ARTICLES BY CATEGORY: estate-planning
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The Role of the Executor
By Alyssa Mitha, JD (CA), JD (US), TEP, MFA-P™ on 30 Jan 2026
The death of a loved one is a significant emotional event, and navigating the administration of their estate can be complex. Central to this process is the executor – also known in some provinces as the estate trustee or liquidator (in Quebec). The executor plays a crucial legal and fiduciary role in ensuring the deceased’s … The Role of the Executor
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Financial Impacts of Losing a Spouse
By Anthony Ma on 17 Jul 2025
Losing a spouse or close family member is one of life’s most emotionally devasting experiences. Amidst the grief, there is a new financial reality that sets in. From funeral costs to a sudden change in household income, the loss can alter financial stability just as deeply as it shakes emotional foundations. The theoretical case study … Financial Impacts of Losing a Spouse
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The Preparations and Challenges of an Executor
By Ryan Bacchus on 13 Jul 2024
A loved one has passed away unexpectedly. You are the executor of the deceased’s estate…
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Case Study – The Family Cottage
By Anne Hammond on 02 May 2024
As the days get longer, we look ahead to summer vacations and time with loved ones. For Dana, this means more time at her family cottage in the Gulf Islands.
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Financial Challenges in Adversity – A Case Study
By Alain Quennec on 13 Oct 2023
Todd, an engineer, and Margo, a part-time daycare worker, are 54 years old, live in Vancouver, and have two adult children.
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Legacy Planning – a Conversation
By Cecilia Tsang on 04 Jul 2023
This article stems from real conversations I have had with some of my valued clients: “I have been thinking about my legacy. Now that I’ve sold my home, I have been thinking about what to do with the funds.”
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Benefits of Segregated Funds
By Reg Sangha on 04 Jul 2023
In the world of financial planning, we match the investment product with the purpose and intention for the funds being used.
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Today’s Executor is a Digital Executor
By Sharon Hartung on 23 Jul 2021
On May 13, 2021, I was delighted to join RGF advisors and clients for their second virtual event where I discussed the ideas covered in my first book, Your Digital Undertaker– Exploring Death in the Digital Age in Canada.
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Estate Planning in the Digital Age
By Anthony Ma on 07 Jan 2021
The arrival of COVID-19 vaccines is providing a sense of hope for the eventual end to the global pandemic.
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Your Love Letter: New Year’s Resolution
By on 24 Jan 2019
Love isn’t in the big gestures. It’s in the small details – the everyday minutiae of the lives of people that we care for.
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Do You Have a Will?
By John Hale on 21 Oct 2018
Is that will of yours looking a little worn and tattered or perhaps you don’t have a will at all?If the answer is yes, you are not alone.
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Wills Variation Estate Primer
By Erin Hatch on 07 Jul 2018
As you make decisions regarding your estate and succession planning, you want to ensure that your final wishes will be upheld and withstand judicial scrutiny.
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Sharing is Caring
By on 02 Oct 2017
Do you ever find that you can rationalize putting off important responsibilities because they may be painful or cause discomfort?
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Q and A: What is an annuity and how does it work?
By on 03 Jul 2017
A life annuity is a financial vehicle that allows you to exchange a lump sum of capital for a guaranteed income for as long as you live (or you and your spouse or partner lives).
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The Right Kind of Mortgage Protection
By Shaun Sun on 03 Jul 2017
If you’ve had to obtain a mortgage to purchase a home or condo, you will have noticed the number of times insurance was discussed.
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Your E-legacy
By Teresa Black Hughes on 01 Apr 2016
Almost forty years ago in 1977, personal computers made their entrance into our lives as “microcomputers” and in 1980, as “home computers” intended for the non-technical user.
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The Miracle of Life Insurance
By on 01 Apr 2015
People may not want life insurance, but they do want what life insurance can provide.
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Case Study: Alter Ego Trusts
By Mark Neufeld on 02 Jan 2015
Many of my clients are single and/or widowed. I recently was working with one of my long-term clients in regard to her estate plan. She is a widow and holds significant non-registered investments of roughly $2,600,000.
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Why a Corporate Executor can make Sense
By Teresa Black Hughes on 01 Oct 2014
The role of an executor is an important job and a serious responsibility. The executor must manage and dispose of estate assets, file tax returns, and tend to a variety of other tasks to wrap up the deceased’s affairs.
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Horizons Retirement Report 2014
By Clay Gillespie on 01 Jul 2014
Every year, we commission a survey (conducted by Concerto Research) to explore what Canadians are thinking and feeling as they approach retirement.
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Aligning your Goals
By Cecilia Tsang on 01 Apr 2014
Is your portfolio the result of your goals (or lack thereof)?
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Securing Your Children’s Future
By Chris Eynon on 01 Jan 2014
My wife and I had a baby boy on August 5, 2011. He just turned two and shares his birthday with his grandmother Ann. Liam is my first child and my wife Rita’s second.
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Horizons Retirement Report 2013
By Clay Gillespie on 01 Jul 2013
We’ve just completed the 2013 edition of the Horizons Retirement Report. This survey is done with Canadians who are approaching retirement.
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An Estate Planning Review
By Anne Hammond on 01 Apr 2013
Now that RRSP season is over and many of you have filed your income tax returns, it’s a good time to take a step back and review your estate plan.
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5 Ways to Make Your Executor’s Job Easier
By Debbie Saleem on 18 Aug 2025
Let’s be honest – no one wants to think about dying. But if you’ve taken the time to write a will and name an executor, you’re already ahead of the curve. But naming someone to carry out your wishes is just the first step. The real kindness comes in making their job as easy as … 5 Ways to Make Your Executor’s Job Easier
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Are You Prepared?
By Tara Ennevor on 18 Sep 2023
During times of uncertainty or in emergency situations, especially during a serious health event or natural disasters like the recent wildfires, being prepared takes on a new level of importance.
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The Importance of a Will
By Brent Vandekerckhove on 12 Feb 2020
Planning for what happens after you die is something most people don’t really enjoy, but it is an integral part of financial planning. One of the most common ways to plan is by drawing up a will.
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Cherry and Pumpkin Pie – A Legacy Recipe
By on 10 Oct 2018
I love pie! The invitation for family Thanksgiving Dinner came via text: the menu included a cherry & pumpkin pie. I began to imagine the texture and taste of this interesting blend of favourites, eager to try this new
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Family Business Succession, Estate Equalization and Wills Variation Act
By on 20 Dec 2017
When dealing with the estate planning of a family business, it is particularly important to consider the issue of estate equalization. One of the common objectives in a family business succession plan is to treat the children fairly and/or equally.
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Segregated Funds – Investing with a Safety Net
By on 20 Dec 2017
Investing today is not for the faint of heart. Fortunately for Canadians, segregated fund products offered by many life insurance companies provide a safety net for nervous investors.
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Estate Planning Tips for Real Estate Investors
By on 20 Dec 2017
For many Canadians, the majority of their wealth is held in personally-owned real estate. For most, this will be limited to their principal residence; however, investment in recreational and real estate investment property also form a substantial part of estates. Due to the nature of real estate, it is important to do estate planning to realize optimum gain and minimize tax implications.
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How much life insurance do I really need?
By on 20 Dec 2017
In determining how much life insurance one really requires, there are a number of factors that need to be examined. The need for life insurance can be divided into two categories – capital needs and income needs.
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What’s so great about a Tax Free Savings Account?
By Anne Hammond on 20 Dec 2017
When the Canadian government first introduced the Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA), it was most often used as a regular bank savings account where the interest was not taxed. But it can be so much more useful than that:
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Change happens
By Brett A. Simpson on 20 Dec 2017
For most people “financial independence” is a goal. Achieving it relies on gradually converting our “Human Capital” capacity to work, through savings, into a lifelong cash flow. Having financial security or freedom of choice, means having an income, independent of government, employer and family, throughout our lifetime.
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Current Life Expectancy Numbers
By on 20 Dec 2017
In Canada, as in many countries around the world, our life expectancy continues to increase. In B.C., these rates are the highest of all the province— just slightly higher than the Canadian average.
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Beneficiary Designations – benefits and considerations
By on 20 Dec 2017
Individuals have the option to designate beneficiaries directly on assets such as registered plans, investment and insurance products and annuities. Electing this option results in the proceeds of an asset to by-pass the estate and flow directly into the hands of a beneficiary (or beneficiaries). Naming beneficiaries is an important estate planning tool and some of the key benefits are provided below: