Next Steps Planning INC

Home
Canada
Hamilton, ON
Next Steps Planning INC

Life, Disability, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Travel Medical, Individual Group, Mortgage, more

Marie Phillips, an experienced insurance advisor, offers a comprehensive range of financial services tailored to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and businesses. Her expertise spans various domains of financial planning, with a strong emphasis on empowering clients through financial literacy and personalized solutions. Marie is recognized for her dedication to community service and her commitment to helping clients achieve their financial goals. Insurance Advisory Services
Marie Phillips provides specialized insurance planning services to ensure her clients' financial security and protection. The insurance solutions offered include:

Life Insurance:
Provides financial support to beneficiaries upon the policyholder's death. Helps clients secure their family's future and manage estate planning effectively. Disability Insurance:
Provides income replacement in the event of disability, ensuring financial stability during challenging times. Critical Illness Insurance:
Provides a lump sum payment to cover medical expenses or other financial needs if diagnosed with a critical illness. Long-Term Care Insurance:
Covers costs associated with long-term care services, such as nursing homes or in-home care. Travel Medical Insurance:
Protects clients against unexpected medical expenses while traveling. Individual and Group Mortgage Insurance:
Ensures mortgage payments are covered in the event of unforeseen circumstances, providing homeowners with peace of mind Executive and Employee Health Savings Plans:
Tailored health savings plans for businesses to support their employees' healthcare needs. Estate Solutions:
Helps clients manage and protect their assets for future generations. Additional Financial Services
Marie Phillips complements her insurance advisory services with a wide array of financial planning solutions, including:

Financial Planning: Comprehensive strategies to achieve short-term and long-term financial goals. Investment Planning: Guidance on mutual funds, segregated funds, stocks, bonds, ETFs, and more. Retirement Planning: Assistance in preparing for a secure and comfortable retirement. Tax Planning: Strategies to optimize tax savings and manage liabilities. Estate Planning: Ensuring smooth transfer of wealth to beneficiaries. Financial Divorce Planning: Support in managing finances during and after divorce. Pension Transfers: Assistance with transferring pensions to maximize benefits. Business Group Benefit Plans & Succession Planning: Tailored solutions for small business owners. Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP): Financial planning for individuals with disabilities. Unique Initiatives
Marie Phillips is committed to financial literacy and community engagement. Her initiatives include:

SOUND ADVICE™: A video literacy series designed to empower and inform individuals about financial planning. Financial Success for Pre-Retirees and Retirees: Co-authored books aimed at guiding individuals through financial planning at different life stages. Collaboration with local arts organizations and donors to promote financial literacy and foster community development. Recognition and Awards
Marie Phillips has received several accolades for her contributions to financial advisory services and community engagement, including:

IPC Cares Award for Community Service
Value of Advice Awards
Best Client Experience Awards
George R. Robinson Award

Contact Information
For inquiries or to access Marie Phillips' insurance advisory services, you can reach her at:

Phone: 905-648-2425
Email: [email protected]

We offer a wide range of insurance and financial planning services designed to meet your unique needs. With dedication to financial literacy, community service, and personalized solutions, Marie is a trusted advisor for individuals and businesses seeking to secure their financial future.

10/16/2026

Turning 71? Your RRSP has a deadline.

By December 31 of the year you turn 71, your RRSP must become a RRIF, an annuity — or be cashed out and fully taxed.

A RRIF lets your savings keep growing while paying you steady income. But the rules matter:
✓ Minimum withdrawals start the following year (5.28% at age 71, rising with age)
✓ Every dollar withdrawn counts as taxable income
✓ Withholding tax applies on amounts above the minimum — 10% to 30%

The biggest mistake? Doing nothing and letting December sneak up.

Want our free RRIF Conversion Checklist? Comment CHECKLIST below or send us a message — we'll get it to you.

10/15/2026

"My credit card covers travel insurance." Does it? 💳

Credit card travel coverage is a nice perk — but it's rarely the whole story.
Common gaps:
• Low medical limits — cards often cap emergency medical at amounts far below real hospital costs
• Short trip limits — many cards cover only the first 15–25 days
• Age restrictions — coverage often shrinks or disappears after 65
• Cardholder-only — your spouse or kids may not be covered unless the trip was charged to the card

Before you rely on it:
Read the certificate of insurance (not the marketing brochure), and check the medical maximum, trip length, and who's covered.

Think of card coverage as a starting point — not the finish line.

https://nspinc.ca/travel

10/14/2026

Turning 71 this year? Your RRSP can't stay an RRSP.

By December 31 of the year you turn 71, the CRA requires you to convert it—usually to a RRIF, an annuity, or cash (and pay the tax).

Here's how a RRIF works, in plain language:
• Minimum withdrawals: Starting the year after you open it, you must withdraw a minimum each year. At 71, it's 5.28% of the balance, and the percentage rises as you age.
• Tax: Every dollar you withdraw counts as income that year.
• Withholding tax: Amounts above the minimum get taxed at source — 10% up to $5,000, 20% up to $15,000, 30% above that. (The minimum itself isn't subject to withholding.)
• Good news: No maximum. Take more whenever you need it.

The biggest mistake? Doing nothing and letting December sneak up. Let's review your options before year-end — reply or book a chat.

10/13/2026

The pre-existing condition clause — read it twice 🔍

The #1 reason travel insurance claims get denied? Pre-existing medical conditions.

Most policies require your condition to be stable for a set period before departure — often 90 to 180 days. "Stable" generally means no new symptoms, no medication changes, no pending tests.

What to do:
• List every condition and medication on your application — honestly
• Ask exactly what "stable" means in YOUR policy
• If anything changed recently, talk to your advisor before you buy

A policy that doesn't cover your actual health situation isn't a bargain — it's a false sense of security.

Questions about your coverage? That's what we're here for. 💬

https://nspinc.ca/travel

10/12/2026

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today we're thankful for family, friends, and good food — and for the wonderful clients who trust us with their financial journeys.

Wishing you a day full of gratitude and great company.

— Marie Phillips, Insurance and Wealth Advisor | NextStepsPlanning Inc.

10/09/2026

This coming Monday, October 12, we gather around the table — but did you know Canadian Thanksgiving has its own story?

It began in 1578, when explorer Martin Frobisher held a feast at Frobisher Bay (present-day Nunavut) to give thanks for surviving his Arctic voyage — 43 years before the Pilgrims' famous dinner. Parliament made it official in 1879, and since 1957 we've celebrated it on the second Monday of October, right at harvest time.

Today I'm grateful for my clients and the trust you place in me every day.

Wishing you and yours a table full of good food and even better company.

Marie Phillips, Insurance and Wealth Advisor | NextStepsPlanning Inc.
Source (history claims):
The History of Thanksgiving in Canada — Canada's History
https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/arts-culture-society/the-history-of-thanksgiving-in-canada?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAcGRvZgFicmlkETE2bEdOQ2t5dHZoZEtRVE5Kc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHikG_Y7HsHHeGXNEPab6PFgOHmlM8ezFY8szfeX5CoVPS62FSfUnob1plKE2_aem_JQiQ8emDO8JDHIYEtKVFKQ

10/08/2026

Snowbirds: single-trip or multi-trip? 🏖️

Heading south for the winter? The right travel insurance depends on how you travel:
Single-trip — one policy for one getaway. Simple, best for one big trip a year.

Multi-trip annual — covers unlimited trips for 12 months (each trip up to a set number of days). Often cheaper if you cross the border several times.
Snowbird essentials:
• Match your coverage days to your actual stay — don't get caught short
• Confirm your provincial plan stays valid while you're away (most provinces require you to be present a minimum number of days per year)
• Disclose pre-existing conditions honestly — non-disclosure can void a claim

Booking your winter escape now? Sort the insurance before you sort the sunscreen. ☀️

https://nspinc.ca/travel

10/07/2026

Turning 71 soon?
You must convert your RRSP by December 31 of that year, and the choices you make now will affect your taxes for years.

Contact us today for your RRIF Conversion Checklist: a plain-language guide to converting a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) in Canada.

Marie Phillips, Insurance and Wealth Advisor.
Wealth Advice provided under Next Steps Planning with IPC Securities Corporation.

10/06/2026

Your provincial health plan stops at the border 🛂

Here's what most Canadians don't realize: outside Canada, your provincial plan covers only a fraction of emergency medical costs — you're responsible for everything above provincial rates.

A single day in a U.S. hospital can cost more than $10,000. An air ambulance home? Tens of thousands more.

Before any trip outside Canada:
✓ Know what your province actually covers abroad (spoiler: not much)
✓ Check your work plan and credit card coverage
✓ Top up with travel medical insurance for the full trip

The cheapest part of your vacation should be the peace of mind. Let's make sure you're covered before you go. ✈️

https://nspinc.ca/travel

10/05/2026

🍎 Happy World Teachers' Day! 📚

Today, October 5, we celebrate the teachers who shape our future — one student at a time.

We've observed World Teachers' Day every October 5 since 1994, marking the anniversary of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation on the Status of Teachers. It has Canadian roots: Canadian teacher leader Norman Goble of the Canadian Teachers' Federation championed the idea.

This year's theme says it perfectly: "Thank You for Brightening Our Future."
To every teacher who sparked curiosity, built confidence, and believed in a student — thank you. 🙏

— Marie Phillips, Insurance and Wealth Advisor | NextStepsPlanning Inc.

Address

128 Wilson Street W
Hamilton, ON
L9G1N3

Website

https://www.nextstepsplanninginc.ca/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Next Steps Planning INC posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Next Steps Planning INC:

Want your business to be the top-listed finance company in Hamilton?