This cross‑border panel brings together leaders from the United States and Canada to examine the shifting distribution landscape at a time when advisor shortages and stagnant term/family market sales are reshaping industry realities. Speakers will explore how compensation structures are evolving under new regulatory guidance and increasing transparency expectations. The discussion will highlight where each market is headed, how regulatory pressures differ, and what carriers and distributors must do to remain competitive as the economics of advice continue to change.

This session offers a high‑level examination of the regulatory and risk landscape shaping Canada’s insurers and financial institutions. OSFI's executive director for insurance, Anandhi Sarvananthan, looks ahead to the evolving expectations around oversight, capital resilience, and systemic stability. As compliance demands continue to rise and CRM3 introduces new transparency requirements, the session will explore how advisors are expected to disclose compensation to consumers — and whether these shifts could influence annuity and segregated fund sales. Attendees will gain a clear, forward‑looking view of the regulatory forces that will define the next decade of industry strategy.

Speaker: Anandhi Sarvananthan — Executive Director, OSFI

Life insurance growth is accelerating in several global markets, driven by demographic shifts, product innovation, and evolving consumer expectations. This session focuses squarely on industry‑specific dynamics — avoiding abstract theory in favor of practical, market‑grounded insights. Executives will explore what is fueling growth abroad, how those lessons translate to North American carriers, and how distribution models are diverging between Canada and the United States. The discussion highlights actionable opportunities for carriers and distributors seeking to strengthen competitiveness and capture emerging demand.

Elevate your marketing and underwriting capabilities in this immersive, action‑oriented workshop designed for professionals ready to put AI to work. Explore advanced tools and real‑world applications that streamline campaign development, strengthen risk assessment, enhance customer engagement, and equip sales teams with sharper insights. Leave with practical techniques and live demonstrations that show how AI can be woven into both marketing and underwriting workflows to drive smarter decisions, measurable impact, and a stronger competitive edge.

Canada lacks a mature voluntary supplemental workplace benefits market — an area where the United States has seen significant growth driven by employer demand, product innovation, and employee choice. This session examines the structural, regulatory, and distribution factors behind the U.S. model and explores how similar approaches could strengthen value propositions for Canadian employers and workers. Leaders will gain insight into potential market pathways, barriers to adoption, and the strategic opportunities for carriers and distributors to shape a new benefits landscape.

As Canada confronts shifting macroeconomic conditions — from tariff uncertainty to global competitiveness pressures — the insurance and financial‑services industries must rethink how they operate, innovate, and grow. This session pairs an IBM executive with a prominent macroeconomic academic to examine how AI, automation, and data‑driven decision‑making intersect with Canada’s broader economic trajectory. The discussion will highlight the most critical trends shaping profitability, customer expectations, and operational efficiency, offering leaders a clear view of where the market is heading and how to stay ahead.  

Canada’s full-time advisor population is aging and contracting, while term and family‑market sales remain flat or in decline. This structural gap threatens long‑term protection coverage and raises critical questions about how the industry will serve the next generation of households. This session explores the forces behind the advisor shortage, the implications for middle‑market protection, and the emerging models — digital‑hybrid advice, embedded insurance, new distribution partnerships, network marking, and talent‑pipeline strategies — that could redefine how Canadians access life insurance. Leaders will gain a clear view of what it will take to rebuild capacity, modernize engagement, and ensure sustainable growth in the protection market.

Amid a growing talent shortage, the voices of young professionals entering the insurance and financial‑services industry offer critical insight into what attracts — and keeps — the next generation. This session features candid perspectives from early‑career advisors, analysts, underwriters, and distribution professionals who have chosen this path. They will share what drew them to the industry, what surprises they’ve encountered, and what they believe employers must do to remain competitive. Leaders will gain a grounded understanding of how to strengthen recruitment, culture, and career pathways in a rapidly evolving talent landscape.

If human lifespans increase meaningfully — driven by technology, AI‑enabled health awareness, and improved treatment pathways — life insurers will need to rethink the foundations of pricing. Actuaries are modelling scenarios that test the sensitivity of mortality tables, reserve requirements, and product guarantees under extended‑longevity assumptions. This session explores what those models reveal, how pricing strategies may shift, and what carriers must consider to maintain sustainability and competitiveness. The discussion stays firmly rooted in industry realities, offering practical insight into how longer lifespans could reshape the economics of life insurance.

Global geopolitical instability is reshaping risk profiles for insurers and reinsurers, influencing everything from multinational exposure to life and group benefits demand. This CEO panel examines how geopolitical tensions, supply‑chain fragility, and regional regulatory divergence are altering strategic priorities across the industry. Leaders will also address the growing concern around executive succession and the accelerating turnover that threatens institutional knowledge and long‑term continuity. The discussion offers a forward‑looking view of how insurers can strengthen resilience, anticipate evolving consumer needs, and maintain stability in an increasingly unpredictable world.

To wrap up the conference, we welcome Canadian comedy legend Eugene Levy for a fireside chat that blends humour, heart, and wisdom about navigating change. Drawing on a career filled with unexpected pivots, memorable characters, and the occasional questionable haircut, Eugene shares his take on how to stay adaptable, curious, and authentic when the world refuses to sit still.

From learning to embrace new roles to discovering value in the unfamiliar (including travel shows he never planned to host), Eugene offers a comedic yet meaningful look at how individuals and organizations can thrive in a shifting landscape. Expect laughter, candid reflections, and a reminder that sometimes the best way to deliver value is to lean into change — even if it feels like improv.

Speaker: Eugene Levy