Publications

Exploring charitable giving: Understanding donor advised funds and private foundations

Charitable giving is an important goal for many of us. Some donors seek to improve their community, while others, who are financially secure, simply want to give back.

Estate Planning for Spouses and Children Using Testamentary Trusts

Ensuring a seamless transfer of wealth with an estate plan

Estate planning is the process required to transfer and preserve your wealth in an effective and seamless manner.

As a business owner, what’s your succession and transition plan?

Retiring from your own business can be difficult after having invested the better part of your working years to achieve success. And, business owners who want to pass on that successful business may be faced with a bigger dilemma of if and how to transfer the wealth they have accumulated through their business. A number of critical factors need to be considered including how they will exit from their business, the valuation of the business, family considerations and expectations and their own retirement plans.

Intergenerational Wealth Transfer

The successful transfer of wealth to the next generation requires the careful construction of a plan that considers the wealth requirements of each generation and the communication of a family constitution across the generations. Only about 10% of wealthy families adequately prepared the heirs for their future. Intergenerational wealth transfer does not happen by accident; families must work together to document their constitution and build family governance that will manage the wealth over the generations.

Considering RESPs As Part of Your Estate Plan

Registered Education Savings Plans (“RESPs”) are popular vehicles chosen by parents, grandparents, and others to help set aside funds for a child’s post-secondary education. However, an RESP is an asset too often overlooked by individuals when it comes to estate planning. This article provides an overview of important estate planning considerations for RESP subscribers.

Estate Planning For Your Worldwide Assets

More and more Canadians own assets in multiple provinces and countries. Whether you have a family property, vacation villa or securities in a local business overseas, specialized estate planning is necessary to ensure ease of administration of these assets on your death.

Digital Assets and Your Estate Plan

This article discusses common digital asset considerations and important information for making sure they are properly addressed in your estate plan.

Preparing Your Last Will and Testament

The attached article – Preparing Your Last Will and Testament – explains various aspects of Will preparation including, the importance of appointing an appropriate executor, life events that warrant a Will review and the use of testamentary trusts.

Estate Planning for Unique Assets

This article provides estate planning considerations for unique and unusual assets, to assist an executor in the administration and transfer of these assets.

Estate Information Organizer

This is designed to help your family, executor (referred to as a “liquidator” in Quebec), or Power of Attorney for Property (referred to as a “mandatory” in Quebec) locate all of your important documents and other information needed to administer your estate or act as your Power of Attorney for Property

Estate planning for complex family dynamics

Today, the modern family comes in many different shapes and sizes; this diversity is having an impact on family relationships and the way families interact when addressing estate planning.