Site Search
411 results for enter portal now PROBLEMGO.COM Buying a solution to IRS problems
-
Enhancing the Transfer Process: Equitable's New Signature Guarantee Service
Equitable® is making transfers even easier with EZcomplete®.
This enhancement will help advisors and clients by reducing the number of rejections from other institutions that need a signature guarantee. Reducing transfer rejections means less time and effort for advisors, and faster transfers from other institutions.
Signature Guarantees
Equitable will now offer signature guarantees on most transfers requested through EZcomplete.
When is a signature guarantee not available?
• For entity owned accounts
• If a Power of Attorney is signing on behalf of an owner
• If the transferring account has an irrevocable beneficiary
Watch the quick Identity Check with Persona video or read through instructions below.
To offer a signature guarantee, Equitable first needs to check the identity of all owners using Persona, a third-party service provider.
The advisor starts by selecting a signature guarantee in EZcomplete. An email link is sent to all proposed owners.
Clients can click the link within the email to Persona's verification process.
They will be prompted to take a picture of their photo ID and a selfie, turning their head slightly left and right by following the prompts.
Their identity can then be confirmed in seconds.
Sending Transfer Forms:
• If all owners' identities are verified, Equitable will send the transfer form with a signature guarantee stamp and the e-signature audit log to the transferring institution.
• If ID verification fails, clients will be prompted to try up to three times. If still unsuccessful, the transfer form and e-signature audit log is sent to the transferring institution without the signature guarantee stamp.
Handling Issues:
• Advisors’ obligations to verify ID is not affected by this process; ID verification is still required.
• If the client times out or loses the email to access Persona, the advisor can resend the link.
• If the client’s name or email changes after ID verification, the advisor will need to redo the ID verification with the updated information to get a signature guarantee.
This update strives to make processes smoother and more efficient for everyone. Just another reason to do business with Equitable. When we work together, success is mutual.
For more information or assistance, please contact your Director, Investment Sales.
Date published: May 7, 2025 - Exchanges
-
This year’s RSP deadline is March 2, 2026
RRSP deposits to be considered for the 2025 tax year must be:
• Dated March 2, 2026, or before
• Must be submitted to Head Office in good order by March 6, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. ET
RRSP applications to be considered for 2025 contribution year must be submitted in good order by:
• March 2, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET
RRSP B2B Loans:
• RRSP loan deposits must be received from B2B by March 13, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. ET
Note: Transactions submitted after these dates will not receive a 2025 contribution receipt
Please note that all requirements must be received in Head Office by the above dates to guarantee settlement for year end.
Have you started talking to your clients about their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contributions yet? Equitable® has a range of RRSP solutions that can help meet their needs, including:- Daily/Guaranteed Interest Account
- Equitable Guaranteed Investment Funds™, available in:
- o Investment Class (75/75)
- o Estate Class (75/100)
- o Protection Class (100/100)
Most clients genuinely want to save for retirement, but intentions alone aren’t enough—they need a plan. As their trusted advisor, you can help them understand why making their RRSP a priority is an important step toward long‑term financial security.
To support those conversations
Most clients genuinely want to save for retirement, but intentions alone aren’t enough—they need a plan. As their trusted advisor, you can help them understand why making their RRSP a priority is an important step toward long‑term financial security.
To support those conversations, we’ve pulled together helpful tools and marketing materials that show how an Equitable RRSP can make a meaningful difference in reaching their retirement goals. Resources include:- Investment calculators
- A retirement savings plan is just a relevant now as it was over 60 years ago
- Borrowing money to save money
From January 1 to March 2, 2026, when clients open or add money to an Equitable TFSA or RRSP, they’ll automatically be entered into Equitable’s Snowball Your Savings contest. Two lucky clients will win — and their advisors get to celebrate too! - Invesco
- Convertibility - The Power of Term
-
Update: Improved Employee Assistance from Homewood Health
As we announced in June, we are expanding our relationship with Homewood Health to help you meet the mental health and wellness needs of your employees and their families. Beginning Oct. 1, 2019, Homewood will be the new provider of both our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and our online health and wellness services.
Following the transition to Homewood, plan members will benefit from added features:
- Signing in to Homewood Health online allows the platform to customize content unique to your interests.
- All plan members will have access to a Health Risk Assessment to help identify health and wellness barriers.
- i-Volve, Homewood's online cognitive behavioural therapy program is available for all plan members to help them manage anxiety and depression.
Learn more about Homewood Health and how they will be providing your plan members with exceptional EFAP and online health and wellness resources.
What does the transition to Homewood mean for you and your plan members?
We will be working with you in the coming months to facilitate the transition and support your employees. Most importantly, there will be no disruption of service delivery to employees who are currently in short-term counselling with our current EFAP provider.
The transition timeline
Groups without an EFAP
Online health and wellness resources will be available through EquitableHealth.ca just as they are now. Here's what you can expect in the coming months.
September
- We will send plan administrators an email with more details about the resources available to assist in the transition, including:
- How to register for Homewood Health online
- A video orientation for plan members
October
- October 1st – plan members can access the Homewood online resources! They simply need to visit homeweb.ca/Equitable to sign up and create their unique login.
The transition timeline
Groups with an EFAP
We’ve created a helpful infographic that outlines the steps involved in the transition to the Homewood Health EFAP over the coming months. Please save or print it for easy reference. Below are some of the highlights.
August
- We will send plan administrators an email with official notice that the enrolment certificate for our current EAP provider, LifeWorks, will terminate on Sept. 30, 2019, and that Homewood Health Inc. will be our new Employee Assistance Program provider as of Oct. 1.
September
- Homewood will send you a welcome email, including how to access the EFAP, who to contact for support and where to find resources to help share the news with plan members.
- Homewood will follow up directly to answer any questions you may have.
- Homewood will begin offering orientation and training sessions for both plan administrators and plan members. These will be running throughout the fall so you can attend at your convenience.
October
- October 1st – plan members can access the Homewood EFAP and online resources! They simply need to visit homeweb.ca/Equitable to sign up and create their unique login.
- Orientation and training sessions will continue to be available for both plan administrators and plan members throughout October.
Learn More
The resources listed below answer common questions about Homewood and our EFAP transition:
If you have a question that is not addressed here, please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager.
-
Equitable Life Group Benefits COVID-19 Update
The test of a great partner is one who stands tall when you and your clients need to rely on them most. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we thought you might find it helpful to have a summary of where we are during this crisis.
You can download this PDF version to refer to when meeting with your clients.
We are here with you and for you
We’ve taken several steps to support you, your clients and their plan members during this crisis, including:
- Providing premium refunds for insured, non-refund Health and Dental benefits;
- Waiving the waiting period for short-term disability claimants who tested positive for COVID-19;
- Extending out-of-country travel coverage for plan members who were unable to return to Canada;
- Providing increased flexibility for premium payments; and
- Keeping you and your clients informed with timely Q&As and announcements, webinars, and insights into the impact of COVID-19 on benefits plans.
As well, to commemorate our 100th Anniversary this year, we donated $4.5 million to purchase and install a new MRI for Grand River Hospital. And we donated $50,000 – $10,000 each – to five charities in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. For more information about our celebrations, check out our website at www.equitable100.ca.
We have adjusted our business to become digital
Our business is near 100% digital, so the vast majority of our employees are now working remotely from home and are fully functional. Since the pandemic began, our IT and operations teams have digitally enhanced more than 20 different processes and services to make it easier for us to integrate with our distribution partners in this new reality.
We pride ourselves on our customer service
In 2019, our dedication to customer service was recognized with outstanding survey results.
- In a 2019 survey of customers from 15 life insurance companies,1 Equitable Life ranked #1 on the Net Promoter Score, a measure used across industries to gauge the loyalty of a firm's customer relationships; and
- A survey of Group consultants, brokers and third-party administrators 2 ranked Equitable Life in the top two insurers across all categories.
For 2020, we continue to deliver service at the same level with no disruptions during this crisis. Our Customer Care Centre remains open to support plan members and can be reached at 1.800.265.4556. And our Client Relationship Specialists are available for Plan Administrator questions and support.
We are financially strong and stable
We remain financially strong and continue to focus on meeting the needs of Canadians. At the end of the first quarter, our Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test (LICAT) ratio is at 152.5%, well above our goal and the regulatory requirement.
As the global situation continues to evolve, rest assured that Equitable Life is unwavering in our commitments to you and the communities we serve. We are here with you and for you. Please contact your Group Account Executive or myFlex Sales Manager if you have questions or need assistance.
1 LIMRA CxP Customer Experience Benchmarking Program, Life Insurance In-Force Experience 2019
2 NMG Consulting’s Canadian Group Benefits Survey 2019
-
Equitable Life Group Benefits Bulletin – January 2022
Short-term disability coverage for plan members with COVID-19*
Please note: This announcement applies only to groups with short-term disability coverage through Equitable Life
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and the situation evolves, we continue to adjust our practices to ensure ongoing support for our plan members.
PCR tests no longer required for COVID-related STD claims
Some provinces have recently restricted access to COVID-19 PCR testing to only high-risk individuals. To ensure your clients' eligible plan members receive their short-term disability benefits in a timely manner, we no longer require a positive PCR test for plan members submitting COVID-19-related STD claims.
Plan members who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or who have tested positive for the virus (either with a PCR test or with an at-home rapid test) and are unable to work from home should complete the Short Term Disability Plan Member COVID-19 Claim Form (#421A).
They should indicate the date of the onset of symptoms or date of their positive test result. Where applicable, they should also indicate the date they have been cleared by public health to end their self-isolation. The form includes an attestation that the information they have provided is accurate.
The employer needs to complete the Short Term Disability Employer COVID-19 Claim Form (#421B). They should indicate the expected return-to-work date according to their provincial health guidelines, or using the date provided by a public health official.
Waiting periods for COVID-related STD claims
To support your clients' plan members during the initial stages of the pandemic, we waived the STD waiting period if a plan member’s absence was due to symptoms or a diagnosis of COVID-19. Now that COVID-19 has become the “new normal,” we are returning to our standard practices and treating the virus as we would any other illness.
Effective Jan. 1, 2022, standard waiting periods will apply for COVID-related STD claims, according to the terms of the Group policy. This ensures that all plan members submitting a STD claim are treated fairly, no matter what the cause of the claim.
Eligible plan members will receive STD benefits up to a maximum of 10 days from the date of the onset of symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test result, minus the waiting period.
For example, if the plan has a five-day waiting period, and the plan member returns to work nine days after a positive test result, they would be eligible for four days of benefits payments.
If the claimant is still unwell after 10 days, then the standard Short Term Disability Claim Form (#421) needs to be completed.
If a plan member is admitted to hospital, benefits will be paid following the waiting period applicable to hospital claims. -
NEW MARKETING MATERIAL! Flexibility for supplemental income with Equimax
Equitable has created a new piece to help you understand our new Equimax® illustration feature, Paid-Up Additions (PUA) to Cash Dividends, now available!
Did you know Equimax clients can switch from the PUA dividend option to the cash dividend option by simply requesting a dividend option change?1,2
You can illustrate this for paid-up 10 pay and 20 pay Equimax plans! Show clients how they can build in added flexibility and use their policy to create a source of future supplemental income by simply changing the dividend option to cash.3
Illustration Considerations:
● Works with Equimax Estate Builder® or Equimax Wealth Accumulator®.
● Illustrate the Excelerator Deposit Option (EDO) to help build the policy values while the PUA dividend option is in effect. EDO payments can’t be made once the policy is switched to the cash dividend option.
● If a client needs temporary insurance coverage – like mortgage protection - illustrate term riders for how long they are needed to meet the specific goal.3
● If critical illness coverage is needed our competitively priced 20 pay critical illness riders are a great fit to provide paid-up critical illness coverage.3
Clients should apply for the coverage they need. This concept is about flexibility to create a future source of supplemental income.
Want to learn more? Check out our new marketing piece: Flexibility for supplemental income with Equimax (2077).
For more information, reach out to your local wholesaler.
® and TM denote trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
1 Dividends are not guaranteed and are paid at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. Dividends may be subject to taxation. Dividends will vary based on the actual investment returns in the participating account as well as mortality, expenses, lapse, claims experience, taxes, and other experience of the participating block of policies.
2 To request a change to the dividend option complete and submit form 558 (Request for Withdrawal of Dividends, Change in Option, or Premium Offset). A client can request a change to the cash dividend option from any other dividend option regardless of the premium type or whether premiums continue to be payable, subject to our current administration rules and guidelines. Some dividend option changes are subject to underwriting. Underwriting is not required to change from the PUA to cash dividend option, however, underwriting is required to change from the cash dividend option to the PUA dividend option.
3 This concept is intended to illustrate a one-time switch to cash dividends once premiums are no longer payable for the policy (including premiums for riders). Premiums are paid with after-tax dollars and dividends paid in cash are subject to taxation. If premiums are payable there will be tax savings for the client to use the before-tax cash dividend to reduce the premium instead of taking it entirely as a cash payment. This concept is intended for longer term planning, not to meet short term cash needs by switching back and forth between the PUA and cash options. Clients should consider a policy loan or a cash withdrawal to meet short-term cash needs; policy loans and cash withdrawals may be subject to taxation.
-
RxFood nutrition app added to all group benefits plans
In this issue:
-
RxFood nutrition app added to all group benefits plans*
-
Coming soon: Coverage information at plan members’ fingertips on EquitableHealth.ca*
*Indicates content that will be shared with your clients.
RxFood nutrition app added to all group benefits plans
Equitable® has added the RxFood nutrition app to all group benefits plans at no extra cost—giving every plan member more opportunity to make healthy and informed food choices.
RxFood is Canada’s first clinically validated nutrition platform that’s used and trusted by leading health care institutions across the country, such as SickKids Hospital and Diabetes Canada, to help support better health outcomes through nutrition.
Using technology powered by artificial intelligence, RxFood turns everyday meals into personalized insights, practical tips and tailored recommendations that are easy for plan members to act on and build into their routines.
For more information, read our previous eNews article.
Promoting RxFood to plan members
This week, clients will receive a digital toolkit to help them encourage plan members to register for RxFood. Plan members must register to access this free benefit.
The toolkit includes an RxFood brochure, a poster, an email template plan administrators can use to help spread the word, and the video below.
Coming soon: Coverage information at plan members’ fingertips on EquitableHealth.ca
Starting this month, Equitable plan members will be able to find helpful information about their health coverage more quickly and easily. We’re putting the key details at their fingertips on the EquitableHealth.ca® home page.
Faster access to health coverage details
Our new coverage panel will provide plan members fast access to information about their paramedical coverage for themselves and their covered dependants – including coverage maximums, reimbursement details and more.
Plan members with Health Care Spending Accounts or Taxable Spending Accounts will also be able to check their balances from the home page.
Later this spring, we’ll add information about vision and dental benefits to the coverage panel, too.
Simpler way to find benefits resources
We’re also making it easier for plan members to access key resources. Benefits cards, booklets and other important sections of the site will now be linked directly from the home page.
The video below walks plan members through the new features:
More new features to come
The coverage panel and resources section are the latest enhancements to our new plan member web experience, which we launched last fall. We’ll continue introducing more self-serve features this year.
To learn more about our enhanced plan member home page, contact your Group Account Executive or visit Equitable.ca/effortless.
-