Even in the best economic times, managing your day-to-day finances, while balancing your ongoing obligations and future needs, can be complex and challenging. I can help you see your financial life in a more comprehensive and integrated way, across all three stages of your financial lifecycle — from accumulation, to generating retirement income, to leaving a lasting legacy.

True holistic financial planning is far more than just portfolio management. I help you set realistic goals and objectives, establish a budget, create a cashflow, assess your risk tolerance, and develop timelines to measure achievement. I will help you see the big picture and remain objective and focused, even in times of economic uncertainty. This will increase your chances of long-term financial success, since the single biggest risk to financial success is emotion-driven decision making and trying to time the market. True fortunes are made by consistency, discipline, and time.

What are Segregated Funds?

Segregated Funds are an investment product sold only by life insurance companies that offer capital appreciation and life insurance benefits. They invest in one or more underlying assets, such as mutual funds, and offer a large range of options from money market funds and bond funds all the way to ETF’s and international equity funds.

 

Unlike mutual funds, Segregated Funds provide a guarantee to protect part of the money you invest (75% to 100%). Even if the underlying fund loses money, you are guaranteed to get back some or all your principal investment, if you hold your investment until maturity – usually 10 years. Because of the guarantees, typically total expense ratios are slightly higher on segregated funds, but this has been changing.

 

There is also a Death Benefit Guarantee, where you can choose to have 75% or 100% of all your contributions returned to your beneficiaries, tax-free, when you die. This amount is not subject to probate fees and by-passes the estate, ensuring confidentiality.

 

A key feature for business owners is the potential creditor protection.

 

Investments such as Tax-Free Savings Accounts, Registered Retirement Savings Plans, and Registered Retirement Income Funds can all be held in a Segregated Fund Environment.