Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Spark...On the go
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credibility counts | 18 sept. 2025 | 00:31:28 | |
We are joined again by ivari Sales Director Shalini Lal Mishra to explore the foundational role of credibility in the advisor-client relationship. From the quiet power of consistency and transparency to the importance of empathy, education, and ethical behavior, this conversation dives deep into what makes an advisor truly trustworthy. Shalini shares personal stories, practical tips, and powerful analogies that will inspire you to lead with integrity and build a brand that clients believe in. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| The art of effective networking | 05 sept. 2025 | 00:36:03 | |
We sit down with Renna Abdulgany, Sales Director at ivari, to unpack the art of effective networking. Whether you're attending your first industry event or looking to deepen existing relationships, this conversation offers practical strategies for showing up with purpose, leveraging your interests, and building trust through authenticity. From navigating social gatherings to using social media to attract—not chase—your ideal audience, Renna shares her personal playbook for creating meaningful connections that drive real business growth. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| Building relationships that last | 21 août 2025 | 00:38:47 | |
We chat with ivari Sales Director, Shalini Lal-Mishra to explore the art and impact of building meaningful client relationships. Hear real-life stories, actionable tips, and reflections on how small gestures can transform one-time buyers into lifelong advocates. Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your client connections, this episode offers a refreshing reminder that success is built on empathy, authenticity and care. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| Beyond the pitch: Personalizing the client journey | 11 août 2025 | 00:27:52 | |
In this episode, we chat with Renna Abdulgany, Sales Director at ivari, to explore how advisors can personalize their approach to client engagement. From building trust and navigating compliance to embracing patience and education, we unpack what it really takes to succeed in today’s evolving financial landscape. Whether you're new to the industry or a seasoned pro, this conversation offers fresh insights on how to lead with purpose and adapt with confidence. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| Networking without the awkward | 24 juil. 2025 | 00:38:43 | |
We sit down with communication expert Peter Hiddema to unpack the art—and anxiety—of networking, especially for life insurance advisors. Whether you're a seasoned extrovert or a hesitant introvert, this conversation offers practical, real-world strategies to help you show up authentically, start meaningful conversations, and build lasting professional relationships. If you’ve ever debated whether to attend that after-hours mixer or struggled to break into a group chat at a conference, this one’s for you. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| The art of facilitation | 10 juil. 2025 | 00:43:50 | |
We welcome back Peter Hiddema for a deep dive into the subtle yet powerful art of facilitation. Whether you're leading a team meeting, presenting to a large audience, or navigating a tough conversation between clients, Peter shares practical strategies to help you create psychologically safe spaces, manage group dynamics, and stay grounded when discussions go off track. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their communication and leadership skills. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| Cultivating referrals: The key to success | 26 juin 2025 | 00:27:15 | |
Join Josie Malandrino, ivari Sales Director as she explores the power of referrals in the insurance industry. Discover how referrals can reduce marketing costs, build trust, and lead to easier client conversions. Learn the difference between referrals and personal introductions, and gain practical tips on effective referral strategies, including preparation, personalization, and timing. There’s a reason why referrals are the lifeblood of the industry…tune in to hear why! To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| The first five minutes: Making a lasting impression | 12 juin 2025 | 00:25:25 | |
Join us as we chat with Josie Malandrino, ivari Sales Director about making a positive impression and standing out in a competitive environment. Josie shares tips on building relationships, the benefits of sharing personal stories, and the importance of being prepared and authentic. Tune in for practical advice on delivering a strong first impression through practice and authenticity. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| Empathy & understanding: Finding insurance solutions for older clients | 29 mai 2025 | 00:38:25 | |
Michelle Apollinaro is back to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of working with older clients. Michelle delves into the importance of empathy, understanding, and trust-building when advising older clients, who may be skeptical of insurance products due to past experiences. Michelle shares her 30 years of expertise, offering practical tips on how to address the specific needs and concerns of older clients, from financial legacies to affordability issues. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| The toolbox of transferable skills | 15 mai 2025 | 00:19:21 | |
DeeAnn sits down with Dawn Kulas, Account Manager at ivari to discuss the importance of transferable skills in building a successful career. Dawn shares her journey from a financial advisor to a sales role, highlighting the valuable skills she has acquired along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to enhance your existing skill set, this episode offers advice and insights in identifying and developing transferable skills. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| Adapting your approach with younger generations | 01 mai 2025 | 00:36:59 | |
DeeAnn welcomes back Michelle Apollinaro to delve into the unique challenges and strategies for selling life insurance to younger generations. Michelle shares her insights on adapting communication styles, understanding the values and goals of younger clients, and building trust in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Whether you're a new advisor or a seasoned professional, this episode offers valuable tips to help you connect with and serve the younger demographic! To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| Mastering social selling | 17 avr. 2025 | 00:19:24 | |
In our second episode on social selling DeeAnn again welcomes Nyima Gyalmo, the founder of Social Sherpa and an expert in social media marketing for businesses. Nyima shares her insights on social selling, discussing the importance of engagement, measuring success, and the key ingredients for being successful in social selling. Nyima also provides practical advice on choosing the right platform, setting achievable goals, and using a hybrid approach to connect with the right audience. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| The power of social selling | 03 avr. 2025 | 00:27:19 | |
In part one of our two-part social selling series, DeeAnn sits down with Nyima Gyalmo, the founder of Social Sherpa, to discuss the latest trends and techniques in social media marketing for businesses. Nyima shares her insights on how you can leverage social platforms to enhance your digital presence and connect with customers more effectively. Tune in to learn valuable tips on how to navigate the ever-changing landscape of social media and build trust with your customers. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| Compliance: Anti-money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions evasion | 20 mars 2025 | 00:16:31 | |
DeeAnn welcomes Effie Bekas, Senior Manager of Regulatory Compliance at ivari. Effie shares her extensive knowledge and experience in the field of compliance, focusing on critical topics such as anti-money laundering (AML), anti-terrorist financing (ATF), and sanctions evasion. Effie explains the importance of these measures in the insurance industry, how they impact advisors' daily operations, and the steps involved in ensuring compliance. Tune in to learn more about the role of compliance in safeguarding your business and how you can stay informed and vigilant. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| Mastering presentation skills | 06 mars 2025 | 00:36:03 | |
DeeAnn Brinton is joined by Peter Hiddema from Commanding Presence to go over some easy ways to help you master presentation skills. Listen is as Peter shares practical tips to build confidence, manage self-talk, and use good breathing techniques to enhance your presentations. Whether you're speaking to a large audience or in a one-on-one meeting, this episode will help you connect with your audience effectively. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| Building habits for high performance | 20 févr. 2025 | 00:27:22 | |
In this episode, DeeAnn Brinton chats with Manuela Carlin, Event Manager at ivari, about the habits that contribute to high performance. Manuela highlights three pillars of high performance, while providing practical tips and personal anecdotes to help advisors implement these principles in their own lives and businesses. | |||
| Navigating the sandwich generation | 06 févr. 2025 | 00:48:32 | |
DeeAnn welcomes back financial advisor Michelle Apollinaro to discuss the challenges and realities of the sandwich generation—people who are simultaneously caring for their aging parents and their own children. Michelle shares her extensive experience and insights, offering valuable tips and advice for those navigating this demanding role. Listen in to learn about the unique financial, emotional, and time management challenges faced by the sandwich generation. Whether you're part of the sandwich generation or know someone who is, this episode is packed with insights to help you manage and thrive in this complex role. | |||
| Understanding money personalities | 23 janv. 2025 | 00:32:19 | |
In this episode DeeAnn sits down with financial advisor Michelle Apollinaro to explore the fascinating world of money personalities. Michelle shares her insights from over 30 years in the financial advice industry, discussing how different money personalities impact financial decisions and relationships. Michelle explains the strengths and weaknesses of each personality type and offers practical advice for helping you navigate each personality with your clients. | |||
| Beyond tax planning: Understanding estate planning with William Yeung | 09 janv. 2025 | 00:27:58 | |
DeeAnn chats with William Yeung about the intricacies of estate planning. William shares his expertise on various estate planning tools and strategies, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual objectives and minimizing estate challenges. Learn about key estate planning tools like a Last Will & Testament, life insurance, and trusts. Listen in for valuable insights for both new and seasoned advisors to better serve their clients' estate planning needs. | |||
| Reflecting on the year and looking forward to 2025 | 23 déc. 2024 | 00:01:16 | |
In this episode, DeeAnn announces the changed schedule for rest of December. She also hints at some exciting changes coming in early January. Happy Holidays everyone! | |||
| Cybersecurity challenges and solutions | 19 déc. 2024 | 00:28:39 | |
In this episode, Craig Peppard, ivari’s VP and Chief Information Security Officer, delves into the latest cybersecurity threats and trends of 2024. From data breaches and AI-powered attacks to ransomware campaigns, Craig provides an in-depth analysis of the current landscape. He also shares practical tips on how to protect both personal and corporate data, emphasizing the importance of digital resilience. Learn about the best practices for keeping systems updated, using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and maintaining regular backups. As our online presence continues to grow, this is an episode you won't want to miss! | |||
| Navigating immigration and travel in underwriting | 05 déc. 2024 | 00:25:20 | |
DeeAnn and Underwriting Consultant Franzi Steven discuss the intricacies of immigration and travel in underwriting. They explore challenges and opportunities for advisors with new immigrants to Canada, the importance of understanding residency requirements, and the impact of temporary accommodations on policy persistency. Franzi shares insights on financial underwriting, considerations for international students, and guidelines for foreign travel. Tune in for practical advice and a deeper understanding of how these factors influence underwriting decisions. Don't miss this informative and engaging conversation! | |||
| Get to know Jeffrey Fox, ivari’s SVP and Chief Distribution Officer | 21 nov. 2024 | 00:36:25 | |
In this episode, take a peek behind the curtain in the world of ivari and get to know our SVP and Chief Distribution Officer, Jeffrey Fox. Tune in to hear about Jeffrey's career highlights, personal passions, and his outlook on the future of ivari and the insurance industry. | |||
| Getting things done | 07 nov. 2024 | 00:47:02 | |
If you're overwhelmed with tasks and time management, this episode is for you. DeeAnn speak with Ashley Frank who shares actionable strategies for smart scheduling, prioritizing high-impact activities, and maximizing success. Learn about ROTI (Return on Time Invested) and how to make every minute count. Tune in to streamline your day, boost productivity, and reclaim your time. | |||
| Shifting from follow up to follow through | 24 oct. 2024 | 00:47:20 | |
In the fast-paced world of financial services, it's easy to get stuck chasing leads and doing repetitive follow-ups. In this episode, DeeAnn and Ashley Frank discuss tools and strategies to help identify and nurture high-level clients. Tune in to learn how to move opportunities forward and turn endless follow-ups into productive, results-driven follow-through. | |||
| Uncovering your unique brand DNA | 10 oct. 2024 | 00:55:21 | |
In a world where consumer trust is at an all-time low, creating a distinctive and authentic personal brand is more important than ever. In this episode, guest Ashley Frank shares his expertise on the essential elements of a strong personal brand, common pitfalls to avoid, and practical tips for ensuring your brand resonates with your audience. Tune in to learn how to differentiate yourself as an insurance advisor, build lasting relationships with your clients, and create a memorable brand that sets you apart from the competition. | |||
| Documentation tips for advisors | 26 sept. 2024 | 00:30:36 | |
DeeAnn and Adam Kulesza, Compliance Practice Consultant delve into the crucial topic of documentation for advisors. Adam shares his top tips for maintaining compliance, emphasizing the importance of thorough documentation to protect credibility and ensure regulatory requirements are met. Tune in to learn how to make compliance an integral part of your business and enhance your client relationships through effective documentation practices. | |||
| Balancing act: Igniting your business potential | 12 sept. 2024 | 00:36:24 | |
MJ Macdonald, AVP of Learning & Development at ivari joins DeeAnn to share her unique strategies for maintaining balance while juggling multiple projects and responsibilities. They take us through their entrepreneurial journey, sharing valuable lessons learned along the way. The conversation emphasizes the importance of a balanced and sustainable approach to personal and professional growth, a key aspect often overlooked in the hustle of entrepreneurship. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for life insurance advisors looking to grow their business while ensuring personal well-being. Tune in to ignite your potential and transform your approach to work and life. | |||
| Trust and empathy in building healthy relationships | 29 août 2024 | 00:54:21 | |
In this insightful episode, DeeAnn is joined by our Senior Learning & Development Consultant Tara Muir to delve into the critical elements of building healthy relationships, both personally and professionally. They highlight the importance of trust and empathy as foundational pillars. The discussion emphasizes the need for constructive communication, transparency, and handling difficult conversations with empathy and understanding. Listeners will gain valuable insights to help maintain psychological safety, increase self-confidence, manage difficult conversations, and improve working relationships. This episode a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their interpersonal dynamics! | |||
| Guiding success: Developing closing skills, overcoming objections, and cultivating a positive sales mindset | 15 août 2024 | 00:37:45 | |
In this enlightening episode, guest Paul Binnendyk shares strategies for guiding clients towards making decisions and effectively handling objections. During this engaging discussion, he emphasizes the importance of asking insightful questions, using positive summary statements, and the power of storytelling and social proof.
Tune in to gain valuable insights that will elevate your sales game! Don’t miss out on these expert tips and strategies to help you excel in your sales career. This is part four of a four-part series with Paul. While you don’t need to listen to all four in order, be sure to catch them all to enhance your sales skills! | |||
| Navigating the sales landscape: Personalization, trust and openness | 06 août 2024 | 00:43:00 | |
In this riveting episode, guest Paul Binnendyk delves into the critical role of personalized and effective recommendations in driving successful sales outcomes. During the discussion, Paul emphasizes the value of storytelling, preparation, and visualization in building trust with clients, and the need for humility and openness in the advisor-client relationship. Tune in for an episode packed with professional wisdom, personal experiences, and engaging conversation! This is part three of a four-part series with Paul. While you don’t need to listen to all four in order, be sure to catch them all to help you up your sales game! | |||
| The art of the sale: Communication, empathy, and strategy with Paul Binnendyk | 18 juil. 2024 | 01:00:21 | |
DeeAnn is again joined by sales skills facilitator Paul Binnendyk in this enlightening podcast as they delve into the art of sales communication. They discuss the pivotal role of effective communication, active listening, and understanding clients’ needs in the sales process. Explore with them the strategies for asking probing questions, maintaining control in conversations, and engaging clients through different strategies. Tune in to transform your sales approach and build stronger client relationships! This is part two of a four-part series with Paul. While you don’t need to listen to all four in order, be sure to catch them all to help you up your sales game! | |||
| Creating your sales playbook with Paul Binnendyk | 05 juil. 2024 | 00:52:49 | |
Paul Binnendyk, a seasoned salesperson and now facilitator, shares strategies to help you prepare for successful client meetings. He chats with DeeAnn about the importance of understanding your client’s needs by preparing and researching BEFORE you meet with them. Tune in to learn how you can start creating your very own sales playbook. | |||
| Backstage Pass: Elevating Your Sales Game with Ashley Frank | 20 juin 2024 | 00:48:14 | |
Dive into the art of humanizing the sales process and discover how to transform yourself from just another insurance salesperson to a trusted advisor. During this insightful conversation, Ashley shares his wisdom on leveraging a human approach to sales, asking the right questions, and truly understanding clients’ needs. Don’t miss out on the secrets to client retention and personal satisfaction in the competitive insurance market. | |||
| The basics of working with business owners | 06 juin 2024 | 00:28:35 | |
DeeAnn is joined by William Yeung, Director of Complex Case Solutions at ivari as they go over the basics of working with business owners. They discuss some of the issues that face business owners, the different business structures in Canada, including some of the benefits of each. Lastly William gives some tips on how advisors can engage with business owners, including the value of building relationships, and surrounding yourself with the right people. | |||
| Building working relationships with Joanne Trotta | 23 mai 2024 | 00:31:53 | |
DeeAnn speaks with Joanne Trotta to discuss the challenges of remote work and building relationships in a virtual setting. They share their insights on remote work and virtual team management, emphasizing the importance of understanding team and client needs, adapting to this new reality, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the necessity of selfcare. | |||
| What’s new in cybersecurity | 09 mai 2024 | 00:41:23 | |
DeeAnn is again joined by Craig Peppard, ivari’s Chief Information Security Officer, to discuss what is new in cybersecurity. Their discussion highlights the rise of synthetic and fake information, and the importance of critical thinking to discern fact from fiction. They dive deeper into recent cybersecurity threats, including deep fake technology, AI-generated scams, and data scraping. Lastly Craig goes over some tips and tricks to better protect yourself and your business. | |||
| Psychological safety with Michael Cooke | 25 avr. 2024 | 00:38:14 | |
Michael Cooke joins DeeAnn to discuss the importance of psychological safety in both team environments and individual relationships. They go over the role of psychological safety in fostering creativity, innovation and a positive team attitude. | |||
| Insuring juveniles with Franzi | 11 avr. 2024 | 00:33:08 | |
Franzi Stephen, our in-house Underwriting Consultant discusses insuring juveniles. During this fascinating discussion they go over the considerations and challenges surrounding life insurance for juveniles, emphasizing the need for a long-term planning perspective. | |||
| Compliance APRs | 21 mars 2024 | 00:28:07 | |
DeeAnn is joined by Adam Kulesza, ivari’s Compliance & Practice Development Consultant. They go over what an Advisor Practice Review (APR) is, why it’s important and the significance of maintaining accurate client files. Whether you’ve had an APR or not, this podcast will give you some good insights and tips. | |||
| Psychology of success | 14 mars 2024 | 00:53:43 | |
DeeAnn is joined by Performance Coach Michael Cooke, as they discuss how to reframe your mindset to help you find the path to success. During this incredible chat, they go over the importance of personal accountability and the role of discomfort in achieving success, as well as the value of reflecting on past successes to maintain motivation and redefining what success means in different phases of life. | |||
| Underwriting processes | 29 févr. 2024 | 00:34:10 | |
In this episode, DeeAnn is joined by Scott Downey, Senior Underwriting Manager. They discuss the importance of understanding the underwriting process, managing day-to-day operations, the importance of the attending physician statement and other third-party information in evaluating risk. They further discussed the turnaround times in their industry, the importance of setting clear expectations with clients, and the concept of reinsurance in underwriting. | |||
| Foreign death claims and minor beneficiaries | 15 févr. 2024 | 00:30:59 | |
DeeAnn is joined Sol Bard, Senior Manager of Claims and Underwriting Risk Management at ivari to discuss two different claims topics: foreign death claims and minor beneficiaries. They discuss what is considered a foreign death claim, how the process is different (or the same) to a regular claim, and the complexity around it. Then they go into minor beneficiaries, and things to consider when naming a minor a beneficiary to a life insurance policy. | |||
| Morning routines | 01 févr. 2024 | 00:34:10 | |
DeeAnn is joined Grant Harris, Vice-President of Finance at ivari to discuss morning routines and how they can relate to success in business. They go into the “ideal success formula,” the Wheel of Life, how you can become a member of the 5:00 AM club and how all of this relates to building a solid morning routine. Grant also offers some useful resources to help you get started on your new and improved morning routine. | |||
| Business development for modern advisors | 18 janv. 2024 | 00:36:34 | |
DeeAnn is joined by Kim Skermer, of the Approach Coaching Method to discuss the journey that entrepreneurs go on, and how the business life cycle is like human life cycle. They go over some common business archetypes and how you can use these at every stage of your business. | |||
| Working on your business and how to grow it | 04 janv. 2024 | 00:49:02 | |
Host DeeAnn Brinton is joined by Michelle Apollinaro, Principal and BNA Financial as she discusses her 30ish years in the industry and what she’s learned along the way. They go building your business in the early days, to over building up your team, to staying true to yourself during the entire journey. Whether you're new to this industry, or not so new, there are nuggets of wisdom that you can apply to your business. | |||
| Leading through change | 21 déc. 2023 | 00:21:05 | |
Host DeeAnn Brinton chats with Joanne Trotta to explore how we all process change differently and highlight how we can thrive in today’s’ new world of work. They explore the challenges with adapting to change in this ever-evolving world and how we can use different forms to energy to build up our resilience. | |||
| Generative AI | 07 déc. 2023 | 00:29:27 | |
Host DeeAnn Brinton chats with Mike Daicoff, ivari’s VP of IT & Chief Information Officer all about the fascinating topic of AI. They discuss the history of AI, the fast pace of technology, where we are today and some ways that AI could impact the insurance industry. | |||
| Productivity mastery unveiled | 23 nov. 2023 | 00:51:40 | |
In a world where time is a precious resource, mastering productivity is essential for achieving your goals and realizing your potential. Host Nicole Crawford is joined by ivari’s own Manuela Carlin to discuss the psychology of productivity, uncover the key factors that influence your efficiency, and equip you with actionable strategies to supercharge your productivity. To see our full legal disclaimers, please visit ivari.ca/podcast | |||
| Plain language in business | 09 nov. 2023 | 00:33:40 | |
If they can’t understand it, they won’t buy it! Host Nicole Crawford is joined by ivari’s copywriter, Sheryl Greenspan to discuss plain language and why it is so important…especially in the life insurance industry. | |||