In a move that adds it to an ever-growing catalogue of companies stepping away from sales-volume based travel incentives, Desjardins Insurance announced that the conference already scheduled for 2018 will be their last.

Desjardins staff and its network of advisers were informed of the decision early in the week.

The decision comes in the wake of a report from the CLHIA on Insurance Distribution.

“Desjardins Insurance, in line with the recommendations from CLHIA’s report on insurance sales in Canada, reviewed the conference and travel incentives programs offered to its independent networks,” read a company statement provided by Desjardin. “As a result, these programs in their current form will cease in 2018. This applies to brokerage and independent networks affiliated with Desjardins Insurance. Starting in 2019, annual or biannual conferences will be replaced with new initiatives, which we are currently in the process of identifying.”

The CLHIA report said travel incentives could contribute to a “perception of a conflict of interest.”
Other companies who have bought their sales-volume based travel incentives to an end include Great-West Life/ Canada Life, Manulife and RBC Insurance.