Life Insurance Ontario & Alberta | North Shield Financial
Happy Canadian family — protected by life insurance from North Shield Financial
For Canadians, By Canadians

Canadian Life Insurance Made Simple.

Licensed brokers serving Ontario & Alberta. Compare term, whole life, and critical illness coverage from 17 of Canada’s top insurers — no medical exam, no obligation.

No medical exam From $20/month No obligation Licensed Canadian brokers
★★★★★ Trusted by Canadian families · 5.0 on Google
How It Works

Get Covered in Just 3 Simple Steps

No medical exam, no pressure, no obligation. Just honest guidance and your personalized rate from a licensed Canadian advisor.

1

Answer a Few Questions

Complete our quick 60-second form — a few simple questions about you and the coverage you’re looking for. No medical exam required.

2

Review Your Quote

A licensed advisor compares 17 of Canada’s top insurers and walks you through your best options — clearly, with no pressure.

3

Get Covered Fast

Once you choose, we handle the application. Many clients are approved and protected within 24–48 hours.

Get Your Free Quote
Takes about 60 seconds · 100% free & secure
Our Partners
We shop across Canada’s leading providers to find you the best rate.
17 Canadian Insurers

Trusted Life Insurance for Canadian Families

We are an independent, licensed life insurance brokerage serving Canadians across Ontario and Alberta. Our advisors work for you — not the insurers — so you always get honest guidance and the best available rate. Whether you’re in Newmarket, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, or anywhere in between, we shop 17 of Canada’s top insurers to find the right coverage at the right price.

17 Insurer Partners

More options and better rates than any single insurer.

Licensed & Independent

FSRA-licensed advisors who work for you, not a quota.

No Pressure, No Jargon

Clear, honest advice at zero cost and zero obligation.

Fast & Fully Remote

Quote to coverage by phone — often within 24–48 hours.

Talk to an Advisor
North Shield Financial advisor helping a client by phone — licensed Canadian life insurance brokerage
FSRA Licensed Brokerage
17
Insurers
$0
Broker Fees
5.0★
Google Rating

Which Coverage is Right for You?

Three simple ways to protect your family. Compare at a glance, then get your exact rate from a licensed advisor in about 60 seconds.

Whole Life

Funeral & Final Expense

Up to $25,000

A simple whole life policy that covers funeral costs, final bills, and leaves a little behind — so your family is never left with the burden.

  • Coverage that never expires
  • Premiums locked in for life
  • No medical exam to qualify
  • Fast, easy approval
See My Price
Term Life

Affordable Family Protection

$100,000 – $1,000,000+

The most coverage for the lowest cost — ideal for protecting your mortgage, income, and family during your working years.

  • Highest coverage, lowest price
  • 10, 20, or 30-year terms
  • Covers mortgage & income
  • Convert to permanent later
See My Price
Participating Whole Life

Lifetime Coverage That Builds Value

Permanent + Cash Value

Lifelong protection plus tax-advantaged cash value that grows over time — and can even create tax-free income in retirement.

  • Guaranteed lifetime coverage
  • Builds tax-advantaged cash value
  • Earns annual dividends
  • Option to pay up in 20 years
See My Price
All coverage placed through 17 licensed Canadian insurers · 100% free & no obligation

Don’t Take Our Word For It

See what Canadians are saying about working with North Shield Financial.

5.0 ★★★★★ Based on Google reviews
G
Gabriela Duka
★★★★★

I had a great experience working with this company. Michael was very professional and took the time to clearly explain all of my options so I could choose the coverage that best fit my needs. He made the entire process easy.

M
Matthew Valdez
★★★★★

Fantastic service from Michael. He is very knowledgeable and guided me through the whole process, answered all my questions with professionalism, and set me up with a great policy.

K
Karrie Ng
★★★★★

I’m new to life insurance and was very unsure about what it was, but a friend recommended this company. Michael was patient, walked me through everything, and made it simple to understand. Highly recommend.

B
Brennan Morsillo
★★★★★

Michael has been in the industry for a while now and I can easily say the process was simple and effective. He walked me through my options and laid it out clearly. I’m at ease now for the future. Highly recommend.

C
Carolyn Hendry
★★★★★

Quick response to my query about coverage for funeral and additional expenses. Mike was very helpful and the process was friendly and completed within a short telephone call.

I
Ippolito Spagnuolo
★★★★★

Mike made the process extremely simple and explained everything in great detail!

Independent Advice. Better Rates. Real Protection.

We Shop. You Save.

One application, 17 top Canadian insurers compared — we find the strongest rate for your age, health, and budget.

Advice You Can Trust

Licensed, independent advisors paid by the insurer — never by you. No quotas, no pressure, ever.

Covered in Days, Not Months

No medical exam on most policies. Many clients are fully protected within 24–48 hours of their first call.

No One Turned Away

Smoker, diabetic, over 65, or declined before — we know which insurers say yes.

17
Top Canadian insurers compared on every quote
24–48 hrs
Typical time from first call to fully covered
$0
What our advice costs you — today and always
100%
Of the payout goes to your family, tax-free

Life Insurance Questions Answered

Honest answers to the most common questions Canadians ask about life insurance. Still have questions? Get a free quote or call 416-350-7727.

Term life insurance in Canada typically costs between $20 and $50 per month for healthy non-smokers aged 25-45 with $500,000 in coverage. Your exact rate depends on your age, gender, smoking status, health history, coverage amount, and policy type. Smokers generally pay about 85% more than non-smokers, while women typically pay 15-20% less than men. Whole life and universal life policies cost 5-15 times more than term but provide lifetime coverage and build cash value. Get your exact rate in 60 seconds.
Final expense insurance (also called burial insurance or funeral insurance) is a smaller whole life insurance policy, typically $5,000-$25,000, designed to cover end-of-life costs like funeral expenses, burial or cremation, final medical bills, and outstanding debts.

It's especially popular for Canadians aged 50-85 because:

• Approval is often guaranteed regardless of health
• No medical exam required
• Coverage usually starts immediately or after a brief waiting period
• Premiums never increase
• The death benefit is paid tax-free to your beneficiary, usually within 1-2 weeks

The average Canadian funeral now costs $8,000-$15,000. Final expense coverage ensures your family isn't burdened with these costs during an already difficult time.
Yes — life insurance for seniors over 60 is one of the most effective ways to protect your family from final expenses, leave a tax-free legacy, and cover any outstanding debts. While premiums are higher than for younger applicants, coverage remains available and often more affordable than people expect.

The best options for Canadian seniors include:

Final expense / burial insurance: $5,000-$25,000 in guaranteed coverage
Simplified issue term: Up to $500,000 with health questions only
Permanent whole life: Builds cash value and never expires

Life insurance benefits paid to your beneficiary are 100% tax-free in Canada and bypass probate entirely — making it one of the most efficient ways to transfer wealth to your loved ones.
Not always. Many Canadian life insurance policies up to $500,000-$1,000,000 in coverage can be approved without a medical exam — just health questions and same-day or 48-hour approval. These are called "simplified issue" policies.

If you want higher coverage amounts or the lowest possible rate, a fully underwritten policy with a paramedical exam may be required. The exam is completely free, takes 20-30 minutes, and is done at your home at a time that works for you. It typically includes basic measurements, blood and urine samples.

Guaranteed issue policies require no medical questions at all but have lower coverage limits (typically $25,000-$50,000) and higher premiums. These are popular for seniors and those with serious health conditions.
Yes — in most cases, Canadians with pre-existing conditions can still get meaningful life insurance coverage. Because North Shield Financial works with 17 Canadian insurers, we can shop for the carrier most likely to offer favourable terms for your specific condition. Different insurers rate health conditions very differently.

Common pre-existing conditions we regularly find coverage for include: diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression and anxiety, heart conditions, sleep apnea, cancer survivors, and obesity. Your options may include standard rates, coverage with a small premium increase ("rated"), exclusion of the specific condition, or simplified/guaranteed issue policies that don't require detailed medical questions.
Term life insurance covers you for a fixed period (typically 10, 20, or 30 years) at the lowest monthly cost. It's ideal for protecting your family during peak earning years, covering a mortgage, or replacing income. Term life has no cash value and expires at the end of the term.

Whole life insurance covers you for your entire life with fixed premiums that never increase. It builds guaranteed tax-sheltered cash value over time that you can borrow against. Whole life costs 5-15 times more than equivalent term coverage but provides permanent protection and a guaranteed payout. Most Canadians start with term during their working years and add or convert to permanent coverage later.
A widely-used Canadian guideline is 10 to 12 times your annual income. For example, if you earn $80,000 per year, you should consider $800,000-$960,000 in coverage. However, your ideal amount also depends on:

• Outstanding mortgage balance
• Other debts (car loans, credit cards, lines of credit)
• Number of dependents and their ages
• Children's future education costs
• Final expenses (funeral, burial — typically $15,000-$25,000)
• Your spouse's income and ability to maintain the household

Our advisors provide a free personalized needs assessment to help you calculate the right amount.
Approval times vary based on the type of policy and your health:

Same-day to 48 hours: Simplified issue policies with no medical exam, only health questions
1-2 weeks: Standard term life policies with a health questionnaire only
3-6 weeks: Fully underwritten policies requiring a paramedical exam and medical records review

Coverage takes effect the moment your policy is officially issued and your first premium payment is received. Some policies offer instant temporary coverage from the day you apply.
No — a personal term life insurance policy is almost always a better choice than bank mortgage insurance. Here's why:

You own the policy — not the bank. Your family receives the payout to use however they need.
Coverage stays constant — bank insurance shrinks as your mortgage balance decreases, but you pay the same premium.
It follows you — switching banks or refinancing? Your personal policy stays. Bank insurance ends.
It's usually cheaper — personal term life is typically 30-50% less expensive than bank mortgage insurance for the same coverage.
Guaranteed approval at issue — bank mortgage insurance often denies claims after the fact due to post-claims underwriting.

If you currently have bank mortgage insurance, we can usually replace it with better personal coverage at a lower cost.
No. Life insurance death benefits paid to your named beneficiary in Canada are 100% tax-free. This is one of the most powerful tax advantages of life insurance.

Additional tax benefits include:

• Death benefits bypass probate entirely — no fees, no delays
• Cash value inside permanent policies (whole life, universal life) grows tax-deferred
• Policy loans against cash value are generally not taxable income
• Corporate-owned life insurance can pay benefits tax-free to shareholders through the Capital Dividend Account (CDA)
• Premiums for personal life insurance are not tax-deductible, but the tax-free payout more than offsets this

Always consult with a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.
Life insurance pays a tax-free lump sum to your beneficiary when you pass away. It protects your family financially after your death.

Critical illness insurance pays a tax-free lump sum directly to you if you're diagnosed with one of 25+ covered conditions like cancer, heart attack, stroke, MS, kidney failure, or organ transplant — while you're still alive. You can use the money however you need: medical treatments, mortgage payments, travel for treatment, replacing lost income during recovery, or anything else.

Many Canadians carry both types of coverage because they protect against different risks. 1 in 2 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and 1 in 3 will develop heart disease or have a stroke — critical illness insurance ensures you have financial resources to focus on recovery, not bills.
Going directly to an insurer like Manulife, Sun Life, or Canada Life limits you to that one company's products and pricing. An independent broker like North Shield Financial gives you significant advantages:

17 insurers compared: We shop multiple companies to find your best rate and approval odds
No cost to you: Our service is completely free — we're compensated by the insurer, not you
Better odds with health conditions: Different insurers rate the same condition differently. We find the most favourable one for you
Unbiased advice: We work for you, not any single insurer
One application, multiple options: Save hours of comparison shopping
Ongoing service: If your needs change, we can review your coverage and switch insurers without you starting over

Comparing multiple insurers often uncovers meaningfully lower premiums for the exact same coverage.
Yes — North Shield Financial is licensed to provide life insurance in both Ontario and Alberta. We serve clients across both provinces, including major cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Newmarket, Hamilton, Mississauga, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, and surrounding areas, as well as smaller communities throughout both provinces.

All consultations can be done by phone, video call, or in person where appropriate. The application and approval process is fully remote, meaning you can get covered without leaving home regardless of where you live in Ontario or Alberta.
Absolutely. The single best time to buy life insurance is when you're young and healthy. Here's why:

Premiums are dramatically lower: A 25-year-old non-smoker may pay $20/month for $500,000 in term coverage. The same coverage at age 45 could cost $90+/month.
You lock in your health rating: Most policies are level-premium, meaning the rate at signup is the rate forever. If you develop a health condition later, your existing policy is unaffected.
Convertible options: Most term policies can be converted to permanent coverage at any time without a new medical exam — even if your health changes.
Lifetime cost savings: Buying at age 25 vs. 45 can save you tens of thousands of dollars over the policy's lifetime.

Even if you don't think you "need" coverage yet, locking in a low rate while young is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make.

Ready to Get Protected?

No obligation, no pressure — just honest guidance and a free personalized quote from a licensed Canadian advisor.

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