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EXCITING NEWS! Digital Transactions for Universal Life Plans Now Available
We are happy to announce a major update to our digital systems that makes managing Equitable Universal Life (UL) policies easier than ever. Starting now, you can use digital transactions to submit your clients’ instructions to change their UL deposit allocations and transfer funds between accounts.
This update builds on the recent launch of our digital policy loan request on EquiNet® and is another step towards making your Equitable® experience easier and more convenient.
What's New?
In the past, you had to submit written requests for UL deposit allocation changes and account value transfers using the Universal Life Form 693UL (you can still use this method if you prefer).
Now, you can manage these transactions directly through the secure EquiNet advisor portal. This new process also allows clients to securely approve their requested changes by email.
To get started, simply log into your account on EquiNet and go to the Policy Inquiry tab.
We have provided a brief user guide to help you through the steps.
We trust that this digital upgrade will enhance the way you work with Equitable. Stay tuned for more digital enhancements in the near future!
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
Questions? For more information, please reach out to your wholesaler or our customer service team.
® or TM denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
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Market Comments - October 2024
Key Takeaways for Q3· Central banks eased monetary policy by reducing their target interest rates.
· Bond markets performed very well during the quarter as interest rates fell.
· Risk markets experienced some volatility, but stock markets had robust returns.
· Canadian stocks outperformed U.S. stocks in Q3, while the sources of returns in the U.S. market were more balanced and diversified than in the first half of the year.
Views From the Frontline
Bond Markets: During the third quarter, interest rates in both Canada and the U.S. moved significantly lower as markets anticipated that the Bank of Canada would continue – and the Federal Reserve would start – cutting rates. Additionally, the expectation became that the central banks would end up lowering rates more aggressively than previously assumed. That’s because inflation data has softened sufficiently to give the central banks the scope to ease policy, and other economic data, especially from the labour market, indicated the need for them to ease policy in order to prevent economic activity from cooling too much. For instance, in Canada, inflation slowed to the Bank of Canada’s 2% target, while the labour market showed warning signs with the unemployment rate rising to 6.6%. The Bank of Canada cut its target interest rate by 0.25% at each of its July and September meetings. Governor Macklem indicated that if growth does not materialize as expected, “it could be appropriate to move faster on interest rates”. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve kicked off its easing cycle by cutting its target rate by 0.50% in September. The growing signs of a cooling labour market amidst slowing inflation motivated the larger-than-typical move. That said, consumer spending in the U.S. continued to be strong, and GDP is still tracking a healthy growth rate.
While interest rates fell, bonds returns were also boosted by solid behaviour of corporate bonds. Credit spreads (i.e. the risk premium for corporate bonds versus government bonds) continued to grind lower over the quarter. Tightening credit spreads reflected the generally positive risk-on tone to the market, despite some volatility. Lower-rated BBB bonds performed better than higher-quality A-rated bonds. Credit spreads have now generally fallen back to levels that are largely consistent with the tight post-pandemic levels experienced in 2021. The on-going appetite of investors for the extra yield offered by corporate bonds over government bonds is indicated not just by falling credit spreads, but also by investors’ enthusiasm to support the primary issuance market. Corporate bond supply continues to be very robust, with $29B (billion) in new issuance during the quarter, resulting in an impressive $119B issued year-to-date, a new record. Nonetheless, on balance, we do not think the current risk premium adequately compensates for downside risk, particularly in longer-dated corporate bonds, and have a bias towards shorter-dated credit where we view the risk / reward trade-off as being more favourable.
Stock Markets: In the U.S., we continue to caution against heavily concentrated sources of market returns and emphasize a diversified portfolio. Last quarter, diversification proved essential as a multitude of factors heightened market volatility. These factors – which included the unwind of the yen carry trade, investor reactions to mixed mega-cap earnings, and concerns of a slowing labour market – drove investors away from mega-cap technology names and into defensive areas of the market. Following the Federal Reserve’s decision to reduce interest rates by 0.5%, sources of investment returns continued to broaden as investors rotated into economically-sensitive baskets. Underpinned by decelerating inflation and easing monetary policy, we believe the rotation away from the mega-cap tech names is likely to persist and we continue to emphasize portfolio diversification. In Canada, high-quality, high-yielding businesses – composed of the financial sector and non-financial dividend payers – outperformed over the quarter as investors rewarded companies that demonstrated a strong ability to sustain dividends, as well as greater efficiency generating profits. While we continue to favour these businesses, we have taken profit on our financial sector dividend exposure after a sharp reversion in the premium between value creation and current yield. In addition, Chinese officials introduced a wave of stimulus to revitalize growth, bringing life back to the metals and luxury goods sectors. Accordingly, Canadian and European equities have benefitted recently.
Market Update
Rates & Credit: In Q3, interest rates in both Canada and the U.S. decreased significantly, with front-end interest rates declining faster than long-end interest rates amid cooling inflation and a weakening labour market. As a result, the FTSE Canada Universe Index posted a positive return of 4.7%. Coincidentally, Canadian corporate bonds and government bonds each also generated returns of 4.7%, totally in-line with the Universe index. On the other hand, despite short-term interest rates falling much more than long-term interest rates, the higher price sensitivity of long-dated bonds had them outperform shorter-dated bonds, with the Long-Term bond index up 5.8% while the Short-Term bond index gained 3.4%. Similarly, within corporate bonds, industries that have longer-dated debt (e.g. energy and infrastructure) outperformed those that tend to have shorter-dated debt (e.g. real estate and financials).
Equity Overview: Underpinned by decelerating inflation data and easing monetary policy – including the outsize 50-basis cut from the Federal Reserve – prospects for an economic soft landing increased over the quarter. That favourable outlook spurred global equity markets to all-time highs, with previously lagging areas of the market narrowing the performance gap compared to the U.S. mega-cap technology names that had led returns in the first half of the year. Canadian equities outperformed their U.S. counterpart last quarter, rising 10.5% as strength in the banking and materials sectors pushed the index higher. Major developed markets from Europe, Australasia, and the Far East (EAFE) were more subdued, gaining 0.9% (in local currency terms) last quarter. That said, grand expectations for further interest rate cuts in the U.S. pushed the greenback to its lowest level in over a year, boosting EAFE returns to over 7% in U.S. dollar terms. Within the U.S., sources of market returns broadened as well, with investors rotating out of concentrated AI companies and into more economically sensitive businesses.
U.S. Fundamentals: Outside of the Magnificent 7, investors are interpreting downside earnings surprises as a normalization of financial performance rather than a deterioration. For example, McDonald’s share price rallied over 17% into quarter-end following its earnings release despite announcing declining sales and contracting earnings per share. Within the AI-ecosystem, investors are beginning to look for opportunities beyond chip manufacturers, such as nuclear energy providers. At an index level, our work shows that members of the Russell 1000 index, excluding the Mag-7, posted a median earnings growth of nearly 9% year-over-year, expanding from the ~6% witnessed in Q2. Furthermore, the number of companies from this group reporting positive earnings growth grew to approximately 67%, up from 60% in the prior quarter. In our view, the ongoing broadening of earnings strength outside of the Mag-7 can provide tailwinds to current market rotations into previously left-behind companies. Within the mega-cap tech space, investors have become more discriminant than in prior quarters, rewarding businesses with greater success monetizing their AI-investments. This trend was evident through the divergence of returns from IBM and Alphabet (Google’s parent company) following their quarterly earnings.
U.S. Quant Factors: Decelerating U.S. inflation data prompted a rotation out of highly concentrated areas of the market (growth) and into more economically-sensitive companies (value). Then, concerns of a slowing U.S. labour market and the unwind of the yen carry trade increased market volatility, leading investors to shelter their positions by reallocating to low volatility. As the quarter progressed, expectations of easing monetary policy and stabilizing employment data helped calm return to the market and the rotation from mega-cap tech sector resumed, albeit at a lesser pace. Notably, this “catch-up” trade also benefitted dividend-paying companies, particularly those with a lengthy and established history of increasing dividends, as investors favoured those more mature operations.
Canadian Fundamentals: Investors returned to the Canadian market after Canadian companies showed signs of recovery last quarter with earnings expanding by more than expected. With inflation showing clearer signs of deceleration and the outlook regarding the path of monetary policy increasingly implying lower interest rates going forward, investors are allocating toward high-quality, dividend-paying companies. From a sector level, surging gold prices provided a tailwind for Canadian miners, helping the materials sector outperform over the quarter. More recently, the materials sector has benefitted from elevated base metal prices following the arrival of Chinese stimulus. In contrast, oil prices declined over 16% last quarter as fears of an oversupplied market swelled following speculation that OPEC+ would look to dial back production cuts. As a result, investors looked past lingering geopolitical risks and the energy sector underperformed.
Canadian Quant Factors: Amid an improving Canadian macroeconomic backdrop and clearer outlook on the trajectory of monetary policy, dividend-yielding businesses became sought after. More specifically, investors continued to emphasize dividend sustainability last quarter, rewarding dividend-paying businesses that demonstrated strong financial performance and the ability to support future payouts. For example, the major Canadian banks sharply outperformed in Q3 after reporting earnings growth that mostly exceeded expectations. In essence, investors have become more constructive on this high-yielding group as their ability to create value relative to financing costs improves.
Downloadable Copy
ADVISOR USE ONLYMark Warywoda, CFA
VP, Public Portfolio ManagementIan Whiteside, CFA, MBA
AVP, Public Portfolio ManagementJohanna Shaw, CFA
Director, Portfolio ManagementJin Li
Director, Equity Portfolio Management
Tyler Farrow, CFA
Senior Analyst, Equity
Andrew Vermeer
Senior Analyst, Credit
Elizabeth Ayodele
Analyst, Credit
Francie Chen
Analyst, Rates
Any statements contained herein that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements represent the portfolio manager’s best judgment as of the present date as to what may occur in the future. However, forward-looking statements are subject to many risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, and are based on the portfolio manager’s present opinions and views. For this reason, the actual outcome of the events or results predicted may differ materially from what is expressed. Furthermore, the portfolio manager’s views, opinions or assumptions may subsequently change based on previously unknown information, or for other reasons. Equitable® assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained herein. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Investments may increase or decrease in value and are invested at the risk of the investor. Investment values change frequently, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Professional advice should be sought before an investor embarks on any investment strategy.
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Simpler juvenile policy approvals
A win for you and clients
Get insurance protection in place more quickly for kid’s policies with an enhanced juvenile underwriting model. It’s an industry-leading predictive model that extends existing auto-assess capabilities for your juvenile applications.
What does this mean for you?
You will notice reduced wait times as clients get the protection they need faster. And you will receive your commission quicker as well. This gives both you and your Equitable® underwriter time to focus on supporting your complex cases to bring you our best offer. The new auto-approval model for juvenile policies is a win for all.
Give us a try!
See for yourself how we can help you get protection in place for clients quickly.
Contact your Equitable wholesaler for more information.
® or TM denote trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada. -
Boost your knowledge and earn CE credits
Need continuing education credits?
Equitable is happy to offer online courses focusing on insurance. The courses allow you to learn at your own pace and earn CE credits quickly and easily. You can earn CE credits right away when you complete these courses. All courses are accredited by Alberta Insurance Council, Insurance Council of Manitoba, The Institute for Advanced Financial Education, and Chambre de la sécurité financière*.
Existing courses:
1. Building your business with critical illness insurance
2. Ensuring a Compliant, Needs-based Insurance Sale
3. Harness the power of whole life cash value
4. Introduction to whole life insurance
5. Path to Success - Expert Advice on Navigating CI Sales
6. Participating whole life for the children's market: A head start for tomorrow
7. The mechanics of universal life
8. Where UL Fits in your Product Portfolio
A few important notes before you get started:
• The programs are hosted on Teachable: https://equitable-life-education.teachable.com/
• Username: Please use your email address that you are contracted with
• Password: Equitable
• Please use Google Chrome to access the courses
Start Earning CE Credits!
Check out the individual insurance online learning centre on EquiNet to stay up to date on new courses.
Questions?
Contact your local wholesaler.
Are you having trouble logging in or accessing certificates?
Email equitableiimarketing@equitable.ca for assistance.
*Please select the course with “QC credits” in the title for La Chambre credits. -
Making it easy to do business with us
Online Term illustration now auto-populates the application
We have added a new online illustration for Equitable® Term life insurance illustrations that automatically populates the fields in your Term application.
We’ve designed the online illustration to be intuitive so you can fill in client details with ease.
● Select term plans and coverages of choice, then get an illustration report in minutes.
● You can save your web illustration progress at any time and view it from the online application dashboard.
● We’ve combined the illustration with our online application to make the process seamless. The illustration details you provide will auto-populate in the fields needed to complete the application.
New: You can create a term illustration without logging in to EquiNet.
We are taking another step in the journey towards enhancing the ways we do business.
Check out this update on the new Illustrations page on EquiNet®!
Learn more
Have further questions? Your Equitable Wholesaler is here to help!
® and TM denote trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
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Fresh new look for Equitable’s Path to Invest
When we grow together, success is mutual. At Equitable, we’re committed to supporting your professional growth. Path to Invest, our self-serve online education and training resource, has been redesigned to deliver a simpler and more streamlined experience for advisors.
You can now register and log in to Path to Invest, complete the modules, download resources, contact us with questions and access your CE certificates all in one place. Plus, our always-on Path to Invest modules offer new engagement tools like Refer a Colleague, Meet the Team and Learn More, an AI feature that allows you to further your content journey using AI suggested content.
Grow your knowledge - and your business - with Equitable. Check out our current selection of investment training modules today and watch for more modules coming later this year.
Date posted: March 12, 2025 - [pdf] Introducing EZBenefits: A better benefits experience for small business