Estate planning – it’s bigger than you think

For many Canadians, estate planning isn't just about what they leave behind – it's about making life easier for the people they care about most. Many aspects may come as a shock such as possible estate delays due to probate procedures or tax filings, legal costs, privacy, and family complexity. These can all affect how much and when an estate ultimately reaches your loved ones.

With one of the largest looming intergenerational wealth transfers in Canadian history, more investors are looking for ways to help protect their legacy and simplify the transfer of wealth to the next generation.

A different approach to investing and estate planning

Traditional investments (stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, etc.) are designed to help you accumulate wealth. Segregated fund contracts are designed to do that and offer other benefits.

Because they are insurance contracts, segregated fund contracts combine investment growth potential with insurance guarantees¹ and estate planning benefits – packaged in a single solution.

This can make segregated fund contracts an attractive option for investors who want their money to work today and also help to support the people they care about tomorrow.

What are the benefits of segregated fund contracts?

Help simplify wealth transfer

When you name a beneficiary, segregated fund contract proceeds can generally bypass probate and be paid directly to that beneficiary rather than flowing through the estate.²

This may help to:

• Simplify the estate settlement process
• Reduce delays in payment
• Provide beneficiaries with quicker access to assets
• Maintain greater privacy
• Provide potential creditor protection for certain small business owners

For families navigating the loss of a loved one, fewer administrative hurdles can make a meaningful difference.

Potentially reduce estate costs

Depending on provincial rules and contract structure, segregated fund contract proceeds may bypass probate.²

This may help reduce:

• Probate fees
• Legal expenses
• Estate administration costs

This could lead to more of your wealth staying where you intended – with your beneficiaries.

Maintain privacy

Probated estates can become part of the public record. By contrast, beneficiary payments from segregated fund contracts can be paid directly to the named beneficiary, they don’t form part of the estate, so they can remain private.

For individuals who value confidentiality or have complex family situations, this can be an important consideration.

Protect your legacy from market volatility

Segregated fund contracts include death benefit guarantees that help protect the value passed on to beneficiaries if markets decline before death.

This added layer of protection can help provide reassurance that your legacy won't be entirely dependent on market conditions at a specific point in time.

Sun GIF Solutions: Designed to evolve with you

Your financial goals can change throughout your life and your investment solutions should be able adapt along the way.

Sun GIF Solutions offers a range of series designed for different stages of an investor's journey – from accumulating wealth to generating a guaranteed stream of income and planning a legacy. The flexibility of Sun GIF Solutions four-in-one contract allows you the flexibility to make changes throughout your lifetime based on your changing needs.³

Available series include:

As life's priorities shift, you may have the flexibility to move between series to better align with your evolving needs.³

Sun GIF Solutions Estate Series

Help plan, protect and pass on your wealth

If leaving a meaningful legacy is important to you, Sun GIF Solutions Estate Series combines growth potential with enhanced estate planning benefits.

Key features include:

100% death benefit guarantee

Upon your passing, your beneficiaries will receive the greater of the contract's market value or the guaranteed death benefit amount. Keep in mind that any withdrawals will reduce the value of the contract guarantees.⁴

Annual death benefit resets

Up to age 80, gains can be automatically locked in annually when market value is higher than the previous guaranteed amount, helping increase the amount protected for your beneficiaries.⁴

Access to a broad range of investments

Estate protection doesn't have to mean sacrificing growth potential. Estate Series provides access to a wide variety of investment options, including equity-based solutions.

Flexible legacy planning

You can choose how death benefit proceeds are paid to your beneficiaries. This can help align your wealth transfer strategy with your family's unique needs and goals.

Sun GIF Solutions Estate Heritage Series

Estate planning solutions for investors aged 81–85

Many older investors continue to focus on preserving and transferring wealth, but investment options with meaningful estate protection can become more limited.

Estate Heritage Series was designed specifically for these investors.

Key benefits include:

• 100% death benefit guarantee – greater of the death benefit guarantee (100% of the deposits) or the current market value.¹
• Eligibility for deposits between ages 81 and 85
• Estate planning advantages through beneficiary designations
• Continued growth potential through diversified investments

For those who have accumulated assets later in life – whether from a business sale, inheritance, selling a home, or years of disciplined saving – Estate Heritage Series can help support both wealth preservation and legacy goals.

Building wealth today while planning for tomorrow

Estate planning isn't only for retirees.

Sun GIF Solutions Investment Series can help investors who remain focused on long-term growth while also incorporating valuable insurance and estate planning features.

Benefits include:

• 75% maturity guarantee and death benefit guarantee¹
• Broad investment choices
• Potential creditor protection in certain situations⁵
• Beneficiary designation advantages
• Flexibility to transition to Estate Series or Income Series as needs change³

It offers a way for all investors to start thinking about legacy planning while also considering their current financial objectives.

The legacy you leave is about more than money

A well-designed estate plan can help ensure your wealth is transferred according to your wishes, while reducing stress and complexity for loved ones.

Whether you're focused on building wealth, preserving what you've earned, or planning for the transfer of your wealth to the next generation, Sun GIF Solutions can help offer growth potential, protection, and estate planning benefits together in one solution.

Sun GIF Solutions at a glance

Investment Series
Growth-focused investing with guarantees and estate planning benefits.

Estate Series
Enhanced estate protection featuring a 100% death benefit guarantee and annual resets.

Estate Heritage Series
A legacy-focused solution designed specifically for investors aged 81–85.

Because the true value of wealth isn't just what you've built – it’s what you can pass on. 

Talk to your advisor about how Sun GIF Solutions might help with your estate planning needs.

¹Withdrawals reduce your guarantees. See the information folders, contracts and supplements for more information.

²Probate, executor, accounting, and legal fees may vary by province. If there is no named beneficiary, these assets will form part of your estate.  Depending on the province, assets settled through the probate process are afterwards available in the public domain, whereas assets that bypass the process, information remains private. 

³Moving between Sun GIF Solutions series in a non-registered contract can result in a taxable event.

⁴Annual resets of death benefit guarantee until age 80.

⁵Segregated fund contracts, may be exempt from seizure by creditors for certain account types and if the owner has designated certain related persons as the beneficiary of the contract. Creditor protection varies by province and cannot be guaranteed.

This article is meant to provide general information only. Sun Life Global Investments does not provide legal, accounting, taxation, or other professional advice. Please seek advice from a qualified professional, including a thorough examination of your specific legal, accounting, and tax situation.