Discovery Series: Unplugged

How do you turn life’s toughest challenges into conversations that build trust and inspire action? In this heartfelt episode of Discovery Series: Unplugged, Desjardins Insurance Agent Trina Owens and her longtime agency teammate Sherry Gurrieri share a deeply personal journey that changed the way they connect with clients forever.

From Sherry’s husband’s rare Type 1 diabetes diagnosis to navigating family emotions and financial realities, this is a raw and powerful look at how life experience informs client conversations. Learn how they’ve built a practice rooted in consistency, persistency, and purpose—whether it’s uncovering overlooked term conversion options or landing six-figure cases through education and empathy.

Plus, hear how a simple Kenny Chesney lyric—“Everything’s gonna be alright”—became a symbol of resilience, both personally and professionally.

Takeaways:

• The difference between being consistent vs. being persistent—and how both drive results

• A real-world application of term-to-perm conversion using PAR life insurance

• Why emotional intelligence is a business superpower for advisors

• How to lead with listening and build lifelong client relationships

Tune in and discover how sharing your story isn’t just personal—it’s a powerful sales tool.

What happens when the advisor becomes the client—and the stakes are life or death?

In this powerful live episode recorded at the Customplan Spring PD Day in Calgary, we sit down with Stephanie Stewart, CFP, CLU, CIM, CEA, DMS, FCSI, RWM, TEP—founder of Affluence Partners Inc. Stephanie shares her deeply personal journey navigating her husband’s life-threatening illness, a rare genetic disorder, and the financial planning that helped her family survive a medical crisis.

From leveraging a Term 10 to Term 20 exchange during a moment of uncertainty, to becoming her “first best customer,” Stephanie exemplifies what it means to lead with heart, knowledge, and purpose.

Whether you’re advising professionals or business owners, this episode is a masterclass in why every insurance conversation matters—and how being prepared can be a gift of life.

In a highly regulated industry, compliance isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about protecting clients, advisors, and the integrity of the business.

In this episode, we sit down with Eric Wachtel, National Chief Compliance Officer at IDC Worldsource Insurance Network Inc. and Compliance Chair of Legislative Affairs at CAILBA. With over two decades of experience, Eric shares candid insights on the three issues that keep him up at night: lack of product recommendation diversity, rising privacy concerns, and the urgent need for cybersecurity vigilance.

If you’re an advisor wondering how to grow your business while staying compliant, this episode is essential listening. Discover why compliance can be a growth enabler—and not just a risk mitigator.

At age 47, Chandran Rasalingam—Chartered Life Underwriter, MDRT advisor, and founder of a growing MGA—suffered a near-fatal heart attack just one day before his family vacation. What followed was a powerful claims experience, a $1.5 million critical illness payout, and a journey that shifted everything: how he leads, how he gives, and how he lives.

In this deeply personal episode, Chandran opens up about the defining moments that shaped his life—from losing his mother during the pandemic to the financial and emotional relief provided by the insurance he sold and owned himself.

Together with host Reh Bhanji, Chandran reflects on the journey from survival to success—and what it means to live a life of significance.

🎧 In this episode:

• The day everything changed—and the policy that saved his future

• Why “sell what you own” is more than a principle, it’s a promise

• A financial plan that made peace, recovery, and business continuity possible

• How philanthropy and purpose now guide his every move

In this post-election edition of Discovery Series: Unplugged, Desjardins’ Deputy Chief Economist Randall Bartlett returns to break down what the surprise win by Prime Minister Mark Carney means for advisors, markets, and the Canadian economy.

Recorded just weeks after one of the most consequential federal elections in Canadian history, this episode covers everything from economic policy shifts and Trump-era tariffs to the challenges of balancing housing, climate, and productivity under a minority government.

In this episode:

• ​What’s in (and missing from) the Carney government’s economic plan
• ​How U.S. politics and tariffs continue to shape Canada’s growth outlook
• ​Why housing targets might be more political than practical
• ​Key signals for interest rates, inflation, and investment sentiment

Whether you’re guiding clients through volatile markets or watching fiscal policy unfold, this candid conversation offers the clarity and context Canadian advisors need right now.

What happens when a life insurance policy is surrendered—and the unthinkable follows? In this deeply personal episode, recorded live in Calgary, Neva Perrotte, Regional Director for Alberta South at Desjardins Insurance, shares the heartbreaking story of her niece Shayla’s passing just months after her policy was canceled for its cash value.

From funeral costs to emotional fallout, Neva reflects on how a decision made in the moment left lasting consequences—and how this experience reshaped her approach to leadership, planning, and protection.

You’ll hear:

• How a canceled policy created a financial and emotional gap

• The impact of loss on family, work, and healing

• The truth behind the GoFundMe generation

• Why insurance conversations need to happen before life gets complicated

This episode is a raw, important reminder of the role advisors play—and the difference a single policy can make.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Rudy Pineda—Chartered Life Underwriter, Certified Health Specialist, and Director of Advanced Sales at PPI—shares his journey from Guatemala to Canada, and the life-changing events that shaped his purpose in the insurance industry. Rudy opens up about navigating a contested inheritance, the emotional toll of caregiving, and the financial realities of funding life-saving cancer treatment. Together with host Reh Bhanji, Rudy explores how insurance can bridge the gap between life’s unpredictable turns and long-term financial well-being—and why holistic risk planning is more essential than ever.

Great leadership isn’t born—it’s coached.

In this episode of Discovery Series: Unplugged, Ted Girard, Senior Director of DFSIN Ontario Central, shares lessons learned from years of coaching—both on the field and in the financial services industry. Drawing inspiration from his early baseball coaching days, Ted discusses how strategy, execution, and mindset shape high-performing advisor teams.

Whether you’re building your book of business or leading others, Ted’s insights into growth, leadership, and change management offer a practical blueprint for success.

Tune in for:

• How coaching principles apply to advisor development

• Growth strategies that drive lasting success

• Leading change through execution and teamwork

• Building resilient, high-impact teams

How do we accelerate action when life throws us loss, grief, and the unexpected? In this special live episode of the Discovery Series: Unplugged, financial security advisor and volunteer firefighter Paula Andreychuk shares her powerful personal story—one that begins in professional sports, turns through tragic loss, and lands in a place of purpose.

Recorded at the Advocis Toronto International Women’s Day event, this conversation covers:

• A life insurance claim that didn’t pay—and why

• How grief shaped Paula’s mission to protect others

• Turning trauma into advocacy through peer counselling and firefighting

• Lessons for advisors navigating conversations around life, loss, and legacy

With honesty, resilience, and a dash of grit, Paula reminds us what it means to serve with empathy—and to move through life with intention.

Her symbol? An arrow. Because no matter how far she’s pulled back, she always fires forward.

How can advisors power up their business owner conversations and unlock new insurance and pension opportunities? In this high-energy episode, Leo Deblois, Pension Analyst and Business Development Advisor at SFL Wealth Management, joins us to break down how Executive Pension Plans (EPPs) can simplify retirement planning, create major tax efficiencies, and open the door to powerful cross-selling opportunities in the corporate market.

Drawing from his background as a competitive hockey goalie, Leo shares how advisors can make “high percentage plays” with EPPs, demystify pension planning, and drive success for both their business owner clients and their own practices.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your game or find new pathways into corporate insurance cases, this conversation is packed with practical insights you won’t want to miss!