What actually happens in the first conversation?

Fifteen minutes with Malay, by phone or video. You tell him what prompted you to look, he asks about your household, your income and any coverage you already hold, and he explains how the relevant options work. Nothing is recommended and nothing is decided on that call.

Is there a cost for the review?

No. The introductory conversation is complimentary and carries no obligation. If we are not the right fit, we will say so.

I already have coverage through work. Is that enough?

Sometimes, often not. Group coverage is usually capped, tied to your employer, and ends when the job does. We will look at what you have and show you where the gaps sit — with no pressure to replace anything.

When you take out a policy through us, the insurer pays a commission — you do not pay a separate fee for the review or for the time spent going through your options. Malay will tell you how compensation works on any specific product before you apply.

Do you work with newcomers to Canada?

Regularly. That includes Super Visa and visitor coverage for parents and grandparents, and the first protection and savings decisions families face after arriving.

Can you help with savings and retirement, not just insurance?

Yes. Alongside protection we work through RRSPs, TFSAs, RESPs and retirement income planning, always matched to what you are actually saving toward.

Whichever is easiest — phone, video, or in person where available across Ontario. You choose when you book.

What should I have ready?

Nothing formal. If it is handy, a rough sense of your income, any existing policies and what you would want protected helps. We can start from a blank page just as easily.

Protect today

Your income is your largest asset. It is usually the least protected.

People insure a car worth thirty thousand dollars and leave a two-million-dollar earning career uncovered. Disability insurance replaces part of your income if illness or injury stops you working.

Book a free review Read the detail

Benefit size: A portion of income; Coverage is designed to replace part, not all, of gross earnings so there is an incentive to return to work. Limits vary by insurer.
Waiting period: You choose it; Longer waiting periods lower the premium. Commonly 30, 60, 90 or 120 days.
Benefit period: Years, or to age 65; The single biggest driver of both cost and usefulness.

What we look at together

Three contract details decide whether a disability policy is worth owning: how disability is defined, how long the benefit runs, and whether the insurer can change the terms. Everything else is negotiable. We start there, then look at what your employer plan already does.

Especially important for professionals, the self-employed and single-income households.

The definition of disability
Own occupation, regular occupation, or any occupation. This single clause decides whether a surgeon who can no longer operate gets paid.
Waiting and benefit periods
How long before payments begin, and how long they last. The trade-off between these two is where most of the premium sits.
Where your group plan stops
Employer coverage is usually capped, taxable if the employer pays the premium, and gone the day you leave. We map the gap.
Self-employed cover
No sick pay, no group plan, and income that has to be documented differently. There are contracts built for this.

Your options

The contract choices that matter

Disability policies look alike until you read the definitions. These are the three axes that change what you actually own.

Specialised professionals

Own occupation

Pays if you cannot perform the duties of your own specific occupation, even if you could work elsewhere. The strongest definition, and priced accordingly.

Benefit continues even if you take different work
Most valuable to surgeons, dentists, tradespeople and specialists
Highest premium of the three definitions

Talk this through →

Most salaried professionals

Regular occupation

Pays if you cannot perform your regular occupation, usually with conditions if you take other employment. The common middle ground.

Meaningfully cheaper than own-occupation
Adequate for most office-based careers
Read how it treats earnings from other work

Talk this through →

Budget cover, and most group plans

Any occupation

Pays only if you cannot perform any work you are reasonably suited to. The weakest definition, and what many employer plans quietly use after two years.

Lowest premium
Hardest definition to satisfy at claim time
Check whether your group plan switches to this after 24 months

Talk this through →

Side by side

Group coverage vs. a personal policy

Why the plan at work is a floor rather than a solution.

Scroll the table sideways →

	Through your employer	Personal policy
Portable if you change jobs	No	Yes
Definition of disability	Often narrows after two years	Fixed by your contract
Benefit taxable	Usually, if the employer pays premiums	Generally not, if you pay premiums personally
Insurer can change terms	Yes, at plan renewal	No, if the policy is non-cancellable
Coverage cap	Set by the plan	Set by your income and underwriting
Cost to you	Low or nil	A monthly premium

Step by step

How a claim works

01
You stop working
Illness or injury prevents you performing your occupation as defined in the contract.
02
The waiting period runs
The elimination period you chose passes before any benefit becomes payable.
03
Claim and medical evidence
Your physician documents the disability; the insurer assesses it against the policy definition.
04
Monthly benefit begins
Payments continue while you remain disabled, up to the benefit period you selected.
05
Return to work
Many contracts include partial or residual benefits while you phase back in.

Is this for you

When it helps, and when to wait.

We would rather tell you this is not your priority right now than sell you something you do not need. If the right-hand column describes you, say so on the call.

Worth a conversation if

You are self-employed or a contractor with no sick pay
Your household could not absorb three months without your income
Your group coverage is capped well below your actual earnings
You work in a specialised occupation that is hard to substitute

Worth pausing if

You have not yet secured life insurance and there are dependants — sequence matters
The only policy available to you uses an any-occupation definition and you have alternatives
You are close to retirement and the benefit period would be very short

Disability & income protection — questions

Good questions to bring to the call.

These are the ones that come up most on this topic. Yours is welcome even if it is not here.

Many employers offer some disability coverage, but it is usually capped, often taxable, and it disappears when you leave the job. A number of group plans also narrow their definition of disability after two years. We will read yours and show you the gap.

Your income is your largest asset. It is usually the least protected.

What we look at together

The definition of disability

Waiting and benefit periods

Where your group plan stops

Self-employed cover

The contract choices that matter

Own occupation

Regular occupation

Any occupation

Group coverage vs. a personal policy

How a claim works

You stop working

The waiting period runs

Claim and medical evidence

Monthly benefit begins

Return to work

When it helps, and when to wait.

Good questions to bring to the call.

Read next

Critical illness insurance

Life insurance

Health & dental

Talk through disability & income protection with someone who explains it.

Your income is your largest asset. It is usually the least protected.

What we look at together

The definition of disability

Waiting and benefit periods

Where your group plan stops

Self-employed cover

The contract choices that matter

Own occupation

Regular occupation

Any occupation

Group coverage vs. a personal policy

How a claim works

You stop working

The waiting period runs

Claim and medical evidence

Monthly benefit begins

Return to work

When it helps, and when to wait.

Good questions to bring to the call.

Does my job not already cover this?

How much of my income can I protect?

What is a waiting period?

What if I am self-employed?

Read next

Critical illness insurance

Life insurance

Health & dental

Talk through disability & income protection with someone who explains it.