CUMIS helps credit union executives with succession and retirement planning

May 26, 2008 - Burlington, ON - CUMIS Insurance’s Strategic Solutions Group is pleased to host a new and innovative information forum designed to help strengthen credit unions’ succession planning efforts – and help executives plan a course for retirement.

The Strategic Solutions Group is a group of consultants focused on developing customer relationship strategies to promote the success of credit unions through leadership in knowledge and innovation. It is the only Canadian consultant team solely dedicated to the credit union marketplace.

The Best-Half Discovery Forum is an excellent tool to support credit unions’ human resources strategies for retaining mature workers and attracting and retaining high-talent individuals. It also helps credit union leaders identify their personal priorities and embrace the possibilities available to them in their work environments or as they transition from work to individual pursuits.

Designed for chief executive officers, vice presidents, associate vice presidents and managers of credit unions, and individuals identified as high-potential talent, the process is based on proprietary breakthrough tools and strategies. It helps individuals turn their ideas into goals and their goals into actions. Discussions and activities centre on topics such as succession planning, knowledge and relationship management and legacy leading to concrete commitments and actions designed to help position credit unions for future success. The Best-Half Discovery Forum is delivered as a one-day workshop with pre and post activities and can include sustainable coaching support.

CUMIS Insurance has partnered with Gordon Neufeld, a leading expert in retirement planning, to present this innovative workshop to credit union leaders. Gordon brings more than 30 years of management and marketing experience in financial services, health care and entrepreneurial business. Mr. Neufeld created The Best-Half to help individuals and organizations obtain a clearer and more focused view of the future in a rapidly changing demographic landscape.

“The Best-Half Discovery Forum is a welcome addition to the suite of services we offer credit unions,” says Sandi Verrecchia, Managing Director, Strategic Solutions Group, CUMIS Insurance. “Gordon Neufeld’s expertise in this field is a natural fit with our mandate to help credit unions be more successful.”

Past participants agree that this forum has motivated them to take stock of the future and prepare fully for the next stage of their lives. “Before attending The Best-Half, the biggest thing for me was getting motivated to do something to prepare myself for my impending divorce from work after 38 years,” says Gail R., former Corporate Tax Manager. “I started that focused plan of action the very next day after the forum. Four months later, I retired. I am now truly living my best-half.”

The next session of The Best-Half Discovery Forum is June 25, 2008 in Toronto. To sign-up or find out more about how this workshop can help you and your credit union, please contact Leanne Grechulk, Business Development Specialist, at 1-800-263-9120, extension 4808 or via e-mail at leanne.grechulk@cumis.com.

About The CUMIS Group Limited

The CUMIS Group Limited (CUMIS) partners with credit unions to deliver competitive insurance and financial solutions. In doing so, it creates financial security and promotes the growth and success of the credit union system in Canada. Its principal companies are CUMIS Life Insurance Company and CUMIS General Insurance Company. CUMIS also has a 50 per cent interest in CUIS Brokerage Services Limited and Credential Financial Inc. CUMIS has management responsibility for its joint marketing program with The Co-operators, which offers an integrated portfolio of both organizations’ insurance products and related services to credit unions under the banner of ‘CUMIS Insurance in partnership with The Co-operators’.