Protecting Your Legacy, Family, and Future
Estate planning isn’t just for wealthy individuals or retirees—it’s an essential step for anyone who wants to protect their family, simplify the future, and ensure their wishes are respected. A well-designed estate plan helps reduce stress, avoid conflict, and preserve wealth across generations.
Our firm assists clients across Quebec and Ontario with the insurance and financial components of estate planning. We work alongside your lawyer, notary, or accountant to help you build a complete, compliant, and tax-efficient strategy.
What Is Estate Planning?
Estate planning is the process of organizing your personal, financial, and family affairs so your assets are handled exactly the way you want—during your lifetime and after.
A complete estate plan typically includes:
• A valid will
• A mandate (Quebec) or power of attorney (Ontario)
• Beneficiary designations
• Life and health insurance strategies
• Tax-efficient planning for heirs
• Protection for minor children or dependents
• Planning for incapacity
• Transfer of business assets
• Charitable giving (optional)
Your plan can be simple or highly detailed depending on your goals.
Why Estate Planning Matters
A well-prepared estate plan helps:
• Protect your family from legal complications
• Avoid delays related to estate settlement
• Minimize taxes and fees
• Ensure your assets go exactly where you want
• Provide financial support for your spouse, children, or dependents
• Protect your business and continuity
• Give you peace of mind knowing everything is organized
Without a plan, loved ones may face unnecessary financial and emotional stress.
Estate Planning in Quebec vs Ontario
Estate rules differ between provinces, especially Quebec. Our team understands the distinctions and works within each province’s legal framework.
Quebec
• Wills must be notarized or probated depending on the format
• Mandates are used for incapacity planning
• Beneficiary designations may need special attention for certain contracts
• Quebec Civil Code applies to succession and property division
Ontario
• Power of Attorney documents cover personal care and property
• The will is the central legal document
• Estate Administration Tax applies based on asset value
• Ontario’s common-law rules differ from Quebec’s civil law structure
We coordinate with legal professionals so your plan respects provincial requirements.
How Insurance Supports Estate Planning
Insurance plays a key role in protecting assets and supporting heirs. Major Canadian insurers—Sun Life, Canada Life, iA Financial, Manulife, Desjardins—offer a variety of tools that support estate goals.
1. Life Insurance
Life insurance creates an immediate tax-free benefit for heirs and is often used to:
• Replace lost income
• Cover taxes due at death
• Protect a spouse or dependents
• Leave an inheritance
• Equalize the estate among children
• Support charitable giving
• Fund a business succession plan
2. Permanent Insurance (Whole Life or Universal Life)
These plans can build long-term cash value and are commonly used for:
• Wealth preservation
• Tax-efficient transfers
• Funding future obligations
• Creating predictable inheritances
3. Critical Illness and Disability Coverage
Serious illness or disability can disrupt estate plans. These protections help ensure:
• Ongoing income
• Protection of savings
• Financial stability for the household
4. Insurance for Business Owners
Estate planning for business owners may include:
• Protecting business continuity
• Buy–sell funding
• Key-person insurance
• Equalizing inheritances when children are not all involved in the business
Protecting Dependents and Minor Children
Estate planning ensures children and dependents are cared for financially and personally. This may include:
• Naming a guardian
• Creating trusts
• Setting up insurance for income replacement
• Establishing special-needs planning where required
We assist with the financial side, while legal professionals help draft the appropriate documents.
Reducing Taxes and Preserving Wealth
A comprehensive plan can reduce or manage taxes such as:
• Final income tax return
• Capital gains taxes
• Estate Administration Tax (Ontario)
• Taxes on registered investments
• Probate-related expenses
Life insurance is often used to offset future tax obligations and create tax-free liquidity.
Who Needs Estate Planning?
Estate planning is essential for:
• Parents of minor children
• Homeowners
• Business owners
• Professionals and high-income earners
• Individuals with blended families
• Anyone with assets or financial dependents
• Anyone who wants control over how their wealth is distributed
Even simple estates benefit from clear instructions and updated documents.
Our Role in Your Estate Plan
As an independent firm, we help clients:
• Identify estate goals
• Review insurance needs
• Coordinate beneficiary designations
• Evaluate tax-efficient strategies
• Protect dependents
• Ensure continuity for business owners
• Align insurance with legal documents
• Work with your lawyer, notary, or accountant
We do not replace legal professionals—we complement them by building the financial structure that supports your estate.
Start Planning With Confidence
Estate planning is not just about distributing assets—it’s about protecting relationships, reducing stress, and securing your family’s future. The sooner you put a plan in place, the more control and peace of mind you gain.
Whether you are updating an existing plan or creating one for the first time, we can help clarify your options and design a strategy that fits your life.
Book a consultation with us to begin building a clear, secure, and tax-efficient estate plan tailored to your needs.
