Discovery Series: Unplugged

What if the moment that breaks your heart becomes the moment that defines your purpose?

In this heartfelt episode, Pam Pabla, Desjardins Insurance Agency Owner, shares her journey of strength, faith, and leadership after her youngest daughter was diagnosed with autism at 18 months. What began as heartbreak became a lifelong mission to advocate, plan, and lead with purpose.

Pam opens up about the emotional and financial realities of raising a child with special needs, the lessons she’s learned as a business owner and parent, and the importance of building a plan that protects both today and tomorrow.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Pam’s story reshaped her definition of purpose and leadership
• The financial realities and planning needs of families with neurodiverse children
• The power of accountability, responsibility, and faith in business and life
• Why she believes every advisor’s purpose begins with empathy

Pam’s story is a reminder that leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about love, resilience, and showing up when it matters most.

What does it take to build a 40-year career—and a business that lasts beyond you?

In this insightful episode, Al Roissl, CFP, Managing Director of the Ontario Central Region at Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network, shares the lessons that shaped his journey from immigrant beginnings to leading the largest DFSIN franchise outside Quebec.

From arriving in Canada without speaking English to overseeing a network of more than 100 advisors, Al’s story is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and leadership grounded in purpose. He reflects on the power of mentorship, the importance of mindset, and what it means to lead through decades of change in financial services.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• ​How adversity shaped Al’s leadership philosophy
• ​Why mentorship and joint fieldwork are the keys to growth
• ​What advisors need to thrive in a digital, team-based future
• ​How to build a business—and a mindset—that truly lasts

Al’s story reminds us that true leadership isn’t about avoiding challenges.

It’s about rising through them, and bringing others with you.

When her father told her, “I am in my dying stage of life”, Emily Sorensen realized that preparation isn’t just financial—it’s emotional. Around the same time, her mother-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Supporting both of them gave Emily a new perspective on legacy, empathy, and what it means to plan ahead.

In this live-recorded episode from Calgary, Emily— a Business Development Executive at IDC Worldsource Insurance Network—shares lessons that every advisor can bring into their client conversations.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• ​Why waiting to apply for coverage can come at a cost
• ​How to support families through the claims process with empathy
• ​Why a handwritten note or card can be more powerful than the cheque itself

This conversation is a reminder that insurance isn’t just about protection—it’s about the human stories behind every policy.

At 23, Zain Shivji was a healthy young professional working in financial services. Within months, everything changed.

After a back injury triggered a severe mental health crisis, Zain was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and was unable to work—for nearly two years. Just one month before it all began, he had declined disability insurance.

In this powerful and honest episode, Zain shares how the experience shaped his outlook on life, planning, and what it means to protect yourself before it’s too late.

Now an advisor at Shivji Financial Services, he’s helping others make the decisions he once avoided—and using his own story to break down stigma around mental health and living benefits.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What living with OCD really looks like
• The financial fallout of not having protection in place
• How Zain reframes DI and CI for younger clients
• Why vulnerability can be a powerful tool for connection

This isn’t just a comeback story. It’s a call to action—for advisors and clients alike.

What happens when your greatest challenge becomes the birthplace of your greatest strength?
In this special 100th episode, we sit down with Benaaz Aronis, MBA, CRM—Senior Vice President of the Desjardins Agent Network & Direct Insurance (Ontario, Atlantic, Western Regions)—to reflect on a journey that’s as bold as it is grounded in heart.
From immigrating to Canada in 1999, to leading with impact across Desjardins for 25 years, Benaaz shares how personal loss, parenting a child on the autism spectrum, and unwavering purpose shaped the leader—and the person—she is today.
This isn’t just a story about rising through the ranks. It’s about resilience, humility, and what it means to lead when life doesn’t follow the plan.
In this milestone episode, Benaaz opens up about:

• The sudden loss of her father—and how insurance shaped her family’s path forward
• Navigating her son’s autism diagnosis and the financial planning it inspired
• Redefining leadership through empathy, values, and personal advocacy
• The culture that helped her grow—and why she believes Desjardins’ real superpower is its people
  

“You don’t need a title to lead. You just need to show up—with heart.”

Imposter syndrome isn’t a weakness—it’s a signal you’re growing.

In this candid episode, Mehul Gandhi, CFP, CLU, TEP, opens up about his journey from accidental advisor to respected industry leader. With no finance background and no built-in client base, Mehul built his career from the ground up—while quietly wondering, “Do I belong here?”

Now a Senior Insurance Advisor and Estate Planning Specialist at Westmount Wealth Planning, Mehul shares how he turned doubt into drive, and how advisors can reframe imposter syndrome into a source of strength and service.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What imposter syndrome looks like in real advisor life—and how to recognize it
• How curiosity, mentorship, and over-preparation shaped Mehul’s path
• Why simplifying complexity builds deeper client trust
• How he defines purpose, and what it means to be an ambassador for the industry

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not ready, not qualified, or not enough—this episode will challenge that thinking. Because sometimes the real question isn’t Why me?—it’s Why not me?

When Suzanne Durnan’s business and life partner passed away suddenly in 2008, there was no succession plan—and not enough insurance.

In this deeply personal episode, Suzanne shares how she rebuilt her business from the ground up, turned grief into growth, and became an unwavering advocate for client preparedness. Now President of Advocis Greater Vancouver, she uses her experience to help advisors—and their clients—plan for the moments no one sees coming.

What you’ll learn

• The real impact of missing key person insurance
• How to talk to clients about planning before it’s too late
• Why service and empathy are every advisor’s superpower
• How to lead with resilience—and build a business around purpose
  

This is a must-listen for any advisor who believes in the power of preparation and the importance of legacy.

What can advisors learn from the art of fishing? According to industry veteran Alex Chan, it’s everything.

In this insightful and uplifting episode, Alex Chan—Regional Wealth Leader with IDC Worldsource—joins us live from the IDC PD Day in Vancouver to share the lessons he’s learned over 36 years in the business. Drawing parallels between his lifelong love of fishing and the financial services industry, Alex reveals how success in both worlds comes down to five things: patience, technique, perseverance, determination, and skill.

From learning not to rush the conversation, to adapting your technique based on who’s in front of you, to handling setbacks with professionalism and grace—this episode offers a thoughtful guide for advisors who want to build deeper client relationships and a more resilient practice.

Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned pro, Alex’s energy, humility, and wisdom will inspire you to slow down, listen more, and keep casting.

What do you do when the client is your own father—and the plan can’t wait?

In this powerful episode, standout advisor Brandon Durant, CFP, CLU, CHS, and TEP, shares how a late-night phone call turned his professional expertise into personal action. As a Rising Star in Wealth Professional’s Top 40 Under 40, Brandon built his career mastering complex financial strategies. But when his father was diagnosed with cancer, everything he knew was put to the test.

For advisors, this is more than a story—it’s a real-world playbook on how to lead with empathy, clarity, and confidence when your family, your clients, or your team are counting on you.

Brandon walks us through:

• ​How he activated Teladoc Medical Experts and critical illness coverage to advocate for his father
• ​The emotional and logistical challenges of navigating Canada’s health system
• ​What it really means to be a planner when life gets personal
• ​How this experience reshaped his approach with clients, his team, and his definition of legacy

This episode is a masterclass in applied advocacy. It’s for any advisor who wants to build trust, show up when it matters, and deliver impact that goes far beyond the financial plan.

What do elite wealth strategies and championship lacrosse have in common? More than you might expect.

In this playbook-style episode, Graham Bergsma—Founder of G3 Wealth Strategies & Consulting Inc. and Head Coach of the Dutch Women’s National Lacrosse Team—joins us to break down the surprising parallels between sport and financial strategy. From reading the field to anticipating future plays, Graham offers a masterclass in how advisors can support high-net-worth clients through forward-thinking, tax-efficient planning.

With guest co-host Catherine Tam from the Discovery Series team, this conversation explores how top advisors build winning teams, leverage multidisciplinary collaboration, and turn blind spots into opportunities. Drawing from his experience both on the field and in the boardroom, Graham shares tactical insights for building trust, navigating complexity, and delivering results that go beyond numbers.

Whether you’re an advisor, team leader, or strategist at heart, this episode is packed with lessons on mindset, adaptability, and the importance of knowing when to lead—and when to pass.