Tag Archives: Benefits of Knowledge

Episode 9 – Understanding Drug Benefit Plans – with guest Martin Chung



When it comes to benefit planning, the drug landscape opens up a lot of questions, and it is not always easy to find the answers on your own. 

In this episode, Lorne Curry welcomes Martin Chung, assistant vice president of strategic health management at Equitable Life of Canada, to the show as they dive into the topic of pharmaceuticals. Martin aims to answer some of the most common questions he hears from people when it comes to understanding the landscape of drugs. 

In this episode, you will learn about:

  • The two buckets of drugs; regular drugs and specialty drugs  
  • How high-cost drugs are managed  
  • The costs involved with prescription drugs and how it might vary between pharmacies  
  • Relationships between insurance companies and pharmacies 
  • And more!

Tune in now to begin your journey into understanding what is important when it comes to pharmaceuticals. 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group | Group Benefits headquarters | Martin Chung | Equitable Life of Canada 


Episode 8 – The Benefits of the Virtual Doctor’s Office



Sitting in a waiting room at the Doctor’s office or Emergency Room can take hours! Thanks to virtual Doctor’s Offices, that wait time can be shortened to as little as twenty minutes! 

In this episode, Lorne Curry discusses the benefits of virtual healthcare and how Canadians are responding to it. Lorne touches on how this new technology might fit into your benefits planning! 

In this episode we discuss:

  • The need for virtual healthcare  
  • How virtual healthcare professionals interact with your family doctor 
  • Different ways you can connect with virtual healthcare professionals  
  • What virtual healthcare professionals can assist with 
  • And more!

Tune in now to hear how Canadians are responding to virtual healthcare and how you could be taking advantage of it too! 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group | Group Benefits headquarters


Episode 7 – Answering Common Questions about Long-Term Disability – with guest Sheila Karras



If you have ever wondered how long-term disability works, or who is eligible for it, this is the episode for you! 

In this episode, Lorne Curry sits down with his very first guest, Sheila Karras of Empire Life, as they take a look at long-term disability. With Sheila’s work in insurance, she helps answer some of the most common questions asked regarding disability leave and speaks about the impact COVID-19 has had on it.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The reluctance for an employee to return to work after disability leave 
  • What is considered when assessing an employee’s ability to return to work 
  • Earnings in relation to returning to work after disability 
  • Communication between the insurance company, employer and employee throughout a disability claim 
  • And more!

Tune in now to have your questions answered regarding long-term disability leave and understand who should be involved in the conversations. 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group | Group Benefits headquarters | Sheila Karras | Empire Life 


Episode 6 – The Risks Associated with Benefit Plans



Did you know that there are risks involved with some decisions you make when it comes to benefit plans? 

In this episode, Lorne Curry talks about some of the most common risks that are associated with benefit planning as it relates to the employer. Lorne offers some of his personal advice as to how you can avoid these risks! 

In this episode we discuss:

  • Why opting out of employee health plan coverage is not recommended
  • The Non-evidence maximum for long term disability and life insurance
  • What risks are related to severance packages 
  • What conversion options are available at retirement
  • The role of a plan administrator
  • And more!

Tune in now as Lorne uncovers some of the risks that are involved in benefit planning and what you should be watching out for! 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group | Group Benefits headquarters


Episode 5 – The Advantage of Health Care Spending Accounts



A Health Care Spending Account works similarly to a bank account, it allows you to top up on your regular group benefit programs! 

In this episode, Lorne Curry helps you better understand how Health Care Spending Accounts (HCSA) work, and the benefits of using them. Lorne discusses how these plans can differ from typical group benefits and ways that different plans can be weaved together! 

In this episode we discuss:

  • What is a Health Care Spending Account? 
  • How to use the HCSA for your family members  
  • The benefits of using the HCSA for the employer and the employee
  • What you can use the HCSA for 
  • How the HCSA is controlled
  • And more!

Tune in now to discover how the HCSA could be used to assist you in gaining coverage on things outside of your regular group benefit programs! 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group


Episode 4 – Understanding Taxation on Benefit Programs



At Curry Financial Group, we see benefits as a part of an employee’s compensation. There are things you can be doing with your benefits to leave money in your pocket and your employee’s pocket at the end of the day! 

In this episode, Lorne Curry discusses how taxation works when it comes to benefit planning and how you can give to your employee’s without having to spend any taxes on it! 

In this episode we discuss:

  • How taxation works when it comes to benefit planning 
  • Who can benefit from tax savings  
  • Which benefits are taxable  
  • Benefit program eligibility based on company size   
  • And more!

Tune in now as we explore what taxation looks like for you and your employees when it comes to benefits. 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group


Episode 3 – A Look at the Funding Models



When it comes to setting up your benefit plans, there are actually three different funding models that could be used to fit the needs of your company. 

In this episode, Lorne Curry compares the three different funding models that are used when setting up group benefit plans and how each of them differ. Lorne talks about what you can expect from each type and how to know what model might be best for you. 

In this episode we discuss:

  • How the ASO Model works  
  • What the Insured Model looks like
  • How the Pooled Model works for various companies 
  • Using a combination of the models to create a plan that is best for you 
  • And more!

Tune in now to discover what the Funding Models you could be using are, and how they might work together!  

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group 


Episode 2 – The 5 Steps to Working With Curry Financial Group



Ensuring that every client finds a benefit plan that suits their needs and is always working in their favour is at the top of priority for Curry Financial Group.

In this episode, Lorne Curry discusses the 5 step process that he goes through with clients to ensure that they are getting the right benefit plan that works for their company. Lorne also explains how the process does not end when a plan is chosen, rather, he sticks it out with every client to be sure their current plan is always the best on the market! 

In this episode we discuss:

  • What the initial discovery meeting looks like with new clients  
  • How Lorne analyzes client’s current plans to compare them to the market  
  • Why we go to the market to find the best plan  
  • Staying engaged with clients throughout the year about their plans  
  • How Curry Financial Group supports its clients throughout the process  
  • And more!

Tune in now to follow along the process of onboarding new clients at Curry Financial Group to ensure that every client gets exactly what they need! 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group 


Episode 1 – Welcome to The Benefits of Knowledge with your host Lorne Curry



Welcome to The Benefits of Knowledge! A podcast aimed at helping educate business owners and companies on group benefits! 

In this debut episode, Lorne Curry of Curry Financial group! Kicks off his podcast by sharing how he got into financial services and who he works with. Lorne allows you to get to know him, what he does and what you can expect from this show! 

In this episode we discuss:

  • How Lorne got started in the financial industry 
  • What Lorne specializes in and who he works with 
  • Why Lorne feels having a balance between life and work is so important
  • What you can expect from future episodes and who should be listening   
  • And more!

Tune in now to meet your host Lorne Curry! 

Resources: Lorne Curry | Curry Financial Group