ID
2021-015

Type
Politique
Secteur
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
État
Période de commentaires du public terminée
Date
9 septembre 2021
Date de remise des commentaires
8 octobre 2021

L’Autorité ontarienne de réglementation des services financiers (ARSF) continue de donner la priorité à la protection des consommateurs dans le secteur de l’assurance vie et de l’assurance santé.

L’ARSF lance une consultation sur sa proposition de ligne directrice relative aux renseignements que les agents d’assurance vie titulaires d’un permis doivent déclarer en vertu de la Loi sur les assurances (la « Loi »). Cette ligne directrice porte également sur les obligations connexes des assureurs visant à garantir l’aptitude de leurs agents, même s’ils délèguent leurs fonctions de surveillance à des parties tierces. Cette proposition présente l’interprétation par l’ARSF des obligations à respecter aux termes de la Loi ainsi que son approche concernant la surveillance et l’application de ces obligations. 

L’ARSF recueille des renseignements relatifs au permis pour évaluer si un agent est apte et qualifié à poursuivre une activité professionnelle dans le secteur des assurances. L’Autorité se sert également de ses renseignements afin de mieux axer son travail d’évaluation de la conformité. Cette démarche est conforme à son approche de surveillance fondée sur les risques.

Cette consultation est maintenant terminée.

Liens utiles :

Merci pour vos commentaires concernant la ligne directrice proposée de l’ARSF relative aux obligations de déclaration des agents d’assurance vie et de supervision des assureurs vie. Vos commentaires ont contribué à définir notre ligne directrice finale, que nous avons maintenant publiée. Un résumé des commentaires des intervenants est maintenant disponible.

#

Avant de commencer, nous vous demandons de ne pas inclure de renseignements personnels ou de renseignements financiers dans vos messages. Si vous devez nous faire part de ce genre de renseignements pour obtenir une réponse à votre question, appelez-nous au 1 800 668-0128 ou envoyez-nous un courriel à [email protected] pour obtenir des instructions.

En soumettant un contenu, vous acceptez que votre document soit publié sur notre portail de participation et utilisé dans des rapports ou d’autres documents préparés par l’Autorité de réglementation des services financiers (ARSF) et qui pourraient rendus publics. Nous avons modéré le contenu pour nous assurer que toutes les publications sont respectueuses et professionnelles. La Loi sur l’accès à l’information et la protection de la vie privée, L.R.O. 1990, chap. F.31, s’applique à tout contenu publié en ligne.

Secteur Commentaire Date postée
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] Harold Geller and MBC Law Professional Corporation

Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] Susan Allemang - Independent Financial Brokers of Canada
Attached is the comment letter from Independent Financial Brokers of Canada (IFB)
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] Callum James - Oliver Publishing Inc.
Please accept the following comment letter on behalf of Oliver Publishing Inc.
[2021-015] Parachute Digital Solutions Inc. - Parachute Digital Solutions Inc.
With regards to the new requirement for each life insurance agent to obtain its own E&O policy, we would like to point out that given the hard market, this change may make it very difficult for some agents to obtain the required E&O insurance. If the concern is about the sharing of limits among agents covered by one policy, we propose to increase the required limit on the policy of the corporate agency.
With regards to the requirement of Agents reporting within 5 business days from the effective date the name of every insurer the agent acts on behalf of, we suggest the timelines be extended to 30 days, as in Quebec. Many insurance agencies operate nationally so it is more efficient from an operational perspective, and reduces the likelihood of late reporting when the time periods for reporting are the same in various provinces.
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] Justin Glinski - Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association
Attached please find CLHIA's comments on FSRA's consultation on life agent reporting and insurer oversight obligations guidance
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] Michael Scott - Advocis
Dear Sirs/Mesdames,

On behalf of Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, please find attached a response to FSRA's consultation on life agent reporting and insurer oversight obligations guidance.

Best Regards,
Michael Scott
Associate Director, Legal and Regulatory Affairs
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] Moulay Younes Said Alaoui
i have resigned as direct employee with [name withheld]
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] Hilda Wynne
I have been in business since 1975 and will give up my license in July 2022. I remember in the very beginning that there were cases that should not have been approved but because an AGENT didn't tell the truth, cases would go through.
Today, we are insuring much more insurance savvy people, so that is a plus.
I served on the tribunal for FSCO and had the opportunity to witness complaints made by clients, only once were we successful in pulling a license for life.
So yes, I think it is important to hold agents/brokers accountable.
Having said that, I have also witnessed insurers being incompetent or careless when it comes to clients needs, or even issuing policies. This has been a huge issue when insurance companies were bought and people, who were then hired, were unfamiliar with the products from the previous companies. I more than once would have to tell a person what to look for and how to make the changes on existing policies. Certainly didn't get paid for that. This has not improved over the years. So, the question is, who monitors insurers?
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] Kimberley Gretton
Reviewed guidelines. Seem straightforward and clear
Secteur des planificateurs et conseilers financiers
[2021-015] Debbie Hartzman
After a recent problem with a transfer of representative, it is easy to see how clients can become disadvantaged due to compensation structures that only advantage the sales representative!! When you front load all commission and trailers, a charge back to the new advisor who has never received any compensation is levied if the client wants to access funds prior to the expiry of the fee schedule. To add insult to injury the new servicing agent is deemed to bought this business from the original agent. This means the client is virtually stuck with the originating agent until fees drop off. I fail to see how this is in the best interest of a client. This type of payment scheme would never be acceptable to the MFDA and should not be acceptable to insurance agent!!!
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] ROLAND KOLUSADE
I just want to say Big thanks for this awesome information’s getting here to learn and also used it for training my team, I really appreciate the good work and the awesome information’s here.
Thanks a lot.
Roland Kolusade. (WFG)
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] AJAI SRIVASTAVA
If I understand correct FSRA is doing their job well.
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] Sharon Wigle
I believe, strongly, that there should be increased educational requirements for ALL Advisors in the investment field, insurance or otherwise.
Canadians expect a certain level of education for other professions, like the accounting and legal professions; however, those Advisors engaged for the purpose of investing Canadians' hard-earned savings only require a high school education and 60% on an easy exam(s). As a result of these low barriers to entry, several unscrupulous individuals have entered the field with the sole purpose of making as much income as possible, with very little concern for the client. The industry is riddled with Advisors who have absconded with millions of their clients' assets. Setting the educational bar higher should discourage much of this behaviour as there are easier ways to steal money from people rather than putting in years of education and enduring rigorous examinations.
Beyond stealing client money what often falls under the radar are client losses due to uninformed advice. I can't tell you how many cases pass over my desk where I have witnessed poor advice in the form of inadequate investment diversification (often due to sheer laziness on behalf of the Advisor and or costs imposed by their Dealer/ MGA); not naming beneficiaries in a tax-efficient manner; poor tax planning; etc...
Lower educational requirements 25+ years ago was bad enough; however, in an environment of increasingly complex products, it is ridiculous and unacceptable. Canadian investors deserve better and industry regulators need to work harder to restore investor confidence in this industry.
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] DETLEF MICHAEL RIENAU
Have read requirements and full understand
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] Perpetue Nitunga
This might be complicated.
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] Mario Porco
Thank you
This is excellent and outstanding.
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie
[2021-015] Dan Boyd
Compliance not tough on seg. funds. Too many advisors leave mfda to get around Compliance requirements and operate on the margin in the insurance sector. Insurance companies who Want the distribution, don't do enough to stop this practice.
Date posted Secteur Question et réponse
Secteur de l'assurances habitation, vie et maladie

Question: Hi there, can you confirm whether there are new items in this proposed guidance? All seem to be the same as previously indicated, but I want to be sure I don't miss highlighting a new item. For example, timelines such as the 5 business day requirement to update. Although, I don't believe this is new.

Kind regards,
Taschina

FSRA réponse:

Under FSRA’s licensing process, life agents must attest to completing 30 hours of CE courses and provide, on request, details and/or proof of CE courses taken. The Guidance introduces a new requirement for all agents to report the details of CE courses when they apply to renew their licence. They must do so by providing FSRA with the following details in order to submit their renewal application: 

  • course name 
  • course provider 
  • CE hours 
  • date of completion

Agents will be advised of the new requirement in the licence renewal notice email.

  • The requirement to report changes to contact information within 5 business days is an existing requirement under the Insurance Act.  

Question: Is the proposal indicating that the 30 hour CE details will be provided regularly by agents, and not randomly asked for moving forward?

To confirm that CE hours have been completed, agents are required to report the following details[8]:
course name
course provider
CE hours
date of completion

FSRA réponse:

Yes. All agents must report the details of completed courses on each renewal application. 
 
FSRA will not routinely require agents to file evidence of CE course completion. This may be requested when an agent has a history of current or prior complaints, enforcement actions or suitability concerns, or when FSRA conducts spot-checks, thematic reviews, or other supervisory examinations.

Question: With respect to the CE requirements and repeating a course, that is in reference to no repeating the course within the two year period, correct?   

CE hours cannot be claimed for:
a course in respect of which course details cannot be supplied;
a course/program the agent registered for but did not attend;
hours spent as an instructor or teaching a course;
repeating a course, unless there is new content; or
hours spent on courses that an agent fails.

FSRA réponse:

CE hours cannot be claimed for repeating a course within the same two year period. A course repeated in a future two year period is acceptable only if there is new content.