Like mutual funds, segregated funds are professionally managed and invested in a portfolio of securities. However, segregated funds are also insurance contracts that offer additional benefits such as a guarantee of your principal investment on death or at maturity, and guaranteed lifetime income.
Segregated funds can help you insure your retirement and maximize your estate in the following ways:
Death Benefit Guarantees
Upon the death of the annuitant, a guarantee between 75 and 100 percent of your initial deposit, or the greater of your investment value, will flow directly to your named beneficiaries.
Principal Guarantees
Regardless of market performance, segregated funds guarantee 75 to 100 percent of your principal investment (less withdrawal) at the maturity date (a minimum of 10 years from the date of your deposit). At maturity, the greater of the current market value or the guarantee will be paid to you
Lifetime Income Guarantees
Many segregated fund contracts offer income guarantees that will ensure you have a predictable and sustainable retirement income stream that you will not outlive. They guarantee that you will receive 100% of your principal paid back to you over time and that payments will continue as long as you live
Estate Settlement Benefit
Proceeds of a segregated fund policy held in a non-registered account can pass directly to your named beneficiaries, without passing through your estate. Therefore, these funds are not subject to probate, lawyer’s or executor’s fees. However, your estate is taxed on any applicable gains.
Death Benefit Guarantees
Upon the death of the annuitant, a guarantee between 75 and 100 percent of your initial deposit, or the greater of your investment value, will flow directly to your named beneficiaries.
Potential Creditor Protection
When there is no reasonable expectation of bankruptcy at the time of your investment, and a “family class” beneficiary is named, a segregated fund can also potentially safeguard your assets from potential creditors in the future. For business owners and professional, this feature helps protect you from your creditors when established in good faith.