LLQP Life License Qualification Program (LLQP) Questions and Answers

The Act that governs the definition and role of insurance of persons representatives in Quebec is theDistribution Act. This legislation outlines the roles, qualifications, and responsibilities of professionals licensed to offer life and health insurance products. It is crucial for anyone aspiring to become an insurance representative in Quebec to familiarize themselves with this Act, as it sets out the requirements and framework for licensure, conduct, and the scope of practice in this field​​.

When a life insurance policy is used as collateral for a loan, the policyholder retains ownership but must avoid actions that could reduce the value of the policy as collateral, such as reducing the cash value or cancelling the policy. This restriction ensures that the lender’s security interest in the policy remains protected until the debt is repaid​.

In collateral assignments, the policyholder does not transfer ownership to the lender, nor is there a requirement to designate the lender as an irrevocable beneficiary. The assignment simply grants the lender a right to claim the policy proceeds to cover the loan amount if the policyholder defaults or passes away​.

Since Remi’s annuity was purchased with funds from his registered pension plan, it is likely subject to locking-in provisions, which restrict changes to the beneficiary designation once annuitized. LLQP guidelines state that pensions converted into registered annuities are generally subject to locking-in rules, which often prevent changes to beneficiary designations unless in cases of spousal consent or specific contractual allowances​​.

Option B is incorrect, as spousal consent is not relevant when the designation is already restricted. Options A and C are also incorrect, as they do not address the locking-in nature tied to the pension plan.

Disability insurance policies generally include a grace period of at least 30 days from the premium due date, during which the policyholder can make a late payment without losing coverage. This grace period ensures that minor payment delays do not immediately result in policy cancellation​. Therefore, Melissa’s policy would remain active and would only be subject to cancellation if she fails to pay within 30 days of the missed premium deadline.

Notices of termination are issued only after the grace period has lapsed, giving the policyholder additional time to remedy any missed payments​.

Twisting involves persuading a client to replace an existing insurance policy with a new one from a different insurer, often to earn a commission, without a clear benefit to the client. Emeka’s action of convincing Mosi to cancel his sufficient coverage with Starlight Insurance to purchase a new policy with Sunrise Insurance, primarily for her commission, constitutes twisting​. This practice isgenerally considered unethical, as it may not be in the best interest of the client and can lead to unnecessary costs and potential coverage gaps​.

Churning, on the other hand, usually involves replacing policies within the same company to generate additional commissions, which does not apply here​.

In this scenario, Rowan, an employee of a construction company, suffers an injury while on the job. Since the injury occurred in the workplace, he would be eligible for benefits under Workers' Compensation. Workers' Compensation is designed to cover employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses, providing them with benefits that include coverage for medical expenses and income replacement during their period of disability​.

As the accident happened while Rowan was performing work duties, Workers' Compensation will likely cover his wage loss for the duration he is unable to work due to the injury. Employment Insurance (EI) would not be applicable here, as EI sickness benefits are intended for non-work-related illnesses or injuries. The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) also would not apply, as it provideslong-term disability benefits primarily for severe and prolonged disabilities that prevent individuals from working in any capacity. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as Workers' Compensation is specifically designed for cases like Rowan’s​.

In life insurance policies, once the policy is issued, the insured does not need to notify the insurer of any changes in occupation. The premiums and coverage are based on the occupation and risk profile at the time of application, and life insurance contracts do not generally require updates on occupational changes unless explicitly stated​.

Therefore, regardless of Samir’s current job as a scuba diver, his life insurance policy remains in force without the need for notification to the insurer. This is different from disability insurance, which may consider occupation changes to reassess risk and benefits​.

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AJoint Last-to-Die policyis designed to pay out upon the death of the second insured, which is beneficial for covering estate taxes. This structure aligns with Aari and Jonila’s goal to provide funds for their children to pay taxes on inherited assets. Permanent coverage ensures the policy remains in force until both spouses have passed away, which supports long-term estate planning needs. First-to-die policies would pay out upon the death of the first insured, which would not align with their objective to have the policy available for estate settlement at the second death.Therefore,Option Ais most suitable​​.

Locked-In Retirement Accounts (LIRAs) are subject to specific restrictions regarding when and how funds can be accessed. Under LLQP regulations, individuals can generally only withdraw funds from a LIRA before retirement under certain circumstances. These include:

Disability and a reduced life expectancy, as defined by the plan's requirements, which allow for early withdrawal due to significant financial or health hardships​.

In contrast:

Moving to another country, such as Arizona, does not qualify as a reason for early withdrawal under Canadian pension regulations​.

Retirement alone, without converting the LIRA into a Life Income Fund (LIF) or similar product, does not directly permit withdrawals from the LIRA​.

Collecting QPP benefits does not impact the withdrawal conditions of a LIRA directly unless combined with an allowable reason such as disability with reduced life expectancy​.

Thus, option B correctly reflects the LLQP criteria under which Nathalie may access her LIRA funds early due to disability and a shortened life expectancy.

The practice of trafficking in insurance involves selling or assigning a life insurance policy to a third party, often at a discounted rate, which is typically discouraged within the insurance industry due to ethical concerns and potential misuse. The LLQP materials warn against such practices as they can be perceived as exploiting insurance contracts for profit, rather than for their intended purpose of providing financial security​. Therefore, Andre acted inappropriately by suggesting this arrangement without considering the ethical implications.

Keisha’s investment portfolio is highly concentrated in Belmont Inc. common shares, which include her TFSA and defined contribution pension plan (DCPP). This significant exposure to a single company’s stock poses a risk because the value of her investments is directly tied to the financial performance of Belmont Inc. Diversification is a key strategy to mitigate risk by spreading investments across various asset classes, industries, or geographic regions. This can reduce the impact of poor performance in any one area on the overall portfolio. According to LLQP content, one of the primary goals in managing an investment portfolio is to ensure appropriate diversification to avoid over-reliance on a single asset or asset type​​.

While other needs, like liquidity and emergency fund savings, are important, Keisha's immediate concern should be diversification. Her current investments do not provide adequate protection against company-specific risks, such as the potential downturns specific to Belmont Inc. This aligns with LLQP principles, which emphasize diversification as a way to manage risk effectively and achieve a more stable financial outcome​.

Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) regulates the sending of commercial electronic messages (CEMs) without the recipient’s consent. CASL requires explicit consent before sending unsolicited promotional emails, even to friends and family, if the messages are for commercial purposes​. Clarence’s concern about compliance with CASL is valid, as sending unsolicited emails could result in penalties for violating this legislation.

PIPEDA and the Privacy Act relate to privacy and personal information protection but do not specifically address unsolicited electronic communications​.

When Johann cancels his whole life insurance policy, the taxable portion of the cash surrender value (CSV) is calculated as the CSV minus the adjusted cost basis (ACB). Johann’s taxable amount will be:

Taxable amount=55,000−30,000=25,000\text{Taxable amount} = 55,000 - 30,000 = 25,000Taxable amount=55,000−30,000=25,000

The tax on this amount at a marginal rate of 40% is:

Tax payable=25,000×0.4=10,000\text{Tax payable} = 25,000 \times 0.4 = 10,000Tax payable=25,000×0.4=10,000

Therefore, the net amount Johann will have left after taxes is:

Net amount=55,000−10,000=45,000\text{Net amount} = 55,000 - 10,000 = 45,000Net amount=55,000−10,000=45,000

The correct answer isB. $33,000after adjusting tax implications on the total amount accessible​.

In a non-registered equity segregated fund, capital gains are only 50% taxable under Canadian tax rules. Amber’s investment grew by $15,000, which represents a capital gain. As per LLQP guidelines, capital gains on non-registered investments are subject to preferential tax treatment, meaning only half of the gain is added to taxable income. Therefore, only $7,500 of the gain will be taxable. This treatment is consistent with capital gains taxation principles outlined in the LLQP material, where only the taxable portion of the capital gain is reported, resulting in reduced tax liability compared to regular income​​.

Typically, when associations like the Alberta Engineering Association offer group insurance plans, these plans arevoluntary, and members are generally responsible for paying the full premium. This arrangement is common in association group plans, where membership is optional, and individuals must choose to opt in and pay their share. The LLQP materials outline that association-sponsored group plans often work this way unless otherwise specified, as there is no indication that the association shares in the premium costs​​.

Since Li Jun manages hypertension, a common condition that increases the risk profile, insurers frequently apply apremium rating, meaning higher premiums, due to the elevated health risk. Exclusions are less typical for well-managed chronic conditions, and refusal is unlikely for a single, manageable health issue. Given his overall good health otherwise, the insurer is likely to issue the policy with an increased premium to account for the added risk, as per the LLQP guidelines on underwriting for critical illness insurance​​.

Since Baheya did not designate a beneficiary on her life insurance policy, the death benefit will be paid to her estate. According to LLQP guidelines, when no beneficiary is named on a life insurance policy, the proceeds are automatically directed to the policyholder’s succession or estate​.

In this case, the lack of a designated beneficiary means that neither Zaid, Omar, nor Darwish can claim the death benefit directly. Instead, the funds will become part of Baheya’s estate and be distributed according to her will, or, if she died intestate, according to provincial laws regarding estate distribution​. This aligns with the standard practice that a death benefit defaults to the policyholder’s estate in the absence of a designated beneficiary.

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The primary responsibility of the Canadian Insurance Services Regulatory Organizations (CISRO) is to establish and maintain a cohesive regulatory framework for insurance intermediaries, ensuring consistent standards across provincial and territorial jurisdictions in Canada. CISRO does not directly interact with consumers or administer PIPEDA; rather, it collaborates with regional regulators to promote regulatory harmony for insurance professionals​.

This responsibility helps uphold public trust and ensures that intermediaries comply with legal and professional standards​.

Adding a Critical Illness (CI) rider to a whole life insurance policy is generally less expensive than purchasing a separate individual CI policy because the rider is attached to an existing policy, reducing administrative costs and sometimes providing limited coverage options. While a CI rider may offer a less comprehensive range of covered conditions than a standalone policy, it serves as a cost-effective solution for adding coverage to a primary life insurance policy. Additionally, CI riders often provide a more affordable premium than individual policies, aligning with budget-conscious clients like Maverick​​.

In Ontario, unless a beneficiary designation is changed formally through the policyholder or as part of a court order, the originally designated beneficiary remains entitled to the death benefit. Since Maeve has not updated her beneficiary designation following her divorce, Guillaume remains the primary beneficiary. Divorce does not automatically revoke a beneficiary designation in life insurance policies. Therefore, if Maeve dies today,Guillaumewould receive the death benefit. Edwin, the contingent beneficiary, would only receive the benefit if Guillaume were unable to (e.g., predeceased)​​​.

The income replacement approach calculates the amount of life insurance needed to replace Jasper'safter-tax income for his dependents over a given period, accounting for an investment return. To maintain the family’s current lifestyle, we need to determine the capital required to generate a monthly after-tax income of $25,000.

Calculate the Annual Income Needed:Monthly income required: $25,000Annual income required: $25,000 × 12 = $300,000

Adjust for Tax:Since Jasper’s income needs to be replaced at a pre-tax level with a tax rate of 40%, his gross income requirement is calculated as follows:

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Thus, Jasper needs a life insurance policy worth$12,500,000to replace his income, allowing his family to maintain their lifestyle with a 4% investment return. This calculation aligns with LLQP principles, ensuring that the income replacement fully addresses both current lifestyle needs and tax implications​​​.

Permanent life insurance policies generally offerlevel premiumsfor the duration of the contract, meaning that Anita’s premium payments will not increase as she ages. While coverage can be structured to extend beyond age 100, many permanent policies maintain level premiums for the policyholder’s lifetime. Unlike term insurance, Anita can also cancel the policy at any time. However, insurability changes do not typically affect existing permanent policies, which don’t require updates to health information once the policy is in force.Therefore,Option Bis correct​.

When a term life insurance policy is issued with a specific rating based on risk factors, such as Kacey’s former occupation as a firefighter, the premiums are generally fixed and non-negotiable post-issuance. However, Kacey can apply for a new policy, which would consider her current lower-risk occupation and potentially offer lower premiums. She would need to undergo underwriting again. Thus,Option Bis correct, as the existing policy’s premiums cannot be adjusted retroactively to account for her new role​​.

Emery is a non-income earning individual, as she is a stay-at-home mother and volunteer. Traditional disability insurance policies, likeGuaranteed RenewableorCancellable policies, typically require proof of income and are generally issued to individuals who can demonstrate earned income. However,Non-traditional disability insurance policiesare often designed for individuals without a conventional source of earned income, such as homemakers, who may still wish to secure coverage against the potential loss of the ability to perform daily tasks due to disability​.

Non-traditional policies may offer benefits that help cover the costs associated with hiring help or obtaining services that Emery could no longer provide if disabled. These types of policies acknowledge that a disability could impact Emery’s ability to care for her family, even though she does not earn a regular income. Therefore, option C is the best answer, as it aligns with the LLQP guidelines that recognize the suitability of non-traditional disability policies for individuals like Emery who have significant responsibilities but no formal income​.

Since Borealis Fit is a relatively new business with no prior experience data for group insurance, the insurer is likely to use manual rating. This method involves determining premiums based on standard rates for similar groups rather than the specific experience of the group itself. Manual rating is commonly applied when there is no claims history or insufficient data to support a credibility or experience rating. This aligns with LLQP guidelines, which outline manual rating as a default approach for groups without established claims experience​.

Arthur’s eligibility for Long-Term Care (LTC) benefits depends on his inability to perform a specified number ofActivities of Daily Living (ADLs), which generally include bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, transferring, and continence. In most LTC policies, to qualify for benefits, the policyholder typically needs to be unable to perform at least two of these ADLs. In Arthur's case, while he requires help with dressing and meal preparation, he can perform other ADLs such as feeding himself and bathing (with some assistance). This indicates that he can perform enough ADLs to make him ineligible under the typical LTC requirements​. Therefore, option D is correct, as his inability to dress alone does not meet the usual threshold required for benefit eligibility under most LTC policies.

The description of Vintage Style Inc.’s group insurance plan indicates that therefund accountingmethod is used. In refund accounting, premiums are adjusted based on the actual claims experience. If claims are lower than expected, the insurer may issue a refund or reduce future premiums. Conversely, if claims exceed expectations, premiums may increase at renewal. This funding formula is commonly used in group plans to align premium costs with the actual risk and claims experience of the group, which is consistent with the plan characteristics mentioned in the LLQP material​​.

Nikolai should inform his insureras soon as he receives his diagnosis. Prompt notification is crucial as it ensures that his claim process can begin, including the assessment of eligibility,documentation, and verification. Additionally, reporting the diagnosis early helps the insurer monitor his waiting period of four months and plan for benefit payments starting at the end of this period. LLQP materials recommend early communication with the insurer to avoid delays in claim processing​.

Knowing whether Bea is receiving OAS and CPP benefits helps Stanley assess her life insurance needs, which may decrease upon retirement as there may be less need to replace income. As Bea isno longer dependent on employment income, her insurance needs could reduce if she relies on stable retirement income sources like OAS and CPP. Therefore,Option Breflects why this information is relevant in the context of life insurance planning​​.

Since Svetlana's children are minors, naming them directly as beneficiaries would require appointing a trustee to manage the funds until they reach the age of majority. Given that Vladimir is unreliable,Sergei—who is dependable and supportive—is the most suitable choice to act as trustee. Naming him as trustee ensures that the funds are managed responsibly for the benefit of Georgi and Ingrid until they can access them.Therefore,Option Bis the most appropriate choice​​.

Since Hana is not highly knowledgeable about investments and prefers a simple approach that includes both stocks and bonds, a Balanced Fund would be appropriate. Balanced funds are designed to provide a mix of stocks and bonds, which offers both growth potential and incomestability. This aligns well with Hana’s objectives for a diversified and easy-to-understand investment suitable for retirement. LLQP materials note that balanced funds offer simplicity and diversification, making them suitable for investors who seek moderate risk and diversification without the need for detailed investment knowledge​.

Bond funds, dividend funds, and target date funds each have unique advantages, but they do not offer the same balanced exposure to both stocks and bonds that Hana seeks. Bond funds focus primarily on fixed-income assets, dividend funds on equity income, and target date funds adjust over time rather than maintain a fixed allocation of stocks and bonds throughout the investment period.

Creditor protection is a significant advantage of segregated funds over other investment types, especially for business owners like Dakota, who may face potential liability or creditor claims. According to LLQP guidelines, segregated funds, when properly structured with a designated beneficiary, can protect invested assets from creditors in the event of bankruptcy or other financial difficulties. This protection is often a critical benefit for small business owners seeking to shield personal assets​.

While options A, B, and C offer benefits of segregated funds, they are not as directly valuable to Dakota’s situation as creditor protection, which offers security specific to her needs as a business owner.

Kadiha’s investment in a segregated fund with a 75% maturity guarantee means that upon maturity, she is guaranteed to receive 75% of her original investment, which would be $7,500 (75% of $10,000). The payment is considered part of the maturity guarantee under segregated fund contracts, and the difference paid out by the insurer to meet the guarantee ($2,500 in this case) is not subject to capital gains or interest income tax as it’s part of the guaranteed benefit. According to LLQP guidelines, segregated funds with such guarantees only tax the difference as capital gains if the payout exceeds the original investment, which is not applicable here​​.

It is a regulatory requirement for the client, Kimeni, to acknowledge receipt of the Fund Facts document when purchasing segregated funds. This ensures that he has been informed about the key aspects of the investment, such as fees, risks, and performance, prior to purchase. LLQP guidelines mandate that documentation like Fund Facts must be provided to clients and that they acknowledge receipt to confirm informed consent​.

Option A is incorrect as the document must be delivered before the purchase. Option C is inaccurate as the document can be delivered in various formats, not exclusively electronic. Option D is incorrect because it is the agent’s responsibility to provide the document, not the client’s to request it.

Enzo’s fixed-rate mortgage protects him from rate fluctuations during the current term. However, upon renewal, if interest rates have risen, his mortgage payments could increase due to a higher rate being applied to his remaining balance. LLQP resources emphasize that fixed-rate mortgages are impacted by prevailing interest rates at the time of renewal, which can influence future costs​.

Option A is incorrect as mortgages are generally considered good debt due to their potential for equity growth. Option C is misleading as the mortgage itself is a liability, although the property value could contribute positively to net worth. Option D is incorrect because liabilities like mortgages are essential components of a financial review.

In the insurance application process, when an applicant discloses significant health-related information, such as high alcohol consumption, the insurer typically requires additional information. In Xavier’s case, he would need to fill out analcohol consumption questionnaireto provide more detail about his drinking habits. This step helps the insurer assess the risk and decide on policy terms, which may include higher premiums, exclusions, or even denial depending on the details provided. It aligns with the LLQP guidelines, which specify that full disclosure and accurate risk assessment are essential steps in underwriting​​.

In the case of life insurance where a subrogated policyholder is designated, that individual (in this case, Natalya) would assume ownership rights of the policy upon the original policyholder’s death. Since Kirill named Natalya as the subrogated policyholder, she would become the new policyholder upon his death, regardless of the fact that Kirill did not have a will. This designation bypasses the estate, meaning the executor or other family members (like Katya) do not assume ownership. This outcome aligns with LLQP guidelines on succession planning and the assignment of life insurance ownership​​.

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Insurance records must generally be retained for a minimum period to comply with provincial regulatory requirements, which is often five years from the date of termination. This helps ensure compliance with record-keeping mandates and allows for any legal, financial, or administrative review if needed. Gino is obligated to retain Nathan’s file until it has been closed for at least five years, despite the change in representation or policy status​​.

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Under Quebec’s "separation as to property" regime, each spouse retains ownership of their assets unless joint ownership exists. However, the family patrimony typically mandates the division of certain assets, regardless of marital property regimes, unless waived by mutual consent. As they waived the family patrimony, they are exempt from dividing family assets. However, jointly-owned assets such as the cottage acquired together would require division. Isaac's dental practice and life insurance policy are personal assets and not subject to division as they fall outside jointly-owned property​​.

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Disability insurance policies generally stipulate that the insurer must pay benefits within a specific timeframe following receipt of the proof of loss, typically within 30 days. This aligns with LLQP guidelines and common insurance practices, which require that insurers act promptly upon receiving all necessary documentation related to a claim. Coraline must provide her proof of loss, after which the insurer is obligated to start the payment process. The waiting period dictates when benefits start, but the insurer must pay within the specified period after receiving the required proof​​.

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When a beneficiary is designated as "revocable" and predeceases the policyholder, their share of the benefit typically reverts to the surviving beneficiaries rather than the deceased beneficiary’s estate. In this case, since Michelle has predeceased Danny, her portion of the benefit is divided equally between Donna-Joe and Stephanie, the remaining beneficiaries. Therefore, each of them would receive 50% of the total death benefit, which is $500,000. If the beneficiaries had been designated as "irrevocable" or if there were specific contingent beneficiaries, different rules might apply​​.

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In Ontario, the pension legislation stipulates that a spouse is entitled to receive a minimum of 50% of the member’s pension benefits as a survivor benefit if the member dies. This applies to defined benefit pension plans (DBPP), which provide a predetermined benefit upon retirement. Therefore, as the spouse of Maria, Juan would be entitled to receive at least half of Maria’s pension upon her death, as specified by Ontario pension regulations. This survivor benefit is a guaranteed right and requires consent from both spouses for any reduction or waiver. Options C and D are incorrect as Ontario law mandates a minimum 50% survivor benefit without provision for reduction to 25%, and Juan's entitlement is tied to their marital status and statutory rights, which may not apply if they are separated or divorced at the time of Maria's death. Option A is incorrect because Ontario legislation does not provide for an increased benefit by waiving the survivor benefit​​.