Estate & Legacy Planning

What you've built should go exactly where you intend.

Estate planning isn't about death — it's about control. We help you structure your wealth so it transfers to the people and causes you care about, with as little lost to taxes and fees as possible.

What We Address

Every piece of the estate puzzle.

A coordinated estate plan goes far beyond a will. We address every element that determines how your wealth actually transfers at death.

Beneficiary Designation Reviews

The most overlooked element of estate planning. Outdated or incorrect designations can override your will entirely — often with devastating consequences.

Probate Fee Minimization

Strategic use of insurance, joint ownership, and registered accounts to keep as much of your estate out of probate as possible.

Corporate Estate Planning

Using the Capital Dividend Account, corporate-owned life insurance, and holding company structures to transfer corporate wealth tax-efficiently.

Charitable Giving Strategies

Structured giving through donor-advised funds, charitable remainder trusts, or gifting appreciated securities — maximizing the impact of your generosity while minimizing your tax burden.

Intergenerational Wealth Transfer

Moving assets to the next generation in a way that minimizes taxes, preserves family relationships, and reflects your intentions clearly.

Life Insurance as an Estate Tool

Using permanent life insurance to create an immediate, tax-free estate at death — often the most cost-effective way to leave a significant legacy.

Canada doesn't have an estate tax. But it does have a deemed disposition.

When you die, the CRA treats most of your assets as if they were sold at fair market value on that day. The resulting capital gains are taxable on your final return. For business owners, investors, and cottage owners, this can be a significant and entirely avoidable bill — if planned for in advance. We build strategies that address this directly.

Talk to us about your estate's tax exposure
The Insurance Angle

The most efficient estate planning tool most people underuse.

A permanent life insurance policy creates an immediate, tax-free benefit at death — bypassing probate, flowing directly to named beneficiaries, and often costing far less than the estate tax liability it offsets. For business owners, it also funds the Capital Dividend Account, enabling a tax-free distribution of corporate assets to shareholders. We integrate insurance into every estate plan where it makes sense.

Tax-free wealth transfer directly to your beneficiaries — bypassing probate entirely.

Corporate estate equalization between children in and out of the business — without forced asset sales.

Charitable legacy funded through permanent insurance without reducing what the family inherits.

The Process

What working with us looks like.

1

Estate Mapping

We document what you own, how it's held, and what happens to each asset at death under your current structure.

2

Gap Identification

We identify where taxes, probate, or misaligned designations would erode the estate you intend to leave.

3

Strategy Design

We build a coordinated plan across insurance, account structure, and corporate holdings — in collaboration with your lawyer and accountant.

4

Ongoing Review

Estate plans must evolve as tax laws change, assets grow, and family circumstances shift. We review proactively.

Common Questions

Questions we hear most.

Probate is the legal process that validates your will and authorizes your executor to distribute assets. In BC, the probate fee is 1.4% of estate assets over $50,000 — which adds up quickly on larger estates. Many assets can be structured to bypass probate entirely with proper planning.

Life insurance with a named beneficiary passes outside of your estate — it doesn't go through probate, isn't subject to estate creditors, and is generally received tax-free. This makes it one of the most efficient tools for transferring wealth and funding estate tax liabilities.

Your shares are deemed disposed at fair market value — triggering capital gains on any accrued value. Without planning, this tax bill comes directly out of your estate. Corporate-owned life insurance, estate freezes, and shareholder agreements are the primary tools we use to address this.

View all frequently asked questions
Next Step

The best time to plan your estate was ten years ago. The second best time is now.

Start with a complimentary conversation.

We'll map your current structure and show you exactly where the gaps are — without obligation.

No CostNo Jargon Education FirstPrivacy First

Book Your Conversation