When clients sit down to write out their estate goals, they almost unanimously want to ensure that their money is passed down to surviving family members as quickly as possible paying the least amount of tax possible.
We also see a growing trend of clients wanting to transfer uneven distributions of their assets to certain family members. This may be due to financial need, second marriages, having one child help out more in aging life than others or various other reasons.
In many cases, the best way is to transfer wealth immediately, privately and tax efficiently is through the use of segregated funds, guaranteed investment funds (GIF’s) or life insurance. All 3 confidentially pass assets to beneficiaries outside of the estate, are less contestable than estate assets, avoid probate tax and are often more tax efficient than assets passed through the estate. The use of segregated funds, GIF’s and life insurance can simplify seemingly complicated estate and family concerns.
Contact our in-house estate specialists Ryan Smillie or Jon Glougie to discuss your estate planning goals.
