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GIA Coming to the Equitable FHSA Many clients have already taken advantage of Equitable’s First Home Savings Account (FHSA), available on Pivotal Select™ Investment Class (75/75) and Pivotal Select Estate Class (75/100).

And now, we’ve got some more great news. We’re working to expand the Equitable® FHSA to include our Guaranteed Interest Account (GIA). But clients don’t need to wait to start earning tax-free income in a FHSA.

If clients want to open a FHSA now but may be interested in an Equitable GIA, simply choose the No-Load Equitable Money Market Fund Select investment option while we work on including the GIA on FHSA. The current yield to maturity is 5.41% gross.¹

We will let you know when the GIA is available in FHSA in the coming months. Once it is available, advisors can speak to clients about the GIA options available in the FHSA and select what best suits their needs.

Don’t forget, clients who make a contribution to their FHSA, RRSP or TFSA between January 1 and February 29, 2024, could win $5,000 and you could win $1,000 in Equitable’s New Year’s Resolution, New Year’s Contribution Contest.²

For more information, please contact your Regional Investment Sales Manager.

1 As of January 16, 2024, 4.06% net after deducting the management expense ratio. Yield to Maturity: the market value weighted-average yield to maturity includes the coupon payments and any capital gain or loss that the investor will realize by holding the bonds to maturity.

2 Equitable’s New Year’s Resolution, New Year’s Contribution Contest: No purchase necessary. Contest period January 1, 2024, to February 29, 2024.  Enter by making a deposit to an Equitable FHSA, TFSA or RRSP during the contest period or by submitting a no-purchase entry. One prize for a total value of $5,000 CAD to be drawn on March 8, 2024, will be awarded. The servicing advisor for the policy to which the selected entrant made the deposit is also an eligible winner and will receive a $1,000 CAD prize. For example, if an Equitable client is a winner of the $5,000 prize, the client’s servicing advisor wins a $1,000 prize.  Open to legal residents of Canada of the age of majority. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible Entries received during the Contest Period.  For full contest rules, including no-purchase method of entry, see the full contest rules.
Posted January 17, 2024
This year’s Registered Retirement Savings Plan deadline is March 3, 2025.
Have you talked to clients about their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contributions yet? Equitable^® offers RRSP products to meet clients’ needs including:
• Daily/Guaranteed Interest Account
• Pivotal Select™ Segregated Funds
• Investment Class (75/75)
• Estate Class (75/100)
• Protection Class (100/100)

These products offer protection and flexibility that clients need, with the tax savings and benefits of a RRSP. Encourage clients to contribute to their RRSP early. And make RRSP contributions a financial priority each year!

What’s new
The Home Buyer’s Plan is offering temporary repayment relief for qualifying withdrawals from their RRSP. This means that clients can defer the start of the repayment period by an additional three years when they make a first qualifying withdrawal between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2025. This means the 15-year repayment period would start in the fifth year after the year in which a first withdrawal was made. For example, if you made your first qualifying withdrawal in 2022, your first year of repayment will be 2027.¹

Tools and materials to help you start the conversation
Often clients have good intentions about saving for retirement. However, even the best intentions need an action plan. As a trusted advisor, you can help clients see the value in making a RRSP a financial priority. We have tools and marketing materials to help you start the conversation. Show clients why an Equitable RRSP can help them to achieve their financial goals in retirement.

Equitable’s advisor toolbox, available on EquiNet^®, includes Product News, Prospecting Letters, Forms, Marketing Materials, Case Studies, Articles and Investment Calculators.

¹ www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/rrsps-related-plans/what-home-buyers-plan/repay-funds-withdrawn-rrsp-s-under-home-buyers-plan.html
® or ™ denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
Posted February 7, 2025
Policy Loan
Streamline your transactions with EZtransact
Skip the forms and submit more transactions digitally with EZtransact^® to see how Equitable^® has continued to make it easier for you to do business with us.

What’s new with these updates?

One-time PAD functionality for Daily/Guaranteed Interest Account

With the recent addition of DIA/GIA PAD to EZcomplete, you can now utilize EZtransact for one-time pre-authorized debits. This means faster processing with one-time deposits for investment instructions to either a DIA and/or GIA (multiple terms) with end-of-term instructions.

Key benefits of these enhancements include:
• enhanced rate guarantees to secure the best rates available for clients,
• daily updated interest rate guide informs you of the latest rates,
• interest rate guarantee valid for three business days, for direct deposits from clients.

Be sure to use EZtransact on your next DIA/GIA one-time deposit request to experience these improvements.

Reduce RSP to RIF conversion time

Reduce time and effort submitting Retirement Savings Plan (RSP) to Retirement Income Fund (RIF) conversion requests. EZtransact is continuing to reduce the amount of time it takes advisors to submit conversion requests.

Features include:
• RSP/Spousal RSP to RIF Conversion to effortlessly submit request digitally.
• RIF Calculator to easily calculate your conversions.

Save time with our enhanced digital experience.

Sort & Filter Enhancements
We’ve taken your feedback and made it easier than ever to find the contracts and clients you’re searching for. This improved advisor experience ensures you can:

• Filter “My Clients” By Product Type/ Registration Type
• Sort “My Clients” By Contract Number/ Client Name
• Filter “Transactions” By Transactions Status/ Transaction Type
• Sort “Transactions” By Date

You asked, and we listened! Keep providing us with your feedback on our digital tools. When we grow together, success is mutual.

Get to know EZtransact and accelerate your sales! If you have any questions, please contact your Director, Investment Sales.

Date posted: April 3, 2025
Accepted Payment Methods
Elevate your business with industry best practices and needs-based selling Keeping your business aligned with industry best practices is vital for your success. It not only supports the fair treatment of clients – it also helps you meet certain market conduct requirements and Equitable’s expectations for needs-based selling.

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) has a program that checks how well advisors follow the Insurance Act and its conduct rules. FSRA looks at how well advisors follow industry best practices and fair treatment of clients guidance (see CLHIA’s guidance document, “The Approach”). Their focus is on key areas such as giving sound advice, managing conflicts of interest, and putting clients’ needs first. FSRA selects advisors’ client files and looks for documentation that indicates needs-based selling.

In December 2024, FSRA released its latest Market Conduct Supervision Report. It highlights the need for advisors to follow certain rules and industry best practices. The report found five key areas where improvement is needed:

1. Missing notes from client meetings and calls
2. Inadequate advisor disclosure
3. Missing sales illustrations for different product options
4. Missing insurance needs analysis
5. Missing policy delivery receipts

By following industry best practices and keeping thorough records, you show your commitment to providing clients with the solutions they need. For example, taking notes during client meetings helps you track all discussions that support your recommendations. Having an insurance needs analysis shows you are providing clients with suitable advice to buy the solutions that best meet their needs.

Resources: Equitable^® has resources that can help improve your business practices and help you treat clients fairly. We encourage you to check these out:

1. PPT: “Ensuring a Compliant, Needs-based Insurance Sale”. The steps to follow in needs-based selling and the records to keep.

Get CE credits! We offer the above as a self-study course that qualifies for 1 Continuing Education (CE) credit. Access it here: https://equitable-life-education.teachable.com/. (Use your contracted email to log in).

2. Client File Reference: The records to keep when selling investments, life insurance, or critical illness insurance, including key documents insurers and regulators look for during compliance audits.

3. Investor Profile Questionnaires: These will help you document your sales recommendations for:
● Universal Life (UL) sales: 1190.pdf, and
● Pivotal Select (Segregated Fund) sales: 1165.pdf

Questions? Contact your Equitable wholesaler. They are ready to support your success!
With the Equitable Life FHSA, you don’t have to wait to get clients’ money working for them The Equitable™ First Home Savings Account is off and running! Thanks to your amazing support, many clients have already taken advantage of the great benefits the FHSA has to offer. Let’s keep the momentum going.

Clients don’t need to wait to start making their dream of home ownership a reality!

With the Equitable FHSA they can put their money to work right away. Available on Pivotal Select™ Investment Class (75/75) and Pivotal Select Estate Class (75/100), the Equitable FHSA offers clients an array of investment products to suit their individual needs and risk tolerance.

Don’t wait. Get clients started today!

And, clients who open a FHSA before December 31, 2023, have a chance to win $8,000 towards their 2024 FHSA contribution. And, the advisor wins $2,000!

To open a FHSA for clients, log into EZcomplete®, our highly rated online application tool. It is easy to use, convenient, and fast.

For more information on FHSA, including a FAQ, and client materials, visit EquiNet® or contact your Regional Investment Sales Manager. 

® and ™ denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.

Equitable FHSA Contest: No purchase necessary. Contest period September 11 to December 31, 2023. Enter by making a deposit to an Equitable FHSA during the contest period or by submitting a no-purchase entry. One prize for a total value of $8,000 CAD to be drawn on January 16, 2024, will be awarded. The servicing advisor for the policy to which the selected entrant made the deposit is also an eligible winner will receive a $2,000 CAD prize. For example, if an Equitable client is a winner of the $8,000 prize, the client’s servicing advisor wins a $2,000 prize. Open to legal residents of Canada of the age of majority. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible Entries received during the Contest Period. For full contest rules, including no-purchase method of entry, see full contest rules.

Posted November 7, 2023
FHSA tips for new homeowners Clients have a 30-day window after moving into their new home to withdraw funds from their First Home Savings Account (FHSA) tax-free for expenses. Beyond this period, they have until December 31 of the following year to either transfer any remaining funds to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan or Registered Retirement Income Fund without incurring tax penalties, or withdraw the remaining funds as taxable income, which will be subject to withholding tax.

Do you know clients dreaming of homeownership? We are here to assist! Clients who contribute to an Equitable^® FHSA between May 1 and September 30, 2025, will be entered into our Close to Home contest, for a chance to win one of two $8,000 prizes. Whether opening a new Equitable FHSA or making an annual contribution, this is a fantastic opportunity to help clients get closer to owning a home.

Advisors, your efforts matter too! You have a chance to win a $1,000 prize if the client you are assisting, in alignment with their unique homeownership needs, is selected as a winner. At Equitable, we believe that when we grow together, success is mutual.

Don’t forget about Equitable’s user-friendly online application platform, EZcomplete^®, or process an online transaction with ease using Equitable’s EZtransact^®. These tools are fast, simple, and could bring clients closer to achieving their goals.

Want to learn more? Speak to your Director, Investment Sales.

Equitable’s Close to Home Contest: No purchase necessary. Contest period May 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025.  Clients enter by making a deposit to an Equitable FHSA during the contest period or by submitting a no-purchase entry. Two prizes of $8,000 CAD each to be drawn on October 15, 2025 will be awarded. The servicing advisor for the policy to which the selected entrant made the deposit is also an eligible winner and will receive a $1,000 CAD prize. For example, if an Equitable client is a winner of the $8,000 prize, the client’s servicing advisor wins a $1,000 prize.  Open to legal residents of Canada of the age of majority. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period.  For full contest rules, including no-purchase method of entry, see the full contest rules. 

Date posted: July 23, 2025
Sometimes plans change when you least expect After saving for several years, clients might choose not to buy a home, and that's okay. One of the advantages of a First Home Savings Account (FHSA) is the flexibility to transfer funds to any registered account that accepts contributions. Transfers to Registered Retirement Savings Plans, Registered Retirement Income Funds, or other FHSAs are tax-free and do not impact contribution limits. However, be aware transfers to other accounts are considered withdrawals and are considered taxable income and subject to withholding tax.

Do you know clients dreaming of homeownership? We are here to assist! Clients who contribute to an Equitable FHSA between May 1 and September 30, 2025 will be entered into our Close to Home contest, for a chance to win one of two $8,000 prizes. Whether opening a new Equitable FHSA or making an annual contribution, this is a fantastic opportunity to help clients get closer to owning a home.

Advisors, your efforts matter too! You have a chance to win a $1,000 prize if the client you are assisting, in alignment with their unique homeownership needs, is selected as a winner. At Equitable, we believe that when we grow together, success is mutual.

Don’t forget about Equitable’s user-friendly online application platform, EZcomplete^®, or process an online transaction with ease using Equitable’s EZtransact^®. These tools are fast, simple, and could bring clients closer to achieving their goals.

Want to learn more? Speak to your Director, Investment Sales.

Equitable’s Close to Home Contest: No purchase necessary. Contest period May 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025.  Clients enter by making a deposit to an Equitable FHSA during the contest period or by submitting a no-purchase entry. Two prizes of $8,000 CAD each to be drawn on October 15, 2025 will be awarded. The servicing advisor for the policy to which the selected entrant made the deposit is also an eligible winner and will receive a $1,000 CAD prize. For example, if an Equitable client is a winner of the $8,000 prize, the client’s servicing advisor wins a $1,000 prize.  Open to legal residents of Canada of the age of majority. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period.  For full contest rules, including no-purchase method of entry, see the full contest rules. 

Date posted: August 7, 2025
How first-time homebuyers are sourcing their down payments Did you know that the primary sources for down payments among first-time homebuyers* are:
- Savings outside of a RRSP (59%)
- Gifts (38%)
- Savings within a RRSP (31%)
While 71% of potential first-time homebuyers in Canada are aware of the First Home Savings Account (FHSA), only 33% of them are taking advantage*.

Equitable wants to help first-time homebuyers take advantage of all the benefits a FHSA has to offer. Clients who contribute to an Equitable FHSA between May 1 and September 30, 2025 will be entered into our Close to Home contest, for a chance to win one of two $8,000 prizes. Whether opening a new Equitable FHSA or making an annual contribution, this is a fantastic opportunity to help clients get closer to owning a home.

Advisors, your efforts matter too! You have a chance to win a $1,000 prize if the client you are assisting, in alignment with their unique homeownership needs, is selected as a winner. At Equitable, we believe that when we grow together, success is mutual.

Don’t forget about Equitable’s user-friendly online application, EZcomplete^®, or online transaction platform, Equitable’s EZtransact^®. These tools are fast, simple, and could bring clients closer to achieving their goals.

Want to learn more? Speak to your Director, Investment Sales.

*Source: 2024 CMHC Mortgage Consumer Survey
Equitable’s Close to Home Contest: No purchase necessary. Contest period May 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025.  Clients enter by making a deposit to an Equitable FHSA during the contest period or by submitting a no-purchase entry. Two prizes of $8,000 CAD each to be drawn on October 15, 2025 will be awarded. The servicing advisor for the policy to which the selected entrant made the deposit is also an eligible winner and will receive a $1,000 CAD prize. For example, if an Equitable client is a winner of the $8,000 prize, the client’s servicing advisor wins a $1,000 prize.  Open to legal residents of Canada of the age of majority. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period.  For full contest rules, including no-purchase method of entry, see the full contest rules. 

Date posted: August 14, 2025