We are learning about our Advisor Member Jay Nadler, Owner of Naviguide Financial Services.
1. Where in Canada are you based?
Comox Valley, Vancouver Island
2. Please introduce yourself in a few sentences.
My life goals include helping others while enjoying the planet and giving back to friends, family & community. I love to run, cycle and ride motorcycles, while asking friends though provoking questions about everything and anything. For a living, I specialize in Group Benefit Programs for business and I have yet to figure out what I want to do when I grow up 😉
3. What is your favourite part of your role?
My main work related goal is to prevent accidental poverty. Every time I get to work with a new client, I help multiple people prevent accidental poverty. Helping employees get coverage for high cost drugs, disability, critical illnesses and other insured items puts money in their pockets at the worst times in their lives. Having dealt with most of those life issues myself, I also get to offer support from a place of actual understanding.
4. What motivated you to join the Smart Health Benefits Association?
I know the group has some great people at the top. Their goals align with my values. With my background and knowledge, I think I can be of assistance.
5. What advocacy or policy issue impacting plan sponsors or plan members matters most to you right now?
In my mind, this questions has two divisions. One is at a governmental level and the other is at regulatory / retail. There are so many. Creating incentives for employers to match RSPs to help create a better retirement for their employees. Creating minimum contract requirements for insurers. (i.e. definition of dependent life insurance needs to start at still-birth) Adding pro-active health as a non-taxable benefit (i.e. gym memberships). Getting insurers to be more open about some of their fees (IBNR & LAP are two examples).
6. From your perspective, why is it important that plan sponsors and plan members have a direct voice in policy and industry discussions?
Currently, only industry can afford to be at the table. If only industry is at the table, then the rules are always slanted towards industry. We need to have a balanced approach so insurers make a fair income and sponsors and members have a fair cost and outcome.
7. How do you define success?
These are big issues. If I can help make change start to happen, I would be happy. Once it starts, anything is possible.
8. Tell us how you manage work/life balance.
I am great at that. I am a widower who was also a caregiver. At a young age, I learned a lot about how short life can be. On top of that, this industry reminds me on a daily basis of how important balance is. It is rare that a day goes by when I do not help a client with a major health or life issue or to file a life or disability type claim. Those days motivate me to get out with family & friends.
9. What books/resources do you recommend that every industry advisor should check out?
Read anything written by someone in the industry. Recent publications from Joel Cadesky, Lori Powers and David Patriarche are good examples. Rod Burylo put out a good one a few years back as did Robert Gignac.
10. If your friends/family/colleagues were to give you an award… What would it be for?
Being there! My friends know that if I say I am going to do something, I do it.
11. If someone were to make a documentary about you… What would be the title?
“Look Where You Want to Go.”
SHBA Member Spotlights are a Get-to-Know Profile that features the passionate industry advisors that are contributing their expertise, shaping priorities, and playing a direct role in advancing meaningful change.