Estate Planning Services & Legacy Protection in Markham & GTA

The foundation of effective estate planning is creating clarity for your family's future. My role as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional is to help you develop a comprehensive estate strategy that protects your legacy and ensures your wishes are carried out efficiently. Through Desjardins' proven estate planning frameworks, I provide solutions that bring peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

Comprehensive Estate Planning Solutions

Creating an effective estate plan requires expertise across multiple financial disciplines. As your financial advisor with Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network, I bring both personal experience and institutional knowledge to your estate planning process. Through Desjardins' extensive resources and time-tested planning strategies, I help ensure your wealth transition aligns with your values while minimizing tax implications and potential family conflicts.

Tax-Efficient Wealth Transfer

Strategic estate planning can significantly reduce the tax burden on your beneficiaries. I work with Desjardins' tax specialists to identify opportunities for tax-efficient wealth transfer, including strategic use of life insurance, trust structures, and charitable giving options that benefit both your estate and your chosen causes.

Estate Planning Review and Updates

Life changes, and your estate plan should evolve with it. I provide regular reviews to ensure your plan remains aligned with your goals and takes advantage of new planning opportunities. Through these reviews we maintain a cohesive strategy that adapts to your changing circumstances.

Business Succession Planning

For business owners, estate planning extends to ensuring business continuity. Drawing on Desjardins' extensive experience in business succession, I help create transition plans that protect your company's legacy while providing for your family's future. This includes structured buy-sell agreements, key person insurance, and corporate estate transfer strategies.

Family Wealth Communication

Clear communication about wealth transfer can prevent future family conflicts. Drawing on Desjardins' extensive experience in family wealth dynamics, I facilitate structured family discussions about estate plans, helping ensure your wishes are understood and respected. This proactive approach helps preserve both family harmony and financial legacy.

Complete Asset Documentation

• Financial accounts and investments
• Real estate and property holdings
• Insurance policies and benefits
• Business interests and valuations
• Personal valuables and collections
• Digital assets and online accounts

Essential Document Organization

Having your important documents organized and accessible is vital for your estate executors. I help you create a comprehensive inventory of:

• Legal documents and contracts
• Tax returns and financial statements
• Property titles and deeds
• Insurance policy documentation
• Investment certificates and records
• Digital asset access information

Protecting Your Legacy Through Insurance

Life insurance plays a crucial role in estate planning, providing liquidity and tax advantages for wealth transfer. As a financial planner with access to Desjardins' comprehensive insurance solutions, I can help you select and structure insurance policies that:

• Provide tax-free benefits to your beneficiaries
• Cover estate taxes and final expenses
• Equalize inheritance among beneficiaries
• Fund buy-sell agreements for business succession
• Create charitable giving opportunities

Estate Organization and Documentation

Will and Power of Attorney Review

Regular review of your will and powers of attorney ensures they reflect your current wishes and circumstances. While I don't provide legal advice, I work closely with your legal advisors to ensure your estate planning documents align with your overall financial strategy and Desjardins' estate planning best practices.

Beneficiary Designation Strategy

Proper beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, registered accounts, and other financial products are crucial for efficient estate transfer. I help coordinate these designations across your Desjardins accounts and other holdings to ensure they work together effectively.

Creating Your Charitable Legacy

Life insurance provides a unique opportunity to make a significant charitable impact while maintaining your current lifestyle. As your financial planner, I can help design a charitable giving strategy that creates lasting change for the causes you care about, while providing immediate tax advantages for you today.

Maximizing Your Charitable Impact

By naming charitable organizations as beneficiaries of a life insurance policy, you can transform modest premium payments into a substantial future gift. This approach allows you to maintain control of your current assets while creating a meaningful legacy that reflects your values and supports causes important to you.

The Power of Paired Giving

Consider complementing your current charitable activities with a life insurance strategy. This dual approach allows you to see the impact of your giving during your lifetime while knowing you've secured an even greater future contribution. Through Desjardins' specialized insurance solutions, we can help structure your charitable giving to benefit both your favorite causes and your tax planning objectives.

Secure Your Legacy Today

Don't leave your family's future to chance. Contact me to discuss how my estate planning expertise, backed by Desjardins' institutional strength, can help protect and preserve your legacy.