Preserve your wealth and transfer it tax-efficiently to secure your family’s continued financial stability.

You’ve accumulated substantial wealth over the years. Our strategies can help you preserve and grow it and then transfer it tax-efficiently to your chosen beneficiaries.

Estate planning is about defining goals, analyzing options, and implementing a sound, time-tested strategy to enjoy peace of mind knowing your affairs are in good order. We can help you achieve lifetime financial security and distribute your estate according to your wishes.

 

Preparation

We will listen to you and create a comprehensive plan to transition your wealth and offer tax strategies to maximize your family’s wealth over time. Plus, we’ll help you answer questions such as:

  • How will my wealth and possessions be distributed?
  • Can I preserve even more of my wealth for my heirs with a trust fund?
  • How can I ensure that my financial and digital assets and heirlooms are easily located?
  • Who will ensure that my ultimate wishes are carried out after my death?
  • Which of my assets could face excess taxation?
  • What is my retirement income strategy?
  • What financial risks and opportunities should I address?

 

Developing a thoughtful estate plan

No matter how complex, we can complement your personal and business financial situation and help you leave your heirs a tax-efficient legacy. We’ll explore health concerns, longer life expectancy, U.S. estate tax, probate and estate maximization, succession planning, dual Wills and trusts, and other issues.

Open communication is at the heart of an effective estate plan. When everyone understands your wishes, the process is more manageable and less overwhelming, and conflicts can be avoided.

 

Reviewing your estate plan and Will

  • This should be done whenever you:
  • Marry, remarry, divorce, or experience the death of a spouse
  • Welcome a child or grandchild
  • Create a blended family
  • Need to add a new beneficiary with special needs
  • Need to change your executor (called a liquidator in Quebec)
  • Buy or sell a business
  • Buy or sell local or foreign property

 

Ongoing adjustment

We will adjust your strategy to ensure it reflects your evolving goals. Together with you, the BMO Estate and Insurance Advisory Services team, and your own advisory professionals, we will keep your estate plan up to date and in context with your overall wealth picture.