Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
Two free seminars will be held in the region to help people ask questions about succession, retirement, and estate planning.
Verstappen Assurance Inc. Cooperators, along with three industry professionals, will be hosting a seminar at the Grimshaw Chamber of Commerce on March 11 and at Esquire Hotel and Lounge in Girouxville March 19 from 6-9 p.m.
“We’re providing the succession seminars because people are doing a lot of their financial business out of town because they couldn’t get the service in town before,” explains Verstappen.
“And the other is they don’t want to do business in town with people they know. I’m trying to bridge that because we have all the qualified people that can do whatever it takes to help with estate planning, financial planning, and other things,” he adds.
Verstappen says it’s important to help people with investments, insurance, life insurance, and any type of financial services to be able to do in town where they’re comfortable and have more time to visit in house to discover their options.
“My goal and what I stand for is to shop local,” says Verstappen.
“What I’m doing here is I have a whole pallet of whatever anyone would need for financial services except a chequing account. Anyone that wants to do anything for their business can do it right in their own community.”
Verstappen says they are hoping to provide necessary information to people in Falher, Grimshaw and everywhere in-between to ensure people are prepared for the inevitable. He says having your estate in order can save your family and business partners when your time expires.
He explains they initially held two seminars last year, one for succession planning in farming and one in succession and estate farming. This year, they are holding a general seminar for all to attend.
“We have many people in our area that are getting ready for retirement,” he says. “It’s important to know how we can cleverly use our money until we pass away and to have enough money to get us until that point.”
Verstappen says this is a group effort, with the venues in both communities not charging for the rent of the location and a lawyer, accountant, and financial advisor all giving their time to help advise.
“When people pass away with a lot of non-taxed money like RRSPs or pensions, we help people move that money, so they slowly pay the taxes and when you pass away there’s no or fewer taxes owed,” says Verstappen of the purpose of the seminar.
“Everyone is welcome to attend and welcome to ask any questions. . .”
RSVP to confirm attendance is required by Feb. 26 by email at Verstappen_assurance@cooperators.ca of grimshaw@cooperators.ca
For more information, please call Grimshaw’s office at (780) 332-4263 or Falher’s office at (780) 837-2534.