What would happen to your income if you couldn't work?
Straightforward disability insurance planning for working professionals and self-employed individuals across Alberta and BC.
Your income is the asset behind every other asset
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Mortgage or rent payments
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Everyday household expenses
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Retirement and savings contributions
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Debt and other financial obligations
Understanding the pieces
Disability coverage isn't one product — it's a few different pieces that need to fit together. Here's how they usually work.
Short-Term Disability
Covers a shorter absence from work, often for weeks up to a few months, depending on the plan. Many employer plans include some short-term coverage; if you're self-employed, this piece is often the first gap to check.
Long-Term Disability (LTD)
Group LTD plans typically start after short-term coverage ends and can continue for years. The amount and definitions are set by the group plan, not by you, and coverage generally doesn't follow you if you leave the job. Plans usually cap the benefit as a percentage of salary and may not account for bonuses or self-employment income — and if the employer pays the premium, the benefit is typically taxable when you receive it.
Individual Disability Insurance
A policy you own personally (or, in some cases, through your corporation) travels with you regardless of employer and can be structured around your actual income and occupation. Personally-paid, personally-owned premiums generally produce a tax-free benefit, while corporate ownership or payment can be taxed differently. Tax treatment depends on your specific structure — this is general information, not tax advice.
What affects your disability insurance cost
Disability premiums vary by occupation class, age, health, smoking status, benefit period, and definition of disability — two people with the same income can see very different pricing. Rather than publish a generic table that may not reflect your situation, we'll walk through real numbers together in a short conversation.
Income protection should be planned, not left to chance.
How we approach income protection
1. Clarify Your Income
We start with what actually needs protecting — your real income, including how it's structured if you're self-employed or incorporated — and what's already covered through an employer or association plan.
2. Assess the Gaps
We compare what you have against what you'd actually need: benefit amount, definition of disability, elimination period, and how long benefits would last.
3. Implement Intentionally
We structure the right policy — personally or corporately owned, where that applies — so there are no surprises in how it's set up, and the benefit is designed to work the way you expect if you ever need to use it.
Real questions, straight answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both life and disability insurance?
They cover different risks, so many people carry both rather than choosing one. Life insurance protects the people who depend on your income if you die; disability insurance protects your income while you're alive but unable to work due to injury or illness.
How fast can I actually get covered?
It depends on the insurer's underwriting process, your health history, and your occupation — straightforward applications can sometimes move quickly, while more complex health or occupational profiles take longer to underwrite. There's no fixed timeline that applies to everyone.
I already have LTD through work — do I need my own policy too?
For many people, it's worth having both. Group LTD plans are typically capped as a percentage of salary, may not account for bonuses or self-employment income, and generally don't follow you if you leave the job. An individual policy is designed around your actual income and stays in place regardless of employer changes.
What happens to my disability coverage if I become self-employed or leave my job?
Group LTD coverage through an employer generally does not transfer with you. An individually owned policy is structured to travel with you regardless of employment status.
Is a disability insurance benefit taxable?
It depends on who pays the premium and how the policy is owned. Personally-paid, personally-owned premiums generally produce a tax-free benefit, while employer-paid or corporately-owned arrangements can be taxed differently. This is general information, not tax advice — speak with your tax advisor to confirm how it applies to your situation.
What determines how much disability insurance costs?
Premiums vary based on occupation class, age, health, smoking status, benefit period, and the definition of disability in the policy — two people with similar income can see different pricing for these reasons.