by Heather Cournoyer | Oct 24, 2024 | Broker Advantage, Claims, Cool Stuff, Government
The other day, I was chatting with some people about their insurance, and some of their challenges got me thinking. Many of us don’t always know what questions to ask about our coverage, and sometimes, we assume we’re covered for everything—until something happens and we find out otherwise.
One person asked, “What happens if you have a problem and your agent can’t help you?” It’s a great question. If an agent sells you a policy, they should stand behind it and be able to explain it clearly when you need help. After all, they’re the ones who sold it to you! But when things don’t go as planned with a claim, people often feel frustrated and stuck.
Having been in the industry for many years, I know how important it is to ensure my clients understand what they’re buying. I make it a priority to be there when questions come up, especially when a claim happens. I also ask my clients many questions upfront because it helps me fully understand their exposures to ensure they have the right coverage.
It’s also important to remember that insurance is a contract between you and your insurer. And while it might sound like your policy covers everything, the reality is that there’s no such thing as “All Risk” coverage. Insurance was never designed to cover every possible situation, so understanding your specific coverage is crucial.
If you ever feel unsure about your policy or how a claim is being handled, don’t worry. There are resources available to help:
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Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC)
IBC represents insurance companies in Canada, but it also offers free help to consumers through its Consumer Information Centres. Experienced professionals are ready to answer your questions and guide you through any concerns or questions.
Visit their website.
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General Insurance OmbudService (GIO)
The GIO is an independent service that provides free and impartial help to Canadian consumers. Whether you have questions or are facing a dispute with your insurer, they support you with home, auto, or business insurance issues.
Check them out.
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Alberta Government – Insurance Act of Alberta
The Insurance Act of Alberta outlines insurance company requirements regarding complaints. There is also a mechanism called the Dispute Resolution Process for disputes revolving around repairs, replacements, values, and the amount of loss or damage. For more detailed information, refer to this site.
While having the right insurance agent matters, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion or seek additional support. These resources are there to make sure you’re never left navigating the insurance world alone!
by Heather Cournoyer | Sep 3, 2024 | Broker Advantage, Business Insurance, Business Planning, Cool Stuff
Farm life instilled a profound understanding some of the keys to Alberta Entrepreneur Success. It taught me the importance of hard work, ingenuity, perseverance, and, most importantly, honesty and integrity in everything you do. Thank you, Mom and Dad!
It’s not just about sweat and persistence but also about taking a leap of faith, months of meticulous planning, and the rollercoaster of emotions, prayer, and unwavering belief in one’s success. I’ve traversed this path, and I’m fervent about guiding others through it.
As a professional insurance broker, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work with amazing entrepreneurs across Alberta. To that end, I want to share two success stories of entrepreneurial Albertans who had an idea and pursued it. May their stories inspire you to kickstart or elevate your own entrepreneurial journey.
Edward Haynes emigrated from England to Canada, spending much of his adult life in the events industry. He brought a dream: to drive change within the Canadian Events, Hospitality, and Furniture markets with exceptional European products. These products were designed to withstand the harsh environment we sometimes have in Canada: winds, hail, and snow. COVID put his plan on hold, but not his dream.Post-COVID, he swiftly resumed his operations. EJH Events and Distribution is now a leading distributor of robust tent structures across North America, a testament to their resilience and quality.
He is now a partner at Superior Tent Rentals Ltd., which serves the Hospitality and Event industry at events such as the Heritage Festival and the Big Valley Jamboree. Even in the worst weather, the Superior Tents remain standing and undamaged.
So, what’s next for Edward? You will definitely want to check out Posh Outdoors, Inc., which has luxury glamping at its finest. Their first site in our beautiful Canadian Rockies is coming soon.
Viking Wood Splitter
A hard-working farm boy, Michael Thompson took his first big step after high school by joining a large fabrication company. They enrolled him in their apprenticeship program, where he spent 31 years mastering his skills as a journeyman welder and project manager until the company shut down.
Even while working full-time, Michael’s passion for creating things never waned. About 25 years ago, he crafted a sword to decorate his garage. When he shared it with friends, one joked it looked like it could chop wood. It wasn’t until 2016, during a camping trip, that he saw people struggling with axes for chopping. He offered them his sword, and one camper—a website developer—suggested he should start a business. That camper even helped him create a website, and Viking Wood Splitters was born.
In 2019, Michael decided to make Viking Wood Splitter his full-time career. Since then, his business has thrived, with sales doubling every year.
Each Viking Wood Splitter is custom-designed and hand-crafted, nearly 4 feet long, which makes it very safe to use. The handle comes wrapped in your choice of tape or leather for an excellent grip, and you can even get it custom-engraved.
Today, Michael and his wife Kelley are excited to see their innovative wood splitters being used across North America. Their product sells out quickly, making it a favourite among campers, woodsmen, and anyone who needs to chop wood.
These are just two examples of the many outstanding entrepreneurs I’ve had the chance to work with. To make your business successful, it’s essential to have a strong team of experts by your side. This team should include your lawyer, accountant, financial institution, and insurance broker.
Your insurance broker should be your partner in protecting your business. They work with you to offer risk management advice, customize your insurance plan, and find the best mix of coverage and premiums to keep you and your business safe.
So, if you’re considering starting your own business or want to improve yours, don’t wait! Start building your team today and set yourself up for success. Contact Heather at Thor Insurance. You won’t be disappointed. It’s a smart move that can make a big difference!
For additional information on Business Planning you can also check out “Strategic vs. Business Planning”.
by Heather Cournoyer | Jan 9, 2023 | Broker Advantage, Business Insurance, Cool Stuff
Have you ever asked yourself Why you are in business??
In Simon Sinek’s book, “Start with WHY” he writes about the importance of defining your “WHY”.
- WHY is the purpose, cause or belief behind what you are doing.
- HOW are the actions taken to realize your WHY.
- WHAT is the product, service or job function. It provides the tangible proof of your purpose.
My entire young life, I was looking for my WHY and it became apparent in my thirties (took me long enough hey?) -It’s because I am here to help people. It’s as simple as that. So, from a personal perspective, I try to do that every day.
I also believe that we have two “WHYs”; our personal WHY and our business WHY. And if I’m not mistaken, they will both be very similar and the business “WHY” will and should support the personal WHY.
I love meeting new people and learning about their WHY and their businesses because it’s exciting. With my specialized knowledge of the insurance industry and the options available for insurance, I can help my business owners feel more secure. When hit by that unforeseen, unexpected insured peril, they know that “this too shall pass”. The business will survive as will the reason for the business – Their WHY.
Can you imagine our society, our lives and our businesses without insurance? Nothing to backstop us when the unexpected happens. No insurance policy to show the bank that they don’t have to worry about that loan they gave us. No ongoing revenue to pay the owner and employees so they can pay the bills and support themselves until the business is up and running again.
I’m seeing more new business ventures launching in Alberta than I have for a long time. Having a strong business background and that entrepreneurial spirit, I get WHY. We are seeing a real shift in people’s priorities. They want more control over their future, more flexibility and more freedom.
I also get the fact that many insurers do not want to consider providing insurance to that new operation. Fortunately, there are still insurers who will provide terms and understand that a new business does not necessarily mean higher potential claims. Experience matters and I have the experience to help.
Thank you all for helping me with my WHY. What is your WHY because I can I help you.
You might also enjoy the story “Goldilocks and the Three Bears Insurance Brokerage” about what I think is important in a broker!
May 2023 be the year your WHY catapults you to major success!
You can reach out at heather@thinkinsure.ca or text/phone 587-597-5478.
by Heather Cournoyer | Dec 26, 2019 | Cool Stuff
At this special time of year, I would like to say THANK YOU! I’m thankful and honored to have such amazing friends, trusted business associates and the best clients in the world!
As we approach 2020 I thought I would share some thoughts to take into the New Year.
Richard Branson
“Never look back in regret–move on to the next thing.”
What’s done is done and the only thing we can do is learn the lesson and move on….hopefully wiser.
Warren Buffet
“Invest in yourself. The one easy way to become worth 50% more than you are now at least is to hone your communication skills — both written and verbal.”
Humans have the ability to communicate yet somehow true, open communication is becoming a lost art. And Remember God gave us two years and one mouth. We should listen more than we talk.
Oprah Winfrey
“Embrace the power of your flaws”
Here’s what she has to say about that…. “When I first started my own show in Chicago, I was talking to a bunch of models,” she said. “They were all these skinny, pretty girls and they were talking about their cellulite. I was like, girl, I can show you some cellulite!”
“I think that moment, and then the rest of the audience relating to that moment, I started to realise that being yourself, allowing yourself to be vulnerable, embracing your faults, that everybody has them, that’s what gives you power.”
Michelle Obama
“Stop being so afraid.”
Fear tends to hold us back and many times that fear is unfounded. Don’t just step out of the box, blow it up!
And here is my personal favorite…..
Epictetus
“Life is not about what happens to you, it’s how you react.”
Epictetus was a Greek philosopher who spent his youth as a slave. After becoming crippled he was banished from Rome, he lived in Greece the rest of his life.
We can only control our own thoughts and behavior. So, before you react, take a breath and remember that whatever you see or hear is through the filters you have developed in your lifetime.
May 2020 be a productive, prosperous and happy one!
by Heather Cournoyer | Aug 9, 2018 | Broker Advantage, Cool Stuff
After the story about Goldilocks and her trespassing in the Bears Den broke in the tabloids there was a storm of controversy. The Bears agreed not to press charges and ultimately became good friends and mentors of the charming if somewhat ditzy girl.
The Bear family owned Three Bears Insurance, a successful brokerage firm specializing in providing customized insurance and risk management solutions to Small and Medium Businesses. Based on her EXPERIENCE in testing porridge, chairs and beds, Goldilocks and the Bears realized the girl had a natural talent for finding the right fit. They took her on as an apprentice broker working alongside Baby Bear. Once she had completed the necessary hours of community service for her earlier transgressions and an intense program of EDUCATION, the Bears hired her as an Insurance Broker.
On the surface the job seemed simple and easy. Meet the client, work with them to gain as much of an understanding of their business as possible and identify and analyze their business risk. Sometimes she would identify risks that clients weren’t even aware of but which they needed to know about. Many of the things that kept them awake at night were easily dealt with once they were identified. In reality, there was many hours of work done behind the scenes in order to deliver the correct advice. Not the least of these tasks was selection of and negotiation with the right insurer.
Two of her first clients were the First and Second of the Three Little Pigs. Unfortunately for them, the houses built of straw and sticks did get blown away, but were rebuilt with the necessary building code upgrades all paid for. Luckily for them, she understood that the buildings, being older, would probably not be up to code if they had to be rebuilt. She had purchased additional coverage for that eventuality. Throughout the claims process she exhibited considerable EMPATHY which made the process, although still stressful, a lot easier to manage
The Third Little Pig had previously discussed risk management options with Goldilocks taking in to account the peril posed by the Big Bad Wolf and decided to build with bricks so he suffered no loss. He relied on her EXPERTISE!
The moral to this story is to keep looking until you find the right Insurance Broker for your needs, and then listen to their advice so you can make an informed decision.
Thus endeth the story but not the lesson, which is why Heather Cournoyer, CCIB, CIP is the right broker for you!
EDUCATION– Canadian Chartered Insurance Broker, Chartered Insurance Professional, Foundations of Risk Management
EXPERIENCE – Over 35 years experience as an insurance broker and business owner
EMPATHY – Having had the opportunity to work with hundreds of insured clients in her career she understands how stressful and confusing the claims process can be. She listens and understands!
EXPERTISE – It’s not just her understanding of insurance that makes her an expert in her field. Having been a business owner herself and working with hundreds of others businesses owners over the years, gives her a unique advantage. A Certificate from Ryerson University in Entrepreneurial Mentorship doesn’t hurt either!
ENTHUSIAM – Heather loves what she’s doing – helping others thrive and survive! It shows when you meet with her.
So get to know her! email heather@thinkinsure.ca or call 587-597-5478
