have developed this coverage as a complement to our existing coverage options, including Health Care Spending Accounts (HCSAs), Taxable Spending Accounts (TSAs), Extended Health Care and drug coverage, and Employee and Family Assistance Programs, all of which can provide support to plan members undergoing gender affirmation.
   
   We regularly review our products to ensure that they’re meeting your clients’ needs, and we’re committed to offering products that support diversity, equity and inclusion.
   
   We also continue to review our forms, documents and processes to make them more inclusive. This includes reviewing our online plan member enrolment (OPME) tool to allow for more flexibility with the way plan members identify their gender. 

   Gender affirmation and mental well-being

   Gender affirmation procedures can lead to improved mental health outcomes for those with gender dysphoria, as most report an improvement in their quality of life following the procedures. Gender dysphoria may occur when a person’s assigned sex at birth does not match their identity, and people experiencing gender dysphoria typically report psychological and emotional distress, including symptoms of depression or anxiety. By offering coverage where provincial health coverage ends, your clients can support plan members as they seek procedures that align their body presentation with their self-identified gender.
    

   Advantages at a glance

   Advantages for plan members include:
   • Reimbursement for some procedures and expenses, leading to fewer out-of-pocket costs
   • May experience improved mental health outcomes after surgery
   Advantages for plan sponsors include:
   • A benefits plan that promotes a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion, which may build employee loyalty
   • Support for plan member mental health to help those with gender dysphoria thrive
   For more information about how Equitable Life benefits plans can support the needs of those seeking gender affirmation surgery view our resources: 
   • Guide to Gender Affirmation Procedures and Therapies
   • Gender Affirmation Coverage Overview
   You can also contact your Group Account Executive for more information. If you have clients with myFlex plans who are interested in Gender Affirmation Coverage, please contact your myFlex Sales Manager to determine eligibility. 
    

   The Benefits Canada 2022 Health Care Survey results are in!

   Equitable Life is proud to be a Platinum sponsor for The Benefits Canada 2022 Health Care Survey, Canada’s leading survey on workplace benefits plans. This year’s survey report highlights many fascinating insights across a wide variety of benefits topics, including:
   • A focus on mental health for both plan sponsors and plan members
   • The repercussions of the "shadow" pandemic due to health care delays 
   • Trends in plan members' overall perceptions of their health benefits plans
   • The types of benefits getting more attention from plan members
   • The role of remote work in plan member satisfaction
   By surveying plan members and plan sponsor representatives across Canada each year, Benefits Canada works with its Advisory Board to provide timely insights on the employee benefits issues that are most important to Canadians. This year, our Group Vice-President of Western Sales, Meghan Vallis, has provided her expertise as an Advisory Board member.
   
   We’re committed to helping you and your clients navigate the evolving landscape of employee benefits in Canada by contributing to this vibrant industry community. To read the full report, visit Benefits Canada.
    

   HCSA and TSA manual allocation reminder

   If your clients’ Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and/or Taxable Spending Account (TSA) have manual allocations, they need to allocate these amounts to plan members each year. Clients should review their plan members’ profiles on EquitableHealth.ca to ensure they have received their allocation(s) for the current benefit year. Your clients may also order HCSA and TSA forfeiture reports on EquitableHealth.ca. 
    
   If your clients have Plan Administrator update access on EquitableHealth.ca, they can update these amounts online by doing the following:
   • Select View certificate
   • Select Health Care Spending Account or Taxable Spending Account
   • Select Update Allocation in Task Center
   • Enter amount in Revised Allocation Amount
   • Override Reason – Plan Administrator Request
   • Select Save
   If your clients have Plan Administrator reporting access on EquitableHealth.ca, they can determine which plan members have a zero allocation by running the HCSA Totals by Plan Member report online by doing the following:
   • Select Reports
   • Select New
   • Select Next
   • Select HCSA or TSA Totals by Plan Member
   • Select Next
   • Enter end date of 12/31/2022
   • Select Next
   • Select Finish
   • View Report
   To provide us with the amounts to be updated, please have your client contact our Group Benefits Administration Team at GroupBenefitsAdmin@equitable.ca. 
   
    
9. Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin - September 2022

   Homewood Health launches Sentio, an upgraded iCBT platform

   Equitable Life’s mental health partner, Homewood Health, has launched Sentio, an upgraded platform for Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT). This self-directed platform is now available to all Equitable Life clients, and it replaces Homewood’s previous iCBT platform, i-Volve.
   
   Sentio Self-Directed iCBT is a comprehensive digital cognitive behavioural therapy platform. Developed by Homewood’s mental health experts, it is an action-oriented solution for plan members, giving them practical resources and activities to help with their depression, anxiety and overall mental health challenges.
    
   Available as a standalone app, on mobile, tablet and desktop, Sentio contains over 20 unique treatment goals for issues like stress management, improving sleep, managing depressive thoughts, and coping with panic. Users can work through treatment goals in any order, at their own pace. It also includes tools and resources to help plan members build skills and change their thought patterns. 

   Sentio iCBT benefits

   Sentio integrates seamlessly with Homewood Pathfinder so that users can easily locate and take advantage of the iCBT activities available. Sentio also includes a number of unique features:
   • More interactive features and activities to help plan members build valuable mental health skills
   • Integrated symptom measurement and progress tracking
   • Interactive multimedia learning and cognitive exercises to enhance learning
   • Progress, learnings, and exercises that have been accessed are available to be re-accessed for 12 months 
   Access to i-Volve will end 30 days after your clients received access to Sentio, but plan members can complete any in-progress sessions until then.
   
   Please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager if you have any questions.
    

   Streamlining disability claims with Opifiny

    Equitable Life is partnering with Opifiny to provide a quicker and more seamless disability claims experience.
    
   Opifiny is an online platform that streamlines the disability claims process for consulting physicians, benefits plan sponsors, and disability plan members. Equitable Life will be using Opifiny for ongoing disability claims management, modernizing the process of gathering medical assessments and information.
    
   Disability claims frequently involve several instances of correspondence between Equitable Life and the plan member’s medical team. By using the secure platform, health care professionals can access, respond to and process medical insurance requests easily from any device. They can typically complete administrative tasks associated with disability claims in a quarter of the time. The platform is secure and protects the privacy of their patients’ confidential information.
    
   By digitizing and modernizing the claims management process for doctors, Equitable Life will have faster access to higher quality claims information. For some claims, using Opifiny may enable Equitable Life to help plan members safely return to work sooner.
    

   Reminder: Obtaining plan member signatures on all administration forms

   Please remind your clients that plan members must sign all administration forms, including enrolment forms, benefits change forms, and beneficiary designation forms. Once completed, a plan administrator can keep the form or send it to us. We are not able to accept a beneficiary designation that has not been signed by the plan member. Having appropriately signed forms helps to ensure that any life insurance claims are paid to the intended recipients.
   
   For your clients’ convenience, forms can be signed electronically using one of our approved vendors, which include DocuSign, BambooHR, Adobe Sign, and many more.
   
   If you have questions about providing signed forms, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
    

   Correction: Coverage for full-time students and dependents with disabilities

   In our August edition of eNews, we provided incorrect information about benefits coverage options for over-age dependents. We indicated that over-age dependents who are full-time students may continue to be eligible under the plan member’s benefits plan if they are studying in their home province. However, attending a post-secondary institution in their home province is not a requirement for continued eligibility. Dependents who are full-time students may continue to be eligible for coverage regardless of where in Canada they are attending post-secondary education.
   
   If your clients have any questions about extending coverage for over-age dependents that are full-time students, please notify them of this error.
    
   We apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused.
   
   
    
10. Equitable Life of Canada Fall Roadshow - Savings & Retirement

    
    Equitable Life^® recently completed a successful roadshow in four major Canadian cities. We know that not all advisors were able to attend in person. That's why, we are inviting you to join us for a VIRTUAL ROADSHOW SESSION. Equitable Life, Invesco and S&P Dow Jones Indices will bring you insights, updates, and information on our new segregated fund lineup and more.  

     

    Learn more

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    During our virtual session, you will hear from
     
     Cam Crosbie
     Vice President, Savings & Retirement
     Equitable Life of Canada
     
    
    
     Scott Stobo
     Director, Product Development, Savings & Retirement
     Equitable Life of Canada
     
    
    
     Marcus Berry
     Vice President, ETF Specialist
     Invesco
     
    
    
     Brent Kopp
     Senior Director, Wealth Management Channel
     S&P Dow Jones Indices