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Published byChristal Martin Modified over 9 years ago
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Two Estate Planning Strategies
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What is Estate Planning? Structuring a person’s legal and financial affairs so that, at death, his or her assets will be transferred: to the desired recipients; at the desired times; with any desired restrictions; in the simplest and most cost-effective manner; with maximum tax relief.
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Why Include Estate Planning in your Business? Provides a wider range of service to your clients, adding value aligns a client’s financial and personal planning goals strengthens the client relationship, improving retention improves your competitive position You are able to provide impartial suggestions Allows you to meet a client’s family Increases your contact with legal, tax, and insurance professionals
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Two Estate Planning Strategies Operation of Law joint ownership beneficiary designation Testamentary Trusts
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Operation of Law Assets bypass estate of deceased provides simplicity avoids delay avoids probate (and probate fees) avoids Wills Variation Act claims provides privacy Will has no effect
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Operation of Law Difficult to control size of gift Does not avoid income tax Does not facilitate income-splitting for recipient
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Joint Ownership All owners have both legal and beneficial ownership Provides a right of survivorship Often a good strategy between spouses Rarely a good strategy between parent and child, or between siblings
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Joint Ownership Disadvantages during lifetime a transfer to joint ownership triggers capital gains tax spousal exception a transfer to joint ownership triggers transfer fees a transfer of a principal residence to joint ownership can create a partial loss of the future capital gains exemption exposure to creditors of other joint owner(s) exposure to loss depletion “blackmail”
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Joint Ownership Disadvantages at death creates an unintended gift if ownership implications are not understood creates an unintended distribution scheme if survivorship implications are not understood
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Beneficiary Designation No change of ownership no capital gains tax no transfer fees no exposure to creditors of others no exposure to loss Beneficiaries can be changed Often a good strategy between spouses, between parent and child, or between siblings
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Beneficiary Designation Appointment of alternate beneficiaries avoid unintended distribution scheme Appointment of trustee(s) for minor or mentally disabled beneficiaries informal trust, limited to age of majority available for life insurance proceeds not available for registered plan assets
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Testamentary Trusts Established at death in will, for estate assets in insurance declaration (testamentary insurance trust), for life insurance proceeds for registered plan assets Inexpensive Separates legal and beneficial ownership
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Testamentary Trusts Progressive income tax rates no personal exemption flexible year end 21 year deemed disposition spousal exception
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Testamentary Trusts For protection of assets minors young adults people with disabilities spendthrifts people with dependencies people with creditors future generations
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Testamentary Trusts To facilitate income-splitting spouse others To create an education fund To hold shares of a private company To hold recreational property For charitable giving
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Testamentary Trusts Trustee spouse family member friend business associate professional trust company Co-trustees Alternate trustee(s)
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Testamentary Trusts For insurance proceeds insurance declaration (testamentary insurance trust) can be established in a will, or established in a separate document life insurance proceeds are paid to insurance trustee(s) to fund payment of date of death tax liabilities to protect life insurance proceeds to facilitate income-splitting to create an educations fund for charitable giving
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Testamentary Trusts For registered plan assets can be established in a will, but some registered plan trustees will not transfer assets to a trustee can be established in a separate document a “semi-secret” trust the trustee(s) and alternate trustee(s) are the designated beneficiary(ies) and alternate beneficiary(ies) of the registered plan the beneficiaries know of the testamentary trust
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Testamentary Trusts For registered plan assets (continued) to protect the registered plan assets to facilitate income-splitting to create an education fund for charitable giving generally not used in spousal situations
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Disclaimer The estate planning strategies presented today are only general in nature. These strategies will not be appropriate for all clients, and clients will generally incur costs in implementing these strategies. Clients need to discuss specific estate planning strategies with their own legal, tax, financial and insurance advisors, and need professional assistance with the implementation of any strategies. Mackenzie Financial Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, “Mackenzie”) make no representation or warranty as to the effectiveness of the estate planning strategies presented today. In addition, Mackenzie has neither consulted with nor sought approval from the Canada Revenue Agency nor any provincial tax authorities in respect to these strategies.
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Two Estate Planning Strategies QUESTIONS?
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